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Ginger (zingiber officinale) is a common part of the diet in many parts of the world. Recent research has found ginger to have various pharmacological properties due to a variety of active constituents, including shogaols and gingerols (responsible for the strong odor). Ginger is also one of the strongest plant antioxidants [1]. This article will provide a short summary of some of the advantages that supplementation with ginger or ginger extract may have to offer.
Benefits
- Treatment of nausea – Ginger is probably most well-known for
its ability to reduce nausea, and it has been superior to placebo in studies
on seasickness, morning sickness, chemotherapy-induced nausea, motion sickness,
pregnancy-related nausea, and others [2-5]. In the majority of these trials,
the dosage used was 1 gram of ginger (either acutely or daily) and there
were no adverse events. A few trials have not shown a statistically significant
difference (although there has been at least one that has shown a significant
difference for each of the conditions above), but there is always a trend
toward improvement. Two possible mechanisms are enhanced intestinal transport
and CNS activity, with studies in humans indicating that the latter is more
likely [2].
- Digestive stimulation – 6-shogaol, one of the active constituents
in ginger, has stimulated intestinal blood flow and transport in rat and
guinea pig studies [6, 7], indicating that it may effectively stimulate digestion.
However, in a placebo-controlled trial ginger showed no effect on gastric
emptying rate [8].
- Cardiovascular health – Like other antioxidants, ginger may
benefit cardiovascular health. A comprehensive study in mice found that ginger
extract reduced cholesterol, inhibited LDL oxidation, and reduced the development
of atherosclerosis [9]. A rat study found that ginger reduced plasma lipid
levels, as well as lipid peroxidation [10]. No studies have yet been conducted
on humans in this regard.
- Cancer prevention – A few studies have been conducted on the
effect ginger has on carcinogenesis. In vitro, ginger has selective anticancer
activity [11]. A study in mice found that orally administered ginger significantly
reduced the occurence of mammary tumors without adverse events as measured
by body weight, food intake, and blood tests [12]. Ginger also improves immunologic
function in mice that already have tumors [13].
- Arthritis treatment – High doses of ginger may have anti-inflammatory
[14] and analgesic [15] effects. One trial in patients with osteoarthritis
found that ginger extract caused a modest reduction in knee pain [16].
- Anxiety reduction – Animal models indicate that ginger may reduce
anxiety through an unknown mechanism [17, 18]. The combination of ginkgo
and ginger also facilitated learning in rats [17], but it is more than likely
that this was due to the ginkgo.
- Protection from pathogens – A comparison of 36 plant extracts
found that ginger was among the strongest in inhibiting the growth of human
pathogenic fungi, including strains that were resistant to traditional treatments
[19]. Ginger has also shown activity against some respiratory tract pathogens
[20]. The implication this has on humans in normal doses is not yet known.
Ginger has not been associated with any significant adverse events in trials. In some cases, gastrointestinal upset is reported. Doses as high as 1 g/kg have been used in rats with no signs of toxicity or teratogenicity [21]. .5-1 g per day is suggested for general health, 1 gram per day to prevent nausea, and 1 gram prior to travel for prevention of motion sickness.
If you have any questions or comments regarding this article, please email dvdtlsn@bulknutrition.com.
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