Effects of Red Panax Ginseng Supplementation on Cognitive Performance and Emotional Well-Being in Young Healthy Adults
Effects of Red Panax Ginseng Supplementation on Cognitive Performance and Emotional Well-Being in Young Healthy Adults, a Randomized Controlled Trial
College students face substantial and persistent mental health challenges that directly affect cognitive performance, stress regulation, and emotional well-being. Neurological functions such as working memory, attention regulation, executive control, and emotional processing are highly sensitive to stressors, leaving young adults vulnerable to daily fluctuations in cognitive efficiency. Recent findings from the Healthy Minds Network (2025) indicate that although rates of moderate to severe depression among college students declined from 44% in 2022 to 37% in 2025, and anxiety symptoms fell from 37% to 32%, levels of psychological flourishing also dropped, falling to 36% despite these improvements.
Ginseng contains bioactive compounds known as ginsenosides that favorably influence brain function and inflammatory cascades. Studies in stressed and moderately stressed adults demonstrated reduced perceived stress, improved emotional processing, enhanced cognitive performance, and beneficial changes to biomarkers with ginseng supplementation. In addition, randomized controlled trials reported improvements in mood regulation, fatigue resistance, and aspects of working memory and attention following short-term ginseng supplementation. This study will examine the effects of daily red panax ginseng supplementation (3000 mg/day; two 1500 mg Red Panax gummies) on cognitive performance and emotional well-being in healthy young adults.
Studie Overzicht
Toestand
Conditie
Interventie / Behandeling
Gedetailleerde beschrijving
College students face substantial and persistent mental health challenges that directly affect cognitive performance, stress regulation, and emotional well-being. Neurological functions such as working memory, attention regulation, executive control, and emotional processing are highly sensitive to stressors, leaving young adults vulnerable to daily fluctuations in cognitive efficiency. Recent findings from the Healthy Minds Network (2025) indicate that although rates of moderate to severe depression among college students declined from 44% in 2022 to 37% in 2025, and anxiety symptoms fell from 37% to 32%, levels of psychological flourishing also dropped, falling to 36% despite these improvements.
Ginseng contains bioactive compounds known as ginsenosides that favorably influence multiple neurobiological pathways such as neurotrophic signaling, neurotransmitter regulation, oxidative balance, and inflammatory cascades. Studies in stressed and moderately stressed adults demonstrated reduced perceived stress, improved emotional processing, enhanced cognitive performance, and modulated biomarkers related to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with ginseng supplementation. In addition, randomized controlled trials reported improvements in mood regulation, fatigue resistance, and aspects of working memory and attention following short-term ginseng supplementation. This study will examine the effects of daily red panax ginseng supplementation (3000 mg/day; two 1500 mg Red Panax gummies) on cognitive performance and emotional well-being in healthy young adults.
Studietype
Inschrijving (Geschat)
Fase
- Niet toepasbaar
Contacten en locaties
Studiecontact
- Naam: Carol Johnston
- Telefoonnummer: 6024963463
- E-mail: carol.johnston@asu.edu
Deelname Criteria
Geschiktheidscriteria
Leeftijden die in aanmerking komen voor studie
- Volwassen
Accepteert gezonde vrijwilligers
Beschrijving
Inclusion Criteria:
- Healthy young adults
- 18-30 years of age
Exclusion Criteria:
- medication/drug use that has not been consistent for the previous 3 months or will be discontinued during the trial
- unresolved chronic medical conditions (e.g., presence of persistent symptomology)
- diagnosed clinical depression
- acute illness
- regular use of cigarettes or marijuana
- pregnant or lactating women
- not fluent in English
- currently competing in sports or unusually high-intensity exercise protocols (e.g., high-intensity exercise greater than 30 minutes most days of the week)
- current use of ginseng or adaptogenic supplements, or allergy to ginseng
- any significant food allergies
- not willing to attend two in-person lab visits in downtown Phoenix and follow study protocol (including abstaining from caffeine in the 12 hours prior to testing)
Studie plan
Hoe is de studie opgezet?
Ontwerpdetails
- Primair doel: Fundamentele wetenschap
- Toewijzing: Gerandomiseerd
- Interventioneel model: Parallelle opdracht
- Masker: Dubbele
Wapens en interventies
Deelnemersgroep / Arm |
Interventie / Behandeling |
|---|---|
|
Experimenteel: ginseng
|
This study will test the efficacy of ginseng on health compared to placebo treatment.
|
|
Placebo-vergelijker: Placebo
strawberry gummy (2)
|
This study will test the efficacy of ginseng on health compared to placebo treatment.
|
Wat meet het onderzoek?
Primaire uitkomstmaten
Uitkomstmaat |
Maatregel Beschrijving |
Tijdsspanne |
|---|---|---|
|
cognitive performance
Tijdsspanne: 2 hours post ingestion
|
Trail Making Test: measures cognitive flexibility; visual attention, and executive function, with interpretation based on completion times (in seconds)
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2 hours post ingestion
|
|
cognitive performance
Tijdsspanne: 2 weeks
|
Trail Making Test measures cognitive flexibility; visual attention, and executive function, with interpretation based on completion times (in seconds)
|
2 weeks
|
Secundaire uitkomstmaten
Uitkomstmaat |
Maatregel Beschrijving |
Tijdsspanne |
|---|---|---|
|
stress
Tijdsspanne: 2 weeks
|
Perceived Stress Scale: higher scores indicate higher stress
|
2 weeks
|
|
mental well being
Tijdsspanne: 2 weeks
|
Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale: higher scores indicating greater positive mental wellbeing
|
2 weeks
|
Andere uitkomstmaten
Uitkomstmaat |
Maatregel Beschrijving |
Tijdsspanne |
|---|---|---|
|
cognitive performance
Tijdsspanne: 2 hours post ingestion
|
Stroop test: measures attention span, reaction time, and ability to resist distractions
|
2 hours post ingestion
|
|
cognitive performance
Tijdsspanne: 2 hours post ingestion
|
reaction time test: measured by the elapsed time between stimulus onset and an individual's response
|
2 hours post ingestion
|
Medewerkers en onderzoekers
Sponsor
Onderzoekers
- Hoofdonderzoeker: Carol Johnston, Arizona State University
Studie record data
Bestudeer belangrijke data
Studie start (Geschat)
Primaire voltooiing (Geschat)
Studie voltooiing (Geschat)
Studieregistratiedata
Eerst ingediend
Eerst ingediend dat voldeed aan de QC-criteria
Eerst geplaatst (Werkelijk)
Updates van studierecords
Laatste update geplaatst (Werkelijk)
Laatste update ingediend die voldeed aan QC-criteria
Laatst geverifieerd
Meer informatie
Termen gerelateerd aan deze studie
Trefwoorden
Aanvullende relevante MeSH-voorwaarden
Andere studie-ID-nummers
- STUDY00024361
Plan Individuele Deelnemersgegevens (IPD)
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Informatie over medicijnen en apparaten, studiedocumenten
Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd geneesmiddel
Bestudeert een door de Amerikaanse FDA gereguleerd apparaatproduct
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