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DOES GINSENG ENHANCE ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE
Individuals using ginseng demonstrate no boost in performance or immune function during bouts of heavy exercise Ginseng, a popular herb often thought to relieve symptoms of stress, illness and fatigue, does not improve physical performance or exercise-induced immune suppression, reports a study published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise®, the official scientific journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. Ginseng has long been used in traditional medicine in Asian countries as a remedy for many ailments. In the U.S., however, ginseng is classified as a dietary supplement with limited scientific research currently supporting its potential medicinal value. Ginseng advocates commonly believe that its intake is associated with an improved ability to adapt and recover from many kinds of stresses, including those imposed by strenuous physical work. Thus, researchers at Wayne State University were interested in studying the connection between ginseng and exercise-induced stress. |
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Because strenuous exercise is thought to suppress immune function, and those with suppressed immune systems are more susceptible to URTI, this study examined ginseng as a proponent to enhance the immune system and as a nutritional aid in the prevention and treatment of upper respiratory illnesses, such as the common cold. The study focused on the effects of long-term ginseng intake on changes in the mucosal immune system, physical performance, and recovery responses of individuals undergoing exhausting interval exercise. Researchers recruited 38 healthy, young, and habitually active adults. The group was divided among those supplemented with ginseng and those given a placebo. Before and after an eight-week dietary supplementation period, participants performed a series of all-out effort exercise tests on a stationary cycle. Saliva was collected to measure changes in immune responses. |
Researchers were able to determine similar mucosal immunity results between ginseng and placebo-treated groups; neither population changed their performance and heart rate recovery patterns after exercise. Further, the recorded incidences of URTI signs and symptoms during the study period were equally divided between ginseng and placebo groups.
"The potential of selected herbs to affect health and human performance continues to be of great interest to practitioners and researchers alike," said lead author Hermann-J Engels, Ph.D., FACSM. "Supplementation with ginseng in this study was not effective as a countermeasure to exercise-induced immunosuppression or a reduction of URTI symptoms. The use of our unique repetitive exercise protocol allowed us for the first time to look at the effects of this enigmatic herb in already tired individuals."
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