Anti-cold ginseng extract?

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

See the below suggesting that ginseng extract reduces cold in symptoms and

number.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2005/10/24/cold051024.html

Efficacy of an extract of North American ginseng containing

poly-furanosyl-pyranosyl-saccharides for preventing upper respiratory tract

infections: a randomized controlled trial

Gerald N. Predy, Vinti Goel, Ray Lovlin, Allan Donner, Larry Stitt, and Tapan K.

Basu

CMAJ 2005 173: 1043-1048.

Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study at

the

onset of the influenza season. A total of 323 subjects 18–65 years of age with a

history of at least 2 colds in the previous year were recruited from the general

population in Edmonton, Alberta. The participants were instructed to take 2

capsules

per day of either the North American ginseng extract or a placebo for a period

of 4

months. The primary outcome measure was the number of -verified colds.

Secondary variables measured included symptom severity, total number of days of

symptoms and duration of all colds. Cold symptoms were scored by subjects using

a

4-point scale.

Results: Subjects who did not start treatment were excluded from the analysis

(23 in

the ginseng group and 21 in the placebo group), leaving 130 in the ginseng group

and

149 in the placebo group. The mean number of colds per person was lower in the

ginseng group than in the placebo group (0.68 [standard deviation (SD) 0.82] v.

0.93

[sD 0.91], difference 0.25%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04–0.45). The

proportion

of subjects with 2 or more -verified colds during the 4-month period

(10.0%

v. 22.8%, 12.8% difference, 95% CI 4.3–21.3) was significantly lower in the

ginseng

group than in the placebo group, as were the total symptom score (77.5 [sD 84.6]

v.

112.3 [sD 102.5], difference 1.5%, 95% CI 1.2–2.0) and the total number of days

cold

symptoms were reported (10.8 [sD 9.7] v. 16.5 [sD 13.8] days, difference 1.6%,

95%

CI 1.3–2.0) for all colds.

.... Results

After the screening process, a total of 323 volunteers were enrolled and

randomly

assigned to the placebo or ginseng group (Fig. 1). Of these, 153 were assigned

to

receive the ginseng extract and 170 to receive placebo. The treatment assignment

imbalance was due to the lack of a blocking factor in the randomization process.

Of

subjects in the ginseng group, 23 (15.0%) did not start their treatment, and in

the

placebo group, 21 (12.4%) failed to start. A number of reasons for withdrawal

were

given, including changing employment, compulsory immunization and holiday

commitments. Some withdrew without giving a reason. A total of 130 in the

ginseng

group and 149 in the placebo group began the treatments and were included in

data

analysis. Twelve (9.2%) in the ginseng group and 11 (7.4%) in the placebo group

discontinued for various reasons (Fig. 1).

There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the

subjects included and those excluded from data analysis (Table 1). The 2 study

groups were similar with respect to age, sex and history of colds.

Compliance was high in both groups: 90% in the ginseng group and 92% in the

placebo

group reported taking more than 75% of the medication. Blinding was also

maintained

adequately during the treatment period. On completion of the study, 69.8% of

those

taking ginseng and 77.3% of those taking placebo thought they had been given the

ginseng extract.

The mean number of -verified colds per person was less in the ginseng

group

than in the placebo group (0.68 v. 0.93, difference 0.25%, 95% confidence

interval

[CI] 0.04 to 0.45, p = 0.017) (Table 2). Fewer subjects in the ginseng group

reported contracting at least 1 cold during the 4-month intervention period than

in

the placebo group (54.6% [71/130] v. 63.8% [95/149], difference 9.1%, 95% CI

–2.4 to

20.7), but the difference was nonsignificant. However, the difference in

recurrent

colds was significant: 10.0% in the ginseng group reported having more than one

cold

compared with 22.8% in the placebo group (difference 12.8%, 95% CI 4.3 to 21.3,

p =

0.004). Similar results were observed for all colds reported.

The total symptom score of all colds during the 4-month intervention period in

the

ginseng and placebo groups was 77.5 and 112.3 respectively (difference 1.5%, 95%

CI

1.2–2.0, p = 0.002) (Table 3). A similar result was obtained when the total

symptom

scores per cold were compared. The total number of days that cold symptoms were

experienced was significantly fewer in the ginseng group (10.8 v. 16.5 days,

difference 1.6%, 95% CI 1.3–2.0, p < 0.001).

The interventions were generally well tolerated by the subjects (Table 4). The

frequency of adverse events was similar in the 2 groups. Type 2 diabetes

mellitus

was diagnosed in 2 subjects in the ginseng group, and they were subsequently

withdrawn from the study.

Supplementary medications, particularly NSAIDs, were used by 26.2% (34/130) and

29.5% (44/149) of the subjects in the ginseng and placebo groups respectively.

Four

(3.1%) in the ginseng group and 5 (3.4%) in placebo reported taking antibiotics

for

their colds and flu. The differences in the incidence of NSAIDs and antibiotic

use

between the 2 groups were not found to be statistically significant. ...

Al Pater, PhD; email: old542000@...

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