Effectiveness of Ginger in Reducing Inflammation Markers in Metabolic Diseases

Abstract

Metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, are commonly associated with chronic low-grade inflammation. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) contains bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may support the management of these conditions. This literature review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of ginger supplementation in reducing inflammatory markers in patients with metabolic diseases. Articles published between 2021 and 2026 were identified through PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar using combinations of keywords related to ginger, metabolic diseases, and inflammatory markers. Articles were selected based on predefined inclusion criteria, and 15 studies were included in the final synthesis. Most studies reported that ginger supplementation reduced major inflammatory markers, particularly C-reactive protein, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6. Ginger also produced additional improvements in fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin resistance, lipid profiles, body weight, body composition, and antioxidant status. These effects are primarily attributed to gingerol, shogaol, paradol, and zingerone, which inhibit nuclear factor-kappa B activation, suppress pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and strengthen antioxidant defenses. Overall, ginger shows potential as a safe, accessible, and economical complementary intervention for controlling inflammation in metabolic diseases. Nevertheless, further clinical trials with larger samples and standardized dosages, formulations, and intervention periods are needed to confirm its clinical effectivenes.