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Foshati S, Poursadeghfard M, Heidari Z, Amani R. The effects of ginger supplementation on common gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:383. [PMID: 37891539 PMCID: PMC10605938 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04227-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms affect more than 80% of individuals with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS). Ginger is widely known for its GI relieving properties. Therefore, we investigated the effect of ginger supplementation on common GI symptoms in RRMS patients. METHODS This study was a 12-week double-blind parallel randomized controlled trial with a 3-week run-in period. The intervention (n = 26) and control (n = 26) groups received 500 mg ginger and placebo (as corn) supplements 3 times a day along with main meals, respectively. At the beginning and end of the trial, the frequency and severity of constipation, dysphagia, abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, belching, flatulence, heartburn, anorexia, and nausea were assessed using the visual analogue scale ranging from 0 to 100 mm. Totally, 49 participants completed the study. However, data analysis was performed on all 52 participants based on the intention-to-treat principle. RESULTS In comparison with placebo, ginger supplementation resulted in significant or near-significant reductions in the frequency (-23.63 ± 5.36 vs. 14.81 ± 2.78, P < 0.001) and severity (-24.15 ± 5.10 vs. 11.39 ± 3.23, P < 0.001) of constipation, the frequency (-12.41 ± 3.75 vs. 3.75 ± 1.82, P < 0.001) and severity (-13.43 ± 4.91 vs. 6.88 ± 2.69, P = 0.001) of nausea, the frequency (-9.31 ± 4.44 vs. 1.56 ± 4.05, P = 0.098) and severity (-11.57 ± 5.09 vs. 3.97 ± 3.99, P = 0.047) of bloating, and the severity of abdominal pain (-5.69 ± 3.66 vs. 3.43 ± 3.26, P = 0.069). CONCLUSION Ginger consumption can improve constipation, nausea, bloating, and abdominal pain in patients with RRMS. TRIAL REGISTRATION This trial was prospectively registered at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials ( www.irct.ir ) under the registration number IRCT20180818040827N3 on 06/10/2021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahar Foshati
- Nutrition Research Center, Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maryam Poursadeghfard
- Clinical Neurology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Zahra Heidari
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Reza Amani
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
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Tursi A, Picchio M, Elisei W, Allegretta L, Benedicenti P, Bossa F, Di Bella S, Elefante A, Gallina S, Greco F, Maurichi F, Palieri AP, Penna A, Pranzo G, Rizzo GL, Brandimarte G, Abenavoli L, Alfieri MS, Antonino N, Autorino C, Bellomo P, Casamassima C, Colucci BP, De Cristofaro V, Demauro R, Derenzio P, Detommasi F, Fazio M, Ferrari V, Gallo A, Greco D, Lisco V, Lore F, Manfredi M, Marsano G, Mascoli P, Mazzilli L, Messa G, Minoretti G, Misciagna P, Monterisi F, Nappi S, Resta AR, Saponaro P, Sbarra G, Scutifero S, Selvaggio V, Sica G, Tarallo M, Torelli G, Vigilante C, Zecchillo P. Effectiveness and Safety of A Nutraceutical Formulation for the Treatment of Functional Dyspepsia in Primary Care. Rev Recent Clin Trials 2021; 16:329-334. [PMID: 34126909 DOI: 10.2174/1574887116666210612034911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although FD may affect up to 10% of the general population, the therapy for FD is not standard. Recently, ginger-based food supplements have been proposed in order to restore FD symptoms. Our aim was to assess the efficacy of a new nutraceutical formulation containing extract of gingerol and thymus as a possible natural treatment in managing the symptoms of functional dyspepsia (FD). METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and safety profiles of a nutraceutical formulation containing Zingiber officinalis root extract and a standardized Thymus extract. It was administered as 1 ml/day twice a day for 90 days. Patients were assessed at baseline and after 1, 2 and 3 months of treatment, following a month of pharmacological washout by completing a questionnaire reporting the trend of the following symptoms: epigastric pain, epigastric heaviness, early satiety, belching, and regurgitation. Every symptom was assessed by a Visual Analogic Scale (VAS), ranging from 0= absence to 10= maximal severity. RESULTS We enrolled 272 patients (99 males and 173 females; median IQR age 49.5, 36-64 yrs). Obesity (BMI>30) was present in 28 (12.5%) patients; smokers were 83 (30.5%); and comorbidities were present in 107 (39.3%) patients. Improvement of symptom scores during treatment and one month after its suspension was extremely significant (p<0.000). CONCLUSION This large study found that nutraceutical formulation could be one of the tools for an empirical approach to treat patients with FD, especially when a non-conventional drug treatment is preferable for the patient and considered suitable by the physician.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Tursi
- Territorial Gastroenterology Service, ASL BAT, Andria (BT), Italy
| | - Marcello Picchio
- Division of Surgery, "P. Colombo" Hospital, ASL Roma 6, Velletri (Rome), Italy
| | - Walter Elisei
- Division of Gastroenterology, "S. Camillo" Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Leonardo Allegretta
- Division of Gastroenterology, "Santa Caterina Novella" Hospital, Galatina (LE), Italy
| | | | - Fabrizio Bossa
- Division of Gastroenterology, IRCCS "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" Hospital, S. Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy
| | - Simone Di Bella
- Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, "A. Perrino" Hospital, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Antonio Elefante
- Territorial Gastroenterology Service, Mesagne Territorial Hospital, ASL BR, Mesagne (BR), Italy
| | - Stefano Gallina
- Division of Internal Medicine, "Card. Panico" Hospital, Tricase (LE), Italy
| | - Federica Greco
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesco Maurichi
- Division of Internal Medicine, "Card. Panico" Hospital, Tricase (LE), Italy
| | | | - Antonio Penna
- Ambulatory of Territorial Gastroenterology, ASL BA, Bari, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pranzo
- Ambulatory of Digestive Endoscopy, "Valle D'Itria" Hospital, Martina Franca (TA), Italy
| | - Giovanni Luca Rizzo
- Division of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy, "A. Perrino" Hospital, Brindisi, Italy
| | - Giovanni Brandimarte
- Division of Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology, "Cristo Re" Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Ludovico Abenavoli
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Natale Antonino
- General Pratictioner and Private Gastroenterologist, Bisceglie (Barletta-Andria-Trani), Italy
| | | | | | - Carlo Casamassima
- General Pratictioner and Private Gastroenterologist, S. Ferdinando di Puglia (Barletta-Andria-Trani), Italy
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- General Pratictioner and Private Endocrinologist, Bari, Italy
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