Branded ginseng supports cardiovascular health, says unpublished study

Photo © iStockphoto.com

Farlong Pharmaceutical (Walnut, CA) announced the results of a study it had sponsored that was conducted by KGK Science, Inc. The randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, parallel study was designed to determine the efficacy of Farlong’s proprietary ginseng (Notoginseng) on cholesterol and blood pressure.

In the study, 100 healthy adults were randomized to each of the two study arms to receive two capsules of ginseng or placebo with water at the same time every day, 30 minutes prior to a meal, for 12 weeks. The primary outcome of the study is the difference in serum LDL-C (bad cholesterol) from baseline to week 12. The secondary outcomes are the differences in serum LDL-C, blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL-C (good cholesterol), total cholesterol, and endothelial vasodilation from baseline to week 8 and week 12.

Results showed that subjects taking the proprietary ginseng experience a significant decrease in serum LDL-C at week eight and a slight increase in serum HDL-C after 12 weeks. Subjects taking the ginseng also showed within-group decreases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, while the placebo group saw increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and a decrease in serum HDL-C.

These findings suggest that Notoginseng is well tolerated and has a positive impact on reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease.