Ginsenoside Rg1, a steroid-like plant compound from ginseng sold as a sports and healthy-aging supplement, has weak human evidence: a few small studies of one or two doses before exercise reported longer endurance and lower effort, all from one company-funded laboratory testing an apparent plant blend. Aging-cell claims are unconfirmed, brain and liver benefits rest on animal research, and the safety of repeated long-term use is unknown. (Full Review)
| Marker | Target | Why |
|---|---|---|
| INR (warfarin users only) | Individual's prescribed warfarin range; no established target for Rg1 | Ginseng extract weakened warfarin's effect |
| Fasting glucose | 70–99 mg/dL | Safety check on glucose-lowering drugs |
| Estradiol (women with hormone concerns) | Postmenopausal <10–25 pg/mL; premenopausal 15–350 pg/mL | Rg1 shifted estradiol after exercise |
| Progesterone (women with hormone concerns) | Postmenopausal <0.2 ng/mL; luteal phase 1.8–24 ng/mL | One dose doubled progesterone |
Cadence: INR at 1–2 weeks after starting or stopping for warfarin users; fingerstick glucose daily for the first 2 weeks on glucose-lowering drugs; estradiol and progesterone at 4–8 weeks, then every 6–12 months, for women with hormone concerns; performance benchmarks every 4–8 weeks