J Korean Med Sci.  2012 Dec;27(12):1472-1478. 10.3346/jkms.2012.27.12.1472.

Preventive Effect of Korean Red Ginseng for Acute Respiratory Illness: A Randomized and Double-Blind Clinical Trial

• Lee CS
• Lee JH
• Oh M
• Choi KM
• Jeong MR
• Park JD
• Kwon DY
• Ha KC
• Park EO
• Lee N
• Kim SY
• Choi EK
• Kim MG
• Chae SW

• KMID: 2157969
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2012.27.12.1472

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.

Keyword

Ginseng; Influenza; Prevention and Control; Symptom Duration; Safety

MeSH Terms

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
Plant Extracts

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The design of this study.

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  Fig. 2 Schematic representation of this study. ITT, intention to treat; PP, per protocol.

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