Effect of ginger on gastric motility and symptoms of functional dyspepsia

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate the effects of ginger on gastric motility and emptying, abdominal symptoms, and hormones that influence motility in dyspepsia.

Methods: Eleven patients with functional dyspepsia were studied twice in a randomized double-blind manner. After an 8-h fast, the patients ingested three capsules that contained ginger (total 1.2 g) or placebo, followed after 1 h by 500 mL low-nutrient soup. Antral area, fundus area and diameter, and the frequency of antral contractions were measured using ultrasound at frequent intervals, and the gastric half-emptying time was calculated from the change in antral area. Gastrointestinal sensations and appetite were scored using visual analog questionnaires, and blood was taken for measurement of plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), motilin and ghrelin concentrations, at intervals throughout the study.

Results: Gastric emptying was more rapid after ginger than placebo [median (range) half-emptying time 12.3 (8.5-17.0) min after ginger, 16.1 (8.3-22.6) min after placebo, P≤0.05]. There was a trend for more antral contractions (P=0.06), but fundus dimensions and gastrointestinal symptoms did not differ, nor did serum concentrations of GLP-1, motilin and ghrelin.

Conclusion: Ginger stimulated gastric emptying and antral contractions in patients with functional dyspepsia, but had no impact on gastrointestinal symptoms or gut peptides.

Keywords: Abdominal ultrasound; Antral contraction; Functional dyspepsia; Gastric emptying; Ghrelin; Ginger (Zinger offinale); Glucagon-like peptide-1; Motilin.

Figures

Figure 1

Antral area after ginger and placebo in patients with functional dyspepsia who consumed 500 mL low-nutrient soup between -5 and 0 min. Gastric emptying was more rapid after ginger than with placebo [T50: 12.3 (8.5-17.0) min vs 16.1 (8.3-22.6) min, P ≤ 0.05)]. There was a trend for smaller antral area after ginger (P = 0.13); data are means ± SE, n = 11.

Figure 2

Frequency of antral contractions after ginger and placebo in patients with functional dyspepsia. There was a trend for a higher frequency of antral contractions after ginger (P = 0.06). Data are means ± SE, n = 11.

Figure 3

Fundus area and diameter in patients with functional dyspepsia. There was no difference in either measure between ginger and placebo. Data are means ± SE, n = 11.

Figure 4

Visual analogue scale scores for gastrointestinal symptoms after ginger and placebo in patients with functional dyspepsia who consumed 500 mL low-nutrient soup between -5 and 0 min. There was no difference in any sensation between the two study days. Data are means ± SE, n = 11.

Figure 5

Plasma concentrations of glucagon-like peptide-1, motilin and ghrelin in patients with functional dyspepsia. There was no difference in the concentrations of any hormone between the ginger and placebo groups. Data are means ± SE, n = 11. GLP-1: Glucagon-like peptide-1.