Effect of Korean red ginseng on cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Efficacy and safety of Onkyeong-tang in treating cold hypersensitivity in the feet of Korean women: protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter clinical study

Background

Cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet (CHHF) commonly affects Asian women, especially Korean women, and it negatively impacts the quality of life of the affected individuals. One commonly used herbal prescription for treating CHHF is Onkyeong-tang (OKT). Although OKT is widely used clinically in treating CHHF, no randomized clinical trial has been performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of OKT in the treatment of cold hypersensitivity in the feet (CHF). This clinical trial aims to provide objective evidence for the basis of using OKT in the treatment of CHF in Korean women.

Methods

This trial will be a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, multicenter pilot study. A total of 112 participants will be randomly divided into an OKT treatment group or a placebo group with a 1:1 ratio via a web-based randomization system. The OKT and placebo groups will receive prescribed medications orally three times per day (3 g each time) before or between meals for 8 weeks. The primary outcome studied will be the changes in Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores of CHF from baseline. Secondary outcomes studied will be the VAS score changes of cold hypersensitivity in the hands, changes in the skin temperature of the hands and feet, total scores of the Korean version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale-abbreviated version, and the results of the cold stress test.

Discussion

This trial will be the first clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of OKT in the treatment of CHF. We anticipate that the findings of the study will provide evidence for the basis of using OKT in treating CHF symptoms and generate basic data for designing a further large-scale randomized clinical trial.

Trial registration

Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS): KCT0003723. Retrospectively registered on 8 April 2019.

The efficacy and safety of Danggui-Sayuk-Ga-Osuyu-Saenggang-tang on Korean patients with cold hypersensitivity in the hands: study protocol for a pilot, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial

Background

In recent years, cold hypersensitivity in the hands (CHH) has become a common ailment of women in Korea. It can lead to gynecological problems such as irregular menstruation, miscarriage, and infertility. Traditionally, Korean herbal medicine has been the primary treatment method used to balance thermoregulation in the human body; however, its effectiveness has not been confirmed through systematic study. Thus, in this trial, we will investigate the feasibility of a full randomized clinical trial, Danggui-Sayuk-Ga-Osuyu-Saenggang-tang (DSGOST) in Korean women with CHH.

Methods

This study will be a pilot, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, parallel-group, two-arm, placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 66 participants will be randomly divided into two groups, a DSGOST treatment group and a placebo control group, in a 1:1 ratio using a web-based randomization system. Each group will take DSGOST or placebo three times daily for 6 weeks. The primary outcome will be measured using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores of CHH. Secondary outcomes will include changes in skin temperature of the hands, Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) scale scores, recovery rate of skin temperature of the hands after the cold stress test, and the Korean version of the WHO Quality of Life Scale, abbreviated version (WHOQOL-BREF).

Discussion

This trial will be the first trial to reflect the newly defined disease range of CHH which was compiled by Korean medicine expert consensus. This study will provide considerable evidence for further large-scale trials and general clinical guidelines for CHH in the Korean medical field.

Trial registration

This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT02645916. Registered on 30 December 2015.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13063-017-2002-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effects of cold sensitivity in the extremities on circulating adiponectin levels and metabolic syndrome in women

Background

In adipose tissues, adipokine levels, including adiponectin and leptin, are involved in insulin sensitivity and are reciprocally induced by cold temperature stress. Thermogenic response in the extremities (hands and feet) against cold stress can be negatively related to fat mass accumulation, particularly in the abdomen. However, the relationship between the sensation of cold in the extremities and circulating levels of adipokines is not fully understood. Here, we investigated whether adipokine levels are associated with cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet (CHHF), independent of body mass, and whether the CHHF is related to metabolic syndrome (MS).

Methods

Associations of the CHHF with serum levels of adipokines and MS risk were evaluated in 1021 Koreans (372 men and 649 women), using a linear regression model while controlling for thermogenic factors and a logistic regression model, respectively.

Results

The adiponectin levels were positively associated with the CHHF, particularly in women, irrespective of thermogenic factors, including body mass index (β = 1.23 μg/mL, 95% confidence interval [1.04–1.45]). Logistic regression analysis for MS risk via the CHHF showed that there was a significant inverse association in women (odds ratio = 0.449, 95% confidence interval [0.273–0.737]).

Conclusions

In summary, our founding indicated that the CHHF could induce increased levels of circulating adiponectin and in turn reduce the MS risk in women. Despite complaints of feeling cold, these women could be at lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

Ginseng berry extract supplementation improves age-related decline of insulin signaling in mice

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of ginseng berry extract on insulin sensitivity and associated molecular mechanisms in aged mice. C57BL/6 mice (15 months old) were maintained on a regular diet (CON) or a regular diet supplemented with 0.05% ginseng berry extract (GBD) for 24 or 32 weeks. GBD-fed mice showed significantly lower serum insulin levels (p = 0.016) and insulin resistance scores (HOMA-IR) (p = 0.012), suggesting that GBD improved insulin sensitivity. Pancreatic islet hypertrophy was also ameliorated in GBD-fed mice (p = 0.007). Protein levels of tyrosine phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate (IRS)-1 (p = 0.047), and protein kinase B (AKT) (p = 0.037), were up-regulated in the muscle of insulin-injected GBD-fed mice compared with CON-fed mice. The expressions of forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) (p = 0.036) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) (p = 0.032), which are known as aging- and insulin resistance-related genes, were also increased in the muscle of GBD-fed mice. We conclude that ginseng berry extract consumption might increase activation of IRS-1 and AKT, contributing to the improvement of insulin sensitivity in aged mice.

Recent trends of nano bioactive compounds from ginseng for its possible preventive role in chronic disease models

Bioactive nano ginseng has roles in various diseases.