Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress are the two essential factors determining ulcerative colitis (UC) onset and severity status. In present study, we aimed to investigate short-term effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) as a well-known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent on the quality of life, disease activity index and some of inflammatory and oxidative stress factors in patients with active mild to moderate UC.
Methods: This study was a double blind placebo controlled randomized clinical trial conducted in nutrition and diet therapy clinic of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran, from October 2017 to June 2018. Forty-six patients with active mild to moderate UC daily consumed four capsules of 500 mg dried ginger powder or similar placebo through eating their meals for 6 weeks. Before and after intervention, we analyzed patient´s scores of disease activity index, by simple clinical colitis activity index questionnaire (SCCAIQ) as well as their quality of life using inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire-9 (IBDQ-9). We also measured serum concentrations of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), high sensitive (hs)-CRP and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in fasted blood samples of each participant. Additionally, anthropometric and dietary intake values of energy, macro/micronutrients and minerals of all of participants were assessed at the same time.
Results: While the mean of anthropometric measures and dietary intake values remained unchanged during the study, MDA level decreased in ginger group (P=0.04) compared with placebo group. Additionally, ginger supplementation successfully lowered serum levels of TNF-α and disease activity index after 6 weeks of intervention compared with baseline in ginger consumer group, however the increase of quality of life score was not statistically significant in mentioned group versus baseline values. No significant change in other study outcomes was observed at the end of 6 weeks within and between groups.
Conclusion: Our data indicates that two grams per day supplementation with dried ginger powder can reduce oxidative stress level of patients with active mild to moderate UC.

Background: Disruption of lipid metabolism threatens human life in all countries with different percentages and causes cardiovascular disease. Reducing physical activity and eliminating some of the food medications have exacerbated these complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of ginger supplementation on the lipid profile and body composition of obese women following Pilates exercises.
Methods: This semi-experimental study was carried out at the Medicinal Plants Research Center of Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from September to December 2012. In this study, 90 pregnant women with type 2 diabetes mellitus were randomly divided into three groups: complement, placebo and control (30 objects in each group). The exercise protocol includes a ten-week Pilates exercise. The supplement group consumed 2 grams of ginger powder daily for ten weeks. The placebo group used starch (placebo) capsules for these ten weeks. The control group did not take any supplement and did not have any activity at all. Blood samples were taken prior to physical activity and 48 hours after the end of 10 weeks Pilates training three sessions per week (30 sessions). In order to investigate intra-group changes, t-test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare the groups.
Results: The results showed that after 10 weeks of using zinc supplements following Pilates exercise training in pretest and posttest, increases in HDL levels and decreased TG, LDL, Tcol, body composition and body weight in obese women. Also, consumption of 10 weeks of ginger supplement after aerobic exercise training on TG (P=0.001), LDL (P=0.02), Tcol (P=0.05) and HDL (P=0.01) in obese women in supplement and placebo groups had a significant impact.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that Pilates exercises with daily consumption of 2 grams of ginger supplement for 10 weeks caused a significant decrease in lipid profiles, body fat percentage, weight, and hip circumference.