Korean red ginseng improves cortisol/DHEA ratio

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

0659900 & dopt=Abstract

 

Int J Gynaecol Obstet 1999 Dec;67(3):169-74

Effect of Korean red ginseng on psychological functions in patients with severe

climacteric syndromes.

Tode T, Kikuchi Y, Hirata J, Kita T, Nakata H, Nagata I.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Defense Medical College,

Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.

qw104765

 

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the degree of psychological dysfunction and levels of stress

hormones in postmenopausal women with

climacteric syndromes and effect of Korean red ginseng (RG) on them.

 

METHODS:

ACTH, cortisol and DHEA-S in peripheral blood from 12 postmenopausal women with

climacteric syndromes or 8

postmenopausal women without any climacteric syndrome were measured before and

30 days after treatment with daily oral

administration of 6 g RG.

 

Blood samples were collected in the early morning on the bed-rest.

 

In postmenopausal women with climacteric syndromes such as fatigue, insomnia and

depression, psychological tests using

the Cornell Medical Index (CMI) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)

were performed before and 30 days after

treatment with RG.

 

RESULTS:

CMI score as well as anxiety (A)-state in STAI score in postmenopausal women

with climacteric syndromes was

significantly higher than that without climacteric syndrome, while DHEA-S levels

in postmenopausal women with

climacteric syndromes were about a half of those without climacteric syndrome.

 

Consequently, cortisol/DHEA-S (C/D) ratio was significantly higher in

postmenopausal women with climacteric syndromes

than in those without climacteric syndrome.

 

When postmenopausal women with climacteric syndromes were treated with daily

oral administration of 6 g RG for 30 days,

CMI and STAI A-state scores decreased within normal range.

 

Although the decreased DHEA-S levels were not restored to the levels in

postmenopausal women without climacteric

syndrome, the C/D ratio decreased significantly after treatment with RG.

 

CONCLUSIONS:

Improvement of CMI and STAI scores in postmenopausal women suffering climacteric

syndromes, particularly fatigue,

insomnia and depression, by RG seemed to be brought about in part by effects of

RG on stress-related hormones as shown

by a decrease in C/D ratio.

 

PMID: 10659900 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

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Good Health & Long Life,

Greg Watson,

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~gowatson

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