Effects of Supplementation with Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) on Serum Glucose, Lipid Profile and Oxidative Stress in Obese Women: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Pharmaceutical Sciences
Q2
Jul 2015
Citations:36
Influential Citations:4
Interventional (Human) Studies
87
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Enhanced Details

Methods
80 obese women aged 18-45 years (BMI 30-40 kg/m^2); randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial comparing ginger to placebo for 12 weeks.
Intervention
Ginger powder, 2 g per day (two 1 g tablets), taken 30 minutes before meals, for 12 weeks.
Results
Ginger reduced triglycerides more than placebo (percent change: ginger -20.51% vs placebo -4.92%; p=0.006) and contributed to reductions in body weight, BMI, waist circumference and hip circumference vs placebo. Glucose decreased in both groups (-7.51% vs -6.16%; p=0.669, not significant). Reductions in TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C were greater in placebo than ginger (p=0.023 and p=0.013). No between-group differences in other lipid fractions. MDA increased in the ginger group (p=0.005) and TAC decreased in the placebo group (p=0.029); no between-group differences in MDA or TAC. Conclusion: 2 g/day ginger for 12 weeks provides a minor beneficial effect on serum glucose and a moderate, significant reduction in triglycerides in obese women, with no clear impact on oxidative stress markers; more trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Limitations
Limited generalizability to men; only MDA and TAC measured among oxidative stress markers (no ox-LDL, NO, catalase); 10 of 80 participants dropped out; short duration (12 weeks); results from a single-population study.

Abstract

The hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidative effects of ginger in type 2 diabetic patients have been recently noticed. However given the very limited data on obesity, the present study was furthered to investigate those beneficial effects of gin...