Effects of Ginger Supplementation on Markers of Inflammation and Functional Capacity in Individuals with Mild to Moderate Joint Pain

source extracted confidence: high 2026-04-09
#aged #female #humans #male #middle-aged

Effects of Ginger Supplementation on Markers of Inflammation and Functional Capacity in Individuals with Mild to Moderate Joint Pain

Broeckel et al., 2025 | Nutrients | Rct

Citation

Broeckel Jacob, Estes Landry, ... Kreider Richard B. Effects of Ginger Supplementation on Markers of Inflammation and Functional Capacity in Individuals with Mild to Moderate Joint Pain. Nutrients. 2025-Jul-18;17(14). doi:10.3390/nu17142365

Abstract

Background: Ginger contains gingerols, shagaols, paradols, gingerdiones, and terpenes, which have been shown to display anti-inflammatory properties and inhibit pain receptors. For this reason, ginger has been marketed as a natural analgesic. This study examined whether a specialized ginger extract obtained through supercritical CO2 extraction and subsequent fermentation affects pain perception, functional capacity, and markers of inflammation. Methods: Thirty men and women (56.0 ± 9.0 years, 164.4 ± 14 cm, 86.5 ± 20.9 kg, 31.0 ± 7.5 kg/m2) with a history of mild to severe joint and muscle pain as well as inflammation participated in a placebo-controlled, randomized, parallel-arm study. Participants donated fasting blood, completed questionnaires, rated pain in the thighs to standardized pressure, and then completed squats/deep knee bends, while holding 30% of body mass, for 3 sets of 10 repetitions on days 0, 30, and 56 of supplementation. Participants repeated tests after 2 days of recovery following each testing session. Participants were matched by demographics and randomized to ingest 125 mg/d of a placebo or ginger (standardized to contain 10% total gingerols and no more than 3% total shogaols) for 58 days. Data were analyzed by a general linear model (GLM) analysis of variance with repeated measures, mean changes from the baseline with 95% confidence intervals, and chi-squared analysis. Results: There was evidence that ginger supplementation attenuated perceptions of muscle pain in the vastus medialis; improved ratings of pain, stiffness, and functional capacity; and affected several inflammatory markers (e.g., IL-6, INF-ϒ, TNF-α, and C-Reactive Protein concentrations), particularly following two days of recovery from resistance exercise. There was also evidence that ginger supplementation increased eosinophils and was associated with less frequent but not significantly different use of over-the-counter analgesics. Conclusions: Ginger supplementation (125 mg/d, providing 12.5 mg/d of gingerols) appears to have some favorable effects on perceptions of pain, functional capacity, and inflammatory markers in men and women experiencing mild to moderate muscle and joint pain. Registered clinical trial #ISRCTN74292348.

Key Findings

There was evidence that ginger supplementation attenuated perceptions of muscle pain in the vastus medialis; improved ratings of pain, stiffness, and functional capacity; and affected several inflammatory markers (e.g., IL-6, INF-ϒ, TNF-α, and C-Reactive Protein concentrations), particularly following two days of recovery from resistance exercise. There was also evidence that ginger supplementation increased eosinophils and was associated with less frequent but not significantly different use of

Outcomes Measured

  • inflammatory markers

Population

Field Value
Population See abstract
Sample Size See abstract
Age Range See abstract
Condition inflammation

MeSH Terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Arthralgia
  • Biomarkers
  • Catechols
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Inflammation
  • Plant Extracts
  • Zingiber officinale

Evidence Classification

  • Level: Rct
  • Publication Types: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Vertical: ginger

Provenance

Source extracted via PubMed E-utilities API on 2026-04-10