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Association between ginseng intake and mortality: Kangwha cohort study
Sang-Wook Yi1, Jae Woong Sull, Jae Seok Hong
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Kwandong University College of Medicine, Gangneung, Republic of Korea.
Summary
Ginseng consumption was linked to lower all-cause mortality in older Korean men over an 18.8-year study. However, this life-extending effect of ginseng was not observed in women.
Area of Science:
- Herbal Medicine Research
- Epidemiology
- Gerontology
Background:
- Panax ginseng (ginseng) is a widely recognized medicinal herb in Western countries.
- Its potential health benefits, particularly regarding longevity, warrant investigation in diverse populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between ginseng intake and mortality rates within the Korean population.
- To determine if ginseng consumption influences all-cause, cancer-specific, or cardiovascular disease-specific mortality.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 6282 Korean subjects aged 55+ was followed from March 1985 to December 2003.
- Cox proportional hazard regression models were employed to analyze the impact of ginseng intake on mortality, adjusting for various lifestyle and health factors.
Main Results:
- Ginseng intake was associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality in older men (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 0.90; 95% CI, 0.81-0.99).
- No significant association was found between ginseng intake and all-cause mortality in women (HR = 1.03; 95% CI, 0.94-1.13).
- While cancer-specific mortality showed a trend towards reduction in female frequent users, it did not reach statistical significance; no association was observed in men. Cardiovascular mortality was not linked to ginseng intake in either sex.
Conclusions:
- Ginseng consumption demonstrated a significant life-prolonging effect on all-cause mortality in older Korean males.
- This study did not find evidence of a similar life extension benefit from ginseng intake in older Korean women.
