Background: Ginseng is widely used as an adaptogen to reduce fatigue, but evidence for its efficacy, as measured by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), remains inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of ginseng and ginseng-containing supplements on fatigue severity measured by VAS.
Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Google Scholar, WHO ICTRP, and ClinicalTrials.gov up to July 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effect of Panax ginseng on VAS-measured fatigue were included. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Statistical analysis was conducted using Stata 15, with a random-effects model to estimate pooled mean differences (MDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity was assessed using I² and Cochran’s Q statistics. Subgroup analysis was performed based on intervention duration.
Results: The pooled results showed a significant reduction in VAS fatigue scores in the ginseng group compared to placebo (MD=1.28, 95%CI: 0.69 to 1.87, p<0.001) and a substantial heterogeneity was observed (I²=89.3%, p<0.001). Subgroup analysis revealed significant improvements after 2–4 weeks of intervention (MD=1.65–1.80), while longer durations (8–12 weeks) showed no significant effects. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results, and no significant publication bias was detected.
Conclusion: Ginseng supplementation significantly reduced fatigue within short-term interventions (2–4 weeks), supporting its role as a natural adaptogen for fatigue management. However, high heterogeneity among studies highlights the need for further well-designed trials with standardized protocols.