Ginger and human health: a systematic review of meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials

Summary

This umbrella systematic review by Paudel et al. (2025) consolidates evidence from published meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials to provide a high-level synthesis of ginger's effects on human health across multiple outcomes and conditions. By appraising the quality and consistency of existing meta-analytic evidence, it offers a structured overview of where the clinical evidence base for ginger is robust, inconsistent, or limited. This type of review is particularly valuable for identifying priority areas for future research and informing evidence-based dietary or supplementation guidance.

UK applicability

Whilst the underlying trials are likely drawn from diverse international settings, the synthesised findings on ginger supplementation are broadly applicable to UK clinical and public health contexts, particularly given growing interest in functional foods and botanical supplements within NHS dietary guidance and UK nutrition research.

Key measures

Likely includes: fasting blood glucose (mmol/L), HbA1c (%), lipid markers (LDL, HDL, triglycerides in mmol/L), inflammatory markers (CRP, IL-6), body weight (kg), BMI (kg/m²), nausea severity scores; effect sizes (SMD, MD, 95% CI) from pooled RCT data

Outcomes reported

The review synthesised findings from multiple meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials examining the effects of ginger supplementation on a range of health outcomes, likely including glycaemic control, lipid profiles, inflammation, nausea, and body weight. It assessed the breadth and consistency of evidence across different clinical populations and conditions.

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