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Product Review: Ginseng Supplements |
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Initial Posting: 5/10/06
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PROBLEMS FOUND AGAIN WITH GINSENG SUPPLEMENTS; SEVERAL LACK INGREDIENTS, ARE CONTAMINATED, OR POORLY LABELED
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Results and Information for 20 Supplements Made with Asian or American Ginseng.
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ActionLabs |
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Herba Natural Products Inc. |
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Sundown |
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Alan James Group, LLC |
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Nature's Resource |
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Swanson |
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Biogenesis Nutraceuticals, Inc |
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Paradise Herbs |
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TruNature |
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CVS Pharmacy |
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Pharmanex |
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Vitamin World |
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GINCO International |
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Puritan's Pride |
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Walgreens |
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Ginseng Enterprises, Inc. |
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Spring Valley |
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Windmill™ Health Products |
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Make sure the supplement you take passed our test and is right for you! Isn't your health worth it?
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Specific types of ginseng may be helpful in diabetes control, the prevention of respiratory infections, sexual enhancement and other uses. But ConsumerLab.com has found problems in many ginseng supplements over the years. In this newest Review, six products failed to pass testing due to lead contamination, lack of ingredient, or inadequate labeling. One product had less than 10% of its claimed amount of ginsenosides despite its "EXTRA STRENGTH" label. A major store brand product was contaminated with lead.
Seven products passed the testing, along with five products tested through ConsumerLab.com's certification program. And two products similar to products that passed are identified. Testing focused on Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) (also called Korean or Chinese ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius).
You must subscribe to get the full test results for and ConsumerLab recommendations. In this comprehensive report, you'll discover:
- Which products failed or passed our tests and why.
- The evidence for and against American and Asian ginseng.
- Amount of key "ginsenoside" compounds in each product.
- Potential side effects and cautions.
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Summary for non-subscribers:
Sample Test Results of Approved Products:
Listed alphabetically below are examples of products that passed. These "Approved" products met their label claim and ConsumerLab.com's standards. To get the full report covering 20 ginseng supplements, along with our recommendations, you must SUBSCRIBE or LOG IN now.
EXAMPLES OF RESULTS OF CONSUMERLAB.COM TESTING OF ASIAN & AMERICAN GINSENG SUPPLEMENTS
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Name of Product, Claimed Type and Amount of Ginseng per Unit and Suggested Dose on Label
Click on "Ingredients" for Full List
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Manu-
facturer or Distri-
butor
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Expected Amount of Ginse-
nosides in Suggested Daily Dose
(Based on greater of claimed (C) or minimum standard (M). See Passing Score for More Information on Review Criteria) |
— TEST RESULTS — |
OVERALL RESULTS:
APPROVED
(Passed)
or
NOT
APPROVED
(Failed) |
Contained Expected Amount of Ginse-
nosides
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Did Not Exceed Accep-
table Levels for Contam-
inants
(Heavy metals, pesticides, undeclared caffeine)
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| Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng) |
Nature's Resource® Ginseng 250 mg Extract (250 mg root extract per capsules, 1-2 per day)*
Ingredients
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Dist. by Nature's Resources Products |
20-40 mg (C) |
APPROVED
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Pharmanex® Energy Formula (300 mg root extract per capsule, 2 per day)*
Ingredients
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Dist. by Nu Skin Enterprises |
18 mg (M) |
APPROVED
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Puritan's Pride® Korean Ginseng 100 mg Standardized Extract (100 mg standardized root extract per capsule, 2 per day)*
Ingredients
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Mfd. by Puritan's Pride, Inc. |
14 mg (C) |
APPROVED
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Vitamin World® Korean Ginseng, 500 mg, Panax ginseng (500 mg root extract per capsule, 2 per day)*
Ingredients
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Dist. by Vitamin World, Inc. |
30 mg (M) |
APPROVED
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| American Ginseng: (Panax quinquefolius) |
Puritan's Pride® American Ginseng, Panax quinquefolius, 500 mg (500 mg standardized root extract per capsule, 2 per day)*
Ingredients
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Dist. by Puritan's Pride, Inc. |
50 mg (C) |
APPROVED
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*Tested through CL's Voluntary Certification Program prior to, at time of, or after initial posting of this Product Review.
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Manufacturers may change ingredients and label information at any time. So be sure to check labels carefully when evaluating the products you use or buy. If a product's ingredients differ from what is listed above, it may not be the same as what was tested. CL cannot assure that results for other samples will be the same as those listed above because there may be a lack of consistency both within and across lots.
The information contained in this report is based on the compilation and review of information from product labeling and analytic testing. CL applies what it believes to be the most appropriate testing methods and standards. The information in this report does not reflect the opinion or recommendation of CL, its officers or employees. CL cannot assure the accuracy of information provided to it by third parties. Liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in this report is hereby disclaimed. |
| Copyright ConsumerLab.com, LLC, 2006. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced, excerpted, linked to, or cited in any fashion without the express written permission of ConsumerLab.com LLC. |
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