A Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Triple-blind Study to Determine the Effect of Farlong Ginseng Plus® NotoGinseng Extract on Cholesterol and Blood Pressure

Abstract

Objective: This randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind study examined the efficacy of 12 weeks of Farlong NotoGinsengTM (FNG) supplementation on LDL-C and blood pressure (BP) in otherwise healthy participants (n=95) with normal to mild hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Methods: Lipid profile, BP, and endothelial vasodilation parameters were assessed at baseline and weeks 4, 8 and 12. Safety was assessed at screening and at end of the study. The Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) diet was followed during a 4-week run-in and throughout. Results: Participants on FNG had a 4.33% reduction in LDL-C at week 8 (p=0.045) and a 1.80% improvement in HDL-C at week 12. Those on placebo had a non-significant 1.37% HDL-C reduction at both weeks 8 and 12. The FNG group showed a 0.94% reduction in systolic (SBP) and a 0.16% reduction in diastolic BP (DBP) at week 12. The placebo group had 0.5% and 1.24% increases in SBP and DBP, respectively. A total of 17.5% of participants supplemented with FNG had improvements in all three CVD risk factors (LDL-C, HDL-C, and SBP) compared to 5.0% of those on placebo (p=0.040). A greater proportion of participants with borderline high baseline LDL-C had reductions in their CVD risk factors (p=0.037) with FNG. However, participants in the placebo group with similar LDL-C characteristics did not have improvements in either their BP or lipid profile. Conclusion: FNG was well-tolerated and may have a positive influence on reducing CVD risk by improving BP and lipid profile. Left unaddressed, those with CVD risk factors may progress to a more hypertensive and hypercholesterolemic state.