Ginseng (1995) & Diabetes

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Researchers examined the effectiveness of ginseng for non-insulin dependent patients.

This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of thirty six patients who had recently been diagnosed as non-insulin dependent were treated for 8 weeks with 100 or 200mg panax ginseng daily. The researchers evaluated the results via psychophysical testing, glucose and fat levels in blood, body weight and amino terminal propeptide concentration.

The study found better fasting blood-glucose levels, improved psychophysical performance, and better mood. Better hemoglobin A1C values also result from the 200mg dosage. The placebo reduced body weight and altered the serum fats, but did not change fasting blood glucose.

Editors Note: A 2011 study using Korean red ginger with 15 overweight patients and for only 30 days did not find the same result.

Researchers: Sotaniemi EA, Haapakoski E, Rautio A., Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland.

Published: Ginseng therapy in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients, Diabetes Care. 1995 Oct;18(10):1373-5.