Hemodynamic and Electrocardiographic Effects of Short-Term Ginkgo Biloba

2003 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S Kalus ◽  
Alexandria A Piotrowski ◽  
Christopher R Fortier ◽  
Xinhcun Liu ◽  
Jeffrey Kluger ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the immediate and short-term hemodynamic and electrocardiographic effects of Ginkgo biloba (ginkgo). METHODS: Healthy volunteers were randomized to receive ginkgo 120 mg or placebo twice daily for 7 days in this prospective, double blind trial. After at least a 7-day washout period, subjects were crossed over to an additional 7 days of alternate therapy. Blood pressure, heart rate, and 12-lead electrocardiograms were evaluated immediately before (baseline), and at 1, 3, and 5 hours after observed ingestion of study drug on days 1 and 7 of therapy. Electrocardiographic parameters (P wave and QRS complex duration; PR, QT, and QTc intervals) were measured in lead II by a blinded investigator. RESULTS: Ginkgo had no effect on any of the evaluated electrocardiographic parameters at any time point on days 1 or 7. Additionally, no changes in heart rate or systolic and diastolic blood pressure were found between the groups at any time point on any evaluative day. CONCLUSIONS: Commonly used doses of Ginkgo biloba do not have any immediate or short-term effects on blood pressure, heart rate, or electrocardiographic variables in young, healthy volunteers.

1981 ◽  
Vol 139 (6) ◽  
pp. 545-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth A. Taylor ◽  
Paul Turner ◽  
Jean Harrison

SummaryThe influence of beta-adrenoceptor antagonism on the effects of a simple experimental stress was investigated in 12 healthy volunteers, using a double-blind protocol. A single oral dose of 80 mg propranolol reduced the stress-induced increase in heart rate and systolic blood pressure to 49.9 per cent and 8.3 per cent respectively compared to 61.0 per cent and 17.4 per cent with placebo. The rise in diastolic blood pressure was small and unaffected by beta-adrenoceptor blockade. The rise in temperature of the skin of the trunk was significantly reduced by propranolol. The self-rating of anxiety, alertness and concentration by the subjects was unaffected by propranolol.


Cardiology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 131 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janos Molnar ◽  
John C. Somberg

Objectives: To assess the effect of coffee on ventricular repolarization as measured by an electrocardiogram. Methods: Fifty-four healthy volunteers (34 males and 20 females, age 23 ± 5 years) received 1 cup of coffee (caffeine content 120 mg) and 11 participants received 2 cups. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured prior to coffee and every hour thereafter for 5 h. A 12-lead digital Holter recorded continuously, and RR, QT, and QTc intervals were obtained every 30 min. Results: Following coffee, RR increased from 802 ± 102 to 873 ± 126 ms (p = 0.001), QT increased from 359 ± 26 to 367 ± 27 ms at 1.5 h (p = 0.047), and QTc decreased from 387 ± 21 to 381 ± 23 ms at 30 min (p = 0.001), with no changes noted at other time points. Caffeine users and caffeine-naive subjects did not differ in QTc effects (p = 0.971). Females had longer QTc at each time point than males (p = 0.037), but neither had QTc prolongation following coffee. The heart rate decreased from 73 ± 9 to 69 ± 11 bpm at 1 h (p = 0.018), and no significant changes in blood pressure were noted. The effects of 1 or 2 cups of coffee did not differ in terms of QTc (p = 0.663), heart rate (p = 0.161), diastolic (p = 0.250), or systolic blood pressure (p = 0.168). Conclusion: Neither 1 nor 2 cups of coffee increased ventricular repolarization.


2008 ◽  
Vol 104 (3) ◽  
pp. 756-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Strempel ◽  
Christoph Schroeder ◽  
Ruth Hemmersbach ◽  
Andrea Boese ◽  
Jens Tank ◽  
...  

Sympathetically mediated tachycardia and vasoconstriction maintain blood pressure during hypergravitational stress, thereby preventing gravitation-induced loss of consciousness. Norepinephrine transporter (NET) inhibition prevents neurally mediated (pre)syncope during gravitational stress imposed by head-up tilt testing. Thus it seems reasonable that NET inhibition could increase tolerance to hypergravitational stress. We performed a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled crossover study in 11 healthy men (26 ± 1 yr, body mass index 24 ± 1 kg/m2), who ingested the selective NET inhibitor reboxetine (4 mg) or matching placebo 25, 13, and 1 h before testing on separate days. We monitored heart rate, blood pressure, and thoracic impedance in three different body positions (supine, seated, standing) and during a graded centrifuge run (incremental steps of 0.5 g for 3 min each, up to a maximal vertical acceleration load of 3 g). NET inhibition increased supine blood pressure and heart rate. With placebo, blood pressure increased in the seated position and was well maintained during standing. However, with NET inhibition, blood pressure decreased in the seated and standing position. During hypergravitation, blood pressure increased in a graded fashion with placebo. With NET inhibition, the increase in blood pressure during hypergravitation was profoundly diminished. Conversely, the tachycardic responses to sitting, standing, and hypergravitation all were greatly increased with NET inhibition. In contrast to our expectation, short-term NET inhibition did not improve tolerance to hypergravitation. Redistribution of sympathetic activity to the heart or changes in baroreflex responses could explain the excessive tachycardia that we observed.


1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (6) ◽  
pp. R1562-R1568 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalie Vozzo ◽  
Gary A. Wittert ◽  
Michael Horowitz ◽  
John E. Morley ◽  
Ian M. Chapman

Animal studies suggest that nitric oxide (NO) may be a physiological regulator of appetite; NO synthase (NOS) inhibition suppresses food intake in rats, mice, and chickens. It is not known whether NO has any effect on appetite in humans. We have used N G-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA) and N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), both competitive, nonselective inhibitors of NOS, in two separate studies to evaluate the role of NO in the short-term regulation of appetite in humans. In study I, 13 men (18–25 yr) underwent paired studies, in randomized, double-blind fashion, after an overnight fast. l-NMMA (4 mg ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ h−1) or saline (0.9%) was infused intravenously at a rate of 40 ml/h for 1.5 h. In study II, eight men (18–26 yr) underwent three randomized, double-blind studies after an overnight fast. l-NAME (75 or 180 μg ⋅ kg−1 ⋅ h−1) or saline (0.9%) was infused intravenously at a rate of 20 ml/h for 120 min. Hunger and fullness were measured using visual analog scales; blood pressure and heart rate were monitored, and 30 min before the end of the infusion, subjects were offered a cold buffet meal. Total caloric intake and the macronutrient composition of the meal were determined. Both l-NMMA ( P = 0.052) andl-NAME ( P < 0.05; both doses) decreased heart rate, l-NMMA increased diastolic blood pressure ( P < 0.01), and l-NAME increased systolic blood pressure ( P = 0.052). Neither drug had any effect on caloric intake or sensations of hunger or fullness. Despite having significant effects on cardiovascular function in the doses used, neitherl-NMMA norl-NAME had any effect on feeding, suggesting that NO does not affect short-term appetite or food intake in humans.


2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunfeng Sun ◽  
Yinling Zhang ◽  
Ning He ◽  
Xufeng Liu ◽  
Danmin Miao

Abstract. Caffeine placebo expectation seems to improve vigilance and cognitive performance. This study investigated the effect of caffeine and placebo expectation on vigilance and cognitive performance during 28 h sleep deprivation. Ten healthy males volunteered to take part in the double-blind, cross-over study, which required participants to complete five treatment periods of 28 h separated by 1-week wash-out intervals. The treatments were no substance (Control); caffeine 200 mg at 00:00 (C200); placebo 200 mg at 00:00 (P200); twice caffeine 200 mg at 00:00 and 04:00 (C200-C200); caffeine 200 mg at 00:00 and placebo 200 mg at 04:00 (C200-P200). Participants were told that all capsules were caffeine and given information about the effects of caffeine to increase expectation. Vigilance was assessed by a three-letter cancellation test, cognitive functions by the continuous addition test and Stroop test, and cardiovascular regulation by heart rate and blood pressure. Tests were performed bihourly from 00:00 to 10:00 of the second day. Results indicated that C200-P200 and C200-C200 were more alert (p < .05) than Control and P200. Their cognitive functions were higher (p < .05) than Control and P200. Also, C200-P200 scored higher than C200 in the letter cancellation task (p < .05). No test showed any significant differences between C200-P200 and C200-C200. The results demonstrated that the combination of caffeine 200 mg and placebo 200 mg expectation exerted prolonged positive effects on vigilance and cognitive performance.


2009 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 104-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Duschek ◽  
Heike Heiss ◽  
Boriana Buechner ◽  
Rainer Schandry

Recent studies have revealed evidence for increased pain sensitivity in individuals with chronically low blood pressure. The present trial explored whether pain sensitivity can be reduced by pharmacological elevation of blood pressure. Effects of the sympathomimetic midodrine on threshold and tolerance to heat pain were examined in 52 hypotensive persons (mean blood pressure 96/61 mmHg) based on a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind design. Heat stimuli were applied to the forearm via a contact thermode. Confounding of drug effects on pain perception with changes in skin temperature, temperature sensitivity, and mood were statistically controlled for. Compared to placebo, higher pain threshold and tolerance, increased blood pressure, as well as reduced heart rate were observed under the sympathomimetic condition. Increases in systolic blood pressure between points of measurement correlated positively with increases in pain threshold and tolerance, and decreases in heart rate were associated with increases in pain threshold. The findings underline the causal role of hypotension in the augmented pain sensitivity related to this condition. Pain reduction as a function of heart rate decrease suggests involvement of a baroreceptor-related mechanism in the pain attrition. The increased proneness of persons with chronic hypotension toward clinical pain is discussed.


2001 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harald Walach ◽  
Stefan Schmidt ◽  
Yvonne-Michelle Bihr ◽  
Susanne Wiesch

We studied the effect of experimenter expectations and different instructions in a balanced placebo design. 157 subjects were randomized into a 2 × 4 factorial design. Two experimenters were led to expect placebos either to produce physiological effects or not (pro- vs. antiplacebo). All subjects except a control group received a caffeine placebo. They were either made to expect coffee, no coffee, or were in a double-blind condition. Dependent measures were blood pressure, heart rate, well-being, and a cognitive task. There was one main effect on the instruction factor (p = 0.03) with the group “told no caffeine” reporting significantly better well-being. There was one main effect on the experimenter factor with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” having higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.008). There was one interaction with subjects instructed by experimenter “proplacebo” to receive coffee doing worse in the cognitive task than the rest. Subjects instructed by experimenter “antiplacebo” were significantly less likely to believe the experimental instruction, and that mostly if they had been instructed to receive coffee. Contrary to the literature we could not show an effect of instruction, but there was an effect of experimenters. It is likely, however, that these experimenter effects were not due to experimental manipulations, but to the difference in personalities.


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