DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY OF A MULTIVITAMIN COMPLEX SUPPLEMENTED WITH GINSENG EXTRACT

To remedy the deterioration in quality of life in large cities, the ad dition of ginseng root extract to a multivitamin base appears to produ ce a promising dietary supplement. The aim of the present study was to compare the quality-of-life parameters in subjects receiving multivit amins plus ginseng with those found in subjects receiving multivitamin s alone. The study was comparative, randomized and double-blind, and i t involved 625 patients of both sexes divided into two groups taking o ne capsule per day for 12 weeks. Group A received vitamins, minerals, trace elements and ginseng extract G115 (Pharmaton Capsules) while gro up B received vitamins, minerals and trace elements (multivitamin caps ules) only. The resulting quality-of-life was assessed by a standardiz ed Ii-item questionnaire, validated by the Medical School of the Natio nal Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Of the 625 patients recrui ted, 124 were excluded from the study due to lack of compliance with t he treatment, so that 338 patients in group A and 163 patients in grou p B completed the study. By the end of the study, the 4th of the month ly assessments showed that both the group-A and the group-B treatments had induced a significant increase in the quality-of-life index, the change being 11.9 points for Pharmaton Capsules in group A which was s ignificantly superior to the 6.4 average increase with the group-B cap sules containing multivitamins alone. Group A showed significant impro vement in every one of the 11 questionnaire items, whereas group B did not show significant improvement in any of these items. Significant i ncreases in body weight and in diastolic blood pressure were recorded in the group B treated with the multivitamin alone. Adverse effects of the capsules were minimal in both groups. This study has demonstrated that Pharmaton Capsules were more effective than the multivitamin cap sules alone in improving the quality-of-life in a population subjected to the stress of high physical and mental activity.