Ginger improves glycemic response in nondiabetic adults

The study showed a beneficial effect of ginger on glucose homeostasis under acute conditions and encouraged the use of ginger extract as a promising source of natural antioxidants.

"Our findings indicate that ingestion of the aqueous extract (0.2 g/100 mL) of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in nondiabetic subjects reduces blood glucose and postprandial maximum glucose level variation," the researchers wrote in their study. "The ginger extract also possesses a substantial antioxidant activity through free radical scavenging activity."

The postprandial blood glucose concentration has been shown as an essential factor in glucose homeostasis control, which seems to be effective in preventing the progression and development of long-term diabetes complications. Epidemiological data has revealed an association between cardiovascular and all-cause mortality and postprandial hyperglycemia status in nondiabetic patients.

Evidence has also shown an overproduction of oxygen-free radicals during hyperglycemic conditions leading to cellular damage and oxidative stress. This oxidative stress has been correlated with the development of diabetes complications.

Ginger is a traditional herb that belongs to the Zingiberaceae family and is shown to have beneficial effects on human health. Ginger has been proposed to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The herb treats vomiting, nausea, osteoarthritis, metabolic syndrome, pain, and obesity.

Against the above background, Alda Diakos and colleagues from Portugal aimed to investigate the effect of aqueous ginger extract on postprandial glucose levels in nondiabetic adults and characterized its antioxidant activity.

The authors reported the following findings:

• Twenty-four nondiabetic participants were randomly assigned to the intervention group (n = 12) and the control group (n = 12). Both groups were administered 200 mL of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), after which participants in the intervention group ingested 100 mL of ginger extract (0.2 g/100 mL).
• Postprandial blood glucose was measured while fasting and after 30, 60, 90, and 120 min.
• The total phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant activity of ginger extract were quantified. In the intervention group, the total area under the curve for glucose levels decreased significantly, and the maximum glucose concentration was significantly reduced.
• The extract possessed a polyphenolic content of 13.85 mg gallic acid equivalent/L, a flavonoid content of 3.35 mg quercetin equivalent/L, and a high superoxide radical inhibitory capacity (45.73%).

"The present study contributes to the support of the beneficial properties of ginger, indicating that this herb extract may be effective against hyperglycemic status in nondiabetic subjects," the researchers conclude.

Reference:

Diakos, A.; Silva, M.L.; Brito, J.; Moncada, M.; de Mesquita, M.F.; Bernardo, M.A. The Effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) Aqueous Extract on Postprandial Glycemia in Nondiabetic Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Foods 2023, 12, 1037. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods12051037