A randomized, placebo-controlled trial investigating the acute and chronic benefits of American Ginseng (Cereboost) on mood and cognition in healthy young adults

Bell L, et al.

Published in European Journal of Nutrition

Methodology

Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial assessing acute (single-dose) and chronic (two-week) effects of American ginseng extract on computerised cognitive tasks and mood scales in healthy young adults.

Key Findings

In 61 healthy young adults, American ginseng extract (Cereboost) improved working memory performance acutely, notably at 3 hours post-dose, and improved self-reported calmness, but two weeks of chronic dosing produced no additional cognitive benefit and mood effects were mixed.

Conclusions

American ginseng produced acute working-memory and calmness benefits in healthy young adults, without clear added benefit from two weeks of continued use.

Limitations

Small healthy young sample limiting generalisability to older or cognitively impaired people, short two-week chronic phase, multiple cognitive outcomes raising the chance of false positives, and manufacturer involvement in supplying the extract.