Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T02:24:05.245Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The glycaemic effects of single doses of Panax ginseng in young healthy volunteers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2007

J. L. Reay
Affiliation:
Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Division of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
D. O. Kennedy
Affiliation:
Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Division of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
A. B. Scholey*
Affiliation:
Human Cognitive Neuroscience Unit, Division of Psychology, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
*
*Corresponding author: Professor Andrew Scholey, fax +44 (0)191 227 3190, email [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The results of two acute placebo-controlled, double-blind cross-over studies assessing the effect of Panax ginseng (G115) on blood glucose levels are reported. In study 1, thirty participants received three treatments: placebo; 200 mg G115; 400 mg G115. In study 2, twenty-seven participants received four treatments: placebo (0 mg ginseng and 30 mg saccharin); ginseng (200 mg ginseng and 30 mg saccharin); placebo–glucose (0 mg ginseng and 25 g oral glucose); ginseng–glucose (200 mg ginseng and 25 g oral glucose). Blood glucose levels were measured at baseline (at 09.00 hours after an overnight fast) and then 60, 90 (study 1 only) and 120 min post-dose. Both studies demonstrated that G115 alone significantly lowers fasting blood glucose levels. Conversely, in study 2 there was a significant drink × ginseng interaction suggesting opposing glycaemic effects of ginseng under fasting and raised blood glucose conditions. These data have implications for the use of ginseng in individuals with poor gluco-regulation.

Type
Short Communication
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2006

References

Eisenberg, DM, Davis, RB, Ettner, SL, Appel, S, Wilkey, S, Van Rompay, M & Kessles, RC (1998) Trends in alternative medicine use in the United States, 1990–1997: result of follow-up national survey. JAMA 280, 15691575.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Keppel, G (1991)Rome, Italy: EAAP. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice HallGoogle Scholar
Mokdad, AH, Ford, ES, Bowman, BA, Dietz, WH, Vinicor, F, Bales, VS & Marks, JS (2003) Prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and obesity-related health risk factors. JAMA 289, 7679.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Price, CP & Koller, PU (1988) A multicentre study of the new Reflotron system for the measurement of urea, glucose, triacylglycerols, cholesterol, gamma glutamyltransferase and haemoglobin. J Clin Chem Clin Biochem 26, 233250.Google ScholarPubMed
Roglic, G, Unwin, N, Bennett, PH, Mathers, C, Tuomilehto, J, Nag, S, Connolly, V & King, H (2005) The burden of mortality attributable to diabetes. Diabetes Care 28, 21302135.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Roy, D, Perrault, M & Marette, A (1998) Insulin stimulation of glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue in vivo is NO dependent. Am J Physiol 274, E692E699.Google ScholarPubMed
Scholey, A, Kennedy, D & Wesnes, K (2005) The psychopharmacology of herbal extracts: issues and challenges. Psychopharmacology 179, 705707.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Shane-McWorter, L (2005) Botanical dietary supplements and the treatments of diabetes; what is the evidence? Curr Diabet Rep 5, 391398.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sievenpiper, J, Arnason, JT, Leiter, LA & Vuksan, V (2003) Null and opposing effects of Asian ginseng ( Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) on acute glycemia: results of two acute dose escalation studies. J Am Coll Nutr 22, 524532.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sievenpiper, J, Arnason, JT, Leiter, LA & Vuksan, V (2004) Decreasing null and increasing effects of eight popular types of ginseng on acute postprandial glycemic indices in healthy humans: the role of ginsenosides. J Am Coll Nutr 23, 248258.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sotaniemi, EA, Haapakoski, E & Rautio, A (1995) Ginseng therapy in noninsulin diabetic patients. Diabetes Care 18, 13731375.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Spinas, GA, Laffranchi, R, Francoys, I, David, I, Richter, C & Reinecke, M (1998) The early phase of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion requires nitric oxide. Diabetologia 41, 292299.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tetsutani, T, Yamamura, M, Yamaguchi, T, Onoyama, O & Kono, M (2000) Can red ginseng control blood glucose in diabetic patients? Ginseng Rev 28, 4447.Google Scholar
Turner, RC, Cull, CA, Frighi, V & Holman, RR (2000) Glycemic control with diet, sulfonylurea, metformin, or insulin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: progressive requirement for multiple therapies (UKPDS 49), UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) group. JAMA 281, 20052012.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vuksan, V, Sievenpiper, JL, Koo, VYY, Francis, T, Beljan-Zdravkovic, U, Xu, Z & Vidgen, E (2000) American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius L) reduces postprandial glycemia in nondiabetic subjects and subjects with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Arch Intern Med 160, 10091013.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Vuksan, V, Sievenpiper, JL, Wong, J, Xu, Z, Beljan-Zdravkovic, U, Arnason, JT, Assinewe, V, Stavro, MP, Jenkins, AL, Leiter, LA & Francis, T (2001) American ginseng ( Panax quinquefolius L.) attenuates postprandial glycemia in a time-dependent but not dose-dependent manner in healthy individuals. Am J Clin Nutr 73, 753758.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vuksan, V, Xu, Z, Jenkins, AL, Beljan-Zdravkovic, U, Sievenpiper, JL, Leiter, LA, Josse, RG & Strvro, MP (2000) American ginseng improves long term glycaemic control in type two diabetes: double blind placebo controlled crossover trial. Diabetes 49, Suppl. 1, A95 (abstract)Google Scholar