GINGER EXTRACT & OA

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Ginger Extract May Reduce Osteoarthritis Knee Pain

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Dec 11 - Treatment with a highly purified

ginger extract can safely reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis (OA) of the

knee, according to a recent report. However, in a related editorial, the

appropriateness of the primary outcome measure used in this study is

questioned.

Dr. K. C. Marcussen, from Narayana Research in Winter, Wisconsin, and

Dr. R. D. Altman, from the University of Miami, assessed the outcomes of

247 patients with OA of the knee who were randomized to receive ginger

extract, administered orally twice a day, or placebo for 6 weeks. All of

the patients had moderate-to-severe knee pain.

A significantly greater percentage of patients in the ginger group than

in the placebo group experienced pain reduction on standing (p = 0.048).

The average reductions in pain on standing and on walking were also

greater in the ginger group (p = 0.005 and 0.016, respectively).

Change in global status and reduction in intake of rescue medication

were greater in the ginger group than in the placebo group, the

investigators state in the November issue of Arthritis and Rheumatism.

However, the change in quality of life for the two groups was the same.

Gastrointestinal adverse events were more common in the ginger group,

but most of these were mild.

While the current findings suggest that ginger extract may be an

effective treatment for OA knee pain, the authors emphasize that further

studies are needed to address the long-term effects.

In a related editorial, Dr. M. Marcus and Dr. E.

Suarez-Almazor, from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, comment

that the beneficial effects of ginger reported in the current study were

small and inconsistent.

The researchers used pain on standing as the primary outcome measure,

the editorialists note. However, the Western Ontario and McMaster

Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) is typically used as the

primary outcome measure in most trials for this condition. In the

current study, the WOMAC results did not differ between the two

treatments.

" We believe that ginger should not be recommended at present for

treatment of arthritis because of the limited efficacy shown in this

study, its lack of clear efficacy in a previous trial, and the lack of

meaningful information about its safety, " Dr. Marcus and Dr.

Suarez-Almazor conclude.

Arthritis Rheum 2001;44:2461-2462,2531-2538.