Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30121603›Full record

SynthesisBMJ open2018

Ginkgo biloba extract for prevention of acute mountain sickness: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

Tou-Yuan Tsai, Shih-Hao Wang, Yi-Kung Lee, Yung-Cheng Su

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMJ open, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.7field-weighted citation impact, top 24% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 13 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. [Research Progress in the Role of Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1 in Altitude Sickness and the Mechanisms Involved].Sichuan da xue xue bao. Yi xue ban = Journal of Sichuan University. Medical science edition · 2024
    Review
  3. Altitude illnesses.Nature reviews. Disease primers · 2024
    Review
  4. Review
  5. Review
  6. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Tou-Yuan TsaiSchool of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Shih-Hao WangEmergency Department, Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Chiayi, Taiwan.
Yi-Kung LeeSchool of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
Yung-Cheng SuSchool of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.ORCID 0000-0002-8201-1592
Tzu Chi University · TWBuddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTrials of ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) for the prevention of acute mountain sickness (AMS) have been published since 1996. Because of their conflicting results, the efficacy of GBE remains unclear. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess whether GBE prevents AMS.

methodsThe Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Google Scholar and PubMed databases were searched for articles published up to 20 May 2017. Only randomised controlled trials were included. AMS was defined as an Environmental Symptom Questionnaire Acute Mountain Sickness-Cerebral score ≥0.7 or Lake Louise Score ≥3 with headache. The main outcome measure was the relative risk (RR) of AMS in participants receiving GBE for prophylaxis. Meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models. Sensitivity analyses, subgroup analyses and tests for publication bias were conducted.

resultsSeven study groups in six published articles met all eligibility criteria, including the article published by Leadbetter

conclusionThe currently available data suggest that although GBE may tend towards AMS prophylaxis, there are not enough data to show the statistically significant effect of GBE on preventing AMS. Further large randomised controlled studies are warranted.

Indexed as

Ginkgo bilobaPhytotherapyAltitude SicknessGinkgo ExtractHumansPlant ExtractsRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicGinkgo biloba extractGinkgo ExtractPlant Extractsacute mountain sicknessginkgo biloba extractmeta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID30121603
PMCPMC6104799
OpenAlexW2883255447

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.