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Ginger on Human Health: A Comprehensive Systematic Review of 109 Randomized Controlled Trials

Nguyen hoang anh.

1 College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea; rk.ca.uns@04132-8102 (N.H.A.); rk.ca.uns@72mikleinad (S.J.K.); rk.ca.uns@gnolcouhp (N.P.L.); rk.ca.uns@7010ejm (J.E.M.); rk.ca.uns@lhcoynuy (Y.C.Y.); rk.ca.uns@tepyggip (E.G.L.); rk.ca.uns@kdsla (M.K.); rk.ca.uns@tnooj (T.J.K.); rk.ca.uns@59gnayyy (Y.Y.Y.); rk.ca.uns@0113dudlmd (E.Y.S.); rk.ca.uns@yobnacrepus (S.J.Y.); rk.ca.uns@40mikmhuns (H.M.K.)

Nguyen Phuoc Long

Jung eun min, young cheol yoon, eun goo lee, tae joon kim, yoon young yang, eui young son, sang jun yoon, nguyen co diem.

2 School of Medicine, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam; [email protected]

Hyung Min Kim

Sung won kwon, associated data.

Clinical applications of ginger with an expectation of clinical benefits are receiving significant attention. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive discussion in terms of the clinical effects of ginger in all reported areas. Following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline, randomized controlled trials on the effects of ginger were investigated. Accordingly, 109 eligible papers were fully extracted in terms of study design, population characteristics, evaluation systems, adverse effects, and main outcomes. The reporting quality of the included studies was assessed based on the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool for assessing the risk of bias in randomized trials and integrated together with studies that investigated the same subjects. The included studies that examined the improvement of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, inflammation, metabolic syndromes, digestive function, and colorectal cancer’s markers were consistently supported, whereas other expected functions were relatively controversial. Nevertheless, only 43 clinical trials (39.4%) met the criterion of having a ‘high quality of evidence.’ In addition to the quality assessment result, small populations and unstandardized evaluation systems were the observed shortcomings in ginger clinical trials. Further studies with adequate designs are warranted to validate the reported clinical functions of ginger.

1. Introduction

Ginger ( Zingiber officinale Roscoe), a well-known herbaceous plant, has been widely used as a flavoring agent and herbal medicine for centuries. Furthermore, the consumption of the ginger rhizome is a typical traditional remedy to relieve common health problems, including pain, nausea, and vomiting [ 1 ]. Notably, a prominent number of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have been conducted to examine ginger’s antiemetic effect in various conditions such as motion sickness, pregnancy, and post-anesthesia [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]. More than approximately 100 compounds have reportedly been isolated from ginger [ 5 ]. Specifically, the major classes of ginger compounds are gingerol, shogaols, zingiberene, and zingerone, as well as other less common compounds, including terpenes, vitamins, and minerals [ 6 ]. Among them, gingerols are considered as the primary components, reported to possess several bioactivities [ 7 ]. As a result, many related biological activities have been explored such as those of antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-neuroinflammation, just to name a few [ 8 ]. Moreover, in recent years, the role of ginger has been extended to anticancer, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), and fatigue, as well as improvements in the quality of life in daily human work [ 9 , 10 ].

These potential pharmacological and physiological activities have led to a significant increase in the number of investigations on the health benefits of ginger. Regarding clinical aspects, there has been a trend of accumulative evidence in terms of ginger efficacy on human health. Indeed, a remarkable number of RCTs that have aimed to discover the benefits of ginger by reducing symptoms have been conducted. For example, multiple RCTs evaluated the effectiveness of ginger supplementation in reducing CINV in cancer patients, as well as in dysmenorrhea [ 11 ]. Moreover, several systematic reviews and meta-analysis (SR–MA), which aimed to assess the clinical ginger effectiveness, have been completed. In particular, Chen et al. conducted an SR–MA of oral ginger intake and found that ginger could effectively control menstrual pain in dysmenorrhea [ 11 ]. Another SR–MA study revealed that ginger improved lipid profiles and benefited the glucose control, insulin sensitivity, and glycosylated hemoglobin of type 2 diabetes mellitus [ 12 ]. In addition, ginger’s potency has been regularly proposed in arthritis, gastric dysfunction, and cancers [ 6 , 13 , 14 ].

Though several systematic reviews have been conducted, limitations regarding the reporting quality still persist. Important subjects that need further investigation include, but are not limited to, heterogeneous population, less stringent criteria, inadequate quality assessment, and inconsistent results. More importantly, there is still a lack of a comprehensive review in terms of critically assessing and comparing the quality of the evidence derived from RCTs in different domains of their efficacy. This study aimed to provide a systematic summarization of the effectiveness of oral ginger in human health and diseases in current RCTs. In addition, we evaluated ginger efficacy in every reported clinical-related aspect to provide future directions for the clinical research of ginger. Furthermore, we evaluated the ongoing development and achievement of ginger-related randomized clinical trials in specific representative topics. Finally, the shortcomings of available RCTs in terms of the ginger effect investigation were discussed.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. literature search strategy.

The study follows the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines ( Table S1 ) [ 15 ]. A systematic search was conducted on six libraries, including four English databases and two Korean databases. Firstly, for English literature, we searched Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Clinical Trials (ClinicalTrial.gov) with the query: “ Zingiber officinale ” OR “ Z. officinale ” OR “Ginger.” Next, two Korean databases, Korean studies Information Service System (KISS) and National Digital Science Library (NDSL), were searched using the query: “ Zingiber officinale ” OR “ Z. officinale ” OR “Ginger” and Korean language terms related to ginger. Data were collected up to July 2019 and regularly updated by manual search. There was no limitation in the search period.

2.2. Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria

We first imported the search results to Endnote X9 and performed the duplication removal step. The remaining papers were screened for title and abstract. This study focused on randomized clinical trials investigating the efficacy of ginger to improve human health as well as to support human disease. For that reason, any paper that reported the effectiveness of ginger in clinical aspects was included in this study. Inappropriate articles were excluded for the following reasons: (1) not clinical trials; (2) not related topic; (3) irrelevant data for analysis; (4) secondary analysis; (5) unavailable abstract or full-text; (6) duplication; and (7) case reports, letters, commentaries, meeting records, or review articles. At least two authors performed this step to evaluate the eligibility of each item. Next, the qualification of each paper was assessed by reading the full-text, and the qualified articles were collected for the next extraction data step. In addition, a manual search was also conducted by screening the reference lists of the selected articles. Finally, the qualified papers were included for the data extraction process.

2.3. Data Extraction

The details of demographic populations and study design information, including year, sample allocation, sample size, age, study design, symptom and disease, treatment and control group intervention information, duration of therapy, and blinding, were extracted. Importantly, we extracted the evaluation outcome system, key findings, and adverse effects of each study, as well as their found side effects, if any.

2.4. Quality Assessment

The Cochrane Collaboration’s tool was employed to evaluate the risk of bias in individual research for quality assessment [ 16 ]. The tool included seven items that aimed to evaluate the quality of study design (e.g., randomization), the result (e.g., outcome reporting), and other biases. All items were independently assessed and scored by at least two reviewers to avoid personal bias. Seven items were evaluated for all 109 studies, which were scored into three scales: H indicates a high risk of bias, U indicates an unclear risk of bias, and L indicates a low risk of bias. Additionally, each essential function was scored based on seven quality reporting items: 0 points for a high risk, 1 point for an unclear risk, and 2 points for a low risk of bias, and the quality assessment score (QA score) as the sum of each point. We set the criteria at the QA score of 10 or above as a ‘high quality of evidence.’

3.1. Study Selection

After a systematical search that selectively focused on the study design of the clinical trials, we retrieved 221, 222, 59, and five papers from PubMed, Embase, Clinical Trials, and CENTRAL, respectively. Subsequently, 101 duplication records were eliminated. Next, the titles and abstracts of the remaining records were screened for eligibility for the extraction process. Finally, 137 records were included for the full-text monitoring, and 109 qualified articles, including manual search papers remained for the final data extraction step. Similarly, we extended our search method to two Korean literatures databases (KISS and NDSL) and retrieved a remarkable number of studies (n = 790 after duplication removal). Unfortunately, no Korean papers qualified after the standard flow of evaluation. The workflow of this study is shown in Figure 1 .

The workflow of systematical search on ginger randomized clinical trials (RCTs) with five categorized substantial functions.

3.2. Characteristics of Included Studies

Demographics and RCT designs from the studies that were evaluated to have a ‘high quality of evidence’ are described in Table 1 . The rest of the publications are described in Table S2 due to size of the sample. The trend in the publication of the included studies showed an apparent increase throughout the decades ( Figure 2 a). Eighteen studies were crossover trials that had a commonly known advantage in reducing the impact of confounding covariates ( Figure 2 b). Regarding sample size, a population of less than 60 participants per group was mostly conducted ( Figure 2 c). Seventy-three studies demonstrated the effect of ginger in comparison with placebo groups as a control, while 14 studies compared ginger with medication or other functional materials ( Figure 2 d). Sixteen studies were designed with both placebo and medication or other functional materials as the control groups ( Figure 2 d). A daily dosage of 0.5–1.5 g of ginger was frequently adopted, while six studies treated ginger with a multiple dosage range ( Figure 2 e). The ethnicity of participants in the included studies is summarized in Figure 2 f, showing that more than half of the studies were conducted in Iran or the United States.

Features of ginger Randomized controlled trial (RCT) characteristics. ( a ) The trend in the publication of ginger RCTs over the decades, ( b ) the types of study design, ( c ) the ranges of pooled sample size per group, ( d ) the types of comparison in intervention, ( e ) the ranges of adopted dosage, and ( f ) the variety of ethnicity. N/A: Not available.

Study design and demographic description of the included studies with a “high quality of evidence” (quality assessment score is of at least 10).

* DMA regimen: dexamethasone, metoclopramide, and aprepitant; M/F: Male/Female; N/A: Not available.

3.3. Clinical Effects of Ginger

The effects of ginger were reported in a variety of diseases and health conditions. In the following sections, we cover the five significant biological effects of ginger that were mainly examined in the included studies. In addition, other potential effects are also briefly summarized and discussed. Table 2 presents the key finding of each study introduced in Table 1 . The key finding of other publications is provided in Table S3 .

Evaluation system and key finding of the included studies with a “high quality of evidence” (quality assessment score is of at least 10).

1: Body weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height-ratio, body fat, body fat mass, fat-free body mass, appetite total score. CINV: chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting; FBS: fasting blood sugar; FLIE-5DR: functional living index emesis 5-day recall; HOMA-IR: homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance; HDL-C: high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; HbA1c: Hemoglobin A1c; IL: interleukin; LDL-C: low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol; MDA: malondialdehyde; PVAS: pain visual analog scale; QUICKI: quantitative insulin sensitivity check index; RINVR: Rhodes inventory of nausea, vomiting and retching; ROM: range of motion; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-alpha; VAS: visual analog scale; MASCC: multinational association of supportive care in cancer; Apo: apolipoprotein; TC: total cholesterol; TG: triglyceride; LTB4: leukotriene B4; PG: prostaglandins treatment.

3.3.1. Antiemetic Function

Major clinical trials with ginger were performed to evaluate its antiemetic activity ( n = 47). Among these, CINV, a phenomenon induced by chemotherapeutic agents and which activates neurotransmitters as a side effect, was the most frequently investigated subject ( n = 16). From 16 trials, eight demonstrated the positive effect of ginger treatment on the prevention and alleviation of CINV. Sanaati et al. reported that ginger significantly improved the quality of life in CINV group of patients who had received the first cycle of moderately to highly emetogenic chemotherapy compared to the placebo (median (interquartile range) = 124.5 (113.2, 126) vs. 111 (99, 126); p = 0.043) [ 18 ]. Furthermore, ginger effectively reduced acute and delayed CINV in both children and adults [ 56 , 57 ]. On the other hand, Thamlikitkul et al. and Li et al. concluded that ginger showed an insufficient effect on the prophylaxis of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting induced by an Adriamycin–cyclophosphamide regimen and a cisplatin regimen, respectively, which are highly emetogenic regimens [ 19 , 20 ].

Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), also called hyperemesis gravidarum in severe cases, is a symptom that commonly occurs in pregnant women and has the potential to cause nutritional deficiency. There were 14 clinical trials regarding the alleviative effect of ginger on NVP. Eight studies investigated the antiemetic effect of ginger by comparing it to a placebo group, revealing significant effects in the ginger treatment group. Simultaneously, ginger showed a similar effect compared to other medication groups, such as vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), antihistamine, or metoclopramide. However, a study by Ensiyeh et al. concluded that ginger is more effective in relieving the severity of nausea compared to vitamin B6 ( p = 0.024) [ 3 ].

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is an emetic event that is induced in the patients after surgical procedures, and it is mainly caused by the anesthetic. Ginger treatment was used as an intervention in eleven RCTs. However, five RCTs concluded that there were no significant results with ginger.

Still, ginger may have a beneficial effect in gynecological patients, according to the results from Apariman et al., Chaiyakunapruk et al., Phillips et al., and Bone et al. [ 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 ]. Finally, in the study by Dabaghzadeh et al., the researchers primally examined the effect of ginger and demonstrated its benefit on the prevention of nausea and vomiting induced by an antiretroviral regimen ( p = 0.001) [ 62 ]. Efficacy on motion sickness and vertigo was also examined in several studies, with results indicating different aspects between the studies.

3.3.2. Gastrointestinal Function

As an extension of the antiemetic property, ginger has been studied for its protective effect on the gastrointestinal system. Seven RCTs examined ginger’s effect on gastric function, mostly regarding gastric emptying and dysrhythmia. All studies that observed gastric emptying rate reported ginger as a digestive enhancer, except the study from Phillips et al., where they denied the facilitation of gastric function as demonstrated by the paracetamol absorption rate [ 50 ]. Lien et al. reported that ginger treatment significantly reduced tachygastric activity induced by circular vection, a phenomenon of feeling a rotating sensation without actual movement, in a rotating drum ( p < 0.05). Gonlachanvit et al. investigated the beneficial effect of the ginger root in the prevention of slow-wave dysrhythmias induced by acute hyperglycemic events ( p < 0.05) [ 63 , 64 ].

Four RCTs examined the anticancer effect of ginger, all of which evaluated the risk of colorectal cancer according to the ginger treatment. Collectively, ginger has a beneficial effect on colorectal cancer by reducing tumorigenic risk factors. However, Jiang et al. reported that participants with an average risk of colorectal cancer showed no significant aspect between the ginger and placebo groups [ 14 ]. Citronberg et al. investigated cell cycle markers with biopsies from the patients with increased risk of colorectal cancer and demonstrated the regulation of apoptotic and differentiation markers by ginger supplementation [ 51 ]. Lastly, one study from Miranda et al. examined the symptomatic relief on irritable bowel syndrome patients upon ginger application and found no evidence in the reduction of symptoms ( p > 0.05) [ 54 ].

3.3.3. Analgesic Function

Seven RCTs examined the effect of ginger on primary dysmenorrhea. Four trials compared the analgesic effect with other medications such as mefenamic acid, ibuprofen, and zinc sulfate, which displayed similar efficiencies to ginger. Three trials adopted a placebo as a control group, reporting the reduction of pain by the level of visual analog scale. For example, Rahnama et al. reported that ginger significantly improved primary dysmenorrhea in ginger-treated patients for five days, beginning two days before the onset of menstruation [ 45 ]. Only one study concluded that ginger was an insufficient pain reliever upon comparison with stretching and exercising for alleviation [ 65 ].

Four RCTs administered ginger to a group of participants with muscular pain, with varied result observed. Two studies reported a lack of evidence regarding the effect of ginger, and the other two reported that ginger partially attenuated muscular pain compared to the placebo group. Migraines and headaches were examined to assess the pain-relieving attributes of ginger in three RCTs. Maghbooli et al. and Martins et al. compared the effects of sumatriptan and placebo, respectively, both showing there was a significant difference in symptom attenuation ( p < 0.05) [ 23 , 66 ]. Patients with low back pain and chest pain caused by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were also selected to assess the analgesic effects of ginger, and both studies concluded that ginger was a useful option for pain relief.

3.3.4. Inflammatory Effect

Overall, eight RCTs reported the anti-inflammatory effect of ginger supplementation. Among them, arthritis-related diseases were the most conducted studies, particularly osteoarthritis (OA). Regarding OA, six studies investigated the efficiency of the constituents of ginger that serve as anti-inflammatory agents. All studies reported improvement following ginger intake compared to the control group. For instance, Mozaffari-Khosravi et al. proposed that benefits of ginger were observed due to a reduction in the level of the proinflammatory cytokines after three months of consuming 500 mg of ginger powder [ 13 ]. Other studies showed a promising benefit of ginger in relieving pain in OA patients. Furthermore, no significant adverse effects were observed during the trials. An additional study that assessed ginger’s effects on rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated improvement by reducing symptoms via inducing FOXP3 gene expression. Finally, Kulkarni et al. reported that ginger supplementation alone and combined with antitubercular treatment significantly helped to decrease tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, ferritin, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to the control group [ 67 ].

3.3.5. Metabolic Improvement

Studies evaluating the efficiency of ginger in metabolic syndromes have also been widely conducted. Most of the included studies assessed the association of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity with ginger supplementation. In detail, five studies explored the effect of ginger on the diabetes-related indices such as glycemic markers, lipid level, and blood pressure, while four studies focused on various conditions related to obesity such as cardiovascular disease, serum adipocytokines, and breast cancer. For example, three studies evaluated the influence of ginger on biochemical parameters related to T2DM and demonstrated the significant lowering of fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), insulin sensitivity, and insulin resistance. Furthermore, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, and antioxidants were also affected by ginger intake, which was demonstrated by the reduction of the C-reactive protein, triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and malondialdehyde. Another study assessed the relationship between ginger and blood pressure in T2DM but showed no significant differences compared to the control group. Regarding obesity, the included study targeted the effect of ginger on obesity. In obese women, Attari et al. reported that ginger supplements had a minor benefit on weight loss, the reduction of insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and the increasing of quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) [ 25 ]. In terms of obesity-related cardiovascular risk factors, ginger was reported to be beneficial in lowering the risk factors, such as body fat mass, body fat percentage, total cholesterol, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and insulin resistance. In addition, ginger was suggested to have antioxidant and anti-dysmetabolic effects in obese women with breast cancer. Finally, other studies aimed to explore the effect of ginger on lipid metabolism including fat utilization and triglyceride-lowering efficacy. In general, ginger was believed to provide potential benefits by reducing the risk factors of metabolic syndromes. Moreover, no serious adverse effects were observed in all included studies.

3.3.6. Other Clinical Functions

Besides the effects introduced above, several different functions, such as thermoregulatory, thrombotic, and respiratory function, were evaluated at the clinical level. The thermogenetic function of ginger was examined by three randomized crossover trials, and only one study observed the expected outcome. In terms of respiratory function, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and asthma were examined to evaluate the improvement of symptoms. Ginger effectively reduced the duration of mechanical ventilation and the length of stay in the intensive care unit in ARDS patients; it also improved asthmatic symptoms. There were three studies regarding thrombotic function, and two studies reported that ginger had little effect on the thrombotic reaction. However, Bordia et al. reported that a single dose of 10 g of powdered ginger significantly reduced Adenosine diphosphate-induced and epinephrine-induced platelet aggregation in patients who were recovering from myocardial infarction [ 68 ]. Kashefi et al. administered ginger to 15–18 years old patients with heavy menstrual bleeding, and the ginger treatment group demonstrated a significant reduction in menstrual blood loss ( p < 0.001) [ 28 ]. Paritakul et al. examined the effect of ginger on breast milk production in a group of women after delivery and concluded that ginger treatment significantly increased milk volume on the third day postpartum compared to the placebo ( p < 0.01) [ 29 ].

3.4. Adverse Effects

Seventeen studies provided information about adverse effects in their research papers, most of which were not considered to be severely harmful to the participants. Among the adverse effects, gastrointestinal-related symptoms were mostly reported to reverse the gastrointestinal protective effect of ginger in other aspects. Heartburn, a general symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease, was reported in sixteen studies. Five studies reported nausea as a side effect of ginger treatment, which was the primary topic evaluated to observe the clinical effect of ginger. Diarrhea was reported in two studies in groups of patients with heavy menstrual bleeding and after elective cesarean section. Other GI symptoms included abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and epigastric distress. Furthermore, cardiovascular symptoms and respiratory symptoms were observed in a ginger-treated patient group who underwent laparoscopic surgery. The types of adverse effects, incidence rate, and dosage are described in Table S4 .

3.5. Quality Assessment

Firstly, regarding selection bias, three studies were judged as having a high risk of bias in random sequence generation, and 50 studies that were assigned to low risk described the methodological procedure of randomization. Thirty-six studies described the allocation concealment method with detailed explanations, and ten studies that provided ambiguous information about allocation were assigned to having an unclear risk. Sixty-three were judged as having a high risk of bias in allocation concealment. For example, in the study of Shirvani et al., participants were divided into a ginger treatment group and an exercising group, meaning that the allocation was easily predictable [ 65 ]. Second, in an aspect of performance bias, blinding was a common practice in more than 75% of the studies ( n = 85). Eighteen studies were judged as showing an unclear risk, as they did not mention blinding or similarity of the administration appearance. The majority of studies did not report about the blinding of outcome assessment and were assigned to have a high risk in detection bias ( n = 75, 69.7%). Thirty-one papers with low risk on this item described the blinding of the data analyzer or stated that their study design was triple-blinded. Attrition bias and reporting bias were the two least potential biases that could interrupt the results of the included trials, where 101 and 103 studies were assigned to low risks of attrition and reporting bias, respectively. Finally, 42 studies described the limitations of their studies and implied the possibility of any other biases, whereas 58 studies did not mention limitations and were assigned as a high risk. For better visualization, a methodological quality graph is introduced in Figure 3 .

Methodological quality graph: The risk of bias for each item is expressed by percentage.

In addition to investigating each quality assessment item for overall studies, we also compared the quality of each important function based on our quality assessment scoring system, as described in Figure 4 . The quality assessment (QA) outcomes and the QA score for each study are provided in Table S5 .

Distribution of ginger randomized controlled trials (RCTs) based on quality assessment (QA) score: a bright color indicates a ‘high quality of evidence,’ whereas a dark color indicates the opposite. ( a ) In total, 43 RCTs were addressed to have a high quality of evidence, and ( b ) each important function was evaluated (CINV: chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting; NVP: nausea and vomiting of pregnancy; PONV: postoperative nausea and vomiting).

4. Discussion

The clinical applications of ginger as a medicinal or adjuvant therapy have been receiving significant attention due to its several expected functions, general use globally, and empirically guaranteed safety [ 69 , 70 ]. However, an overall comparison of the studies dealing with different functional effects and studies examining minor functions has yet to be adequately performed. As demonstrated by our assessment on reporting quality, attrition bias, and reporting bias were observed to be minor in a majority of studies, and the blinding of participants was also relatively well managed. However, several studies did not describe the method for random sequence generation, method of concealment in allocating procedure, and the blinding of assessors in detail. As a result, several ginger clinical studies had a substantial likelihood of selection and detection bias. For example, in a study by Vladimir et al., the ginger-treated group and the diclofenac-treated group received different formulations of drugs, which might have provided information about allocation with high probability [ 71 ]. Finally, only eight studies were judged as having low risks for every type of bias based on the Cochrane Collaboration’s quality assessment tool [ 14 , 18 , 20 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 45 , 55 ]. Regarding the reporting quality of essential functions, 43 RCTs out of 109 (39.4%) reported a high quality of evidence. Collectively, no major function satisfied the criteria for every study except colorectal cancer. Major functions that indicated a high quality of evidence in more than half of their studies were CINV, NVP, colorectal cancer, and muscular pain. Less than one-third of PONV, gastric function and metabolic syndrome investigations were appraised to have a high quality of evidence.

Only 17 the included RCTs (15.6%) presented adverse response information. There were no life-threatening or severe cases reported. Heartburn was the only symptom consistently reported in 16 studies where the participants received between 500 and 2000 mg of ginger per day. This result was supported by the biological property of ginger’s constituents inhibiting cyclooxygenase, which has a role in gastric mucosal defense [ 9 , 72 ]. Other reported symptoms could not be generalized as side effects of ginger because the number of reporting studies and the number of participants in each study were both small. For example, a study by Kashefi et al. reported diarrhea as an adverse event in the ginger treatment group. However, only one out of 46 patients (2.17%) reported the symptom, indicating no statistically significant correlation to ginger [ 28 ]. Moreover, the ratio of reported unexpected cases per group varied considerably between studies. A methodological description regarding the evaluation system used for adverse effects should be provided in future studies for accurate data integration.

Ginger had been investigated as an additional or alternative treatment to standard regimens in fifteen clinical trials of CINV, but the results between studies were controversial, with only about half of them demonstrating significant effects corresponding to the results of previous systematic reviews [ 73 , 74 ]. Moreover, studies from Yunes et al. and Müzeyyen et al., where they concluded the antiemetic effect of ginger, were assessed to have a high risk of bias in the blinding of participants [ 75 , 76 ]. The dosage of ginger varied among the studies without any correlation with outcomes. Hence, appropriately designed ginger clinical studies on CINV need to be performed for apparent demonstration. On the contrary, ginger showed a promising effect on NVP. All 10 RCTs on NVP concluded that ginger is as effective as other antiemetic medications such as pyridoxine, metoclopramide or dimenhydrinate or more effective than the placebo at least in some aspects with a dosage less than 1.5 g. An observation study from Portnoi et al. reported that a group of pregnant women showed no statistical differences in teratogenicity when compared to a group receiving nonteratogenic drugs [ 77 ]. A large population-based cohort from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort study correspondingly reported that ginger did not affect the risk of teratogenicity and abnormalities in birth [ 78 ]. Moreover, a review from Stanisiere et al. found that there were no severe side effects with ginger consumption in controlled, uncontrolled, and pre-clinical studies, with a significant reduction in nausea and vomiting [ 79 ]. These results support the idea that ginger may be an alternative approach for antiemetic therapy in women during the gestation period of pregnancy. The effectiveness of ginger on PONV, similar to the results from CINV, was inconsistent between studies even with a comparatively high dose (2 g), indicating that further investigations are imperative [ 60 , 80 , 81 ].

Studies on digestive function mostly reported a positive effect of ginger in reducing gastric emptying time and dysrhythmia. However, symptoms and evaluation methods varied among studies, with substandard general qualities, making it challenging to integrate outcomes. Investigations on the anticancer activity of ginger or its active constituents, especially shogaols and gingerol species, have been conducted in various types of cancer with different models [ 6 , 82 ]. However, there was no direct evaluation of the incidence or survival of patients in the four trials that evaluated ginger’s effect on colorectal cancer. Instead, factors of inflammation, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis were measured upon treatment with 1–2 g of ginger to evaluate the improvement of risk. All four studies reported that colorectal cancer-related risk factors were decreased in the ginger treatment group. Even though only four studies were assessed for this review in regard to colorectal cancer, the results were promising, and the quality of the studies was high, with a low possibility of any bias. Accordingly, further clinical trials are imperative to reinforce the colorectal cancer-preventive effect of ginger.

The analgesic effect of ginger was primarily examined on the alleviation of primary dysmenorrhea. Six studies reported that ginger improved pain relief and had similar effectiveness with medications such as mefenamic acid and ibuprofen compared to the placebo group, except for a study from Marjan et al., where ginger was reported to have no benefit [ 65 ]. However, the comparison group in this study managed dysmenorrhea with exercise instead of a placebo or other medication, thus giving a high risk of confounding factors. Furthermore, the dosage was 250 mg a day, whereas the treatment dose ranged between 750 and 1500 mg a day in the other six studies. Altogether, the analgesic effect of ginger on primary dysmenorrhea is worthy of consideration, but more appropriately designed studies should be conducted because the overall quality of the studies was not high. Other types of pain were also improved with ginger treatment in most of the studies. This may be an indicative result from the previously known mechanisms of ginger’s active compounds to suppress cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase [ 9 , 72 ].

The effectiveness of ginger in anti-inflammation and metabolic syndromes has been well studied. For instance, it has been found to significantly reduce symptoms in patients with arthritis-related diseases. Nevertheless, the benefit of ginger among the studies was inconsistent in terms of effectiveness. Noticeably, several studies compared the effectiveness of ginger with other anti-inflammatory drugs. One study concluded that ginger is as effective as ibuprofen in reducing the symptoms of OA, while another study reported the opposite result [ 83 , 84 ]. However, all the included studies were conducted with a sample size of less than 100 participants in each group. In addition, the dosages among the studies varied from 15 to 750 mg, and the treatment duration ranged from three weeks to 12 weeks. Therefore, further studies with larger sample sizes and standardized study designs should be conducted to confirm the effect of ginger on the symptoms of OA. Regarding metabolic diseases, many studies have demonstrated that ginger can improve blood biochemical parameters and lipid profiles, which can additionally help in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. For instance, ginger supplementation has been found to notably reduce fasting blood sugar, HbA1c, and insulin resistance [ 85 , 86 , 87 ]. Additionally, lipid profiles (e.g., total cholesterol, and LDL-C), C-reactive protein, obesity-related cardiovascular risk factors have been found to reduce with ginger intake [ 24 , 88 , 89 , 90 ]. In general, ginger has been found to indicate a beneficial effect on high dosage and long-term treatment in metabolic diseases. However, an obvious limitation is that all studies were performed in a sample size of fewer than 50 participants. Further investigations should be conducted to validate the effect of ginger on metabolic syndrome.

Additionally, the shortcomings in the current ginger clinical trials across domains need to be specified. First, the group size was generally small and rarely exceeded 100 participants per group (only five studies) [ 30 , 37 , 80 , 91 , 92 ]. Thirty-six studies conducted clinical trials group sizes of less than 20 patients. Therefore, the drawn conclusions from these studies possess the risk of being underpowered. Secondly, the evaluation systems of some symptoms varied between studies that focused on a similar subject. For example, the beneficial effect on digestive and colorectal cancer-preventive function was consistently reported in related studies. However, the different evaluation parameters and markers made it challenging to integrate the outcomes. Finally, we cannot rule out the possibility of low external validity due to the diversity in ethnicity: There were 46 trials from Iran and 18 trials from the United States.

5. Conclusions

Ginger is a natural spice that is used in diverse regions to add a pungent flavor to food. Furthermore, ginger has been used as an herbal medicine for common health problems. This systematic review is the first study that has exclusively collected RCTs regarding the efficiency of ginger in several human health conditions. The clinical effects of ginger have been introduced as six subsections: nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal function, pain, inflammation, metabolic syndromes, and other symptoms. Reportedly, ginger has been effective in a majority of studies, including those that examined the alleviation of NVP, digestive function, improvement in the expression level of markers for colorectal cancer risk, and anti-inflammatory functions. Several other functions have also been regarded as beneficial in trials, with some confronting results. However, a few drawbacks regarding the quality of the trials, inconsistent evaluation systems or parameters, and the generally small size of the studies need to be noted. Therefore, systematically designed research with detailed descriptions of methodology and a sufficient pool of participants is necessary for future clinical trials to address the functional characteristics of ginger.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by BK21 Plus Program in 2019. Graphic abstract was created with Biorender.com.

Supplementary Materials

The following are available online at https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/1/157/s1 , Table S1: PRISMA checklist, Table S2: Study design and demographic description of the included studies with a quality score less than 10, Table S3: Evaluation system and key finding of the included studies with a quality score less than 10, Table S4: Types of adverse effect, incidence rate, and dosage from 17 trials, Table S5: Quality assessment outcomes and quality assessment scores of the included studies.

Author Contributions

S.W.K. supervised the project. S.W.K., N.H.A., S.J.K, and N.P.L. participated in the design of the study. N.H.A., S.J.K., and N.P.L. searched and collected the data. N.H.A., S.J.K., N.P.L., J.E.M., Y.C.Y., E.G.L., M.K., T.J.K., Y.Y.Y., E.Y.S., S.J.Y., N.C.D., and H.M.K. conducted data quality checks, data synthesis, and data interpretation. N.H.A., S.J.K., and N.P.L. performed data processing and statistical analysis. N.H.A., S.J.K., and N.P.L. contributed to drafting the first version of the manuscript. All authors have read, revised critically, and approved the final manuscript. N.H.A. and S.J.K. contributed equally to this work. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

This research was supported by the Rural Development Administration of Korea (PJ01420102).

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Orally consumed ginger and human health: an umbrella review

Affiliations.

• 1 Nutrition and Dietetics Research Group, Faculty of Health Science & Medicine, Bond University, Robina, Queensland, Australia.
• 2 Deakin University, Impact (the Institute for Mental and Physical Health and Clinical Translation), Food & Mood Centre, Geelong, Australia.
• 3 Department of Science, Nutrition Research Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
• PMID: 35147170
• PMCID: PMC9170469
• DOI: 10.1093/ajcn/nqac035

Background: Emerging evidence supports the health benefits of ginger for a range of conditions and symptoms; however, there is a lack of synthesis of literature to determine which health indications are supported by quality evidence.

Objectives: In this umbrella review of systematic reviews we aimed to determine the therapeutic effects and safety of any type of ginger from the Zingiber family administered in oral form compared with any comparator or baseline measures on any health and well-being outcome in humans.

Methods: Five databases were searched from inception to April 2021. Review selection and quality were assessed in duplicate using the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews-2 (AMSTAR-2) checklist and the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) method, with results presented in narrative form.

Results: Twenty-four systematic reviews were included with 3% overlap of primary studies. The strongest evidence was found for the antiemetic effects of ginger in pregnant women (effect size: large; GRADE: high), analgesic effects for osteoarthritis (effect size: small; GRADE: high), and glycemic control (effect size: none to very large; GRADE: very low to moderate). Ginger also had a statistically significant positive effect on blood pressure, weight management, dysmenorrhea, postoperative nausea, and chemotherapy-induced vomiting (effect size: moderate to large; GRADE: low to moderate) as well as blood lipid profile (effect size: small; GRADE: very low) and anti-inflammatory and antioxidant biomarkers (effect size: unclear; GRADE: very low to moderate). There was substantial heterogeneity and poor reporting of interventions; however, dosage of 0.5-3 g/d in capsule form administered for up to 3 mo was consistently reported as effective.

Conclusions: Dietary consumption of ginger appears safe and may exert beneficial effects on human health and well-being, with greatest confidence in antiemetic effects in pregnant women, analgesic effects in osteoarthritis, and glycemic control. Future randomized controlled and dose-dependent trials with adequate sample sizes and standardized ginger products are warranted to better inform and standardize routine clinical prescription.

Keywords: Zingiber officinale; chronic disease; gastrointestinal conditions; ginger; pain; umbrella review.

© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.

Publication types

• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
• Antiemetics* / therapeutic use
• Osteoarthritis*
• Systematic Reviews as Topic
• Zingiber officinale*
• Antiemetics

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Ginger Benefits

Ginger adds a fragrant zest to both sweet and savory foods. The pleasantly spicy “kick” from the root of Zingiber officinale, the ginger plant, is what makes ginger ale, ginger tea, candies and many Asian dishes so appealing.

What is ginger good for?

In addition to great taste, ginger provides a range of health benefits that you can enjoy in many forms. Here’s what you should know about all the ways ginger can add flavor to your food and support your well-being.

Health Benefits of Ginger

Ginger is not just delicious.  Gingerol , a natural component of ginger root, benefits gastrointestinal motility ― the rate at which food exits the stomach and continues along the digestive process. Eating ginger encourages efficient digestion, so food doesn’t linger as long in the gut.

• Nausea relief.  Encouraging stomach emptying can relieve the discomforts of nausea due to:
• Chemotherapy . Experts who work with patients receiving chemo for cancer, say ginger may take the edge off post-treatment nausea, and without some of the side effects of anti-nausea medications.
• Pregnancy . For generations, women have praised the power of ginger to ease “morning sickness” and other queasiness associated with pregnancy. Even the American Academy of Obstetrics and Gynecology mentions ginger as an acceptable nonpharmaceutical remedy for nausea and vomiting.
• Bloating and gas . Eating ginger can cut down on fermentation, constipation and other causes of bloating and intestinal gas.
• Wear and tear on cells . Ginger contains antioxidants. These molecules help manage free radicals, which are compounds that can damage cells when their numbers grow too high.
• Is ginger anti-inflammatory?  It is possible. Ginger contains over 400 natural compounds, and some of these are anti-inflammatory. More studies will help us determine if eating ginger has any impact on conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or respiratory inflammation.

Ginger Tea Benefits

Ginger tea is fantastic in cold months, and delicious after dinner. You can add a little lemon or lime, and a small amount of honey and make a great beverage.

Commercial ginger tea bags are available at many grocery stores and contain dry ginger, sometimes in combination with other ingredients. These tea bags store well and are convenient to brew. Fresh ginger has strong health benefits comparable to those of dried, but tea made with dried ginger may have a milder flavor.

Making ginger root tea with fresh ginger takes a little more preparation but tends to deliver a more intense, lively brew.

How to Make Ginger Tea

It’s easy:

• Buy a piece of fresh ginger.
• Trim off the tough knots and dry ends.
• Carefully peel it.
• Cut it into thin, crosswise slices.
• Put a few of the slices in a cup or mug.
• Pour in boiling water and cover.

To get all the goodness of the ginger, let the slices steep for at least 10 minutes.

Ginger tea is a healthier alternative to ginger ale, ginger beer and other commercial canned or bottled ginger beverages. These drinks provide ginger’s benefits, but many contain a lot of sugar. It may be better to limit these to occasional treats or choose sugar-free options.

Ginger Root Versus Ginger Powder

Both forms contain all the health benefits of ginger. Though it’s hard to beat the flavor of the fresh root, ginger powder is nutritious, convenient and economical.

Fresh ginger lasts a while in the refrigerator and can be frozen after you have peeled and chopped it. The powder has a long shelf life and is ready to use without peeling and chopping.”

Ginger paste can stay fresh for about two months when properly stored, either in the refrigerator or freezer.

Should you take a ginger supplement?

Ginger supplements aren’t necessary, and experts recommend that those who want the health benefits of ginger enjoy it in food and beverages instead of swallowing ginger pills, which may contain other, unnoted ingredients.

They point out that in general, the supplement industry is not well regulated, and it can be hard for consumers to know the quantity, quality and added ingredients in commercially available nutrition supplements.

For instance, the Food and Drug Administration only reviews adverse reports on nutrition supplements. People should be careful about nutrition supplements in general, and make sure their potency and ingredients have been vetted by a third party, not just the manufacturer.

How to Eat Ginger

In addition to tea, plenty of delicious recipes include ginger in the form of freshly grated or minced ginger root, ginger paste or dry ginger powder.

Ginger can balance the sweetness of fruits and the flavor is great with savory dishes, such as lentils.

Pickled ginger, the delicate slices often served with sushi, is another option. The sweet-tart-spicy condiment provides the healthy components of ginger together with the probiotic benefit of pickles. And, compared to other pickled items, pickled ginger is not as high in sodium.

Ginger Side Effects

Research shows that ginger is safe for most people to eat in normal amounts — such as those in food and recipes. However, there are a couple of concerns.

Higher doses, such as those in supplements, may increase risk of bleeding. The research isn’t conclusive, but people on anti-coagulant therapy (blood thinners such as warfarin, aspirin and others) may want to be cautious.

Studies are exploring if large amounts of ginger may affect insulin and lower blood sugar, so until more is known, people with diabetes can enjoy normal quantities of ginger in food but should steer clear of large-dose ginger supplements.

For any questions about ginger or any other food ingredient and how it might affect your health, a clinical dietitian can provide information and guidance.

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Common Names:  ginger

Latin Names:  Zingiber officinale

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• Native to parts of Asia, such as China, Japan, and India, ginger has a leafy stem and yellowish-green flowers. The spice comes from the rhizome (underground stem) of the plant. 
• Ginger has been used for medicinal purposes in China for more than 2,500 years, and it has had a prominent role in Chinese, Indian, and Japanese medicine since the 1500s. 

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• There have been many studies of the use of ginger for health purposes in people.

.header_greentext{color:green!important;font-size:24px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_bluetext{color:blue!important;font-size:18px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_redtext{color:red!important;font-size:28px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_darkred{color:#803d2f!important;font-size:28px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_purpletext{color:purple!important;font-size:31px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_yellowtext{color:yellow!important;font-size:20px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_blacktext{color:black!important;font-size:22px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_whitetext{color:white!important;font-size:22px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.header_darkred{color:#803d2f!important;}.Green_Header{color:green!important;font-size:24px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Blue_Header{color:blue!important;font-size:18px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Red_Header{color:red!important;font-size:28px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Purple_Header{color:purple!important;font-size:31px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Yellow_Header{color:yellow!important;font-size:20px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.Black_Header{color:black!important;font-size:22px!important;font-weight:500!important;}.White_Header{color:white!important;font-size:22px!important;font-weight:500!important;} What Have We Learned?

• Research shows that ginger may be helpful for mild nausea and vomiting associated with pregnancy.
• Most studies of ginger for motion sickness haven’t shown it to be helpful.
• In general, ginger hasn’t been shown to relieve nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, although it might be helpful if taken in combination with certain types of chemotherapy or certain drugs used to prevent nausea and vomiting.
• It’s uncertain whether ginger is helpful for postoperative nausea and vomiting.
• A small amount of research suggests that ginger dietary supplements might be helpful for menstrual cramps.
• There’s not enough evidence to show whether ginger supplements are helpful for symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.

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• Ginger has been used safely in many research studies where it was taken orally (by mouth) as a dietary supplement. Ginger products may also be safe for topical use (on the skin).
• Ginger can have side effects such as abdominal discomfort, heartburn, diarrhea, and mouth and throat irritation, especially if taken in large doses.
• Some studies of the use of ginger during pregnancy suggest it is safe, but the evidence is not conclusive. If you’re considering using ginger while pregnant, consult your health care provider. Little is known about whether it’s safe to use ginger while breastfeeding.

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• Take charge of your health—talk with your health care providers about any complementary health approaches you use. Together, you can make shared, well-informed decisions.

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• Araya-Quintanilla F, Gutierrez-Espinoza H, Munoz-Yanez MJ, et al. Effectiveness of ginger on pain and function in knee osteoarthritis: a PRISMA systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain Physician. 2020;23(2):E151-E161.
• Crichton M, Marshall S, Marx W, et al. Efficacy of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in ameliorating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and chemotherapy-related outcomes: a systematic review update and meta-analysis. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 2019;119(12):2055-2068.
• Ginger. Natural Medicines website. Accessed at naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com on March 5, 2020. [Database subscription].
• Khorasani F, Aryan H, Sobhi A, et al. A systematic review of the efficacy of alternative medicine in the treatment of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2020;40(1):10-19.
• McParlin C, O’Donnell A, Robson SC, et al. Treatments for hyperemesis gravidarum and nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: a systematic review. JAMA. 2016;316(13):1392-1401.
• Pattanittum P, Kunyanone N, Brown J, et al. Dietary supplements for dysmenorrhoea. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2016;(3):CD002124. Accessed at www.cochranelibrary.com on August 31, 2020.
• Tóth B, Lantos T, Hegyi P, et al. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) : an alternative for the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting. A meta-analysis. Phytomedicine. 2018;50:8-18.
• Xu Y, Yang Q, Wang X. Efficacy of herbal medicine (cinnamon/fennel/ginger) for primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of International Medical Research . 2020;48(6):1-12.

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• 5 Health Benefits Of Ginger To Unlock Wellness

Health Benefits Of Ginger To Unlock Wellness: 5 Key Reasons To Include It In Your Diet

You might add ginger to your meals and drinks for that delightful zesty and peppery kick. But apart from flavouring your dishes, ginger can also infuse countless health benefits. Learn more about the health benefits of ginger below.

Ginger is popularly used for adding a peppery and zesty kick to teas, beverages, desserts and savoury dishes. The pleasant spicy kick brings a delightful aftertaste to every recipe.

There are many ways you can use ginger to add flavour to your meals. It is one of the most frequently used ingredients in Indian cuisine, where it is added to many curry bases and summer-season drinks. You may have heard of ginger chai latte and haldi doodh, which get their signature warming taste with the addition of ginger. In the USA as well, ginger is now becoming a popular ingredient to spice up coffee lattes, cocktails, breads and desserts.

However, ginger is more than just a flavouring agent. It is packed with several nutritional benefits, after which you will always want to add it to your dishes. Its health benefits are also backed by Ayurvedic sciences. Learn more about the benefits you can get when you start adding ginger to your meals often.

5 Reasons Why Ginger Should Be In Your Diet

1) Gingerol Has Medicinal Properties

The gingerol found in ginger is known for supporting digestion and stimulating the flow of saliva and digestive juices to help alleviate indigestion, bloating and gas. The increased gastrointestinal motility, as concluded by John Hopkins Medicine , can help in getting relief from nausea, motion sickness , morning sickness during pregnancy, and sickness caused by chemotherapy. With enhanced digestion, gingerol helps boost immunity and provides anti-inflammatory effects.

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2) Aid Weight Loss

In a review published by Critical Reviews in the Food Science and Nutrition journal in 2019 , it was concluded that ginger supplements significantly reduced the overall body weight, waist hip ratio and hip ratio in obese and overweight people. In another study published by the International Journal Of Environmental Research And Public Health in 2021 , it was concluded that ginger aids weight loss by inhibiting adipocyte accumulation, regulating metabolic parameters, reducing hepatic lipid buildup, and attenuating adipocyte hypertrophy and inflammation. Its bioactive compounds promote lipid metabolism, antioxidant defences, and anti-inflammatory effects, supporting a healthier weight.

Also Read: 5 Reasons Why Tomatoes Should Be Your Summer Staple

3) Aids Metabolic Function

In a study conducted to review the effects of ginger on human health, published in the Nutrients Journal in 2020 , various health benefits of ginger were examined. The study shows that ginger enhances metabolic function by improving glycemic markers, lipid profiles, and insulin sensitivity in conditions like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity.

It lowers fasting blood sugar, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and insulin resistance while reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Studies suggest ginger's benefits extend to cardiovascular health, body fat reduction, and triglyceride levels, offering potential advantages in managing metabolic syndromes with minimal adverse effects.

4) Anti-inflammatory effects

Ginger has several nutritive components, among which several have anti-inflammatory properties. As concluded in the same study published in the Nutrients Journal in 2020 , it was reported that ginger exhibits notable anti-inflammatory effects, particularly evident in arthritis-related conditions like osteoarthritis (OA).

Studies reveal improvements in pain relief and reduction of proinflammatory cytokines with ginger supplementation. Its efficacy extends to rheumatoid arthritis, inducing FOXP3 gene expression to alleviate symptoms. Moreover, ginger aids in lowering levels of inflammatory markers like tumour necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and malondialdehyde (MDA) without significant adverse effects.

5) Contains Antioxidants

Ginger contains several potent antioxidants, like gingerol, shogaol, zingerone, paradols, Beta-carotene and vitamin C. These potent antioxidants benefit the human body in many ways. These antioxidants, along with gingerol, help in combating oxidative stress, neutralising free radicals, promoting  cellular health and potentially reducing the risk of age-related diseases.

Shogaol is similar to gingerol, which is released when ginger is dried or cooked. Zingerone is responsible for the pungency in ginger. Paradol is a phenolic compound that possesses antimicrobial and neuroprotective effects. Beta-carotene and vitamin C improve immune health. All of these antioxidants combined can help alleviate inflammation-related conditions such as arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, and certain types of cancer.

With that said, start including ginger in your everyday diet and consume all of these whooping health benefits to promote a healthy lifestyle. Add it to your tea or in stir-fries; use ginger in as many forms as you can.

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Apple Cider Vinegar 101: A Complete Guide

You may have a friend who loves adding apple cider vinegar (ACV) to their favorite dishes. Or you may have seen ACV drinks in the refrigerated section at the grocery store. With the exploding popularity of this seemingly basic pantry staple, you’re probably wondering what the buzz is all about.

Here’s everything you need to know about this trendy vinegar.

What Is Apple Cider Vinegar?

Common questions & answers, types of apple cider vinegar: how to take it.

ACV is most widely available as a liquid on supermarket shelves. However, people take ACV in these different forms to access its promoted health benefits:

Apple Cider Vinegar Nutrition Facts

Potential health benefits of apple cider vinegar.

Some research suggests that ACV may have several potential health benefits, although research is limited and many studies are based on small sample sizes or research in animals.

Here are potential health benefits of ACV supported by research:

Can Apple Cider Vinegar Help With Weight Loss?

Some companies claim that their ACV products can support weight loss goals, but research doesn’t provide strong enough evidence to back up these claims.

How to Select and Store Apple Cider Vinegar

Selecting and storing ACV involves choosing products with pure ingredients and finding a cool, dark spot in your pantry.

Choosing ACV products depends on why you’re using them. People who plan to drink ACV or cook with it should choose labels that list apples high up on the ingredients list and avoid phrases like “apple-flavored.” This can help people avoid heavily processed products.

ACV can be stored in a pantry for as long as you like. Most ACV labels will instruct you to keep it in a cool, dark place.

How to Consume Apple Cider Vinegar

Is it possible to be allergic to apple cider vinegar.

A full allergy to vinegar is rare. However, some chemical components of vinegar may cause allergy-like symptoms due to sensitivity or intolerance:

People with known sensitivities to or intolerances of these chemicals may experience allergy symptoms after consuming ACV.

Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking

Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy . We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.

• What Apple Cider Vinegar Can (and Can’t) Do for You. Cleveland Clinic. July 17, 2023.
• Advice About Vinegar. Pennsylvania State University. August 1, 2023.
• Vinegar, Cider. U.S. Department of Agriculture. April 1, 2019.
• Renard CMGC et al. Thermal Processing of Fruits and Fruit Juices. Contemporary Food Engineering . 2012.
• Apple Cider Vinegar in Dietary Supplements. Operation Supplement Safety. July 20, 2020.
• Trcek J et al. Diversity of the Microbiota Involved in Wine and Organic Apple Cider Submerged Vinegar Production as Revealed by DHPLC Analysis and Next-Generation Sequencing. International Journal of Food Microbiology . April 2016.
• Zhang S et al. Polyphenols in Fermented Apple Juice: Beneficial Effects on Human Health. Journal of Functional Foods . January 2021.
• Hadi A et al. The Effect of Apple Cider Vinegar on Lipid Profiles and Glycemic Parameters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies . June 2021.
• Khezri SS et al. Beneficial Effects of Apple Cider Vinegar on Weight Management, Visceral Adiposity Index and Lipid Profile in Overweight or Obese Subjects Receiving Restricted Calorie Diet: A Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Functional Foods . April 2018.
• Hasan F et al. The Effects of Vinegar/Acetic Acid Intake on Appetite Measures and Energy Consumption: A Systematic Literature Review. Current Developments in Nutrition . June 2022.
• Does Apple Cider Vinegar Help You Lose Weight? Cleveland Clinic. March 27, 2024.
• Cousin FJ et al. Microorganisms in Fermented Apple Beverages: Current Knowledge and Future Directions. Microorganisms . July 2017.
• Dietary Supplements. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. February 21, 2024.
• Kacik J et al. Serum Diamine Oxidase in Pseudoallergy in the Pediatric Population. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology . 2017.
• Suliburska J et al. Risks and Benefits of Salicylates in Food: A Narrative Review. Nutrition Reviews . October 2023.
• Sulphites. Food Allergy Canada.
• Witkowski M et al. Hypersensitivity Reactions to Food Additives—Preservatives, Antioxidants, Flavor Enhancers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health . September 2022.
• Nanagas V et al. P285 Anaphylactoid Reaction to Mother of Vinegar. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology . November 2016.

Here are 8 health benefits of ginger ale

T here are a lot of benefits of ginger ale and drinking it can even be nutritious. This beverage has several healing and anti-cancer properties. The refreshing beverage can be consumed in various ways, such as a mixer in cocktails. It is ideal for people who do not consume caffeine.

Ginger Ale is a carbonated drink, made of ginger roots, sugar and carbonated water. But, it is also possible to make it at home. This beverage comes in three types: Regular, dry, and diet or sugar-free ginger ale.

However, drinking in moderation is the key as a large amount of ginger ale can affect the gut and cause gastrointestinal problems.

Drinking Ginger Ale? Here are 8 of its health benefits

Ginger ale is not that healthy, but it can be changed by using ginger roots in the beverage. Let us delve into the health benefits of ginger ale :

1. Better Digestion

Studies have shown that there are many benefits of ginger ale. Drinking a glass of it every day is good for the gut and can aid in digestion. Ginger can increase the production of digestive enzymes and also stimulate the hormones chymotrypsin and trypsin, which are essential for digestion.

2. Gets rid of nausea

There are gingerols and shogaols in ginger and ginger ale, which have medicinal properties that can help to get relief when suffering from nausea .

3. Relief from migraines

As per many people, drinking ginger ale or consuming ginger helps them to get rid of migraines. Ginger placed under the tongue can play a major role in treating migraines. However, more research needed to prove this benefit.

4. Good for the heart

There are many benefits of drinking ale. It can lower blood pressure and cause fewer heart attacks and strokes. This can also help to fight hypertension and help in preventing blood clots or thickening.

5. Improves blood circulation and quality

Drinking ginger ale can also lower blood sugar levels and help in blood thinning, contributing to good heart health.

6. Good for the respiratory system

Ginger and ginger ale have warming properties which can help clear congestion and cough. It can also help to get relief when you have a cold or a sore throat.

7. Ginger ale can be a cure for hangovers

Drinking ginger ale can relieve the upset stomach and can help against nausea, a major symptom of a hangover. The beverage will help if there is low blood sugar. The soda can help with stomach pain more than vomiting and the ginger in it to fight nausea.

Other than drinking ginger ale, eating clean, staying hydrated, and taking rest is also important to cure a hangover.

Nausea due to pregnancy or chemotherapy can also be controlled by drinking this beverage. It can also help to cure morning sickness during the first few weeks of pregnancy, and is also proven to lessen the pain caused by menstrual cramps.

8. Anti-cancer properties

Ginger ale boosts the immune system and not only provides better protection against diseases, but also helps to fight cancer. The active components in ginger and ginger ale can fight the disease well.

There are several benefits of ginger ale. However, due to its blood thinning properties, ginger, and ginger ale can cause more bleeding. Overconsumption or over-intake of this drink can lead to diarrhea.

Some of the ginger ale sold in the market today contains artificial ginger flavoring and a lot of carbon dioxide, which is harmful for the body.

Many individuals are allergic to ginger and must limit or stop their intake of this beverage. If you are thinking of adding this drink to your diet, check the nutrition list and the sugar content on the label. Eat healthy and drink healthy. Cheers!

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Why writing by hand beats typing for thinking and learning

Jonathan Lambert

If you're like many digitally savvy Americans, it has likely been a while since you've spent much time writing by hand.

The laborious process of tracing out our thoughts, letter by letter, on the page is becoming a relic of the past in our screen-dominated world, where text messages and thumb-typed grocery lists have replaced handwritten letters and sticky notes. Electronic keyboards offer obvious efficiency benefits that have undoubtedly boosted our productivity — imagine having to write all your emails longhand.

To keep up, many schools are introducing computers as early as preschool, meaning some kids may learn the basics of typing before writing by hand.

But giving up this slower, more tactile way of expressing ourselves may come at a significant cost, according to a growing body of research that's uncovering the surprising cognitive benefits of taking pen to paper, or even stylus to iPad — for both children and adults.

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In kids, studies show that tracing out ABCs, as opposed to typing them, leads to better and longer-lasting recognition and understanding of letters. Writing by hand also improves memory and recall of words, laying down the foundations of literacy and learning. In adults, taking notes by hand during a lecture, instead of typing, can lead to better conceptual understanding of material.

"There's actually some very important things going on during the embodied experience of writing by hand," says Ramesh Balasubramaniam , a neuroscientist at the University of California, Merced. "It has important cognitive benefits."

While those benefits have long been recognized by some (for instance, many authors, including Jennifer Egan and Neil Gaiman , draft their stories by hand to stoke creativity), scientists have only recently started investigating why writing by hand has these effects.

A slew of recent brain imaging research suggests handwriting's power stems from the relative complexity of the process and how it forces different brain systems to work together to reproduce the shapes of letters in our heads onto the page.

Your brain on handwriting

Both handwriting and typing involve moving our hands and fingers to create words on a page. But handwriting, it turns out, requires a lot more fine-tuned coordination between the motor and visual systems. This seems to more deeply engage the brain in ways that support learning.

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Feeling artsy here's how making art helps your brain.

"Handwriting is probably among the most complex motor skills that the brain is capable of," says Marieke Longcamp , a cognitive neuroscientist at Aix-Marseille Université.

Gripping a pen nimbly enough to write is a complicated task, as it requires your brain to continuously monitor the pressure that each finger exerts on the pen. Then, your motor system has to delicately modify that pressure to re-create each letter of the words in your head on the page.

"Your fingers have to each do something different to produce a recognizable letter," says Sophia Vinci-Booher , an educational neuroscientist at Vanderbilt University. Adding to the complexity, your visual system must continuously process that letter as it's formed. With each stroke, your brain compares the unfolding script with mental models of the letters and words, making adjustments to fingers in real time to create the letters' shapes, says Vinci-Booher.

That's not true for typing.

To type "tap" your fingers don't have to trace out the form of the letters — they just make three relatively simple and uniform movements. In comparison, it takes a lot more brainpower, as well as cross-talk between brain areas, to write than type.

Recent brain imaging studies bolster this idea. A study published in January found that when students write by hand, brain areas involved in motor and visual information processing " sync up " with areas crucial to memory formation, firing at frequencies associated with learning.

"We don't see that [synchronized activity] in typewriting at all," says Audrey van der Meer , a psychologist and study co-author at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. She suggests that writing by hand is a neurobiologically richer process and that this richness may confer some cognitive benefits.

Other experts agree. "There seems to be something fundamental about engaging your body to produce these shapes," says Robert Wiley , a cognitive psychologist at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. "It lets you make associations between your body and what you're seeing and hearing," he says, which might give the mind more footholds for accessing a given concept or idea.

Those extra footholds are especially important for learning in kids, but they may give adults a leg up too. Wiley and others worry that ditching handwriting for typing could have serious consequences for how we all learn and think.

What might be lost as handwriting wanes

The clearest consequence of screens and keyboards replacing pen and paper might be on kids' ability to learn the building blocks of literacy — letters.

"Letter recognition in early childhood is actually one of the best predictors of later reading and math attainment," says Vinci-Booher. Her work suggests the process of learning to write letters by hand is crucial for learning to read them.

"When kids write letters, they're just messy," she says. As kids practice writing "A," each iteration is different, and that variability helps solidify their conceptual understanding of the letter.

Research suggests kids learn to recognize letters better when seeing variable handwritten examples, compared with uniform typed examples.

This helps develop areas of the brain used during reading in older children and adults, Vinci-Booher found.

"This could be one of the ways that early experiences actually translate to long-term life outcomes," she says. "These visually demanding, fine motor actions bake in neural communication patterns that are really important for learning later on."

Ditching handwriting instruction could mean that those skills don't get developed as well, which could impair kids' ability to learn down the road.

"If young children are not receiving any handwriting training, which is very good brain stimulation, then their brains simply won't reach their full potential," says van der Meer. "It's scary to think of the potential consequences."

Many states are trying to avoid these risks by mandating cursive instruction. This year, California started requiring elementary school students to learn cursive , and similar bills are moving through state legislatures in several states, including Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina and Wisconsin. (So far, evidence suggests that it's the writing by hand that matters, not whether it's print or cursive.)

Slowing down and processing information

For adults, one of the main benefits of writing by hand is that it simply forces us to slow down.

During a meeting or lecture, it's possible to type what you're hearing verbatim. But often, "you're not actually processing that information — you're just typing in the blind," says van der Meer. "If you take notes by hand, you can't write everything down," she says.

The relative slowness of the medium forces you to process the information, writing key words or phrases and using drawing or arrows to work through ideas, she says. "You make the information your own," she says, which helps it stick in the brain.

Such connections and integration are still possible when typing, but they need to be made more intentionally. And sometimes, efficiency wins out. "When you're writing a long essay, it's obviously much more practical to use a keyboard," says van der Meer.

Still, given our long history of using our hands to mark meaning in the world, some scientists worry about the more diffuse consequences of offloading our thinking to computers.

"We're foisting a lot of our knowledge, extending our cognition, to other devices, so it's only natural that we've started using these other agents to do our writing for us," says Balasubramaniam.

It's possible that this might free up our minds to do other kinds of hard thinking, he says. Or we might be sacrificing a fundamental process that's crucial for the kinds of immersive cognitive experiences that enable us to learn and think at our full potential.

Balasubramaniam stresses, however, that we don't have to ditch digital tools to harness the power of handwriting. So far, research suggests that scribbling with a stylus on a screen activates the same brain pathways as etching ink on paper. It's the movement that counts, he says, not its final form.

Jonathan Lambert is a Washington, D.C.-based freelance journalist who covers science, health and policy.

• handwriting

More Studies Support Wegovy's Long-Term Weight-Loss Benefits

More Studies Support Wegovy's Long-Term Weight-Loss Benefits

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, May 14, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Semaglutide -- the active ingredient in the blockbuster weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy -- can produce long-term weight and heart health benefits, a pair of new studies show.

Researchers found that overweight and obese adults lost an average 10% of their body weight and nearly three inches off their waistline after taking semaglutide for four years.

Further, more than half of adults taking semaglutide moved down at least one BMI category after two years, compared to 16% of those who received a placebo, results show.

And 12% reached a healthy BMI of 25 or less, compared with 1% in the placebo group.

U.S. Cities With the Most Homelessness

Finally, the studies showed that semaglutide contributes to heart health, regardless of how much weight a person lost while on the drug.

“This degree of weight loss in such a large and diverse population suggests that it may be possible to impact the public health burden of multiple obesity-related illnesses,” said lead researcher Dr. Donna Ryan , associate executive director for clinical research with the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans.

Ryan led the first clinical trial, which focused on the long-term weight effects of the drug. A second trial evaluated its heart health benefits.

Both studies are based on data gathered from the largest and longest clinical trial of semaglutide, which tracked more than 17,600 overweight or obese adults without diabetes from 804 sites in 41 countries who were randomly given either the drug or a placebo. The trial ran from October 2018 through June 2023.

Semaglutide works by adjusting a person’s hormone levels, lowering their blood sugar levels following a meal and helping them feel full.

Ryan’s trial found that men and women of all races, ages and body types achieve sustained weight loss using semaglutide.

Women taking semaglutide tended to lose more weight, on average, than men, and Asian people lost less weight, on average, than other races, researchers noted.

After two years, the proportion of people with obesity declined from 71% to 43% among those taking semaglutide, and compared with a 72% to 68% decline in the placebo group.

This weight loss occurred without any unexpected or important safety issues, researchers said.

In the second clinical trial, researchers found that semaglutide delivered heart health benefits regardless of how much a person initially weighed or how much they lost.

This suggests that even people with relatively mild obesity or those who lose less weight can still benefit from semaglutide, researchers noted.

Researchers reported the results Monday at the European Congress of Obesity in Venice, Italy. Such research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The weight-loss study results also were published simultaneously in the journal Nature Medicine .

“Our findings show that the magnitude of this treatment effect with semaglutide is independent of the amount of weight lost, suggesting that the drug has other actions which lower cardiovascular risk beyond reducing unhealthy body fat,” said lead researcher John Deanfield , a professor of cardiology with University College London.

“These alternative mechanisms may include positive impacts on blood sugar, blood pressure or inflammation, as well as direct effects on the heart muscle and blood vessels, or a combination of one or more of these,” Deanfield added in a meeting news release.

More information

UCLA Health has more on semaglutide for weight loss .

SOURCE: European Congress on Obesity, news release, May 13, 2024

Copyright © 2024 HealthDay . All rights reserved.

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Health Benefits of L-Arginine

• Supports Healthy Blood Pressure

May Enhance Exercise Performance

Reduces chest pain.

• Improves Erectile Dysfunction

May Lower Risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis

• How to Take It
• Side Effects

fcafotodigital / Getty images

L-arginine is a type of amino acid. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, which is key for the health of your muscles and immune system. 

Certain amino acids may serve additional purposes. For instance, L-arginine supports healthy blood pressure levels and helps treat erectile dysfunction. L-arginine is a vasodilator, meaning it can help improve blood circulation and bring more oxygen to muscles throughout the body.

L-arginine is a non-essential amino acid, which means the body naturally produces the substance on its own. The body does this by converting L-citrulline, another amino acid, to L-arginine in the kidneys. L-arginine is also naturally found in protein-rich foods, such as meat, dairy, nuts, and seeds.

But supplementing with L-arginine may bring even more benefits and be helpful in the management of certain health conditions. 

Dietary supplements are minimally regulated by the FDA and may or may not be suitable for you. The effects of supplements vary from person to person and depend on many variables, including type, dosage, frequency of use, and interactions with current medications. Please speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting any supplements.

Supports Healthy Blood Pressure 

In the body, L-arginine is converted into nitric oxide, a molecule that widens blood vessels to improve blood flow. This can help lower blood pressure levels and maintain healthy circulation.  

Research has shown L-arginine can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure in people with or without high blood pressure.

Some small studies suggest intravenous (IV) L-arginine supplementation, which is treatment delivered directly into the vein through an IV drip, may also help manage high blood pressure. It may also help treat preeclampsia, which is high blood pressure during pregnancy.  

There is some evidence taking oral L-arginine supplements early in pregnancy may help prevent the onset of preeclampsia. However, more research is needed to confirm this potential benefit.  

Since L-arginine helps deliver blood, oxygen, and other nutrients to working skeletal muscles, it’s possible the amino acid may improve exercise performance .  

L-arginine also helps speed up the removal of materials like lactate and ammonia from the body, which can lead to fatigue during physical activity. Plus, L-arginine aids in the formation of creatine, another amino acid that provides fuel to muscles during high-intensity exercise.

However, studies in this area have produced conflicting results. Some researchers have concluded the evidence is lacking on whether L-arginine supplementation improves athletic performance or recovery.   

Angina is a type of chest pain caused by insufficient blood flow to the heart. L-arginine supplementation may help manage symptoms associated with angina and improve exercise tolerance for people with angina.  

This benefit may be due to L-arginine’s ability to promote healthy circulation. However, there is not enough evidence to show that the amino acid helps treat narrowed blood vessels that may be related to angina.

Improves Erectile Dysfunction 

L-arginine may help boost sexual function, especially when paired with other erectile dysfunction (ED) medications. 

Research has shown L-arginine supplements taken in combination with ED medications like PDE5 inhibitors can significantly improve sexual function in people diagnosed with ED.  

When L-arginine is converted into  nitric oxide, it can help promote blood flow, bring more oxygen throughout the body,  and smooth muscle relaxation. All of these factors are essential for erections.  

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a condition that can affect the digestive systems of premature infants. Research has shown oral L-arginine supplementation significantly reduced the risk of NEC in premature infants when compared to a placebo. However, more studies on larger populations are needed to recommend this as a treatment. 

How to Take L-Arginine

Supplemental L-arginine can be given orally in a capsule, topically as a gel or cream, or intravenously in a clinical setting.

L-arginine can also be consumed through several protein-rich food sources. The amino acid is found naturally in the following foods:

• Poultry (chicken, eggs)
• Nuts and seeds
• Legumes (beans, lentils)

Most research suggests L-arginine supplements are well-tolerated in doses of up to 9 grams (g) per day. However, L-arginine supplements have been shown to be safe to take in oral doses ranging from 1.5 to 24 g daily for up to 18 months. You can also follow the dosing instructions provided on the product’s label.  

Optimal dosages may vary based on age, certain conditions, and the reason for supplementation. Speak with your healthcare provider to discuss which amount of L-arginine supplementation may be best for you.  

Is L-Arginine Safe?

Oral L-arginine is considered safe when taken in the appropriate amounts for up to 18 months.

The amino acid may be safe to take during pregnancy when consumed in low doses for a short duration. However, it’s best to speak to a healthcare provider before starting a new supplement while pregnant.  

People who are breastfeeding should avoid the use of L-arginine since there is not enough research to know if it’s safe for this population.  

Those who have high blood pressure or a higher risk for heart disease should also not take animal-derived L-arginine supplements. Research has shown the supplement could potentially worsen risk factors for these conditions.  

Potential Drug Interactions

L-arginine may interact with certain medications, including:  

• Antihypertensive medications: Since L-arginine may lower blood pressure, combining the supplement with any blood pressure medication may lead to blood pressure levels that are too low (hypotension). 
• Diuretics: Taking L-arginine along with potassium-sparing diuretics could potentially increase the risk of dangerously high potassium levels in the blood (hyperkalemia). 
• Blood thinners: When taken with anticoagulant medications, L-arginine may increase the risk of excessive bleeding or bruising. 
• Nitrates: The body converts L-arginine into nitric oxide which widens blood vessels, so taking the supplement with nitrate medications—vasodilators often used for angina and other heart conditions—may increase the effect.
• Diabetes drugs: L-arginine may lower blood sugar levels, so combining the supplement with diabetes drugs, including insulin, could increase the risk of too-low levels of glucose in the blood (hypoglycemia). 

For the same reasons, L-arginine may also interact with certain supplements or herbs, including those that help lower:

• Blood pressure, such as niacin or stinging nettles 
• Clotting risk, such as garlic, ginger, or gingko
• Blood glucose levels, such as cinnamon, chromium, or bitter melon

What to Look For

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements in the same way they regulate food and drugs. When purchasing a supplement, look for brands that have undergone third-party testing.  

These products will have seals of the third-party testing organization on the bottle. For example, the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) are two groups that assess supplements for purity and quality.   

Can You Take Too Much L-Arginine?

There is currently no set upper intake level for L-arginine. Clinical research has examined the use of L-arginine in doses of up to 24 g per day. Taking over 30 g of L-arginine may be potentially unsafe.

If you have questions about a safe dosage of a supplement for you, talk to your healthcare provider.

Side Effects of L-Arginine

Although L-arginine is generally well tolerated, some people may experience adverse reactions to the supplement. The most common side effects of L-arginine supplementation include:

• Abdominal pain
• Abdominal distention or bloating
• Low blood pressure 

Speak to a healthcare provider if you experience any adverse reactions from taking L-arginine.

A Quick Review

L-arginine is an amino acid the body naturally creates, but it can also be found in protein-rich foods. It’s also possible to supplement with L-arginine. Research suggests L-arginine supplementation may be beneficial in the management of conditions like hypertension and erectile dysfunction.

Although L-arginine is typically well tolerated, side effects like gastrointestinal discomfort and low blood pressure are possible. Always speak to your healthcare provider before integrating a new supplement to determine what form and dosage may be right for you.

National Institutes of Health. Dietary supplements for exercise and athletic performance .

MedlinePlus. L-arginine .

Natural Medicines. L-arginine .

Brooks JR, Oketch-Rabah H, Low Dog T, et al. Safety and performance benefits of arginine supplements for military personnel: A systematic review . Nutr Rev . 2016;74(11):708-721. doi:10.1093/nutrit/nuw040

Xu Z, Liu C, Liu S, Zhou Z. Comparison of efficacy and safety of daily oral L-arginine and PDE5Is alone or combination in treating erectile dysfunction: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials . Andrologia . 2021;53(4):e14007. doi:10.1111/and.14007

Menafra D, de Angelis C, Garifalos F, et al. Long-term high-dose l-arginine supplementation in patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction: a multicentre, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial . J Endocrinol Invest . 2022;45(5):941-961. doi: 10.1007/s40618-021-01704-3

Shah PS, Shah VS, Kelly LE. Arginine supplementation for prevention of necrotising enterocolitis in preterm infants. Cochrane Neonatal Group, ed . Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2017;2017(4). doi:10.1002/14651858.CD004339.pub4

Bahadoran Z, Mirmiran P, Tahmasebinejad Z, Azizi F. Dietary L-arginine intake and the incidence of coronary heart disease: Tehran lipid and glucose study . Nutr Metab (Lond) . 2016;13(1):23. doi:10.1186/s12986-016-0084-z

Kiani AK, Bonetti G, Medori MC, et al. Dietary supplements for improving nitric-oxide synthesis .  J Prev Med Hyg.  2022;63(2 Suppl 3),E239–E245. doi:10.15167/2421-4248/jpmh2022.63.2S3.2766

Lee PM, Gerriets V. Nitrates . In: StatPearls . StatPearls Publishing; 2023.

National Institutes of Health. Dietary supplements: Background information .

National Institutes of Health. Botantical dietary supplements: Background information .

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Men with prostate cancer could significantly reduce the chances of the disease worsening by eating more fruits, vegetables, nuts, and olive oil, according to new research by UC San Francisco.

A study of more than 2,000 men with localized prostate cancer found that eating a primarily plant-based diet was associated with a 47% lower risk that their cancer would progress, compared with those who consumed the most animal products.

This amounted to eating just one or two more servings per day of healthy foods, particularly vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, while eating fewer animal products, like dairy and meat. The study followed the men, whose median age was 65 years old, over time to see how dietary factors affected the progression of their cancer.

Plant-based diets include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, legumes, vegetable oils, tea and coffee. The researchers measured consumption using a plant-based index and compared the men who scored in the highest 20% to those who scored in the lowest 20%.

"These results could guide people to make better, more healthful choices across their whole diet, rather than adding or removing select foods," said Vivian N. Liu, formerly lead clinical research coordinator at the UCSF Osher Center for Integrative Health and first author of the study, which appears in JAMA Network Open .

"Progressing to advanced disease is one of many pivotal concerns among patients with prostate cancer, their family, caregivers and physicians," she said. "This adds to numerous other health benefits associated with consuming a primarily plant-based diet, such as a reduction in diabetes, cardiovascular disease and overall mortality."

Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds

Plant-based diets are becoming increasingly popular in the United States, and evidence is accumulating that they can be beneficial to patients with prostate cancer, the most common cancer among men in the country after non-melanoma skin cancer.

Fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, as well as anti-inflammatory compounds that have been shown to protect against prostate cancer, and prior research has consistently demonstrated the importance of dietary factors to overall health and well-being.

"Making small changes in one's diet each day is beneficial," said senior author Stacey A. Kenfield, ScD, a UCSF professor of urology and the Helen Diller Family Chair in Population Science for Urologic Cancer. "Greater consumption of plant-based food after a prostate cancer diagnosis has also recently been associated with better quality of life, including sexual function, urinary function and vitality, so it's a win-win on both levels."

Coauthors: From UCSF, other authors are Erin L. Van Blarigan, ScD; Li Zhang, PhD; Rebecca E. Graff, ScD; Crystal S. Langlais, PhD; Janet E. Cowan, MA; Peter R. Carroll, MD, MPH; and June M. Chan, ScD.

• Men's Health
• Prostate Cancer
• Diseases and Conditions
• Agriculture and Food
• Food and Agriculture
• Prostate cancer
• Stomach cancer
• Mediterranean diet

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of California - San Francisco . Original written by Elizabeth Fernandez. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Vivian N. Liu, Erin L. Van Blarigan, Li Zhang, Rebecca E. Graff, Stacy Loeb, Crystal S. Langlais, Janet E. Cowan, Peter R. Carroll, June M. Chan, Stacey A. Kenfield. Plant-Based Diets and Disease Progression in Men With Prostate Cancer . JAMA Network Open , 2024; 7 (5): e249053 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.9053

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