Korean Red Ginseng for Diabetes

Korean red ginseng may help control blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes, a new study reports.

Researchers from the University of Toronto in Canada investigated the clinical antidiabetic efficacy and safety of 12 weeks of supplementation with a Korean red ginseng preparation.

The study included 19 participants with well-controlled type 2 diabetes (11 men, eight women). Researchers gave participants the selected Korean red ginseng preparation (rootlets) and placebo at the selected dose (2 grams/meal=6 grams/day) for 12 weeks as an adjunct to their usual anti-diabetic therapy (diet and/or medications).

Outcomes included measures of efficacy; safety (liver, kidney, haemostatic, and blood-pressure function); and compliance (returned capsules, diet-records, and body-weight).

The study found no significant changes. The participants, however, remained well-controlled throughout. Safety and compliance outcomes remained unchanged.

The study authors concluded that although clinical efficacy was not demonstrated, 12 weeks of supplementation with the selected Korean red ginseng treatment maintained good blood sugar control and improved PG and PI regulation safely beyond usual therapy in people with well-controlled type 2 diabetes. The authors called for further investigation with similarly selected Korean red ginseng treatments.

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is the most used and most researched species of ginseng. Korean ginseng has also been shown to improve sexual performance in men with erectile dysfunction.

For more information about ginseng, please visit Natural Standard’s Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

Comments

[Graham]

Another study, also presented at the American Diabetes Association's 63rd Scientific Sessions, demonstrated that Korean red ginseng improved insulin sensitivity when compared to placebo.

The main problem in patients with type 2 diabetes is that the body does not respond very well to insulin, so it doesn't get processed properly. According to the study, ginseng might help people process insulin better.

Poor blood sugar control can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications, including heart disease, blindness, stroke, and kidney disease.

[Liza]

Also, several studies report that American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) has a hypoglycemic (blood sugar-lower effect) in patients with type 2 diabetes, both on fasting blood glucose and on postprandial glucose levels. These results are especially promising because ginseng does not seem to cause dangerous hypoglycemia.

Check out:
1) Vuksan, V., Sievenpiper, J. L., Koo, V. Y., Francis, T., Beljan-Zdravkovic, U., Xu, Z., and Vidgen, E. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L) reduces postprandial glycemia in nondiabetic subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Arch Intern Med 4-10-2000;160(7):1009-1013.

2) Sotaniemi, E. A., Haapakoski, E., and Rautio, A. Ginseng therapy in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. Diabetes Care 1995;18(10):1373-1375

[Jill]

According to traditional Chinese medicine, Panax ginseng is warming with a sweet-bitter taste and is used to increase physical and mental strength, as well as stamina.

Traditionally, ginseng has been used as part of herbal combination formulas. An ancient concoction to moisten the lungs, sheng mai san, is used for chronic cough or shortness of breath. Another ancient concoction, bu zhong yi qi wan, contains ginseng, astragalus and other herbs, and it is used to treat cold, weak patients. Other concoctions are used for deficient chi, nervous agitation, thirst, or impotence. In traditional Japanese medicine, unkei-to, a concoction containing Panax ginseng, has been used for female fertility.

[K]

Several studies report a blood sugar-lowering effect of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) in individuals with type 2 diabetes, both on fasting blood glucose and on postprandial glucose levels. These results are promising, especially as ginseng does not seem to cause dangerous low blood sugar levels. Future research needs to evaluate long-term efficacy of American ginseng in treating type 2 diabetes compared to standard oral hypoglycemic drugs. American ginseng may increase the effects of blood sugar-lowering medications, including insulin.

[Susie]

Cinnamon may turn out to be the next big treatment for diabetes. Researchers have found that the spice can help increase insulin sensitivity. The active ingredient in cinnamon hydroxychalcone affects insulin receptors to help promote glucose uptake into cells and promote glycogen synthesis. In a December 2003 Diabetes Care study, cinnamon was found to improve glucose and lipids in people with diabetes. Sixty patients with type 2 who were taking a sulfonylurea (glyburide) were given doses of cinnamon or a placebo for 40 days. Fasting blood glucose declined by 18 to 29 percent after 40 days and 20 days after stopping use fasting glucose was still lower than at baseline. Several studies have reinforced these results. Also, in December 2003, a rat study found that cinnamon extract would improve insulin action via increasing glucose uptake in vivo through enhancing the insulin-signaling pathway in skeletal muscle. In 2004, researchers at a USDA center in Maryland reported that polyphenols in cinnamon potentiate insulin action, making them beneficial in the control of glucose intolerance and diabetes. Researchers have also found that cinnamon extracts can prevent the development of insulin resistance at least in part by enhancing insulin signaling and possibly via the NO pathway in skeletal muscle. German researchers found earlier this year that cassia extract (a species of cinnamon) has a direct antidiabetic potency as evidenced by an insulin release from INS-1 cells.

Cinnamon is a spice often used in food, beverages, chewing gums, toothpastes, mouthwash, liniments, nasal sprays and suntan lotions. Although cinnamon bark and flowers have been used medicinally in Asia for thousands of years. Cinnamon has been used for type 2 diabetes, gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, infections, the common cold, menopausal symptoms, rheumatic conditions, hypertension, angina and kidney disorders. Although there are no serious side effects when using cinnamon anyone with hypoglycemia should be careful consuming it due to its apparent action on blood glucose levels.

[Lynn]

I read an interesting news article a couple months ago that said ginseng might have anti-cancer effects. According to the article, a novel intestinal bacterial metabolite of ginseng, called protopanaxadiol saponins, may induce apoptosis (cell death) in a variety of cancer cells. The study purified the compound and measured its in vitro anti-tumor activity.

[Huang]

There are also many studies that support the use of beta-glucan to manage blood sugar levels. Beta-glucan is a soluble fiber that is derived from the cell walls of algae, bacteria, fungi, yeast and plants. Although these results can be considered promising early evidence, researchers have recommended that more human trials be performed.

[Chelsy]

Gymnema has also been suggested as a potential treatment for type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Gymnema is found in India and some parts of Africa. It is commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine.

Gymnema appears to lower serum glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels with long-term use, but it may not have significant acute effects. Studies have assessed effects of gymnema from 10 days to 20 months.

Multiple drugs have been shown to establish good, long-term control of blood glucose levels, and gymnema has not been thoroughly evaluated as a safe or effective alternative or adjunct to these agents.

[Angel]

Ginseng has been used to treat many other conditions as well. For instance, there is good evidence to support its use an immunostimulant. Ginseng seems to stimulate T-cell and PMN leukocyte activity, increase clearance of bacterial infections treated with antibiotics and improve immune response to and efficacy of influenza immunization. Several studies have investigated Cold-fX® as a possible way to enhance the immune system and increase resistance to colds and flu.

[Christian]

I never would have thought that ginseng would affect glucose levels. I thought most research showed that ginseng improved memory and mental performance. I bet most people probably think the same thing, given the ginseng supplement commercials that are out there today. However, after doing some online research, I discovered that these effects are not clearly established. I really wish manufacturers wouldn't be so misleading.

[DMC]

There’s a lot of research on type 2 diabetes and different supplements. Cinnamon, chromium, magnesium and calcium have all been studied, but with conflicting results. It seems that ginseng could have a promising future in treating type2 diabetes as well, although many more studies would need to be done. Since the study used patients that were already well-controlled, I think it would have been interesting to see the results of patients that weren’t well-controlled and if the HgA1C would have decreased significantly then.

[rufus]

This is definitely an interesting study but it’s important to note that the patients who participated are not the typical type 2 diabetes patients. The patients in the study had an A1C of about 6.5%. The ADA-determined goal is <7% and while some organizations push for lower goals, most people with diabetes have A1Cs well above that level. In addition, there’s some new evidence that suggests that lower may not be better. Also, what about the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)? Some people are more susceptible to this than others, and it’s generally difficult to anticipate how individuals will respond to different substances, no less when the substances, like many ginseng products, aren’t consistently standardized.

[Roman]

I agree with Rufus. I think patients with diabetes need to be super careful with supplements and should DEFINITELY check with their doctors before taking something that is going to lower their blood sugar further. Like Rufus said, you don't want to go overboard and end up with a hypoglycemic episode.

In terms of cinnamon, I am assuming you would have to take some sort of cinnamon supplement to benefit from its blood-sugar lowering effects? Or would cinnamon in your diet suffice? I think that you'd have to be careful because if you were diabetic and started eating more "cinnamon-rich" foods you'd probably end up increasing your blood sugar because most foods sweetened with cinnamon also contain lots of sugar- negating any blood sugar-lowering effect of cinnamon.

[Stella]

Does anyone know, or has it even been studied, how Panax ginseng compares to other species of blood-sugar lowering plants?

[Deb]

Roman,

You would definitely have to take cinnamon capsules in order to help control glucose. Most studies have used at least 1 gram (1-6 grams has been used) of cinnamon per day, so I don’t believe that the cinnamon from your diet would suffice. Cinnamon capsules also come as 500-mg or 1-gram capsules, so it’s not like someone would be taking a ridiculous amount of capsules either. But, I agree that neither cinnamon nor ginseng should be taken unless you talk with your doctor.

[Nigel]

This is a very interesting report. It would be very helpful to know which specific preparation was used in the study, as clearly not all Korean ginseng products are the same.

[Holly]

There are four types of Korean ginseng:
1) Saengsam – which is best taken raw
2) Baeksam (white ginseng) – usually made for medicines or teas
3) Taegueksam
4) Hongsam (red ginseng) – can come as an extract, powder, capsule, or tea

Nigel brings up a good point as to which preparation they used for the red ginseng. I would also like to know which one they used and if there would be a difference using a different preparation.

[Nancy]

Some side effects have been seen in patients taking large doses (15gm) of Panax ginseng. These included hypertension, diarrhea, skin eruptions and insomnia. This study only used 6gms/day, but I am curious if long-term use may induce some of these side effects.

[sasha]

There has been another article on the use of panax quinquefolius saponin (PQS) on insulin sensitivity in patients with coronary heart disease and blood glucose abnormalities. Eighty-four patients were randomized to either PQS or placebo in addition to Western medicine. The combination showed better lowering of fasting blood glucose, and significant decrease in triglycerides and LDL cholesterol. The PubMed ID is: 18198636.

[Rainey]

Ginseng can help with diabetes, but you have to monitor it to make sure you don't cause a large drop in sugar levels. Make sure to consult your doctor.

[dale]

Of late, the indigenous knowledge about alternative treatment techniques of the East are getting poplar throughout the world. Ginseng is an example for the same. Yoga is another good example here. A lot of celebrities practice yoga to stay in shape.