Skip to main content
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Evidence-Based Supplement Research
Pillser
Search
Sign UpLog In

Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Cholesterol Metabolites in Postmenopausal Women with Hypercholesterolemia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

  • 2020-11-08
  • Nutrients 12(11)
    • Yu-Jin Kwon
    • Su-Nyeong Jang
    • Kwang-Hyeon Liu
    • Dong-Hyuk Jung

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population
68 postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia
Methods
KRG (2 g) or placebo (2 g) once daily; double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical pilot study; serum sterols analyzed using LC-MS/MS
Blinding
Double-blind
Duration
4 weeks
  • Rigorous Journal
Korean red ginseng (KRG) is known to exert beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. Meanwhile, reduced estrogen at menopause has been shown to have various adverse impacts on cardiovascular risk factors, including blood lipids. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of KRG on cholesterol metabolites, which are surrogate markers of cholesterol absorption and biosynthesis, in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia. The present study is an exploratory study which used data from a 4-week, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical pilot study in 68 postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia. Patients received KRG (2 g) or placebo (2 g) once daily. The primary endpoints were changes in the levels of nine sterols. Serum sterols were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS analysis. Among the sterols, reduction in cholesterol level were significantly larger in the KRG group than in the placebo group (the changes: -148.3 ± 261.1 nmol/mL in the ginseng group vs. -23.0 ± 220.5 nmol/mL in the placebo group, p = 0.039). Additionally, changes in 7-hydroxycholesterol (7-OHC) were significantly larger in the KRG group than in the placebo group (the changes: -0.05 ± 0.09 nmol/mL in the ginseng group vs. -0.002 ± 0.1 nmol/mL in the placebo group, p = 0.047). Oxysterols, cholesterol derivates, have been known to play a role in chronic inflammation diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. KRG improves sterol metabolism by decreasing cholesterol and 7-OHC levels in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia.

Research Insights

  • Red Ginseng→Reduced 7-Hydroxycholesterol Level

    changes in 7-hydroxycholesterol (7-OHC) were significantly larger in the KRG group than in the placebo group (the changes: -0.05 ± 0.09 nmol/mL in the ginseng group vs. -0.002 ± 0.1 nmol/mL in the placebo group, p = 0.047)

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    2 g once daily
  • Red Ginseng→Reduced Total Cholesterol Levels

    reduction in cholesterol level were significantly larger in the KRG group than in the placebo group (the changes: -148.3 ± 261.1 nmol/mL in the ginseng group vs. -23.0 ± 220.5 nmol/mL in the placebo group, p = 0.039)

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    2 g once daily
Back to top