Effects of a ginger extract on knee pain in patients with osteoarthritis

Altman RD, Marcussen KC · Arthritis and Rheumatism

The largest and best-designed trial of any botanical in this section. On the primary intent-to-treat endpoint — the proportion of patients whose knee pain on standing fell by at least 15 mm — 63% responded on ginger against 50% on placebo (p = 0.048). Secondary measures agreed in direction: pain on standing fell 24.5 mm versus 16.4 mm (p = 0.005), pain after walking 50 feet 15.1 mm versus 8.7 mm (p = 0.016), and the WOMAC composite 12.9 mm versus 9.0 mm (p = 0.087, not significant). Quality of life did not differ.

Population

261 adults with knee osteoarthritis and moderate-to-severe pain, multicentre, after washout

Intervention

EV.EXT 77, a standardized concentrated extract of Zingiber officinale and Alpinia galanga, twice daily for 6 weeks

Comparator

Placebo, with acetaminophen as rescue medication

Limitations

Six weeks, symptom endpoints only, and the primary result sits at p = 0.048 with a 13-percentage-point difference in responder rate. Gastrointestinal adverse events were far more common on ginger (59 patients versus 21), mostly mild. The extract is a specific patented preparation of two species, so the result does not transfer to ginger generally.