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Ginseng has been known to strengthen the immune system and relieve fatigue.
Now, Korean researchers have found that it can also help improve bone health.
Park Se-young has more.
After this elderly mouse was given ginseng for eight weeks, its bone density improved by about 32 percent.
And a group of women who ate three grams of ginseng extract every day for 12 weeks were found to have over ten times the bone hormone osteocalcin and three times the calcium …of women in the group that was given a placebo.

“When fed ginseng, the bone growth biomarker was increased by 11-point-six times, or nearly 12 times, compared to the control group.”

Ginseng has been approved as a functional ingredient for bone health by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety …after clinical trials did not find any adverse side effects.
It had previously been approved as a functional ingredient for boosting the immune system and relieving fatigue.
Ginseng is less popular than red ginseng because it is thought to have less functions.
However, the proven benefits for bone health are expected to help increase the consumption of ginseng.

“By confirming beneficial effects on bone health in the clinical trial, ginseng has added bone health improvement to its list of health claims.”

The Rural Development Administration believes this will contribute to increased ginseng sales and farm income.
Park Se-young, Arirang News.