Ginger (Zingiber officinale) reduces acute chemotherapy-induced nausea: a URCC CCOP study of 576 patients
- 5 August 2011
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Supportive Care in Cancer
- Vol. 20 (7), 1479-1489
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-011-1236-3
Abstract
Purpose Despite the widespread use of antiemetics, nausea continues to be reported by over 70% of patients receiving chemotherapy. Methods In this double blind, multicenter trial, we randomly assigned 744 cancer patients to four arms: 1) placebo, 2) 0.5 g ginger, 3) 1.0 g ginger, or 4) 1.5 g ginger. Nausea occurrence and severity were assessed at a baseline cycle and the two following cycles during which patients were taking their assigned study medication. All patients received a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist antiemetic on Day 1 of all cycles. Patients took three capsules of ginger (250 mg) or placebo twice daily for 6 days starting 3 days before the first day of chemotherapy. Patients reported the severity of nausea on a 7-point rating scale (“1” = “Not at all Nauseated” and “7” = “Extremely Nauseated”) for Days 1–4 of each cycle. The primary outcomes were to determine the dose and efficacy of ginger at reducing the severity of chemotherapy-induced nausea on Day 1 of chemotherapy. Results A total of 576 patients were included in final analysis (91% female, mean age = 53). Mixed model analyses demonstrated that all doses of ginger significantly reduced acute nausea severity compared to placebo on Day 1 of chemotherapy (p = 0.003). The largest reduction in nausea intensity occurred with 0.5 g and 1.0 g of ginger (p = 0.017 and p = 0.036, respectively). Anticipatory nausea was a key factor in acute chemotherapy-induced nausea (p < 0.0001). Conclusions Ginger supplementation at a daily dose of 0.5 g–1.0 g significantly aids in reduction of the severity of acute chemotherapy-induced nausea in adult cancer patients.Keywords
This publication has 34 references indexed in Scilit:
- Insight in the prediction of chemotherapy-induced nauseaSupportive Care in Cancer, 2009
- A review of patient self-report tools for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomitingSupportive Care in Cancer, 2008
- Protein and Ginger for the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Delayed NauseaThe Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2008
- A Phase II/III Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) for Nausea Caused by Chemotherapy for Cancer: A Currently Accruing URCC CCOP Cancer Control StudySupportive Cancer Therapy, 2007
- Measuring head and neck cancer symptom burden: The development and validation of the M. D. Anderson symptom inventory, head and neck moduleHead & Neck, 2007
- The essential oil of ginger, , and anaesthesiaInternational Journal of Aromatherapy, 2005
- Evaluation of new antiemetic agents and definition of antineoplastic agent emetogenicity—an updateSupportive Care in Cancer, 2004
- The Efficacy of Acupressure and Acustimulation Wrist Bands for the Relief of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting: A University of Rochester Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program Multicenter StudyJournal of Pain and Symptom Management, 2003
- Anticipatory nausea and vomiting in the era of 5-HT 3 antiemeticsSupportive Care in Cancer, 1998
- Etiology and treatment of the psychological side effects associated with cancer chemotherapy: A critical review and discussion.Psychological Bulletin, 1988