Beneficial effects of Korean red ginseng on lymphocyte DNA damage, antioxidant enzyme activity, and LDL oxidation in healthy participants: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
The reported health benefits of Korean red ginseng (KRG) include antioxidant, antitumor, antimutagenic, and immunomodulatory activities; however, the effects on oxidative stress have not yet been evaluated. Therefore, we assessed the effect of KRG on antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress markers in humans.


METHODS
We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with three groups, including placebo, low-dose (3 g/day), and high-dose (6 g/day), which were randomly assigned to healthy subjects aged 20-65 years. Lymphocyte DNA damage, antioxidative enzyme activity, and lipid peroxidation were assessed before and after the 8-week supplementation.


RESULTS
Fifty-seven subjects completed the protocol. Plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity after the 8-week KRG supplementation was significantly higher in the low-and high-dose groups compared to baseline. Plasma glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase activities were also increased after the high-dose supplementation. Furthermore, the DNA tail length and tail moment were significantly reduced after the supplementation (low-dose and high-dose), and plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were reduced in low-dose and high-dose groups, but increased in the placebo group. The net changes in oxidized LDL after the supplementation differed significantly between both KRG supplementation groups and the placebo group. Net changes in GPx, SOD and catalase activities, and DNA tail length and tail moment were significantly different between the high-dose group and the placebo group. Additionally, the net changes in urinary 8-epi-PGF(2α) were significantly different between the KRG supplementation groups and the placebo group.


CONCLUSIONS
KRG supplementation may attenuate lymphocyte DNA damage and LDL oxidation by upregulating antioxidant enzyme activity.
Department of Culinary Nutrition, Woosong University, Daejeon, Korea.
Ji Young
JY
Kim
Ju Yeon
JY
Park
Hee Jung
HJ
Kang
Oh Yoen
OY
Kim
Jong Ho
JH
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D005894:Panax / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D000975:Antioxidants; D001786:Blood Glucose; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; C075750:8-epi-prostaglandin F2alpha; D015237:Dinoprost; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase