The Open Nutrition Journal

2010, 4 : 1-10
Published online 2010 July 8. DOI: 10.2174/1874288201004010001
Publisher ID: TONUTRJ-4-1

A Randomized, Controlled Trial of Ginseng Consumption on the Immune Response to a Moderate Exercise Stress Protocol in Non-Athletic Women

Patricia D. Biondo , Linda J. McCargar , Vicki J. Harber and Catherine J. Field
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, 4-126A HRIF East, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E1, Canada.

ABSTRACT

Background:

Ginseng is a popular herbal remedy that has been proposed to increase resistance to stress and enhance immune function. Regular moderate exercise results in an acute physiological stress that affects immune function.

Objective:

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of daily consumption of a standardized ginsenosidecontaining North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) extract on immune function before, immediately after, and during recovery from moderate exercise in healthy, non-athletic women.

Research design and methods:

A double-blinded randomized trial was conducted where healthy female subjects (n=12) were randomized to receive either ginseng (1125 mg/d; n=6) or placebo (n=6) for four weeks. An exercise test was performed and peripheral blood collected before and after the four-week treatment period. Immune assays (phenotype analysis, neutrophil function, lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer cell cytotoxicity) were performed before, immediately after, and 30 minutes post-exercise.

Results:

Ginseng-treated subjects had a lower (P < 0.05) proportion of antigen mature CD4+CD45RO+ peripheral blood cells before and after exercise, and experienced a sustained reduction (P < 0.05) in the proportions of total CD28+ and CD4+CD28+ cells during recovery from exercise. The ginseng group had significantly higher mitogen-stimulated neutrophil function (oxidative burst) at all exercise protocol time points (P < 0.05). There were no effects of ginseng on the proportions of other immune cells, lymphocyte proliferation, or natural killer cell cytotoxicity in peripheral blood.

Conclusions:

The consumption of ginseng for a four-week period improved the ability of neutrophils to respond to stimulation and produced changes consistent with less T cell activation after an acute exercise stress.