A placebo-controlled trial of Korean red ginseng extract for preventing Influenza-like illness in healthy adults

作者：Ha Ki Chan; Kim Min Gul; Oh Mi Ra; Choi Eun Kyung; Back Hyang Im; Kim Sun Young; Park Eun Ok; Kwon Dae Young; Yang Hye Jeong; Kim Min Jeong; Kang Hee Joo; Lee Ju Hyung; Choi Kyung Min; Chae Soo Wan; Lee Chang Seop^*

来源：BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 12: 10.

DOI：10.1186/1472-6882-12-10

Background: Standardized Korean red ginseng extract has become the best-selling influenza-like illness (ILI) remedy in Korea, yet much controversy regarding the efficacy of the Korean red ginseng (KRG) in reducing ILI incidence remains. The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of the KRG extract on the ILI incidence in healthy adults. %26lt;br%26gt;Methods/Design: We will conduct a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study at the onset of the influenza seasons. A total of 100 subjects 30-70 years of age will be recruited from the general populations. The subjects will be instructed to take 9 capsules per day of either the KRG extract or a placebo for a period of 3 months. The primary outcome measure is to assess the frequency of ILI onset in participated subjects. Secondary variable measures will be included severity and duration of ILI symptoms. The ILI symptoms will be scored by subjects using a 4-point scale. %26lt;br%26gt;Discussion: This study is a randomized placebo controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of the KRG extract compared to placebo and will be provided valuable new information about the clinical and physiological effects of the KRG extract on reduction of ILI incidence including flu and upper respiratory tract infections. The study has been pragmatically designed to ensure that the study findings can be implemented into clinical practice if KRG extract can be shown to be an effective reduction strategy in ILI incidence.

• 出版日期2012-2-8