Panax ginseng
Panax Ginseng and Blood Sugar: The Research Behind Glyco Defender's 12th Ingredient
Panax ginseng, also called Asian ginseng, is a root with modest blood sugar research: 16 trials found fasting glucose about 5.6 mg/dL lower and no A1C change. Glyco Defender lists it 12th of 21 in a 15.47 mg blend, so a dropper holds at most 1.3 mg. Doses in those trials ran from about 100 mg to 20 g a day.
Written by the Glyco Defender label deskUpdated
The root01
What is Panax ginseng?
Panax ginseng is Asian ginseng, a root used in traditional medicine and sold today as an extract. Glyco Defender lists "Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) Root Extract" in its blend.
It is not the same plant as eleuthero, sometimes sold as Siberian ginseng. Eleuthero also appears on the label, in fifth place, and has its own profile on maca and the adaptogens.
Of all the plants in the drops, Panax ginseng has some of the more direct glucose research. That research is the reason it gets a closer look.
Panax ginseng
Place 12 Asian ginseng root. Studied in randomized trials for fasting glucose and A1C.
Eleuthero
Place 5 A different root with "ginseng" in a trade name. Its glucose findings come only from animals.
Research02
Does Panax ginseng help blood sugar?
Panax ginseng lowered fasting blood sugar slightly in pooled trials, but it did not change A1C. The best-known review combined 16 randomized trials with 770 people (Shishtar et al., PLoS One 2014).
Fasting glucose fell by 0.31 mmol/L, about 5.6 mg/dL. Results varied a lot from study to study, and fasting insulin did not change overall (Shishtar et al., PLoS One 2014).
NCCIH calls the diabetes research inconclusive and conflicting. A 2022 review of 20 studies was more positive about fasting glucose (NCCIH, Asian Ginseng). NCCIH still finds no reliable evidence that any herbal supplement helps control diabetes (NCCIH, Diabetes and Dietary Supplements).
| Measure | Result | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fasting glucose | About 5.6 mg/dL lower, with wide variation | 16 trials, 770 people (Shishtar et al., PLoS One 2014) |
| A1C | No significant change | Same review (Shishtar et al., PLoS One 2014) |
| Fasting insulin | No significant change | Same review (Shishtar et al., PLoS One 2014) |
| Overall verdict | Inconclusive and conflicting | NCCIH (NCCIH, Asian Ginseng) |
| Glyco Defender itself | Not published | No trial |
Scale03
How big is a 5.6 mg/dL drop in fasting glucose?
A 5.6 mg/dL drop is small. The fasting range for prediabetes alone spans 100 to 125 mg/dL, a width of about 25 points (NIDDK, Diabetes & Prediabetes Tests).
So the average shift seen with ginseng is roughly a fifth of that band. It came from doses of 100 mg or more a day.
A single reading cannot show a change that small. Day-to-day swings from meals and sleep can be bigger.
- Normal fasting glucose: below 100 mg/dL (NIDDK, Diabetes & Prediabetes Tests).
- Prediabetes: 100 to 125 mg/dL; diabetes: 126 or higher, confirmed by a repeat test (NIDDK, Diabetes & Prediabetes Tests).
- Your own numbers belong with your doctor. The blood sugar numbers guide explains each test.
The math04
How much ginseng is in Glyco Defender?
Glyco Defender holds at most 1.3 mg of Panax ginseng per dropper. Ginseng sits 12th in the blend, so 15.47 / 12 = 1.29 mg is its ceiling.
The trials began at about 100 mg a day, so the ceiling is roughly 1.3% of the lowest studied dose. Some trials went as high as 20 g.
On an even split, ginseng gets about 0.74 mg. Reaching 100 mg at the ceiling would take about 78 droppers in one day, more than two and a half bottles.
| Name on the label | Ginseng (Panax Ginseng) Root Extract |
|---|---|
| What it is | Asian ginseng root |
| Place on the label | 12 of 21 in the 15.47 mg proprietary blend |
| Amount per mL (1 dropper) | Not listed; #12 of 21 in the 15.47 mg blend, so at most 1.29 mg per mL |
| Amount used in research | About 100 mg to 20 g |
| Strength of evidence | Modest drop in fasting glucose; no A1C effect |
| Marketed or traditional use | Studied for glucose control |
| Main caution | May lower blood sugar; may affect blood thinners; insomnia. |
In numbers05
What are the Glyco Defender ginseng numbers?
The Glyco Defender ginseng numbers are place 12, at most 1.3 mg per dropper, and a 100 mg low study dose.
The fasting result, 5.6 mg/dL, came from those far larger doses.
Glyco Defender: from $49 a bottle30 mL · 1, 3 or 6 bottles · free US shipping on 6 · 60-day money-back guarantee
See packsSafety06
Is Panax ginseng safe?
Short-term use of Panax ginseng appears safe in studies, but it has known cautions (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance). Trouble sleeping is the most common side effect (NCCIH, Asian Ginseng).
Ginseng might lower blood sugar, so NCCIH advises people with diabetes to talk with a provider first. It may also affect blood clotting and interact with some medicines (NCCIH, Asian Ginseng).
It may be unsafe in pregnancy. The Glyco Defender label already rules out pregnant and nursing women.
Ginseng is not a replacement for any diabetes or heart medicine. Take every prescription as directed, and show your pharmacist the label if you use a blood thinner.
Timing07
When should you take Glyco Defender if ginseng affects your sleep?
Take it in the morning if sleep is a concern. The label prints no time of day, but ginseng is linked to insomnia (NCCIH, Asian Ginseng), and the blend also holds caffeine sources.
A morning dropper keeps both well away from bedtime. The dial below sets the dropper next to a walk, sensible portions and sleep.
- Morning, about 7:30
One dropperful, in the mouth or in water. The label gives no time of day, and caffeine from guarana suits mornings. Prescribed medicine keeps its own schedule.
- A walk after a meal
People in the DPP lifestyle group aimed for 150 minutes of activity a week and lowered diabetes risk by 58%.
- Plates and portions
Losing 5-7% of body weight helps prevent type 2 diabetes, per the CDC.
- Night, 7 to 9 hours
Guarana and green tea add caffeine, so a late dropper can cost light sleepers some rest.
Habit ideas drawn from the Diabetes Prevention Program (NIDDK, Diabetes Prevention Program) and CDC (CDC, Prediabetes); caffeine guidance from FDA (FDA, Caffeine: how much is too much?). The time for the drops is a suggestion; follow your label.
Step-by-step directions are on how to take Glyco Defender.
Related08
Which other Glyco Defender ingredients have glucose studies?
Chromium and gymnema are the other Glyco Defender ingredients with glucose studies. Like ginseng, both were tested at doses far above what one dropper holds.
Compare chromium picolinate at 7 mcg with gymnema at place 8.
FAQ09
Panax ginseng questions about Glyco Defender
Is Panax ginseng the same as Siberian ginseng?
No. Panax ginseng is Asian ginseng, 12th in the Glyco Defender blend. Siberian ginseng is eleuthero, a different plant listed 5th. They share a trade name but have separate research, and eleuthero's glucose findings come only from animal studies (MSKCC, Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero)).
How much Panax ginseng is in a Glyco Defender dropper?
The label does not give an amount. Ginseng is 12th of 21 in a 15.47 mg blend, so one dropper can hold at most about 1.3 mg. Split evenly, it would be close to 0.74 mg. Trials used 100 mg a day or more.
Does Panax ginseng change A1C?
Not in the pooled trials. A review of 16 randomized trials found no significant change in A1C, the two-to-three-month blood sugar marker, even though fasting glucose dipped by about 5.6 mg/dL on average (Shishtar et al., PLoS One 2014).
Can Panax ginseng keep you awake?
It can. NCCIH lists insomnia as the most common side effect of Asian ginseng (NCCIH, Asian Ginseng). If you notice lighter sleep after starting Glyco Defender, take the dropper in the morning, since the blend also contains guarana and green tea.
Does Panax ginseng affect blood thinners?
It may. NCCIH says Asian ginseng may interfere with blood clotting and interact with some medicines (NCCIH, Asian Ginseng). If you take warfarin or another blood thinner, ask your doctor or pharmacist before adding any ginseng product, even one with a small amount.
What ginseng doses did glucose trials use?
The 16 trials in the main review used doses from about 100 mg to 20 g a day (Shishtar et al., PLoS One 2014). The Glyco Defender ceiling of 1.3 mg per dropper is roughly 1.3% of the lowest of those doses.
Does Panax ginseng boost exercise performance?
Small studies showed little or no performance benefit from Panax ginseng, according to the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. Short-term use appeared safe in those studies (NIH ODS, Exercise & Athletic Performance). Glyco Defender is not sold for exercise, and its ginseng share is tiny.
Who wrote this10
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the label, the sales page and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . See our editorial standards and the way we check reviews. This website is run by a USA Authorized Glyco Defender Retailer, not by the manufacturer or the distributor. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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