Effect of Korean red ginseng on insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic healthy overweight and obese adults.
BACKGROUND
Korean red ginseng is one of the most popular herbs worldwide due to the belief that it contains ingredients that possess a variety of health enhancing effects including anti-diabetic effects. The objective of this study was to determine whether Korean red ginseng supplement has an effect on insulin sensitivity in healthy overweight or obese adults without overt diabetes and hypertension.


METHODS
In a double-blinded, placebo controlled, randomized trial, a total of 68 participants (BMI >=23 kg/m2) received either 6 g of Korean red ginseng rootlets (n=34) or a placebo each day over a 12 week period.


RESULTS
Similar insulin levels and insulin sensitivity index were observed at baseline in the Korean red ginseng and control groups. Korean red ginseng had no significant effect on improving the insulin sensitivity over time. Korean red ginseng does not improve the insulin sensitivity of overweight and obese subjects who do not have diabetes or hypertension.
Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea.
Young Hye
YH
Cho
Soon Cheol
SC
Ahn
Sang Yeoup
SY
Lee
Dong Wook
DW
Jeong
Eun Jung
EJ
Choi
Yun Jin
YJ
Kim
Jeong Gyu
JG
Lee
Yu-Hyun
YH
Lee
Byung-Cheul
BC
Shin
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050177:Overweight / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005894:Panax; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry*; D056910:Republic of Korea
D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts