Effect of Ginger Supplementation on Proinflammatory Cytokines in Older Patients with Osteoarthritis: Outcomes of a Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

There is limited evidence that ginger powder consumption can relieve pain and inflammation due to specific anti-inflammatory phytochemical constitutents. This study investigates the effect of ginger supplementation on proinflammatory factors in participants (n = 120) of a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled 3-month clinical trial investigating knee osteoarthritis. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the ginger group (GG) or the placebo group (PG). Administered daily for 3 months, participants in the GG intervention received capsules containing 500 mg of ginger powder, while PG participants received capsules filled with 500 mg starch. Serum samples collected at baseline and 3 months were analyzed for serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). At baseline, proinflammatory cytokine concentrations did not differ by group. However, at 3 months, both cytokines decreased in the GG relative to the PG. The results of this study indicate that ginger supplementation may have a promising benefits for knee osteoarthritis and may, therefore, may warrant further study.

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

“…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.…”

“…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].…”

Ginger in patients with active ulcerative colitis: a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…A clinical trial evaluated the effect of ginger supplementation in older patients with osteoarthritis. This trial show a reduction in inflammatory markers like TNF-α and IL-1β [13]. In addition, another trial reported a reduction in nitric oxide and hs-CRP levels in ginger-supplemented osteoarthritis patients compared to the control group [14].…”

“…The sample size was calculated according to primary outcomes (if data were available), and the maximum calculated sample size was considered. The sample size was based on the changes observed in the TNF-α in the study by Mozafari Khosravi [13] as a result of ginger supplementation. Considering a type I error of 0.05, a test power of 90%, and follow-up loss of 10%, the sample size required in each group was calculated to be 22 patients.…”

Ultraphonophoresis with a hyaluronic acid-containing gel for knee osteoarthritis with periarthritis

“…В рандомизированном клиническом исследовании с участием 49 пациентов с ОА коленных суставов, которые принимали метилсульфонилметан в течение 12 нед, показано уменьшение боли и улучшение физических функций [22]. Установлено благоприятное действие веществ растительного происхождения при ОА [23]: противовоспалительное -у имбиря (снижение сывороточных уровней фактора некроза опухоли α, интерлейкина 1β) [24] и анальгетическое -у окопника [25], а также способность ингибировать транскрипционные факторы AP-1, NF-κB и модифицировать активность матриксных ММП 1 и 13 [26].…”