Effects of Intake of Puffed Fermented Korean Ginseng Extract-containing Drink on the Status of Stress, Fatigue, and Sleep

摘要

Objective This study was conducted to confirm the efficacy of a puffed fermented Korean ginseng extract-containing drink for stress, fatigue, and sleep after intake for 8 consecutive weeks in male and female adult workers aged 30 to 60 years.Methods Forty subjects were selected for this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Subjects ingested the puffed fermented Korean ginseng extract-containing drink (functional ingredient:10 mg of ginsenosides) or the placebo drink for 8 weeks. Stress, fatigue, and sleep were assessed using questionnaires (the Japanese version of the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition-Adult Short [POMS2-ASJ, the Athens Insomnia Scale [AIS], and the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI-J]) and biomarkers (serum DHEA-S and serum cortisol). This study was registered at UMIN-CTR (UMIN000022943).Results For 38 subjects in the efficacy analysis set, no significant between-group difference was found in efficacy. In an additional analysis of POMS2 AS scores in 11 middle-aged and older subjects aged 50 years or more, however, fatigue-inertia from baseline to Week 4 improved significantly in the puffed fermented Korean ginseng extract-containing drink group compared with the placebo drink group (P<0.05).Conclusions It was confirmed that the puffed fermented Korean ginseng extract-containing drink improves mental fatigue especially in middle-aged and older subjects. The drink had no safety problem to consume under the conditions of this study.