JACN Did you know that you can get alerts when a new issue is online?
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Figures Only
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Dickman, J. R.
Right arrow Articles by Ji, L. L.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Dickman, J. R.
Right arrow Articles by Ji, L. L.
Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 28, No. 2, 219-228 (2009)
Published by the American College of Nutrition

American Ginseng Supplementation Induces an Oxidative Stress in Postmenopausal Women

Jonathan R. Dickman, MS, Ryan T. Koenig, MS and Li Li Ji, PhD

Department Of Kinesiology (J.R.D., R.T.K., L.L.J.)
Graduate Program of Nutritional Science (L.L.J.), University Of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin

Address correspondence to: Li Li Ji, Ph.D., The Biodyanmics Laboratory, 2000 Observatory Drive, Madison, WI 53706 E-mail: ji{at}education.wisc.edu

Objective: To determine whether American ginseng (Panax Quinquefolium) confers antioxidant protection to postmenopausal women at rest and after a mild aerobic exercise session.

Methods: In this double-blinded parallel study, 12 female subjects (age range 55–75) consumed two capsules, containing 500 mg of dry American ginseng whole-root powder, everyday for 4 months, whereas 13 female control subjects of the same age range consumed two placebo capsules. Before and after the supplementation regimen each subject performed 30 minutes of treadmill walking on a 5% grade incline at an estimated 60% of VO2max.

Results: Ginseng supplementation had no effect on heart rate, blood pressure, plasma blood glucose, or lactate concentration at rest or immediately after exercise tests. The ginseng supplemented group displayed a higher resting plasma glutathione disulfide (GSSG) concentration and lower glutathione (GSH):GSSG ratio, as well as a lower resting total antioxidant content (TAC). Plasma GSSG concentration decreased, whereas the GSH:GSSG ratio and TAC increased after exercise in all subjects. Furthermore, plasma malondialdehyde and urine 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine concentrations were elevated in the ginseng-supplemented group. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase and GSH reductase activities were increased after ginseng supplementation. The 30-minute treadmill walking, however, did not alter these changes.

Conclusions: These data suggest that chronic American ginseng supplementation at the given dose can cause an oxidative stress in postmenopausal women, as reflected by the elevated oxidative damage markers and the increased erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activity.

Key words: aging, antioxidant, exercise, ginseng, oxidative stress, postmenopausal women

Abbreviations: 8-OHdG = 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine • AG = American ginseng • GPX = glutathione peroxidase • GSH = reduced glutathione • GSSG = glutathione disulfide • MAPK = mitogen activated protein kinase • MDA = malondialdehyde • NF{kappa}B = nuclear factor kappa B • PL = placebo • ROS = reactive oxygen species • SOD = superoxide dismutase • TAC = total antioxidant content.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2009 by the American College of Nutrition.