Effect of Korean Red Ginseng on Oxidation in Middle-aged and Elderly Sub-health Population

An RCT Study to Investigate the Effect of Korean Red Ginseng for Middle-aged and Elderly Sub-health Population on Anti-oxidation

The objective of this study is to examine the effects and safety of Korean red ginseng capsule and placebo with middle-aged and elderly sub-health population.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Antioxidative Stress; Healthy Ageing
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Korean red ginseng capsule (marketed product in Korea); Drug: Korean red ginseng capsule(placebo)

Detailed Description

Processed red ginseng are non-toxic and healthy "tonics". It was recorded in medical books and Materia Medica that taking it for a long time can prolong life. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of ginseng on antioxidation and healthy aging indicators of sub-health subjects in Han Chinese population. Subjects will undergo a safety follow-up after the treatment period. Safety and efficacy will be determined by looking at a number of assessments [physical examinations, blood sampling, sub-health status evaluation questionnaire (shsq-25), etc.]. It is expected that around 900 people (at least 450 in each arm) with sub-healthy state may take part in the study. The study participants will be recruited at around 3 sites from Northern(Beijing),Central(Shanghai), Southern(Foshan and Nanchang) in China.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 900
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Beijing Municipality
    • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China, 100026
      • Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University
  • Guangdong
    • Foshan, Guangdong, China, 528031
      • Foshan Fuxing Changcheng Hospital
  • Jiangxi
    • Nanchang, Jiangxi, China, 330006
      • Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of TCM
  • Shanghai Municipality
    • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, 200127
      • Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 40 years to 75 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. 40-75 years old, male or female, Han nationality;
2. There was no history of major chronic disease or clinically active disease within 3 months before the study, including any cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, lung, kidney, liver, endocrine, digestive tract, nervous system or metabolic disease; Inflammation, psychosis, AIDS, tumor or traumatic injury, etc., and the disease history that the researcher judges to have an impact on the study;
3. According to the sub-health status evaluation questionnaire (shsq-25), ≥ 35 points can be judged as sub-health;
4. Agree to have no family planning or sperm donation plan during the trial and within 6 months after the end of the trial and voluntarily take effective contraceptive measures (avoid using contraceptives);
5. Cohabitants included only one subject; Those who sign the informed consent shall fully understand the test content, process and possible adverse reactions, and be able to communicate well with the investigator.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Those who need to take medicine (traditional Han Chinese medicine, western medicine, biological medicine) due to any major chronic disease or clinically active disease within 3 months before the study;
2. Obesity population (BMI index) (kg / m2) BMI ≥ 28KG / m2; Low body weight population (BMI index) (kg / m2) BMI < 18.5kg/m2;
3. Vegetarians within 3 months before the study;
4. Those who took other antioxidant health products within 3 months before the study (vitamin health products or supplements; zinc and selenium health products or supplements; superoxide dismutase (SOD) health products; health products containing grape seeds, lycopene, flavonoids, astaxanthin, propolis, squalene, nicotinamide nucleoside, omega-3 or omega-6, etc.);
5. Those who took (or used) microecological regulators within 3 months before the study;
6. Those who drank more than 200ml of coffee per day (converted as pure coffee) within 3 months before the study;
7. Those who are known to be allergic to red ginseng ingredients, or who have a specific history of allergy (asthma, measles, eczema, etc.), or allergic constitution (such as those who are allergic to two or more drugs, food such as milk and pollen), or who have a history of food, drug hypersensitivity or allergic reaction judged by other researchers to have clinical significance;
8. Alcoholics (drinking more than 14 standard units per week. 1 standard unit contains 14g alcohol, such as 360ml beer or 45ml spirit with 40% alcohol or 150ml wine), or those with positive breath test within 3 months before the study；
9. Those who smoked more than 10 cigarettes per day in the 3 months before the study;
10. Those who have participated in or are participating in other clinical trials within 3 months before the study;
11. The investigator considered that there were other patients who were not suitable to participate in this study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: KRGO group; Korean red ginseng capsule (KRGO)marketed product in Korea donated by The Korean Society of Ginseng.	Drug: Korean red ginseng capsule (marketed product in Korea); Korean red ginseng capsule (marketed product in Korea) KRGO group and placebo group were used for treatment. The random number is generated by the central randomization system. All the recruiters were divided into placebo group and KRGO group. The numbers will be assigned according to random numbers. In this study, qualified subjects were randomly assigned to the KRGO group and placebo group at a ratio of 1:1. The drug was administered for 12 weeks, 2 times a day, 3 capsules each time.; Other Names: red ginseng
Placebo Comparator: placebo group; Same smell, color and shape as Korean red ginseng capsule (KRGO)without herbs in capsules.	Drug: Korean red ginseng capsule(placebo); KRGO group and placebo group were used for treatment. The random number is generated by the central randomization system. All the recruiters were divided into placebo group and KRGO group. The numbers will be assigned according to random numbers. In this study, qualified subjects were randomly assigned to the KRGO group and placebo group at a ratio of 1:1. The drug was administered for 12 weeks, 2 times a day, 3 capsules each time.; Other Names: placebo group

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in malondialdehyde (MDA) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the change in serum MDA from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in serum lipofuscin after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum lipofuscin from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum protein carbonyl after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum protein carbonyl from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine(8-OHdG) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum 8-OHdG from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum SOD from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum glutathione(GSH) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum GSH from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Changes in the sub-health status evaluation questionnaire (shsq-25) after 12 weeks and 16 weeks treatment	To compare the change in the sub-health status evaluation questionnaire (shsq-25) using face to face Interview for the scores from baseline (week 1 to week 12, week 12 to week 16) between KRGO and placebo (range, 0 [best] to 100 [worst]).	12 weeks # 16 weeks

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in serum total cholesterol(TC) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum TC from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum triglyceride(TG) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum TG from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum low density lipoprotein (LDLC) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum LDLC from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum high density lipoprotein (HDLC) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum HDLC from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum C-reactive protein (CRP) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum CRP from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum IgG from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo. Patients from lead trial center were selected for this study.	12 weeks
Change in serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum IgA from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo. Patients from lead trial center were selected for this study.	12 weeks
Change in serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum IgM from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo. Patients from lead trial center were selected for this study.	12 weeks
Change in serum estradiol (E2) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum E2 from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum FSH from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum luteinizing hormone (LH) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum LH from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum testosterone after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum testosterone from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum prolactin (PRL) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum PRL from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum progesterone (P) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum P from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the change in SMI with spring grip from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo. Patients from lead trial center were selected for this study.	12 weeks
Change in appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the change in ASM from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo. Patients from lead trial center were selected for this study.	12 weeks
Change in percentage body fat (PBF) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the change in PBF from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo. Patients from lead trial center were selected for this study.	12 weeks
Change in body fat mass (BFM) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the change in BFM from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo. Patients from lead trial center were selected for this study.	12 weeks
Change in visceral fat area (VFA) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the change in VFA from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo. Patients from lead trial center were selected for this study.	12 weeks
Change in serum apolipoproteins after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum apolipoprotein from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum lipoproteins after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum lipoprotein from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum Fasting Blood Glucose after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in Fasting Blood Glucose (FBG) from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum glycated hemoglobin ( HbA1c) after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum glycated hemoglobin ( HbA1c) from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in serum cytokines after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in serum cytokines from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo. Patients from lead trial center were selected for this study.	12 weeks
Change in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the changes in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo. Patients from lead trial center were selected for this study.	12 weeks
Mean change from baseline to Week 12 in Composite Clinical Indicator Score	Composite Clinical Indicator Score is a prespecified unitless composite index summarizing [cardiometabolic / vascular aging / biological aging] status. It is constructed following the principles in the OECD/JRC Handbook on Constructing Composite Indicators (theoretical framework, indicator selection, missing data handling, normalization, weighting and aggregation). Component indicators are prespecified and grouped into domains: Lipid/atherogenicity domain: [TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, …]; Glycemic/metabolic domain: [fasting glucose, HbA1c, …]; Blood pressure/vascular domain: [SBP, DBP, …]; Inflammation domain: [hsCRP, …] Each component is standardized to z-scores using baseline distribution, then aggregated using [equal weights / prespecified weights / PCA-derived weights] with linear aggregation to yield a unitless Composite Clinical Indicator Score.	12 weeks
Change in perpheral metabolomics after 12 weeks of treatment	Peripheral venous blood will be collected at baseline (Week 1) and Week 12. Serum metabolomics will be quantified using LC-MS/MS. Metabolomics levels will be reported as normalized relative abundance. The outcome is the change from baseline to Week 12 in normalized metabolomics levels.	12 weeks
Change in perpheral Protein Levels after 12 weeks of treatment	Peripheral venous blood will be collected at baseline (Week 1) and Week 12. Plasma/serum proteins will be quantified using [Olink / SOMAscan / LC-MS/MS]. Protein levels will be reported as normalized relative abundance. The outcome is the change from baseline to Week 12 in normalized protein levels.	12 weeks
Change in perpheral Gene Expression Profile after 12 weeks of treatment	Whole blood will be collected at baseline (Week 1) and Week 12. RNA will be extracted and next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq)/DNA methylation/epigenomics be performed. Gene expression will be quantified as normalized expression values and the outcome is the change from baseline to Week 12 in gene expression.	12 weeks
Change in Gut Microbiota 16S rRNA/shotgun metagenomic after 12 weeks of treatment	Stool samples will be collected at baseline (Week 1) and Week 12. Gut microbiota will be assessed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and sequence variants (ASVs) will be derived using a standard denoising pipeline. Alpha-diversity will be summarized as the number of observed ASVs. The outcome is the change from baseline to Week 12 in observed ASVs.	12 weeks
Change in The Short-Form 36 physical component summary (SF-36 PCS) after 12 weeks and 16 weeks of treatment	To compare the change in SF-36 PCS using Face to face Interview for the scores from baseline (week 1 to week 12， week 12 to week 16) between KRGO and placebo. (range, 0 [best] to 100 [worst])	12 weeks # 16 weeks
Change in the TCM Physique Questionnaire score after 12 weeks and 16 weeks of treatment	To compare the change in the TCM Physique Questionnaire using Face to face Interview for the scores from baseline (week 1 to week 12, week 12 to week 16) between KRGO and placebo (range, 0 [best] to 100 [worst]).	12 weeks # 16 weeks
Change in muscle strength with hydraulic type handgrip dynamometer or spring type handgrip dynamometer after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the change in muscle strength with hydraulic type handgrip dynamometer or spring type handgrip dynamometer from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo. Patients from lead trial center were selected for this study.	12 weeks
Change in Complete Blood Count after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the change in Complete Blood Count from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Change in Urinalysis Parameters (Urine Dipstick and Microscopy) after 12 weeks of treatment	A midstream clean-catch urine sample will be collected at Baseline (Week 1) and Week 12. Urinalysis will be performed using an automated urine dipstick analyzer and microscopic examination of urine sediment per standard clinical laboratory procedures. Parameters assessed include dipstick chemistry and microscopic sedimen. The outcome is the change from baseline to Week 12 in urinalysis results (reported in conventional laboratory units/grades as applicable by the testing laboratory).	12 weeks
Change in Liver Function Tests after 12 weeks of treatment	Venous blood will be collected at Baseline (Week 1) and Week 12. Liver function tests will be measured by a certified clinical laboratory using standard automated clinical chemistry analyzers (enzymatic/photometric methods as applicable). Analytes include alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), total bilirubin, and albumin. e.g. Results will be reported in standard units (e.g., U/L for enzymes; mg/dL or µmol/L for bilirubin; g/dL for albumin). The outcome is the change from baseline to Week 12 for each analyte.	12 weeks
Change in Renal Function Tests after 12 weeks of treatment	The change in renal function from Baseline (Week 1) to Week 12 will be monitored through a standard clinical laboratory profile. Venous blood will be processed by a certified facility to measure a composite of renal health indicators, including serum creatinine, BUN, and eGFR (calculated via CKD-EPI). etc. These metrics serve as a combined dataset to evaluate the subject's overall renal physiological status and filtration capacity throughout the study duration.	12 weeks
Change in Chinese Medicine Fire Heat Syndrome Scale after 12 weeks and 16 weeks of treatment	To compare the change in Chinese Medicine Fire Heat Syndrome Scale using Face to face Interview for the scores from baseline (week 1 to week 12, week 12 to week 16) between KRGO and placebo. (range, 0 [best] to 100 [worst])	12 weeks # 16 weeks
Change in participants from Baseline (Week 1) to Week 12 in physiological parameters by Huawei sports bracelet daily	From the basline，participants will wear a Huawei wrist-worn wearable device continuously from Baseline (Week 1) through Week 12. Physiologic signals are collected by the device sensors (e.g., PPG for heart rate/SpO2; accelerometer + PPG for sleep) and summarized by the device/app's prespecified algorithms. Data will be synchronized via the Huawei Innovation Platform and exported for analysis.	Baseline (Week 1) and Week 12 (end of continuous 12-week monitoring period).
Change in Food Frequency Questionnaire every week of treatment	From the basline，participants will record their food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) every week by Questionnaire Star/ WJX.cn. To compore the change in FFQ of participants between KRGO and placebo every week.	Every week during 12 weeks
Change in International Physical Activity Questionnaire every week of treatment	From the basline，participants will record their International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) every week by Questionnaire Star/WJX.cn. To compore the change in IPAQ of participants between KRGO and placebo every week. (range, 0 [best] to 100 [worst])	Every week during 12 weeks
Change in number of participant with abnormal ECG after 12 weeks of treatment	To compare the number of participant with abnormal ECG from baseline (week 1 to week 12) between KRGO and placebo.	12 weeks
Adverse Events	Incidence of adverse events.	12 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
• Collaborators: RenJi Hospital; Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital; Foshan Fuxing Changcheng Hospital; Nanchang Hongdu Hospital of TCM
• Investigators: Study Director: Yaomin Hu, Professor, RenJi Hospital; Study Director: Chenghong Yin, Professor, Beijing obstetrics and gynecology hospital; Study Director: Suzhen Wu, Professor, Foshan Fuxing Changcheng Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Kim HG, Yoo SR, Park HJ, Lee NH, Shin JW, Sathyanath R, Cho JH, Son CG. Antioxidant effects of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer in healthy subjects: a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Food Chem Toxicol. 2011 Sep;49(9):2229-35. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2011.06.020. Epub 2011 Jun 15.
• Hou W. iTRAQ-based Proteomic Analysis Reveals Anti-Aging Effects of Red Ginseng Powder on Drosophila Melanogaster and its Mechanism Studies. Jilin University, 2021. DOI:10.27162/d.cnki.gjlin.2021.000482.
• Park SK, Hyun SH, In G, Park CK, Kwak YS, Jang YJ, Kim B, Kim JH, Han CK. The antioxidant activities of Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng) and ginsenosides: A systemic review through in vivo and clinical trials. J Ginseng Res. 2021 Jan;45(1):41-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jgr.2020.09.006. Epub 2020 Oct 10.
• Chung TH, Kim JH, Seol SY, Kim YJ, Lee YJ. The Effects of Korean Red Ginseng on Biological Aging and Antioxidant Capacity in Postmenopausal Women: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study. Nutrients. 2021 Sep 2;13(9):3090. doi: 10.3390/nu13093090.
• Kim JY, Park JY, Kang HJ, Kim OY, Lee JH. Beneficial effects of Korean red ginseng on lymphocyte DNA damage, antioxidant enzyme activity, and LDL oxidation in healthy participants: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutr J. 2012 Jul 17;11:47. doi: 10.1186/1475-2891-11-47.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): March 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): December 10, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 20, 2022
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 20, 2022
• First Posted (Actual): October 24, 2022

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): January 21, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 16, 2026
• Last Verified: January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Korean Red ginseng; Healthy Ageing; Antioxidant Effect
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Asian ginseng
• Other Study ID Numbers: KRGO-2022

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No