Sotaniemi 1995.

Methods	Multicentre trial. Generation of allocation sequence: unstated. Blinding: double blind, but did not stated how the blinding was performed. Sample size estimation: no information. Withdrawal/drop‐out: unstated.
Participants	Ethnic: Finn; 36 patients (all naive, 12 in Ginseng 100 group, M/F 4/8, mean age 59 years; 12 in Ginseng 200 group, M/F 5/7, mean age 57 years; 12 in placebo group, M/F 7/5, mean age 60 years). Setting: unspecified. Inclusion criteria: type 2 diabetes mellitus, newly diagnosed (no criteria stated), recruited from five health centres. Exclusion criteria: unstated. There were an 8‐week run‐in period before randomisation.
Interventions	Experimental intervention: ‐ ginseng group I: 100 mg daily, for eight weeks. ‐ ginseng group II: 200 mg daily, for eight weeks. Control intervention: placebo (0 mg ginseng), daily, for eight weeks. Patients were instructed for diet recommendation and exercise.
Outcomes	FBG, HbA1c, serum insulin, and adverse effects. No follow‐up was reported.
Notes	Data from Ginseng group I and II were combined for analyses.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Unclear risk	B ‐ Unclear