scholarly journals Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Plasma Ceramide Levels in Postmenopausal Women with Hypercholesterolemia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Metabolites ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 417
Author(s):  
Yu-Jin Kwon ◽  
Gyung-Min Lee ◽  
Kwang-Hyeon Liu ◽  
Dong-Hyuk Jung
Keyword(s):  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Red Ginseng ◽  
Korean Red Ginseng ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽  
Study Completion ◽  
Double Blinded ◽  
Experimental Group

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a crucial cause of death in postmenopausal women. Plasma ceramide concentrations are correlated with the development of atherosclerosis and are significant predictors of CVD. Here, we conducted a 4-week, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical pilot study to investigate the effect of Korean red ginseng (KRG) on serum ceramide concentrations in 68 postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia. Patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group (n = 36) received KRG and the control (n = 32) group received placebo, 2 g each, once daily. Serum ceramides were measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry at baseline and study completion, with changes in serum ceramide levels as the primary end point. We detected significantly greater mean changes in C16 ceramide levels (d18:1/16:0: −6.4 ± 6.3 pmol/mL vs. 14.6 ± 6.8 pmol/mL, respectively, p = 0.040; d18:1/22:0: −20.8 ± 24.4 pmol/mL vs. 71.1 ± 26.2 pmol/mL, respectively, p = 0.020). Additionally, changes in the median C16 (d18:1/16:0) and C22 (d18:1/22:0) ceramide levels were significantly greater in KRG-group subjects with metabolic syndrome than those without. Therefore, we found that KRG decreases the serum levels of several ceramides in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia, suggesting it may be beneficial for preventing CVD in these individuals.

scholarly journals Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Cholesterol Metabolites in Postmenopausal Women with Hypercholesterolemia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3423
Author(s):  
Yu-Jin Kwon ◽  
Su-Nyeong Jang ◽  
Kwang-Hyeon Liu ◽  
Dong-Hyuk Jung
Keyword(s):  
Placebo Group ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Cholesterol Absorption ◽  
Red Ginseng ◽  
Korean Red Ginseng ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Double Blinded

Korean red ginseng (KRG) is known to exert beneficial effects on cardiovascular health. Meanwhile, reduced estrogen at menopause has been shown to have various adverse impacts on cardiovascular risk factors, including blood lipids. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of KRG on cholesterol metabolites, which are surrogate markers of cholesterol absorption and biosynthesis, in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia. The present study is an exploratory study which used data from a 4-week, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical pilot study in 68 postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia. Patients received KRG (2 g) or placebo (2 g) once daily. The primary endpoints were changes in the levels of nine sterols. Serum sterols were analyzed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS analysis. Among the sterols, reduction in cholesterol level were significantly larger in the KRG group than in the placebo group (the changes: −148.3 ± 261.1 nmol/mL in the ginseng group vs. −23.0 ± 220.5 nmol/mL in the placebo group, p = 0.039). Additionally, changes in 7-hydroxycholesterol (7-OHC) were significantly larger in the KRG group than in the placebo group (the changes: −0.05 ± 0.09 nmol/mL in the ginseng group vs. −0.002 ± 0.1 nmol/mL in the placebo group, p = 0.047). Oxysterols, cholesterol derivates, have been known to play a role in chronic inflammation diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. KRG improves sterol metabolism by decreasing cholesterol and 7-OHC levels in postmenopausal women with hypercholesterolemia.

scholarly journals Clinical Effects of Korean Red Ginseng in Postmenopausal Women With Hand Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hye In Kim ◽  
Seung Joo Chon ◽  
Ki Eun Seon ◽  
Seok Kyo Seo ◽  
Yun-Rak Choi
Keyword(s):  
Placebo Group ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Endometrial Thickness ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Dash Score ◽  
Red Ginseng ◽  
Korean Red Ginseng ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Stress Markers ◽  
Estradiol Levels

Background: Although many menopausal Asian women use herbal remedies for joint pain, there are no studies evaluating the efficacy of Korean red ginseng on osteoarthritis symptoms in postmenopausal women. The purpose of this study is to analyze antioxidant enzyme activity, oxidative stress markers, and pain scores before and after red ginseng consumption, to assess its effect in postmenopausal women. Methods. This prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial enrolled 52 postmenopausal women who presented with hand edema and/or pain and were diagnosed as degenerative arthritis of the hand. Patients were randomly assigned to the red ginseng (RG) group (supplemented with 3 g/d of RG for 12 weeks) or the placebo group. Changes in pain and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scores, antioxidant enzyme, oxidative stress markers, serum estradiol levels, and endometrial thickness were analyzed. Results. The pain score and DASH score were significantly improved in the RG group (both p < 0.05). The improvement of pain score at rest, during work or sport, and DASH score was significant compared to that of the placebo group. The superoxide dismutase level increased (p < 0.05) and the malondialdehyde level decreased (p < 0.05) significantly in the RG group, while none of the antioxidative factors showed a significant change in the placebo group. Serum estradiol levels and endometrial thickness were not affected by RG supplementation. Conclusion. RG may be an effective dietary supplement for postmenopausal women with degenerative osteoarthritis of the hand. It may relieve pain and improve antioxidative activity without the risk of endometrial thickening.

scholarly journals Immuno-enhancement effects of Korean Red Ginseng in healthy adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 191-198
Author(s):  
Sun Hee Hyun ◽  
Ha-Young Ahn ◽  
Hyeong-Jun Kim ◽  
Sung Won Kim ◽  
Seung-Ho So ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Healthy Adults ◽  
Red Ginseng ◽  
Korean Red Ginseng ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Double Blind Placebo

scholarly journals Korean Red Ginseng Plays an Anti-Aging Role by Modulating Expression of Aging-Related Genes and Immune Cell Subsets

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1492 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kun Kuk Shin ◽  
Young-Su Yi ◽  
Jin Kyeong Kim ◽  
Haeyeop Kim ◽  
Mohammad Amjad Hossain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Expression ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Red Ginseng ◽  
Aging Effects ◽  
Thymic Involution ◽  
Korean Red Ginseng ◽  
Immune Cell Subsets ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Old Mice

Despite previous reports of anti-aging effects of Korean red ginseng (KRG), the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigated possible mechanisms of KRG-mediated anti-aging effects in aged mice. KRG significantly inhibited thymic involution in old mice. Interestingly, KRG only increased protein expression, but not mRNA expression, of aging-related genes Lin28a, GDF-11, Sirt1, IL-2, and IL-17 in the thymocytes of old mice. KRG also modulated the population of some types of immune cells in old mice. KRG increased the population of regulatory T cells and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-expressing natural killer (NK) cells in the spleen of old mice, but serum levels of regulatory T cell-specific cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β were unaffected. Finally, KRG recovered mRNA expression of Lin28a, GDF-11, and Sirt1 artificially decreased by concanavalin A (Con A) in both thymocytes and splenocytes of old mice without cytotoxicity. These results suggest that KRG exerts anti-aging effects by preventing thymic involution, as well as modulating the expression of aging-related genes and immune cell subsets.

scholarly journals Pharmacokinetics of Rifampin and Clarithromycin in Patients Treated for Mycobacterium ulcerans Infection

2010 ◽  
Vol 54 (9) ◽  
pp. 3878-3883 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. C. Alffenaar ◽  
W. A. Nienhuis ◽  
F. de Velde ◽  
A. T. Zuur ◽  
A. M. A. Wessels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extended Release ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Mycobacterium Ulcerans ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Parameters ◽  
Time Curve ◽  
Release Formulation ◽  
Once Daily ◽  
Extended Release Formulation ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽  
Tandem Mass Spectroscopy

ABSTRACT In a randomized controlled trial in Ghana, treatment of Mycobacterium ulcerans infection with streptomycin (SM)-rifampin (RIF) for 8 weeks was compared with treatment with SM-RIF for 4 weeks followed by treatment with RIF-clarithromycin (CLA) for 4 weeks. The extent of the interaction of RIF and CLA combined on the pharmacokinetics of the two compounds is unknown in this population and was therefore studied in a subset of patients. Patients received CLA at a dose of 7.5 mg/kg of body weight once daily, rounded to the nearest 125 mg. RIF was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg, rounded to the nearest 150 mg. SM was given at a dose of 15 mg/kg once daily as an intramuscular injection. Plasma samples were drawn at steady state and analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with the MW/Pharm (version 3.60) program. Comedication with CLA resulted in a 60% statistically nonsignificant increase in the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) for RIF of 25.8 mg·h/liter (interquartile ratio [IQR], 21.7 to 31.5 mg·h/liter), whereas the AUC of RIF was 15.2 mg·h/liter (IQR, 15.0 to 17.5 mg·h/liter) in patients comedicated with SM (P = 0.09). The median AUCs of CLA and 14-hydroxyclarithromycin (14OH-CLA) were 2.9 mg·h/liter (IQR, 1.5 to 3.8 mg·h/liter) and 8.0 mg·h/liter (IQR, 6.7 to 8.6 mg·h/liter), respectively. The median concentration of CLA was above the MIC of M. ulcerans, but that of 14OH-CLA was not. In further clinical studies, a dose of CLA of 7.5 mg/kg twice daily should be used (or with an extended-release formulation, 15 mg/kg should be used) to ensure higher levels of exposure to CLA and an increase in the time above the MIC compared to those achieved with the currently used dose of 7.5 mg/kg once daily.

scholarly journals Tocotrienol Supplementation Led to Higher Serum Levels of Lysophospholipids but Lower Acylcarnitines in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Double-Blinded Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chwan-Li Shen ◽  
Huanbiao Mo ◽  
Dale M. Dunn ◽  
Bruce A. Watkins
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Postmenopausal Women ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Phospholipid Metabolism ◽  
The Body ◽  
Controlled Clinical Trial ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Major Health Problem ◽  
Double Blinded ◽  
And Oxidative Stress

Osteoporosis is a major health problem in postmenopausal women. Herein we evaluated the effects of 12-week tocotrienols (TT) supplementation on serum metabolites in postmenopausal, osteopenic women. Eighty-nine participants (59.7 ± 6.8 yr, BMI 28.7 ± 5.7 kg/m2) were assigned to 3 treatments: placebo (860 mg olive oil/day), 300mg TT (300 mg TT/day), and 600mg TT (600 mg TT/day) for 12 weeks. TT consisted of 90% δ-TT and 10% γ-TT. In this metabolomic study, we evaluated the placebo and 600mgTT at baseline and 12 weeks. As expected, TT and its metabolite levels were higher in the supplemented group after 12 weeks. At baseline, there were no differences in demographic parameters or comprehensive metabolic panels (CMP). Metabolomics analysis of serum samples revealed that 48 biochemicals were higher and 65 were lower in the 600mg TT group at 12 weeks, compared to baseline. The results confirmed higher serum levels of tocotrienols and lysophospholipids, but lower acylcarnitines and catabolites of tryptophan and steroids in subjects given 600mg TT. In summary, 12-week TT supplementation altered many serum metabolite levels in postmenopausal women. The present study supports our previous findings that TT supplementation helps reduce bone loss in postmenopausal osteopenic women by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress. Furthermore, the body incorporates TT which restructures biomembranes and modifies phospholipid metabolism, a response potentially linked to reduced inflammation and oxidative stress.

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