Ginseng supplementation does not enhance healthy young adults' peak aerobic exercise performance.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the short term effects (21 days) of 200 mg (7% standardized) Panax ginseng supplementation vs. placebo on peak aerobic exercise performance in healthy young adults, with unrestricted diets.


METHODS
Twenty men and eight women (age = 23.2 +/- 3.2 years, height = 175.8 +/- 8.6 cm; weight = 75.2 +/- 15.3 kg) were randomly assigned to either a Panax ginseng or placebo group for a period of 3 weeks in a double blind design. Prior to and following treatment the subjects performed a symptom limited graded exercise test on a Schwinn Airdyne ergometer. The data were analyzed using an analysis of variance.


RESULTS
No significant treatment effect was observed for the dependent variables of VO2, exercise time, workload, plasma lactate and hematocrit at peak levels, or for heart rate and rate of perceived exertion at 150 watts, 200 watts and peak.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study do not support an ergogenic effect on peak aerobic exercise performance following a 3-week supplementation period of 200 mg 7% Panax ginseng in healthy young adults with moderate exercise capacities and unrestricted diets.
Allen
J D
JD
Department of Health and Human Performance, Western Carolina University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
McLung
J
J
Nelson
A G
AG
Welsch
M
M
D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D005894:Panax; D005082:Physical Exertion; D010919:Placebos; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D013997:Time Factors
D010919:Placebos; D019344:Lactic Acid