As the late-summer heat and tropical nights continue, a study found that red ginseng extract may help ease everyday fatigue.
KGC Ginseng Corporation Jung Kwan Jang said on the 25th that in a human trial recently published in an international journal, adults who consumed red ginseng for three weeks showed a significantly lower level of fatigue than the placebo group.
With the recent prolonged heat, interest in managing summer fatigue is growing. More people are complaining of fatigue as they toss and turn at night due to tropical nights and are repeatedly exposed to strong air conditioning during the day.
The Korea Meteorological Administration analyzed weather observation data from 1973 to 2025 and found that the average annual number of tropical nights over the past 10 years has increased about threefold compared with the past. The end of the tropical night period also tended to be delayed by about 10 to 20 days compared with the past.
Experts cited diminished sleep quality as one of the biggest causes of summer fatigue. A person's core body temperature drops before falling asleep, but when nighttime temperatures are high, it is harder to release enough body heat, making it difficult to fall asleep or to sleep deeply.
In fact, a study published last year in the international journal "Sleep Medicine Reviews" found that higher indoor and outdoor temperatures affect decreased sleep quality and shorter sleep duration. The researchers noted that this phenomenon was more pronounced in hotter seasons and high-temperature regions.
When sleep deprivation is repeated, daytime sleepiness, reduced concentration, and fatigue can worsen. Fluid loss due to sweating and frequent exposure to air-conditioned environments are also cited as factors that aggravate fatigue.
To reduce summer fatigue, regular sleep and adequate hydration are important. Using health functional foods as a supplement is another option. The Ministery of Food and Drug Safety recognizes fatigue improvement functionality for red ginseng, ginseng, and Japanese apricot extract.
Recently, study findings examining the fatigue improvement effects of red ginseng have also been released. In a study published this year in the international journal "Journal of Ginseng Research," 46 healthy adults aged 40 to 60 who usually felt fatigued consumed red ginseng extract for three weeks, and their fatigue (VAS) scores were significantly lower than those of the placebo group. The researchers explained that red ginseng extract may help relieve everyday fatigue.
Research on the mechanism of action of red ginseng is also continuing. In an animal experiment published in 2022 in the international journal "Frontiers in Pharmacology," improved mitochondrial function in skeletal muscle and ATP (adenosine triphosphate) production was observed after administration of red ginseng extract. ATP is a substance that stores and supplies the energy needed to move muscles or maintain bodily functions. However, the researchers noted that because the study was an animal experiment, it cannot be concluded that the same effects appear in people.