Borage Oil and Ginkgo Biloba (EGb 761) in Asthma

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 2005-07-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

This study will assess clinical efficacy and/or adverse effects of dietary borage oil (which contains gamma-linolenic acid [GLA]) and Ginkgo biloba in patients with mild persistent to moderate asthma.

• Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH)
• Treatments: Borage oil

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Symptoms (cough, wheeze, chest tightness) consistent with the National Asthma Education Program (NAEP) guidelines for mild persistent to moderate asthma

Exclusion Criteria:

• Severe asthma or mild intermittent asthma by NAEP revised guidelines

• History of vasovagal reactions (nausea, dizziness, flushed/warm) upon having blood drawn

• Pregnancy or lactation

• History of emergency room care in the last 6 months

• History of hospitalization

• Use of prednisone in the past 3 months

• Concurrent pulmonary disease: pulmonary hypertension, cystic fibrosis, sarcoidosis, bronchiectasis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, restrictive lung disease

• Cigarette smoking within the past 1 year; over 10-pack year history of cigarette smoking in ex-smokers

• Recent (within one month) upper or lower respiratory tract infection

• The following concurrent medical diagnoses: alcoholism, coronary artery disease, diabetes, HIV infection, chronic hepatitis, uncontrolled hypertension, or a psychiatric disorder that is judged to make full participation difficult

• Use of prednisone in the past 3 months; current use of zileuton (leukotriene receptor antagonists are allowed) or theophylline

• Use of dietary supplements (except for standard dose multiple vitamins such as One-a-day or Centrum) including herbal supplements, mega dose of multiple vitamins/antioxidants, magnesium, fish oil, borage oil, evening primrose oil, black currant oil, fungal oil, G. biloba, quercetin, or mega intake of garlic or onion (subjects will be asked to stop such therapies as a requirement of enrollment)

• Ongoing use of homeopathic remedies or acupuncture, acupressure, therapeutic massage (subjects will be asked to stop such therapies as a requirement of enrollment)