Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2015 Aug 20:12:34.
doi: 10.1186/s12970-015-0095-6. eCollection 2015.

Null effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on improving glycemic status in men during a resistance training recovery

Wei-Hsiang Chang  1   2   3 , Ying-Lan Tsai  2 , Chih-Yang Huang  4   5 , City C Hsieh  2 , Rungchai Chaunchaiyakul  6 , Yu Fang  1 , Shin-Da Lee #  7   8 , Chia-Hua Kuo #  1   7
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Null effect of ginsenoside Rb1 on improving glycemic status in men during a resistance training recovery

Wei-Hsiang Chang et al. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. .

Abstract

Background: Ginsenoside Rb1, a principle active ingredients of Panax ginseng, has been shown to lower blood glucose in animals and increase insulin secretion in cultured insulinoma cells. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of daily ginsenoside Rb1 supplementation on circulating glucose and insulin levels in men during a 5-day recovery period after an acute bout of resistance exercise.

Methods: Twelve gymnasts (20.5 ± 0.3 years of age) participated in this double blind placebo-controlled crossover trial. They were challenged by a lower-limb resistance exercise at a weight load of 85 % one-repetition maximal (1-RM) for 10 repetitions, six sets of the movement. Rb1 (1 ng/kg) or Placebo was orally delivered to participants daily during a 5-day recovery period after challenge. Circulating insulin, glucose and heart rate variability (HRV) were measured under fasted condition in the morning at Days 1, Day 3, and Day 5 during recovery.

Results: No significant effect of Rb1 on circulating glucose and insulin levels were found among participants during the 5-day recovery period. A persistent elevation in sympathetic nervous activity, indicated by increased HRV-low frequency/high frequency (HRV-LF/HF) power, during the Rb1 trial was observed.

Conclusions: The result of the study suggests that the null effect of Rb1 supplementation on lowering glucose and insulin levels of participants may be associated with chronic sympathetic activation.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Experimental procedure. Post-exercise blood sample collection conducted before Rb1 or Placebo supplementation. Pre: before exercise; Post: after exercise; Day 1, Day 3, and Day 5: post-exercise recovery time with Rb1 or Placebo supplementation
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Blood glucose levels during a 5-day Rb1 supplementation after an acute bout of resistance exercise. All values are presented as mean ± SE. SI unit conversion factor from mg/dL to mmol/L: 0.0555
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Serum insulin levels during a 5-day Rb1 supplementation after an acute bout of resistance exercise. All values are presented as mean ± SE. SI unit conversion factor from μIU/mL to pmol/L: 6.945
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Serum cortisol levels during a 5-day Rb1 supplementation after an acute bout of resistance exercise. All values are presented as mean ± SE. SI unit conversion factor from μg/dL to nmol/L: 27.59
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Vagal modulation (HRV-HF) during a 5-day Rb1 supplementation after an acute bout of resistance exercise. All values are presented as mean ± SE
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Sympathetic modulation (HRV-LF/HF) during a 5-day Rb1 supplementation after an acute bout of resistance exercise. AUC: Rb1 2036 ± 803 vs. Placebo 276 ± 655. *Significant trial effect (P < 0.05). All values are presented as mean ± SE
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Sievenpiper JL, Arnason JT, Leiter LA, Vuksan V. Decreasing, null and increasing effects of eight popular types of ginseng on acute postprandial glycemic indices in healthy humans: the role of ginsenosides. J Am Coll Nutr. 2004;23(3):248–58. doi: 10.1080/07315724.2004.10719368. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Reay JL, Kennedy DO, Scholey AB. Single doses of panax ginseng (G115) reduce blood glucose levels and improve cognitive performance during sustained mental activity. J Psychopharmacol. 2005;19(4):357–65. doi: 10.1177/0269881105053286. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Sievenpiper JL, Arnason JT, Leiter LA, Vuksan V. Variable effects of American ginseng: a batch of American ginseng (panax quinquefolius L.) with a depressed ginsenoside profile does not affect postprandial glycemia. Eur J Clin Nutr. 2003;57(2):243–8. doi: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601550. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Washida D, Kitanaka S. Determination of polyacetylenes and ginsenosides in panax species using high performance liquid chromatography. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 2003;51(11):1314–7. doi: 10.1248/cpb.51.1314. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Park S, Ahn IS, Kwon DY, Ko BS, Jun WK. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 suppress triglyceride accumulation in 3 T3-L1 adipocytes and enhance beta-cell insulin secretion and viability in min6 cells via PKA-dependent pathways. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem. 2008;72(11):2815–23. doi: 10.1271/bbb.80205. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types