Table 2.
Demographic characteristics of the study participants.
| Variables | GE Low (1 g) Group (n = 30) |
GE High (3 g) Group (n = 30) |
Placebo Group (n = 30) |
Total (n = 90) |
p-Value 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years | 55.40 ± 3.17 | 53.93 ± 2.82 | 54.63 ± 3.02 | 54.66 ± 3.03 | 0.174 |
| Menopause age (years) | 50.27 ± 3.94 | 48.57 ± 4.04 | 49.43 ± 4.01 | 49.42 ± 4.01 | 0.263 |
| Menopause duration (months) | 61.87 ± 40.05 | 64.00 ± 55.78 | 62.40 ± 50.76 | 62.76 ± 48.75 | 0.985 |
| Number of pregnancies | 2.07 ± 0.58 | 2.20 ± 0.81 | 2.23 ± 0.86 | 2.17 ± 0.75 | 0.668 |
| Height (cm) | 156.57 ± 4.25 | 155.20 ± 6.22 | 155.37 ± 5.50 | 155.71 ± 5.36 | 0.565 |
| Weight (kg) | 58.45 ± 7.80 | 59.52 ± 9.31 | 57.21 ± 7.97 | 58.39 ± 8.35 | 0.569 |
| Body mass index (kg/m2) | 23.85 ± 3.01 | 24.65 ± 3.03 | 23.66 ± 2.69 | 24.05 ± 2.91 | 0.379 |
| Drinking (yes/no) | 10/20 | 9/21 | 12/18 | 31/59 | 0.709 2 |
| Alcohol consumption (units/week) | 1.14 ± 1.18 | 1.10 ± 1.79 | 2.31 ± 2.68 | 1.58 ± 2.06 | 0.305 |
| Current, smoker (yes/no) | 1.14 ± 1.18 | 1.10 ± 1.79 | 2.31 ± 2.68 | 1.58 ± 2.06 | 0.305 |
| VBD(T-score) | −2.25 ± 0.75 | −1.99 ± 0.64 | −1.96 ± 0.71 | −2.07 ± 0.71 | 0.207 |
| FBD(T-score) | −1.40 ± 0.88 | −1.15 ± 0.67 | −1.22 ± 0.77 | −1.26 ± 0.78 | 0.433 |
| OC (ng/mL) | 21.3 ± 5.72 | 18.93 ± 3.72 | 21.11 ± 6.34 | 20.4 ± 5.38 | 0.173 |
| DPD (nM DPD/mM crea) | 7.43 ± 1.33 | 7.33 ± 1.52 | 8.29 ± 4.74 | 7.67 ± 2.91 | 0.410 |
| DPD/OC ratio | 0.37 ± 0.1 | 0.40 ± 0.09 | 0.42 ± 0.26 | 0.39 ± 0.17 | 0.538 |
| CTX (ng/mL) | 0.48 ± 0.11 | 0.49 ± 0.16 | 0.45 ± 0.16 | 0.48 ± 0.15 | 0.534 |
| OC/CTX ratio | 44.48 ± 11.39 | 41.10 ± 12.16 | 49.92 ± 15.51 | 45.16 ± 13.02 | 0.078 |
| NTX (ng/mL) | 15.58 ± 2.88 | 15.95 ± 4.05 | 15.93 ± 4.03 | 15.82 ± 3.66 | 0.914 |
| Ca (mg/dL) | 9.45 ± 0.36 | 9.35 ± 0.27 | 9.33 ± 0.25 | 9.38 ± 0.3 | 0.260 |
| P (mg/dL) | 3.67 ± 0.35 | 3.81 ± 0.33 | 3.72 ± 0.49 | 3.74 ± 0.39 | 0.421 |
| BsALP (μg/L) | 16.59 ± 5.06 | 15.91 ± 3.56 | 17.23 ± 5.93 | 16.55 ± 4.88 | 0.601 |
| P1 NP (pg/mL) | 61.23 ± 13.69 | 59.10 ± 14.97 | 58.18 ± 15.98 | 59.51 ± 14.78 | 0.737 |
| WOMAC index | 10.54 ± 12.75 | 14.7 ± 12.63 | 11.2 ± 11.87 | 8 ± 9.12 | 0.096 |
Values are presented as mean ± SD or number. 1 Analyzed by one-way ANOVA 2 Analyzed by Fisher’s exact test. GE low group: ginseng powder 1 g group, GE high group: ginseng powder 3 g group. Abbreviations: VBD, vertebral bone density; FBD, femoral bone density; OC, Osteocalcin; DPD, deoxypyridinoline; CTX, C-terminal telopeptide, NTX, N-terminal telopeptide, BsALP, bone specific alkaline phosphatase, P1 NP, procollagen type 1 n-terminal propeptide, WOMAC, western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis.