Ginseng Supplementation Does Not Enhance Healthy Young Adults’ Peak Aerobic Exercise Performance

Abstract

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.