Fermented Ginseng Powder Has Beneficial Effects on Liver Function

by | Jul 7, 2020 | 2020, Botanicals, Ginseng, Liver Health

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Supplementation with fermented ginseng powder improved liver function and reduced levels of fatigue and inflammation in participating male subjects.

liver scanLiver disease, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), is associated with lifestyle factors that are known to increase oxidative stress and inflammation, including poor diet, high stress levels, and regular intake of alcohol 1. While silymarin (a flavonoid derived from milk thistle) is recognized for its protective effects on the liver 2, epidemiological research suggests that at higher levels, its efficacy at reducing serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT, a liver enzyme indicative of liver damage) is only comparable to placebo 3. A promising natural alternative may be Panax ginseng, a popular medicinal plant in Asian medicine associated with various biological effects, including improvement of cognitive function 4, reduction of stress and fatigue (common symptom of liver disease) 5, and enhanced nervous system function 6. Recent research has found that red ginseng has significant hepatoprotective effects 7 and that supplementation with fermented ginseng powder (using the strain Saccharomyces servazzii GB-07) in animals with NASH can help reduce liver damage 8.  In a follow-up study 9 with human subjects, researchers in Korea (2020) looked at the effects of fermented ginseng powder on liver function and fatigue levels of patients with suspected NAFLD.

A total of 90 subjects (80 males, 10 females, mean age = 43.5 years) with serum ALT levels between 35-105 IU/L were recruited to participate in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive 125 mg of fermented ginseng powder (low-dose group), 500 mg of fermented ginseng powder (high-dose group), or 125 mg of a placebo powder daily for 12 weeks. At baseline and at the end of the study, fasting blood samples were collected and analyzed for ALT, aspartate amino-transferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) (liver enzymes associated with liver disease). Lipid profile was also determined, and antioxidant biomarkers were assessed (total serum antioxidant capacity, TAC; serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, hs-CRP). Participants were also evaluated for fatigue levels at baseline and at the end of 12 weeks using the Multi-dimensional Fatigue Scale (MFS)

Blood test results revealed no significant between-group differences in ALT or AST levels nor for any of the lipid profile parameters tested. In a subgroup analysis of male subjects, 12 weeks of low-dose supplementation with fermented ginseng was associated with a significant decrease in GGT, relative to placebo (-13.50 +/- 29.95 IU/L vs. 3.24 +/- 24.15 IU/L, respectively, p = 0.036). Changes in the high-dose group was not shown to be significantly different from that of placebo (p = 0.466). In this subgroup of males, a significant decrease in hs-CRP was also detected in the low-dose group, compared to placebo (-1.51 +/- 4.20 mg/L vs. 1.51 +/- 4.64 mg/L, respectively, p = 0.021). No significant changes in hs-CRP were evident for the high-dose group, relative to placebo (p = 0.493). Across both genders, the high-dose group demonstrated significant improvement in MFS score, compared to both placebo and the low-dose group (p = 0.024).

In the present study, consumption of fermented ginseng powder, at a dose of 125 mg per day, was associated with improvement in liver function indices and diminishment of inflammatory markers in male participants. All subjects receiving higher doses of fermented ginseng, at 500 mg per day, also showed significant improvement in fatigue levels. Findings suggest that supplementation with fermented ginseng may be an effective approach to improving liver function, however, further studies are warranted in patients with confirmed cases of NAFLD and NASH. Additional research is also needed to establish dose-response relationships for supplement intake and optimal liver functioning. A disproportionate ratio of male to female subjects may be considered a potential study limitation, as well as the diagnosis of fatty liver using hematological tests instead of liver biopsy.

Source: Jung SJ, Hwang JH, Park SH, et al. A 12-week, randomized, double-blind study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of liver function after using fermented ginseng powder (GBCK25). Food and Nutrition Research. 2020; 64: 3517. DOI: 10.29219/fnr.v643517.

© 2020 Su-Jin Jung et al. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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Posted July 7, 2020.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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