Short-Term Panax Ginseng Extract Supplementation Reduces Fasting Blood Triacylglycerides and Oxygen Consumption during Sub-Maximal Aerobic Exercise in Male Recreational Athletes.
- 2024-04-30
- Biomolecules 14(5)
- Didier Hernández-García
- Ana Belén Granado-Serrano
- Meritxell Martín-Gari
- Assumpta Ensenyat
- Alba Naudí
- Jose C E Serrano
- PubMed: 38785940
- DOI: 10.3390/biom14050533
Study Design
- Type
- Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
- Population
- male recreational athletes
- Methods
- Randomized, double-blind trial; 500 mg Panax ginseng extract daily for 14 days; two experiments: 10 km races (n=31) and laboratory-controlled aerobic capacity test (n=20)
- Blinding
- Double-blind
- Duration
- 14 days
- Funding
- Unclear
Ginseng, a popular herbal supplement among athletes, is believed to enhance exercise capacity and performance. This study investigated the short-term effects of Panax ginseng extract (PG) on aerobic capacity, lipid profile, and cytokines. In a 14-day randomized, double-blind trial, male participants took 500 mg of PG daily. Two experiments were conducted: one in 10 km races (n = 31) and another in a laboratory-controlled aerobic capacity test (n = 20). Blood lipid and cytokine profile, ventilation, oxygen consumption, hemodynamic and fatigue parameters, and race time were evaluated. PG supplementation led to reduced total blood lipid levels, particularly in triacylglycerides (10 km races -7.5 mg/dL (95% CI -42 to 28); sub-maximal aerobic test -14.2 mg/dL (95% CI -52 to 23)), while post-exercise blood IL-10 levels were increased (10 km 34.0 pg/mL (95% CI -2.1 to 70.1); sub-maximal aerobic test 4.1 pg/mL (95% CI -2.8 to 11.0)), and oxygen consumption decreased during the sub-maximal aerobic test (VO2: -1.4 mL/min/kg (95% CI -5.8 to -0.6)). No significant differences were noted in race time, hemodynamic, or fatigue parameters. Overall, PG supplementation for 2 weeks showed benefits in blood lipid profile and energy consumption during exercise among recreational athletes. This suggests a potential role for PG in enhancing exercise performance and metabolic health in this population.
Research Insights
No significant differences were noted in ... fatigue parameters
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 500 mg/day
No significant differences were noted in ... hemodynamic
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 500 mg/day
No significant differences were noted in race time
- Effect
- Neutral
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 500 mg/day
post-exercise blood IL-10 levels were increased (10 km 34.0 pg/mL (95% CI -2.1 to 70.1); sub-maximal aerobic test 4.1 pg/mL (95% CI -2.8 to 11.0))
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 500 mg/day
oxygen consumption decreased during the sub-maximal aerobic test (VO2: -1.4 mL/min/kg (95% CI -5.8 to -0.6))
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 500 mg/day
PG supplementation led to reduced total blood lipid levels, particularly in triacylglycerides (10 km races -7.5 mg/dL (95% CI -42 to 28); sub-maximal aerobic test -14.2 mg/dL (95% CI -52 to 23))
- Effect
- Beneficial
- Effect size
- Small
- Dose
- 500 mg/day