The efficacy of ginseng supplementation on plasma lipid concentration in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Rahele Ziaei; Abed Ghavami; Ehsan Ghaedi; Amir Hadi; Parisa Javadian; Cain C T Clark

doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102239

The efficacy of ginseng supplementation on plasma lipid concentration in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Complement Ther Med. 2020 Jan:48:102239. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102239. Epub 2019 Nov 7.

Authors

Rahele Ziaei¹, Abed Ghavami², Ehsan Ghaedi³, Amir Hadi⁴, Parisa Javadian⁵, Cain C T Clark⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
² Student Research Committee, Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
³ Students' Scientific Research Center (SSRC), Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS), Tehran, Iran; Department of Cellular and Molecular Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Ehsanghaedi073@gmail.com.
⁴ Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: Amirhadi.vnt@gmail.com.
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran.
⁶ Faculty Research Centre for Sport, Exercise and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, UK.

PMID: 31987252
DOI: 10.1016/j.ctim.2019.102239

Abstract

Objective: We performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of ginseng supplementation on plasma lipid concentration.

Methods: The search included PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane library, and Google Scholar (up to April 2019) to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of ginseng supplementation on serum lipid parameters. To estimate the overall summary effect, we used random-effects model.

Results: Twenty-seven studies comprising 35 treatment arms comprising 1245 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis results showed that consumption of ginseng did not significantly change the concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). However, subgroup analyses showed a significant lowering effect in high dose ginseng supplementation on TC, LDL-C and TG. Also, the impact of ginseng on TC and TG was significant in long-term interventions.

Conclusion: Further RCTs with longer supplementation durations in subjects with dyslipidemia are necessitated for a more robust assessment of the lipid-modulating properties of this plant.

Keywords: Ginseng; Lipid profile; Meta-analysis; Supplementation; Systematic review.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review

MeSH terms

Adult
Dietary Supplements*
Humans
Lipids / blood*
Panax*
Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Substances

Lipids