Title:Effect of Ginger Supplementation on Liver Enzymes: A Systematic
Review and Meta-Analysis
Volume: 21
Issue: 4
Author(s): Nargeskhatoon Shoaibinobarian, Roya Riahi, Motahar Heidari-Beni*Roya Kelishadi
Affiliation:
- Department of Nutrition, Child Growth and Development Research Center Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Keywords:
Alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, (Zingiber officinale), hepatotoxicity, confidence interval.
Abstract:
Background: Ginger (Zingiber officinale), as one of the herbal medicines, has high antioxidant
activity. It may have protective effects against hepatotoxicity. This study seeks to perform
a systematic review and meta-analysis on the impact of ginger on liver enzymes.
Methods: The present systematic review and meta-analysis study adhered to the guidelines outlined
in the PRISMA 2020 statement. A comprehensive literature search was carried out in the
Medline database (PubMed), Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library
until the conclusion of February 2021. All interventional animal studies were included. The
selected studies were the ones that examined the impact of ginger on serum liver enzymes.
Results: Out of 741 articles, 39 studies were incorporated into the systematic review and meta-analysis.
The pooled results suggested that ginger significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase
(ALT) (standardized mean difference (SMD): 2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.12 to 2.93),
aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (SMD: 3.03, 95% CI: 2.48 to 3.58), and alkaline phosphatase
(ALP) (SMD: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.60 to 2.60).
Conclusion: Ginger has favorable effects on liver enzymes. It shows potential as a beneficial complementary
therapy for higher levels of ALT, AST, and ALP because of its useful effects and negligible
side effects.