Panax ginseng and Salvia miltiorrhiza supplementation during eccentric resistance training in middle-aged and older adults: A double-blind randomized control trial

Complement Ther Med. 2016 Dec;29:158-163. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2016.10.003. Epub 2016 Oct 11.

Lin HF¹, Chou CC², Chao HH³, Tanaka H⁴.

Author information

• ¹Department of Athletics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 10617, Taiwan; Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, 2109 San Jacinto Blvd., D3700, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
• ²Physical Education Office, National Taipei University of Technology, No. 1, Sec 3, Zhongxiao E. Rd., Taipei 10608, Taiwan.
• ³Department of Athletics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 10617, Taiwan.
• ⁴Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, 2109 San Jacinto Blvd., D3700, Austin, TX 78712, USA. Electronic address: htanaka@austin.utexas.edu.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Muscle damage induced by an acute bout of eccentric exercise results in transient arterial stiffening. In this study, we sought to determine the effects of progressive eccentric resistance exercise training on vascular functions, and whether herb supplementation would enhance training adaptation by ameliorating the arterial stiffening effects.

METHODS:

By using a double-blinded randomized placebo-controlled design, older adults were randomly assigned to either the Panax ginseng and Salvia miltiorrhiza supplementation group (N=12) or the placebo group (N=11). After pre-training testing, all subjects underwent 12 weeks of unilateral eccentric-only exercise training on knee extensor.

RESULTS:

Maximal leg strength and muscle quality increased in both groups (P<0.05). Relative increases in muscle mass were significantly greater in the placebo group than in the herb supplement group. Eccentric exercise training did not elicit any significant changes in muscle damage, oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers. There were no significant changes in blood pressure or endothelium-dependent vasodilation. None of the measures of arterial stiffness changed significantly with eccentric resistance training in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results suggest that Chinese herb supplementation does not appear to modulate vascular, and inflammatory adaptations to eccentric exercise training in middle-aged and older adults. However, Chinese herb supplementation abolished the increase in muscle mass induced by eccentric resistance training. (Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02007304. Registered Dec. 5, 2013).

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KEYWORDS:

Arterial stiffness; Exercise; Herbal medicine; Muscle hypertrophy