Ginseng supplements lacking in quality, report finds
Filed under: Health, Consumer Ally
ConsumerLab.com, an independent testing organization that reviews health and wellness products, selected 11 supplements and found that five were either contaminated with lead and pesticides or did not contain the amount of ginseng they claimed. The findings stress a recurring pattern of problems with ginseng supplements, which the company has reported since 2000.
"People should recognize that there is enormous variation in the amount of ginsenosides -- key ginseng compounds -- in marketed supplements," said Dr. Tod Cooperman, president of ConsumerLab. "We found most products to provide between 10 to 40 mg of ginsenosides per day, but some yielded much higher amounts, including one that delivered a whopping 304 mg."
ConsumerLab recently evaluated muscle-building supplements, also with mixed results.
Ginseng is widely used in the United States on the belief it can improve overall energy and vitality, particularly during times of fatigue or stress. While there is no meaningful scientific evidence to support an energy-boosting claim, preliminary evidence suggests American ginseng and Korean Red Ginseng may reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Studies have also shown that when combined with Ginkgo biloba, Asian ginseng may help reduce the chance of colds and flus.
Other claims of various forms of ginseng with weak or contradictory supporting evidence include improving mental function, strengthening the immune system, and combating symptoms of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in childen.
Ginseng has estimated U.S. sales of $83 million, according to Nutrition Business Journal.
Some in the supplement industry have suggested ConsumerLab is biased because, in addition to doing independent testing for its reviews, it also does testing for companies who pay to have their products tested in its certification program.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-17-2010 @ 5:49PM
FINELY TUNED AND POLISHED said...
AGAIN Proof by the " HUMANNOID" DRUG COMPANY SUPPORTERS not even having a IQ of 66 to say for an example which ones OR maybe :"please go to our sight for further info." www.ripoffamericans.com Maybe its because the simple simon Americanos are sooooo lazy to follow through with alternative products that they deserve to fill their bodies from drug to drug.
DISGUSTING
Reply
8-17-2010 @ 6:58PM
chedar said...
Lets classified the different kind of Ginseng. The american ginseng general has two types. The domesticated one are for common cold and flu treatment. It cools your body when your body is imbalance (yin/yang) due to viral cold and flu in your system. The wild ginseng is very expensive (>$1000 per pound) and is good for CHF (congestive heart failure as supplement not in placed of western drugs).
Korean ginseng are used as aprodisiac. So only good for old men. Some red ginseng from china are good depends on how your stomach works., If you have a nervous stomach. don't take it, it will cause you to feel nauseated and cause you to wake up in the middle of the night.
Here are my two cents of comment. Don't take it seriously. Find it out yourself.
Reply
8-17-2010 @ 10:21PM
Vitamin supporter said...
Consumerlab is an independant FOR PROFIT company that 'rates' supplements suspiciously at times, it is not to be confused with Consumer Reports (a non biased company that does not ask the companies it's rating for money). Some of thier reports may be correct and some are not correct and later retracted by this company (after they recieve a payment from the 'bad' supplement companies?)
Either way it's hypocritical to call yourself Consumerlab and rate products when your not a third party who has no financial ties to the results.
Reply
8-17-2010 @ 9:02PM
Scooter Pie said...
Every once in a while the FDA has an "independent testing company" say something negative or scary about a popular product or ingredient.
The FDA does not control or profit from the sale of such products, therefore safety and health issues are always mentioned to scare us away from using the product.
Notice how there are no specifics to back up the negative claims.
SHAME ON YOU AGAIN FDA!!!!
Reply
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