Acute Dose Response of Korean White Ginseng in Metabolic Syndrome or Type 2 Diabetes

Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women * 18-75 years old * BMI 25-35 kg/m2 * Presence of type 2 diabetes (as defined by HbA1c ≤8.5%),treatment with diet or oral hypoglycemic medication) OR * Presence of Metabolic Syndrome as defined by The US National Cholesterol -Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP III). As per NCEP III criteria, at least three of the following must be present: * central obesity: waist circumference ≥ 102 cm or 40 inches (male), ≥ 88 cm or 36 inches(female) * dyslipidemia: TG ≥ 1.7 mmol/L (150 mg/dl); * dyslipidemia: HDL-C \< 40 mg/dL (male), \< 50 mg/dL (female) blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg; fasting plasma glucose ≥ 6.1 mmol/L (110 mg/dl) Exclusion Criteria: * BMI \>35 kg/m2 * Hypertensive (brachial systolic BP ≥140mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90mmHg) * Pregnant women, or those at risk of pregnancy, or breastfeeding at the time of the study. * Women of childbearing age that do not use acceptable method of birth control (ie. abstinence, implants, injectables, oral contraceptives, IUDs etc). * Chronic conditions including: liver disease, cancer, heavy alcohol use, bleeding disorders, history of angina, congestive heart failure, coronary revascularization, peripheral vascular disease, retinopathy, kidney disease or coronary/cerebrovascular event; chronic use of medications including blood-thinners, SSRIs, MAO inhibitors, medications affecting NO synthesis (eg. Viagra) * Allergy or sensitivity to the placebo (wheat bran), ginseng or gelatin used in the capsules. * Use of any ginseng products within three days preceding the study and during the study. * Allergies to Panax species, their constituents or to other members of the Araliaceae family. The use of additional NHPs that may affect blood pressure or blood glucose Individuals suffering from glucose-galactose malabsorption syndrome.