Preventive Effect of Korean Red Ginseng for Acute Respiratory Illness: A Randomized and Double-Blind Clinical Trial.
10.3346/jkms.2012.27.12.1472
- Author:
Chang Seop LEE
1
;
Ju Hyung LEE
;
Mira OH
;
Kyung Min CHOI
;
Mi Ran JEONG
;
Jong Dae PARK
;
Dae Young KWON
;
Ki Chan HA
;
Eun Ock PARK
;
Nuri LEE
;
Sun Young KIM
;
Eun Kyung CHOI
;
Min Gul KIM
;
Soo Wan CHAE
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea. lcsmd@jbnu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Randomized Controlled Trial ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Ginseng;
Influenza;
Prevention and Control;
Symptom Duration;
Safety
- MeSH:
Adult;
Blood Chemical Analysis;
Double-Blind Method;
Female;
Humans;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Panax/*chemistry;
Placebo Effect;
Plant Extracts/*therapeutic use;
Plant Roots/chemistry;
Republic of Korea;
Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult/*drug therapy/pathology/prevention & control;
Severity of Illness Index
- From:Journal of Korean Medical Science
2012;27(12):1472-1478
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a functional food and has been well known for keeping good health due to its anti-fatigue and immunomodulating activities. However, there is no data on Korean red ginseng for its preventive activity against acute respiratory illness (ARI). The study was conducted in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in healthy volunteers (Clinical Trial Number: NCT01478009). Our primary efficacy end point was the number of ARI reported and secondary efficacy end point was severity of symptoms, number of symptoms, and duration of ARI. A total of 100 volunteers were enrolled in the study. Fewer subjects in the KRG group reported contracting at least 1 ARI than in the placebo group (12 [24.5%] vs 22 [44.9%], P = 0.034), the difference was statistically significant between the two groups. The symptom duration of the subjects who experienced the ARI, was similar between the two groups (KRG vs placebo; 5.2 +/- 2.3 vs 6.3 +/- 5.0, P = 0.475). The symptom scores were low tendency in KRG group (KRG vs placebo; 9.5 +/- 4.5 vs 17.6 +/- 23.1, P = 0.241). The study suggests that KRG may be effective in protecting subjects from contracting ARI, and may have the tendency to decrease the duration and scores of ARI symptoms.
