Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease which is especially common in women after menopause as reduced estrogen hormone secretion can lead to around 20-30% bone density. Factors such as endocrinology, nutrition, and genetics contribute to the development of osteoporosis with deficiency of calcium, estrogen, and vitamin D, and excess phosphorus and protein enhancing the likelihood to develop osteoporosis.
However, there is practically no cure for osteoporosis, and the efficacy of supplements is not guaranteed either. Thus, investigations focus principally on natural food products that improve osteoporosis with fewer side effects.
Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) has been used in Asia to maintain body homeostasis and strengthen bioenergy. The key active substances in ginseng include ginsenosides, polyacetylenes, phenolic compounds, acidic polysaccharides, peptides, and alkaloids. Panax notoginseng saponins (PNSs) are reported as a potential alternative medicine for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
However, the authors of the current study, from Jeonbuk National University Hospital Korea, argue that most of the reports are non-clinical and lack sufficient evidence to determine the impact of a single ginseng extract (GE) on bone metabolism.
Therefore, they conducted the current randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the effectiveness and safety of GE supplementation on bone metabolism and arthritis symptoms in women with osteopenia.