title: Effect of ginger on gastric motility and symptoms of functional dyspepsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of ginger on gastric motility and emptying, abdominal symptoms, and hormones that influence motility in dyspepsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients with functional dyspepsia were studied twice in a randomized double-blind manner. After an 8-h fast, the patients ingested three capsules that contained ginger (total 1.2 g) or placebo, followed after 1 h by 500 mL low-nutrient soup. Antral area, fundus area and diameter, and the frequency of antral contractions were measured using ultrasound at frequent intervals, and the gastric half-emptying time was calculated from the change in antral area. Gastrointestinal sensations and appetite were scored using visual analog questionnaires, and blood was taken for measurement of plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), motilin and ghrelin concentrations, at intervals throughout the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Gastric emptying was more rapid after ginger than placebo [median (range) half-emptying time 12.3 (8.5-17.0) min after ginger, 16.1 (8.3-22.6) min after placebo, P≤0.05]. There was a trend for more antral contractions (P=0.06), but fundus dimensions and gastrointestinal symptoms did not differ, nor did serum concentrations of GLP-1, motilin and ghrelin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ginger stimulated gastric emptying and antral contractions in patients with functional dyspepsia, but had no impact on gastrointestinal symptoms or gut peptides.
authors.affiliation: Ming-Luen Hu, Keng-Liang Wu, Seng-Kee Chuah, Wei-Chen Tai, Yeh-Pin Chou, Yi-Chun Chiu, King-Wah Chiu, Tsung-Hui Hu, Division of Hepatogastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung 83301, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Luen
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Christophan K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Rayner
authors.forename: Keng-Liang
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Seng-Kee
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Chuah
authors.forename: Wei-Chen
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Yeh-Pin
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Yi-Chun
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: King-Wah
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Tsung-Hui
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000187:drug effects; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000097:blood; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000737:chemistry*; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D009037:Motilin / Q000097:blood; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013270:Stomach / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D010919:Placebos; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009037:Motilin; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1