Ginger Extract Reduces Pain and Symptom Severity in Subjects with Recurrent Dysmenorrhea

by | Nov 7, 2023 | 2023, Botanicals, Ginger, Women's Health

Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. 100 mg supplementation/twice daily of GINFORT, a patented ginger extract, significantly reduced pain severity (p < 0.05) and dysmenorrhea-related symptoms (p < 0.05) compared to placebo. 

stomach painDysmenorrhea is the occurrence of severe lower abdominal pain in women during menstruation, with pain often following a cramping nature that may radiate to the thighs or lower spine1. The pain typically lasts from 8 to 72 hours and is most severe on the 1st and 2nd days of menstruation, due to increased release of prostaglandins during this period2. The condition is highly prevalent among women, with incidence ranging from 45% to 97% in groups of different ages and nationalities3.

Herbal medicine, such as ginger, is commonly used to treat recurrent dysmenorrhea due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties4. Ginger contains a variety of potent substances, such as gingerols and free fatty acids, that have analgesic effects5. Furthermore, previous research has shown that ginger significantly reduced pain severity and was associated with an improvement in symptoms and biomarkers of pain in populations with dysmenorrhea6.

Nirvanashetty et al. conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy and safety of a patented ginger extract, GINFORT (standardized to >26 gingeroids), on primary dysmenorrhea. Subject inclusion consisted of women aged 18-35 years who were diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea and were experiencing menstrual discomfort in the previous three consecutive months with a maximum dysmenorrhic VAS score of ≥4, with a regular menstrual cycle (21-35 days) with a bleeding duration of 3-7 days.

The study design consisted of a 56-day period which featured a screening visit (V1), baseline visit (V2, day 1), a follow-up visit after the first menstrual cycle (V3, day 28), and another visit after the second menstrual cycle (V4, day 56). At the screening visit, all participants were assessed by physical examination, vital signs, demographics, pregnancy test, medical/surgical history, clinical laboratory parameters, medication use, current symptoms, maximum visual analogue scale (VAS) and Verbal Multidimensional Scoring System (VMS) scores. During the baseline visit subjects (n = 49) were divided to receive either 100 mg of GINFORT (n = 25) or a placebo (n = 24) and were instructed to consume one capsule twice daily.

Primary efficacy measures included the mean change from baseline in VAS scores and secondary endpoints were percent change in the VMS associated symptoms during menstruation, use of rescue medications, and overall subject satisfaction. The Mann-Whitney U-test and unpaired t-test were utilized to detect statistical differences between the groups and Wilcox’s matched-pair rank-sum test for paired data was used to examine within-group differences. Significant findings of the study are as follows:

  • The VAS score in the GINFORT group decreased from 6.92 ± 1.0 to 1.4 ± 0.58 and 1.12 ± 0.44, respectively, in the first and second menstrual cycles. This reduction in maximum pain intensity in the intervention group was deemed statistically significant (p < 0.05) compared to placebo.
  • Between-group comparison results show that the severity of dysmenorrhic pain, measured by VMS, showed a statistically significant improvement in the GINFORT group (p < 0.05) compared to placebo at the first and second menstrual cycles.
  • The GINFORT group experienced a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in the frequency of back pain, fatigue, and nausea compared to placebo.

Results of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial show that GINFORT significantly reduced pain severity and symptoms related to dysmenorrhea as shown through a significant decrease in VMS grade and VAS scores. Further research should continue to explore the use of ginger as an effective treatment for dysmenorrhea in a larger-scale clinical format.

Source: Somashekara Nirvanashetty, Sanjib Kumar Panda and Shavon Jackson Michel, High Potency Ginger Extract Reduces Menstrual Discomfort in Healthy Participants with Recurrent Dysmenorrhea Linked to Hypercontractility of the Uterus: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial, Open Acc J Comp & Alt Med Volume 5 – Issue 1 C

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Posted November 7, 2023.

Taylor Woosley studied biology at Purdue University before becoming a 2016 graduate of Columbia College Chicago with a major in Writing. She currently resides in Glen Ellyn, IL.

References:

  1. Barcikowska Z, Rajkowska-Labon E, Grzybowska ME, Hansdorfer-Korzon R, Zorena K. Inflammatory Markers in Dysmenorrhea and Therapeutic Options. Int J Environ Res Public Health. Feb 13 2020;17(4)doi:10.3390/ijerph17041191
  2. Guimarães I, Póvoa AM. Primary Dysmenorrhea: Assessment and Treatment. Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet. Aug 2020;42(8):501-507. Dismenorreia primária: Avaliação e tratamento. doi:10.1055/s-0040-1712131
  3. Sharghi M, Mansurkhani SM, Larky DA, et al. An update and systematic review on the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. JBRA Assist Reprod. Jan 31 2019;23(1):51-57. doi:10.5935/1518-0557.20180083
  4. Negi R, Sharma SK, Gaur R, Bahadur A, Jelly P. Efficacy of Ginger in the Treatment of Primary Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Cureus. Mar 6 2021;13(3):e13743. doi:10.7759/cureus.13743
  5. Xu Y, Yang Q, Wang X. Efficacy of herbal medicine (cinnamon/fennel/ginger) for primary dysmenorrhea: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. The Journal of international medical research. Jun 2020;48(6):300060520936179. doi:10.1177/0300060520936179
  6. Crichton M, Davidson AR, Innerarity C, et al. Orally consumed ginger and human health: an umbrella review. Am J Clin Nutr. Jun 7 2022;115(6):1511-1527. doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqac035