Effect of Ginseng Supplement and Aerobic Exercise on NMDA Level in Non-Athlete Girls

N-methyl D-aspartate (NMDA) is one of the leading causes of synaptic formability. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ginseng supplementation and aerobic exercise on NMDA levels in non-athlete female students.

 In this quasi-experimental study, the statistical population included all female students aged 15 to 18 years in Zahedan. Among the eligible individuals, 48 were selected voluntarily and purposefully and were randomly divided into four groups: "Exercise," "Exercise + Supplement," "Supplement," and "Control." The training protocol included six weeks of running in the gym for 25 to 40 minutes. Exercise intensity was 60 to 70% of the reserve heart rate. Subjects in the supplement groups received 500 mg of ginseng daily (250 mg in the morning and 250 mg in the afternoon). In the pre-test stage, five ccs of blood were taken from the right arm vein of each subject. Then, 48 hours after the end of the intervention (end of the sixth week), sampling of the participants was repeated in conditions similar to the pre-test stage. ELISA measured plasma NMDA levels. Data were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance, Bonferroni post hoc test, and paired t-test, and the significance level of P<0.05 was considered.

 N-methyl D-aspartate levels increased significantly after six weeks of aerobic exercise and ginseng supplementation in the exercise + supplement group compared to the other groups. In addition, the levels of NMDA in the same group (Exercise + Supplement) showed a significant increase compared to the pre-test after six weeks of exercise and ginseng supplementation (p=0.001). Also, the N-methyl D-aspartate index increased in the exercise, Exercise+Supplement, and supplement groups compared to baseline values (p=0.001). In contrast, no change in this index was observed in the control group.

 Aerobic exercise and ginseng supplementation significantly improve N-methyl D-aspartate level in non-athlete girls.