Effects of Two Rg3-Enriched Korean Ginseng Preparations on Blood Pressure in Adults with Early-Stage Hypertension: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
7 affiliations
- 1BTGin Co., Ltd., Daejeon 34024, Republic of Korea
- 2Department of Family Medicine, College of Medicine, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
- 3Department of Cardiology, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
- 4Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
- 5Department of Statistics, Sookmyung Women’s University, Seoul 04312, Republic of Korea
- 6Department of Nutritional Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- 7Department of Food Science & Nutrition, Woosuk University, Wanju 55338, Republic of Korea
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Ginsenoside Rg3, a bioactive component of processed Korean ginseng, has demonstrated vasodilatory and blood pressure-lowering effects; however, clinical evidence on the long-term effects of Rg3-enriched ginseng preparations remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of two differently processed Rg3-enriched Korean ginseng preparations on blood pressure in adults with early-stage hypertension. Methods: In this 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 90 adults were randomly assigned to vitamin C-treated white ginseng (VTWG), enzyme-treated red ginseng (ETRG), or placebo (n = 30 per group). Both interventions provided approximately 40 mg/day of Rg3. Changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were primary outcomes. Results: From baseline to week 12, SBP decreased by 7.27 ± 6.15 mmHg in the VTWG group and 9.86 ± 6.47 mmHg in the ETRG group, whereas it increased by 5.03 ± 6.52 mmHg in the placebo group (both adjusted p < 0.0001 vs. placebo). DBP decreased by 5.27 ± 5.58 and 6.32 ± 5.55 mmHg in the VTWG and ETRG groups, respectively, compared with a decrease of 0.90 ± 6.31 mmHg in the placebo group (adjusted p = 0.006, 0.0006, respectively). MAP also decreased significantly in both intervention groups compared with placebo (both adjusted p < 0.0001), whereas NO changes differed significantly only between ETRG and placebo (adjusted p = 0.017). No clinically meaningful safety concerns were identified. Conclusions: Twelve-week supplementation with either Rg3-enriched Korean ginseng preparation significantly reduced blood pressure compared with placebo, suggesting potential benefits for blood pressure management in adults with early-stage hypertension.
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BibTeX
@article{oh2026effects,
title = {{Effects of Two Rg3-Enriched Korean Ginseng Preparations on Blood Pressure in Adults with Early-Stage Hypertension: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial}},
author = {Jin-Hwan Oh and Yoo-Seok Cheong and Seong-Hoon Lim and Seong Lee and Jin-Hee Kim and Hyuna Jang and Youl Hour and Vladimir Vuksan and Hyang-Im Baek},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/nu18203448},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/20/3448},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effects of Two Rg3-Enriched Korean Ginseng Preparations on Blood Pressure in Adults with Early-Stage Hypertension: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
AU - Jin-Hwan Oh
AU - Yoo-Seok Cheong
AU - Seong-Hoon Lim
AU - Seong Lee
AU - Jin-Hee Kim
AU - Hyuna Jang
AU - Youl Hour
AU - Vladimir Vuksan
AU - Hyang-Im Baek
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Nutrients
DO - 10.3390/nu18203448
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/18/20/3448
AB - Background/Objectives: Ginsenoside Rg3, a bioactive component of processed Korean ginseng, has demonstrated vasodilatory and blood pressure-lowering effects; however, clinical evidence on the long-term effects of Rg3-enriched ginseng preparations remains limited. This study evaluated the effects of two differently processed Rg3-enriched Korean ginseng preparations on blood pressure in adults with early-stage hypertension. Methods: In this 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 90 adults were randomly assigned to vitamin C-treated white ginseng (VTWG), enzyme-treated red ginseng (ETRG), or placebo (n = 30 per group). Both interventions provided approximately 40 mg/day of Rg3. Changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were primary outcomes. Results: From baseline to week 12, SBP decreased by 7.27 ± 6.15 mmHg in the VTWG group and 9.86 ± 6.47 mmHg in the ETRG group, whereas it increased by 5.03 ± 6.52 mmHg in the placebo group (both adjusted p < 0.0001 vs. placebo). DBP decreased by 5.27 ± 5.58 and 6.32 ± 5.55 mmHg in the VTWG and ETRG groups, respectively, compared with a decrease of 0.90 ± 6.31 mmHg in the placebo group (adjusted p = 0.006, 0.0006, respectively). MAP also decreased significantly in both intervention groups compared with placebo (both adjusted p < 0.0001), whereas NO changes differed significantly only between ETRG and placebo (adjusted p = 0.017). No clinically meaningful safety concerns were identified. Conclusions: Twelve-week supplementation with either Rg3-enriched Korean ginseng preparation significantly reduced blood pressure compared with placebo, suggesting potential benefits for blood pressure management in adults with early-stage hypertension.
SN - 2072-6643
ER -