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Published on: July 5, 2017
Ginseng supplementation does not change lactate threshold and physical performances in physically active Thai men
Onanong Kulaputana1, Siriwan Thanakomsirichot, Wilai Anomasiri
1Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. onanongt@hotmail.com
Ginseng supplementation did not improve lactate threshold (LT) or enhance physical performance in young men over 8 weeks. This study found no ergogenic benefits for aerobic fitness from daily ginseng intake.
Area of Science:
- Exercise Physiology
- Nutritional Science
- Herbal Medicine
Background:
- Ginseng is a popular herb anecdotally linked to improved exercise performance.
- Scientific evidence regarding ginseng's effects on lactate threshold and aerobic capacity is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of ginseng supplementation on lactate threshold in physically active young men.
Main Methods:
- Sixty physically active men (17-22 years) were randomized into ginseng (3g/day) or placebo groups for 8 weeks.
- Lactate threshold (LT), exercise performance, and heart rate were measured using cycle ergometry.
- Substrate oxidation rates and markers for liver/kidney function were assessed.
Main Results:
- No significant differences were observed in lactate threshold (LT) between the ginseng and placebo groups.
- Ginseng did not significantly alter exercise heart rate, total exercise time, or peak power output.
- Substrate oxidation rates and liver/kidney function markers remained unaffected by ginseng supplementation.
Conclusions:
- Daily ginseng administration for 8 weeks showed no improvement in lactate threshold or physical performance.
- Ginseng supplementation does not appear to provide ergogenic benefits for aerobic fitness in well-fit individuals.
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