Ginger root extract – what does it help with?

In Ayurveda, practised in India for over 2,000 years, ginger played a key role not only in cooking. Herbalists used it, among other things, to treat digestive problems. There is also evidence of its use in ancient China. In European cultures during the Middle Ages, ginger was valued mainly as a spice and was very expensive due to the long and complicated trade routes that connected Europe with Asia.

1. Research on ginger
2. Sample research results
3. Ginger root extract dosage

Research on ginger

Contemporary scientific research, particularly that conducted in the 20th and 21st centuries, has allowed for a better understanding and confirmation of some of the traditional uses of ginger. For example, it has been discovered that ginger can be effective in relieving nausea. The active ingredients in ginger extracts, such as gingerols, have shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential in laboratory studies.

Uses of ginger

Table: Different uses of different forms of ginger.

Sample research results

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

An analysis of four placebo-controlled studies involving 177 patients showed that ginger supplementation may reduce alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in people with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Sources:

Zhou Q, Peng Y, Chen F, Dai J. Ginger supplementation for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Afr Health Sci. 2023 Mar;23(1):614-621. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v23i1.65. PMID: 37545930; PMCID: PMC10398503.

Nausea

An analysis of 18 publications and 2,199 participants showed that ginger oil is more likely to be effective in reducing the incidence of post-operative vomiting (POV) compared to placebo.

Sources:

Zhao C, Chen W, Wang D, Cong X, Zhu M, Zhu C, Xu J, Cai J. Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) preparations for prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting: A Bayesian network meta-analysis. J Ethnopharmacol. 2023 Dec 5;317:116791. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116791. Epub 2023 Jun 26. PMID: 37379959.

Dyslipidaemia

In an analysis of clinical trials conducted between 2010 and 2022, it was found that dietary supplementation with ginger may lower total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels, but had no significant effect on improving high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels. The effects may be more pronounced in obese and diabetic individuals.

Sources:

Salih AK, Alwan AH, Khadim M, Al-Qaim ZH, Mardanov B, El-Sehrwy AA, Ahmed YI, Amerizadeh A. Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) intake on human serum lipid profile: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Phytother Res. 2023 Jun;37(6):2472-2483. doi: 10.1002/ptr.7769. Epub 2023 Feb 14. PMID: 36786398.

Oxidative stress

An analysis of the results of 11 placebo-controlled studies found that ginger supplementation can lead to a significant increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and a reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, indicating the potential of this raw material to protect cells from oxidative stress. A greater reduction in MDA was observed in studies using ≤1 g of ginger, lasting <12 weeks, with participants aged ≥30 years.

Sources:

Sheikhhossein F, Borazjani M, Jafari A, Askari M, Vataniyan E, Gholami F, Amini MR. Effects of ginger supplementation on biomarkers of oxidative stress: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Clin Nutr ESPEN. 2021 Oct;45:111-119. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2021.07.010. Epub 2021 Jul 24. PMID: 34620306.

Migraines

An analysis of three randomised studies found that the use of ginger in the context of migraines can lead to a reduction in pain scores after 2 hours compared to the control group. The incidence of nausea and vomiting, which often accompany migraines, was lower in the group supplementing their diet with ginger than in the control group.

Sources:

Chen L, Cai Z. The efficacy of ginger for the treatment of migraine: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. Am J Emerg Med. 2021 Aug;46:567-571. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2020.11.030. Epub 2020 Nov 17. PMID: 33293189.

Hypertension

An analysis of the results of six clinical trials involving 345 participants found that ginger extract supplementation may lower systolic blood pressure (by an average of -6.36 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (by an average of -2.12 mmHg). These effects were particularly pronounced in studies involving individuals aged ≤50 years, with an intervention lasting ≤8 weeks and ginger doses ≥3 g/day. 

Sources:

Hasani H, Arab A, Hadi A, Pourmasoumi M, Ghavami A, Miraghajani M. Does ginger supplementation lower blood pressure? A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials. Phytother Res. 2019 Jun;33(6):1639-1647. doi: 10.1002/ptr.6362. Epub 2019 Apr 11. PMID: 30972845.

Ginger root extract dosage

The typical dosage of ginger extract may vary depending on the form of the supplement and its intended use. Typically, doses of ginger extract in clinical studies range from 250 mg to 1 g per day. In terms of gingerol content, the active ingredient in ginger, supplements often provide a higher concentration of these compounds than fresh ginger.

In supplements, ginger extract is usually standardised to a specific percentage of gingerols, which means that each dose provides a specific amount of these compounds.