Blackmores Institute

The systematic review and meta-analysis published in Phytotherapy Research, included twenty-five separate studies and found a statistically significant effect of ginger on serum C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde levels after supplementation compared to controls.
 
 “It is expected that the ginger supplementation could have beneficial effects on some biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to obtain a pooled estimate of the effect of ginger supplementation on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress in clinical trials, and also to assess whether an administration of ginger could ameliorate antioxidant and inflammation status,” the authors explained.
 
 “The meta-analysis of data from 19 randomised controlled trials revealed a significant effect of ginger supplementation on plasma C-RP, TNF-α, prostaglandin E2, and IL-6 concentrations. However, a significant reduction was observed in the circulating CRP and TNF-α at doses 2–3 g/day and 1–2 g/day, respectively. This means that the higher dosage of ginger supplementation had a potential effect on lowering plasma inflammatory cytokines,” the authors reported.
 
 The review also reported that ginger supplementation potentiates the antioxidant defence system through the activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and the expression of several antioxidant enzymes and thereby could reduce the generation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, suggesting that ginger protects against oxidative stress and prevented the depletion of antioxidants.
 
 “This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effect of ginger supplementation on inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers. Ginger supplementation may improve the anti-inflammatory and anti- oxidant status. However, further large well-designed studies are warranted to support the finding,” the authors concluded.
 
 
 Source:
 Phytotherapy Research. 2020. DOI: <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ptr.6638">10.1002/ptr.6638</a>

Supplementing with ginger may have a beneficial on numerous conditions such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes due to its significant effects on inflammatory and oxidative stress.

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