Support Care CancerDOI 10.1007/s00520-008-0528-8
Phase II trial of encapsulated ginger as a treatmentfor chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
Suzanna M. Zick & Mack T. Ruffin & Julia Lee &Daniel P. Normolle & Rivka Siden & Sara Alrawi &Dean E. Brenner
Received: 14 June 2008 / Accepted: 15 October 2008
daily, or matching placebo for 3 days. The primary outcome
Goals of work Ginger has been used to treat numerous
was change in the prevalence of delayed CINV. Secondary
types of nausea and vomiting. Ginger has also been studied
outcomes included acute prevalence of CINV, acute and
for its efficacy for acute chemotherapy-induced nausea and
delayed severity of CINV, and assessment of blinding.
vomiting (CINV). However, its efficacy for delayed CINV
Main results There were no differences between groups in
in a diverse oncology population is unknown.
the prevalence of delayed nausea or vomiting, prevalence of
Materials and methods We performed a randomized,
acute CINV, or severity of delayed vomiting or acute
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 162 patients with
nausea and vomiting. Participants who took both ginger and
cancer who were receiving chemotherapy and had experi-
aprepitant had more severe acute nausea than participants
enced CINV during at least one previous round of
who took only aprepitant. Participants were able to
chemotherapy. All participants were receiving a 5-HT3
accurately guess which treatment they had received. Ginger
receptor antagonists and/or aprepitant. Participants were
appeared well tolerated, with no difference in all adverse
randomized to receive either 1.0 g ginger, 2.0 g ginger
events (AEs) and significantly less fatigue and miscella-neous AEs in the ginger group. Conclusions Ginger provides no additional benefit for
This trial is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00065221.
reduction of the prevalence or severity of acute or delayedCINV when given with 5-HT3 receptor antagonists and/or
Departments of Family Medicine, University of Michigan,Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Biostatistics Unit of the Comprehensive Cancer Center,University of Michigan,Ann Arbor, MI, USA
R. SidenDepartment of Pharmacy Services, University of Michigan,
Chemotherapy-induced nausea, retching, and vomiting
(CINV) has historically had significant negative impacts
on the quality of life (QoL) and daily functioning of
patients receiving chemotherapy CINV that occurs
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan,
within the first 24 h of chemotherapy treatment is
considered acute. Delayed CINV occurs at greater than
24 h post-treatment and can persist for several days. The
negative impacts of CINV on QoL persist despite the
introduction of newer treatments for nausea and vomiting,
Ann Arbor, MI 48104, USAe-mail: [email protected]
such as serotonin (5-HT3) antagonists for acute CINV and
aprepitant [neurokinin-1 (NK-1) antagonist] [for
several doses, adequate sample size, and investigation into
both acute and delayed CINV, we conducted a randomized,
Several recent surveys have found that the prevalence of
placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial to determine
CINV after receiving conventional anti-emetic therapy
the efficacy of a ginger extract for the treatment of CINV in
ranged from 48% to 67% , , ]. In one survey
adults with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of cancer
conducted in ten community oncology clinics, only 33% of
that were currently being treated with chemotherapy.
the patients did not have either delayed or acute CINV, andthe majority of patients who developed CINV experiencedboth delayed and acute CINV In a US national survey,
only fatigue was a more prevalent side effect of chemo-therapy treatment compared to CINV [In particular,
patients consistently reported significantly more delayednausea and vomiting compared to acute CINV, indicating
The study protocol and all procedures were approved by the
that delayed CINV continues to be difficult to control
University of Michigan (UM) Medical School Institutional
despite the introduction of anti-emetic agents targeted at
Review Board and all participating clinical sites review
this timeframe ]. Patients experiencing CINV reported
boards. All participants provided written informed consent.
lower satisfaction with their care [missed work days
The study took place between June 2003 and May 2006.
], and negative effects on QoL [, , ]. Agents that
Individuals 18 years and older who had a histologically
could safely further decrease the rates of CINV, and
confirmed diagnosis of cancer currently being treated with
especially delayed CINV, are needed.
chemotherapy (for adjuvant, neoadjuvant, curative, or
Ginger root (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae)
palliative means) were eligible. Patients must also have
was first cultivated in Asia and has been used as a medicinal
received at least one previous chemotherapy treatment with
herb for at least 2,000 years ]. In Chinese, Indian, Middle
the same chemotherapeutic agent and have experienced
Eastern, and western herbal medicine, ginger is used
nausea or vomiting of any severity as a result of that
primarily as a remedy for digestive disorders including
treatment. Patients were recruited from the UM Health
dyspepsia, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea ].
System oncology clinics and from ten other sites that were
Ginger root contains approximately 1.5% to 2.0% of a
part of the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) Community
number of pungent compounds Gingerols are the most
Clinic Oncology Program (CCOP). Patients were ineligible
abundant pungent compounds in fresh roots, and several
if they: (a) were receiving multiple-day chemotherapy; (b)
gingerols of various chain lengths (n6 to n10) are present,
were receiving concurrent radiotherapy that was classified
with the most plentiful being 6-gingerol. Shogaols, the
as high or intermediate risk of causing emesis (i.e., total
dehydrated form of gingerols, are mainly found in the dried
body irradiation, hemi-body, upper abdomen, abdominal–
and thermally treated roots, with 6-shogaol being the most
pelvic mantle, cranium, or craniospinal irradiation); (c)
abundant ]. Gingerols and shogaols appear to be the
were taking therapeutic doses of coumadin (individuals on
compounds that confer most of the medicinal properties to
low-dose coumadin to maintain peripheral or central venous
catheters were allowed), aspirin (individuals taking low-
Ginger demonstrates numerous properties that may be
dose 81 mg aspirin were allowed), or heparin; (d) had a
beneficial in treating CINV, including reversing the inhib-
history of a bleeding disorder(s) and those experiencing
itory effect of cisplatin on gastric emptying in rats , ],
clinically significant thrombocytopenia; (e) had an allergy
as a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist , , ], and as an
to ginger or had taken ginger in the last week; or (f) were
nursing mothers, pregnant women, or planning a pregnancy
Previous clinical trials have examined the effect of ginger
during the study period. Patients were eligible to participate
on CINV with mixed results, with one study showing no
if they were scheduled to have a single-day chemotherapy
effect ], another with mixed results ], and two others
regime and to receive a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist antie-
with positive outcomes , of ginger compared to
metic and/or the antiemetic aprepitant.
placebo or metoclopramide. Apart from their mixed out-
All potentially eligible participants were approached by
comes, it is difficult to assess these studies as they are
a research assistant or nurse after their visit at various
limited by their small sample sizes, no clear identification
oncology clinics, and interested patients were scheduled for
or quality control of the ginger product used, unclear or
their screening visit. The screening visit was within 28 days
limited patient population, and no examination of appro-
of when the study medication was administered and could
priate ginger dose. Further, only one study ] investigated
be replaced with a pre-chemotherapy visit if all study
delayed nausea and vomiting. Using a well-defined and
procedures were conducted. Written and verbal informed
broad patient sample, a well-characterized ginger product at
consent were obtained at the beginning of the screening
visit. Patients then had a physical exam, medical history, a
asked whether they experienced nausea or vomiting during
list of concomitant medications collected, a complete blood
or after their chemotherapy treatment, are also asked how
count (with platelets and differentials), a comprehensive
long in minutes or hours their nausea lasted and how they
chemistry screen, and a prothrombin time/international ratio
would describe their nausea or vomiting “at its worst” using
test. Participants were also given a questionnaire to assess
a six-point Likert scale (very mild to intolerable) as well as
the amount of ginger in their typical diet. Those participants
the time period when the “nausea or vomiting was the
who had acceptable physical exams, laboratory values, and
worst”, e.g., 4–8 h after treatment ]. Delayed chemo-
were not eating a significant amount of ginger were deemed
therapy-induced nausea or vomiting was defined as any
eligible and were scheduled to receive their study medica-
nausea or vomiting that occurred greater than 24 h after
tion during their next round of chemotherapy.
The secondary objectives included: (1) comparing the
effect of a low-dose (1.0 g) and a high-dose (2.0 g)powdered ginger root extract versus placebo for reducing
Eligible participants were randomly assigned to receive a
the prevalence and severity of acute (within 24 h of
ginger extract, manufactured by Pure Encapsulations®
receiving chemotherapy) nausea and vomiting (assessed
(Sudbury, MA, USA), 1.0 g (four capsules ginger and four
with the MANE); (2) assessing the safety of different doses
capsules placebo daily), 2.0 g (eight capsules daily), or a
(low versus high) of oral powdered ginger root; and (3)
matching placebo (eight capsules daily). These doses were
determining if study participants are blinded to study
chosen based on the manufacturer’s recommendations and
assignment, as well as determining which variables may
on doses used in previous clinical studies using this extract.
unblind participants (taste, smell, and decrease in nausea
Each capsule contained 250 mg dry extract of ginger root
and emesis) during the 3-day study period.
[10:1 (v/v) extraction solvent (ethanol 50%)/root] standard-
We assessed safety by querying participants verbally
ized to 15 mg (5%) of total gingerols. The University of
about any hospitalizations or adverse events that occurred
Michigan Investigational Drug Service placed 250 mg of
during any of the 3 days of the study. We also reviewed
the Pure Encapsulations® ginger or lactose powder in size
hospital records to assess the cause of hospitalizations and
“0” red animal gelatin capsules made by Gallipot®. Based
gather information about laboratory abnormalities. Toxic-
on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) anal-
ities were graded based on National Cancer Institute
ysis, a 250-mg capsule of ginger extract contained 5.38 mg
Common Toxicity Criteria version 3.0 for Adverse Events
(2.15%) 6-gingerol, 1.80 mg (0.72%) 8-gingerol, 4.19 mg
All study participants had access to 24-h nursing
(1.78%) 10-gingerol, and 0.92 mg (0.37%) 6-shogaol.
support at their local institution. Any adverse events
Content of gingerols and 6-shogaol in the study medication
reported by the participants to their local health care
were independently verified using appropriate HPLC
providers or CCOP research staff were promptly reported
methods (Integrated Biomolecule; Tuscon, AZ, USA) [].
to UM study personnel and followed up by a direct query to
Participants were told to take the study medication twice
the CCOP research site for additional information.
per day with water and to bring all unused capsules to thefinal (72 h) study visit. The first study drug dose was taken
within 1 h of the completion of chemotherapy. Patientswere seen at the study clinic at the time of their
Eligible participants were randomized equally to one of
chemotherapy treatment and 3 days after the end of their
three groups: placebo, ginger extract 1.0 g, or ginger extract
2.0 g. The randomization code blocked by research site wascomputer-generated by the study biostatistician. Study par-
ticipants were also stratified at randomization into one of twostrata [strata 1=5-HT3 antagonist; strata 2=aprepitant (NK1
Our primary objective was to compare the effect of a low-
antagonist)]. Participants who received a 5-HT3 antagonist
dose (1.0 g) and a high-dose (2.0 g) powdered ginger root
plus aprepitant were placed into the aprepitant strata, while
extract versus placebo for reducing the prevalence and
those participants that received only a 5-HT3 antagonist
severity of delayed nausea and vomiting using a 2-day
were placed in the 5-HT3 strata. The stratification allowed
patient diary based on a modified “Morrow Assessment of
for an equal distribution of the NK1 antagonist (aprepitant)
Nausea and Emesis” (MANE; we replicated questions for
to be distributed equally between the treatment arms.
days 2 and 3, not just the first 24 h after chemotherapy
All study participants as well as all study personnel who
treatment). The MANE is a validated questionnaire used to
assessed outcomes, worked with study data, or adminis-
assess the prevalence and severity of vomiting and nausea
tered tests or questionnaires were unaware of the random-
in a given time period, i.e. 24 h. Patients, along with being
ization list or treatment assignment.
Baseline characteristics were reported, stratified by treat-
ment group, using means and SDs for continuous variablesand counts and percentages for categorical variables.
We screened 4,244 patients, of whom 162 met all eligibility
Balance between treatment groups on baseline character-
criteria and were randomized: 57 to the placebo, 53 to the
istics was tested using Kruskal–Wallis statistics for contin-
1.0-g ginger dose, and 52- to the 2.0-g ginger dose. Figure
uous variables and Pearson’s chi-square and Fisher exact
documents sources of recruitment for potential participants,
tests, as appropriate, for categorical variables.
reasons for exclusions, and reasons for discontinuing the
Prevalence of delayed and acute nausea or vomiting
intervention. The low proportion of recruited patients
was calculated as a binary variable, i.e., “yes” if the patient
reflects the broad screening of unselected patients presenting
had nausea or vomiting (of any severity) or “no” if the
to oncology clinics at all CCOP sites. Forty-six participants
patient had no nausea or vomiting. If participants vomited
in the placebo group, 43 participants in the 1.0-g ginger
and/or retched at least once, it was counted as a “yes” for
dose, and 40 participants in the 2.0-g ginger dose arm
vomiting for that time period. The prevalence of nausea and
completed all study visits. Adherence to study medications
vomiting was compared separately by treatment arm using
was moderate to high, with 79% of all participants taking
Cochran Mantel–Haenszel tests stratified for aprepitant
greater than 80% of all study medication and with no
(“yes” or “no”). Logistic regression was also used to model
significant differences between groups (p=0.80).
the effect of treatment while controlling for covariates,including: emetogenicity of chemotherapeutic agent (high,
Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics
moderate, low); aprepitant (“yes” or “no”); and presence orabsence of baseline nausea or vomiting (“yes” or “no”) as
In Table , we present the sociodemographic and clinical
appropriate for delayed values and presence or absence of
characteristics of participants by treatment group. There
acute nausea or vomiting (“yes” or “no”). Analyses of
was no significant difference between treatment groups for
severity of delayed and acute nausea and vomiting were
any demographic or clinical characteristics.
examined as an ordinal outcome. Severity of nausea and
All participants received a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist.
vomiting and/or retching was graded on a six-point scale,
Fifty-two participants (32.1%) received aprepitant. Of the
where 1 equaled very mild and 6 equaled intolerable. These
52 participants given aprepitant, 49 (94.2%) were receiving
severity analyses were only performed on participants who
moderate or high emetic risk antineoplastic compared to
had experienced nausea or vomiting. Analyses of severity
only three (5.8%) who were being administered low emetic
were performed using Cochran Mantel–Haenszel tests
between treatment groups (placebo, ginger =1.0 g andginger=2.0 g) and stratified by aprepitant (yes/no). Anal-
Prevalence and severity of acute and delayed nausea
yses were conducted according to the intention-to-treat
principle; however, no imputation was performed formissing values at day 1, 2, or 3. Data were entered into a
Fifty-eight percent (n=94) of study participants reported
central database located at Dartmouth College (Hanover,
experiencing both acute and delayed nausea, while 30.9%
NH, USA). For all analyses, two-sided tests and a
(n =50) of participants reported acute vomiting and/or
significance level of 0.05 were used. The experiment-wise
retching and 24.7% (n=40) reported delayed vomiting
type I error rate was protected only for the principal
outcome measure. No adjustments were made for multiple-
There was no significant difference between either of the
hypothesis testing, as the secondary outcomes were viewed
ginger doses compared to placebo in the prevalence of
acute or delayed nausea or vomiting. This observation was
The sample size was justified in terms of the analysis of
consistent when participants were stratified by whether or
between-treatment differences in delayed nausea. The
not aprepitant was prescribed as part of their treatment for
prevalence of delayed nausea in patients taking standard
CINV (Table Although not significant, participants who
antiemetic therapy was assumed to be 51% for lower dose
received aprepitant and either dose of ginger had more
chemotherapy and 74% for higher dose chemotherapy. If
treatment failures compared to those who received aprepi-
the highest ginger dose caused a 30% relative reduction
tant in addition to placebo for both acute and delayed
from placebo in the prevalence of delayed nausea, the study
had 75% power to reject the null hypothesis of no treatment
When not stratified by use of aprepitant, there was no
significant difference in severity between either the low
4082 Excluded 53 - Unwilling to sign consent 314 – Receiving multi-day chemotherapy 102 – Not receiving a 5-HT3 agonist 82 – Receiving anti-coagulation 2806 – Denies nausea or vomiting 725 - Miscellaneous
3 – Unknown 0 - Misunderstood directions
dose or the high dose of ginger and placebo, except for
2.0 g, or placebo) the patient received. Outcome assessors
delayed nausea. Participants who received the high dose of
were not able to correctly identify which treatment the
ginger (2.0 g) reported having significantly more severe
patient received (p=0.27). Patients, however, were signif-
episode of delayed nausea compared to both placebo and
icantly (p = 0.01) more likely to correctly guess the
low-dose ginger (1.0 g; mean ± SD: placebo = 2.8 ± 1.2,
treatment they were given. Patients indicated that it was
ginger 1.0 g=2.9±1.1, ginger 2.0 g=3.4±1.1; p=0.03).
the “the way the capsule worked” (16%placebo, 51%1.0 g,
Table presents results of the severity of both acute and
33%2.0 g for each treatment group; p=0.12) as the most
delayed nausea and vomiting stratified by the use of
common reason for knowing which treatment they were
aprepitant. For those participants who did not receive
taking. The taste of the capsule was the second most likely
aprepitant, we observed no significant difference in severity
reason given for being able to know what treatment a
of nausea or vomiting between either dose of ginger or
participant received (9%placebo, 25%1.0 g, 33%2.0 g for each
placebo (Table However, participants who were pre-
scribed aprepitant and either dose of ginger had signifi-cantly more severe delayed nausea (Table ).
We divided adverse events into those that most commonlyoccurred in the trial, e.g., laboratory abnormalities events,
Both patients and research personnel who were responsible
and side effects most often associated with ginger con-
for collecting study endpoints from patients (outcome
sumption, e.g., GI events. There were no significant
assessors) were asked to evaluate which treatment (1.0 g,
differences in total adverse events, non-serious adverse
Table 1 Baseline characteristics of the randomization groups
Concomitant 5-HT3 receptor antagonists and NK-1, n (%)
5-HT3 5-hydroxytryptamine type 3, NK-1 neurokinin-1 receptor antagonista Emetic risk of intravenously administered antineoplastic agents based on the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines forantiemetics in 2006 When patients received more than one antineoplastic agent, only the agent that possessed the highest emetic risk islisted. If more than one antineoplastic agent of the same emetic risk was administered, then both antineoplastic agents are listed.
events, dyspnea, gastrointestinal events, or laboratory
thrombosis, another patient was hospitalized after experienc-
abnormalities between treatment groups, although labora-
ing severe diarrhea and abdominal pain, and another patient
tory abnormalities were close to being significantly higher
hospitalized for anemia, low platelets, and white blood cells.
in the placebo and 1.0-g dose (8placebo vs. 81.0-g dose vs.
We found no significant difference in serious adverse events
12.0-g dose; p=0.06) compared to the 2.0-g dose. There were
significantly more fatigue (5placebo vs. 11.0-g dose vs. 02.0-g dose;p=0.03) and miscellaneous adverse events (8placebo vs. 31.0-g dose vs. 12.0-g dose; p=0.02) in the placebo group
compared to either ginger dose. Nearly all of the adverseevents were non-serious and graded as either a 1 or a 2 on
We found no benefit of a ginger extract, in the doses and
the NCI toxicity version 3. Out of the 42 patients who
formulation used, on our primary end point, the prevalence
experienced an adverse event, only three were serious: One
of delayed nausea and vomiting, when added to contem-
patient was hospitalized with an upper extremity deep vein
porary standard antiemetic therapy in cancer patients
Table 2 Prevalence of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting
a P values were calculated using Cochran Mantel–Haenszel tests stratified by apripetant (yes or no)
b P values are Pearson chi-squares calculated using logistic regression adjusting for emetic risk of the chemotherapeutic agent (high, moderate,low), apripetant, presence or absence of baseline nausea or vomiting (yes or no) as appropriate for delayed values and presence or absence of acutenausea or vomiting (yes or no) as appropriate for acute measures
receiving chemotherapy. These results are consistent
severity of delayed nausea (p = 0.03), although when
whether evaluated in unadjusted analyses or in analyses
stratifying by use of aprepitant, severity of delayed nausea
that adjusted for presence or absence of acute nausea, or
was only increased when the 2.0-g dose of ginger was taken
vomiting, emetogenicity of chemotherapeutic agent, and
with aprepitant (p=0.01) and not when taken without
use of aprepitant. Likewise, ginger extract caused no
decrease in the severity of delayed nausea or vomiting.
Similar to delayed CINV, we found that ginger extract
The 2.0-g dose of ginger extract, however, did increase the
did not decrease the prevalence of acute nausea or vomiting
Table 3 Severity of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting
a Severity of nausea and vomiting graded on a six-point Likert scale graded as 1=very mild, 2=mild, 3=moderate, 4=severe, 5=very severe, and6=intolerableb P values were calculated using Cochran Mantel–Haenszel tests stratified by apripetant (yes or no)
compared to placebo. Further, ginger extract at both doses
The third study that found results in contrast to ours was
did not affect the severity of acute nausea or vomiting.
a crossover RCT comparing ginger to metoclopramide and
However, when ginger was taken with aprepitant, there was
ondansetron for controlling the incidence of CINV for 24 h
an increase in the prevalence of delayed vomiting, although
after treatment. Ginger powder was found to be as
this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.07). Other-
successful as metoclopramide in complete control of CINV,
wise, these results were consistent whether or not a
but ondansetron was found to be superior to both of the
participant had been prescribed aprepitant.
other two treatments (complete control of nausea was 62%
Ginger appeared to be well tolerated. There was no
in ginger, 58% in metoclopramide, and 86% with ondanse-
difference between placebo and ginger for all adverse
tron) ]. Unlike our study, the 1.0-g dose of ginger
events, for common AE categories including dypsnea and
powder was not co-administered with antiemetics, e.g.,
gastrointestinal complaints, or serious adverse events.
5-HT3 receptor antagonists, but instead was given instead
Despite the lack of statistical significance difference in
serious AEs, all of the serious AEs did occur in the low-
In contrast, another RCT crossover study in gynecologic
dose ginger group and approached statistical significance
oncology patients receiving cisplatin comparing 1.0 g
(p=0.07). There were significantly fewer complaints of
ginger to placebo and metoclopramide (placebo during the
fatigue (p=0.03) and miscellaneous other adverse events
first 24 h and metoclopramide during the next 4days) found
(p=0.02) in the ginger treatment groups versus placebo,
and there were borderline significantly fewer laboratory
There was evidence in this study that ginger, when co-
abnormalities in the high-dose ginger arm (p=0.06). The
administered with aprepitant, increased the severity of
occurrence of all serious adverse events in the low-dose
delayed nausea. In addition, while not statistically signifi-
ginger group should be viewed with caution, but given the
cant, participants prescribed aprepitant and ginger (either
small number of serious events (three), this result could be
dose) had consistently higher prevalence of both acute and
due to chance alone. Similarly, the positive effects of ginger
delayed nausea and delayed vomiting compared to those
on fatigue could also be attributed to chance due to the
participants who received only aprepitant. It is possible that
small number of events. The wide variety of events in the
ginger root, similar to other of food and beverages, can alter
miscellaneous other and laboratory AE groups appear
the rate and extent of drug absorption. Ginger could
unlikely to be explicable by a pharmacologic effect of
decrease the absorption of aprepitant by increasing gastric
ginger. However, possible pharmacological effects such as
emptying time and intestinal motility and thus decreasing
ginger root’s anti-inflammatory [, , , ] and
aprepitant’s anti-nausea effects. Ginger extracts and their
antioxidant effects could be responsible for
constituents can shorten food transit time enhance
some of the decreased AEs. As a consequence, future
gastrointestinal motility [], and reverse pyrogallol-induced
studies could be considered to examine the protective effect
delay in gastric emptying in rats [].
of ginger on fatigue and laboratory abnormalities experi-
Our study had several limitations. First, we were limited
by inadequate power to detect small effect sizes for
Our results are in contrast to three other randomized
secondary outcomes. Second, we lacked adequate sample
controlled trials (RCTs) [, examining the safety
sizes to detect differences in the primary and secondary
and efficacy of ginger root extracts or powder for acute
outcomes by treatment with or without aprepitant. Third,
CINV. Two of these studies [] are only available in
we found that participants were able to determine if they
abstract form, allowing for no more than limited compar-
were randomized to either of the ginger treatment arms,
isons with our study. Pace [] found that ginger
indicating that how the capsule tasted allowed them to
significantly decreased an acute nausea symptom score,
determine which treatment they had received. Three meta-
and Pecoraro et al. ] determined that participants who
analyses of clinical trials found that when participants are
received ginger compared to placebo appeared to have a
not blinded, there tends to be a moderate overestimate of
greater complete treatment response of acute CINV,
the effect of the new treatment Lack of blinding
although no statistical analysis is provided for the later
is of particular concern when the outcomes are subjective or
study. The results of these studies could differ from ours
“soft”, such as with severity of nausea where ascertainment
for numerous reasons, including overestimation of treat-
bias can play a large role. Fourth, we also had a very
ment effects owing to the studies’ small sample sizes (41
heterogeneous patient sample. The variability in our patient
and 12 participants, respectively), lack of blinding, use of
sample was beneficial, making the results more generaliz-
different and non-validated outcome measures to assess
able to a wide variety of oncology patients. However, our
the prevalence and severity of CINV, different doses and
sample heterogeneity also made it more difficult to detect
ginger formulations, and lack of examination of delayed
any effects of ginger in any subset of cancer patients or
chemotherapy treatment combinations.
In summary, the data from this study indicate that a
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ginger extract provides no clinical benefit, at the doses
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based contemporary anti-nausea CINV medical therapy to
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their influence on patient satisfaction—a prospective survey using
negative interaction when taken with aprepitant on severity
the PASQOC(R) questionnaire. Support Care Cancer 16:567–575doi:
of nausea. Ginger may also have positive benefits in
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This research was supported by NCI grant 1
15. Gupta YK, Sharma M (2001) Reversal of pyrogallol-induced
KO7 CA102592-01, R21AT0001735 from the National Center for
delay in gastric emptying in rats by ginger (Zingiber officinale).
Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), NCI CN-
Methods Find Exp Clin Pharmacol 23(9):501–503 doi:
55124, and NCI U10CA74648 (CCOP Research Base). Research
resources were also provided by the General Clinical Research Center
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of the University of Michigan (M01-RR00042). The ginger extract
(2008) Symptoms and treatment burden associated with cancer
was generously donated by Pure Encapsulations® (Sudbury, MA).
treatment: results from a cross-sectional national survey in the U. S. Support Care Cancer 16:791–801 doi:
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