The Effect of Short-Term Ginseng supplementation on the Maximum Oxygen Consumption, Blood Lactate, and Time to Exhaustion in Athletes

The information about the effect of ginseng supplementation on physiological responses in debilitating activities is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of short-term ginseng consumption on maximal oxygen consumption, blood lactate and time to exhaustion in male athletes.

In this quasi-experimental study, which was performed as two blinds and crossovers, 10 male athletes (age: 18 ± 24 years) participated in a single group model with supplementation and placebo. Subjects took two 250 mg ginseng capsules and 6 mg of starch per kilogram of body weight daily as a placebo for one week and then participated in the Bruce Exhaustion Test. Information on maximal oxygen consumption, blood lactate and arrival time to exhaustion in the laboratory .Data were analyzed using paired t-test and covariance test at a significance level of 0.05.

The results showed that the maximum oxygen consumption (p = 0.01) and the time to reach exhaustion (p = 0.02) were significantly increased compared to the placebo group. There was significant decrease in blood lactate compared to the placebo group (p = 0.03).

Short-term use of gensing supplementation may improve exercise performance and reduce fatigue. It is recommended that athletes take 500 mg of their sexing supplement daily to increase aerobic capacity.