A systematic review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology by researchers at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine and Mercer University School of Medicine compiled evidence from five meta-analyses to assess the physiological effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale). The review evaluated its role in inflammation, type 2 diabetes (T2D), oxidative stress, and nausea and vomiting in pregnancy (NVP).
Background
Ginger has long been used in traditional medicine, with bioactive compounds such as gingerols and shogaols linked to health effects. While multiple randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have studied its impact on inflammation, glycemic control, antioxidant activity, and pregnancy-related nausea, results have often been inconsistent. Meta-analyses that pool RCTs offer more robust insights, and this review sought to consolidate the highest available evidence.
Review approach
From more than 2,000 studies screened across PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science, only five meta-analyses published between 2010 and 2025 were included. These studies focused on inflammation, T2D, oxidative stress, and NVP, with data extracted on outcomes, dosages, and strength of evidence.
Findings
For inflammation, a meta-analysis of 16 RCTs (Morvaridzadeh et al., 2020) reported reductions in C-reactive protein (CRP), high-sensitivity CRP, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). However, heterogeneity across studies was high.
For T2D, Zhu et al. (2018) analyzed 10 RCTs and found reductions in fasting blood glucose (mean difference -21.24 mg/dL) and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (MD -1.00), with low heterogeneity increasing confidence in the results.
For oxidative stress, Sheikhhossein et al. (2021) reviewed 12 RCTs and reported reductions in malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, though no effect was found on total antioxidant capacity.
For NVP, Viljoen et al. (2014) found that ginger was more effective than a placebo in reducing nausea but not vomiting frequency. Gaur et al. (2022) concluded that vitamin B6 performed better than ginger for total symptom scores, though both had similar effects on vomiting. Ginger supplementation was also associated with increased belching.
Dosages used varied: 500–1,500 mg daily for NVP and 1–3 g daily for inflammation, antioxidant, and glycemic effects. Lack of standardization in formulations and doses was noted as a limitation, along with high heterogeneity in some analyses.
Conclusions
The review concluded that ginger is generally safe and shows evidence of efficacy as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and adjunct therapy for T2D, while also reducing nausea in pregnancy. However, its effect on vomiting remains inconsistent, and vitamin B6 is often more effective overall for NVP. Further large-scale, high-quality clinical trials are needed to establish standardized dosing, formulations, and public health recommendations.
Source: News Medical