title: Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a systematic literature review.
abstract: Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is a common side-effect of cytotoxic treatment. It continues to affect a significant proportion of patients despite the widespread use of antiemetic medication. In traditional medicine, ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been used to prevent and treat nausea in many cultures for thousands of years. However, its use has not been confirmed in the chemotherapy context. To determine the potential use of ginger as a prophylactic or treatment for CINV, a systematic literature review was conducted. Reviewed studies comprised randomized controlled trials or crossover trials that investigated the anti-CINV effect of ginger as the sole independent variable in chemotherapy patients. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. All studies were assessed on methodological quality and their limitations were identified. Studies were mixed in their support of ginger as an anti-CINV treatment in patients receiving chemotherapy, with three demonstrating a positive effect, two in favor but with caveats, and two showing no effect on measures of CINV. Future studies are required to address the limitations identified before clinical use can be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Dietetic Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia. wolf.marx@uqconnect.edu.au
authors.forename: Wolfgang M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: Laisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Teleni
authors.forename: Alexandra L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vitetta
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McKavanagh
authors.forename: Damien
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isenring
mesh_terms: D000932:Antiemetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000932:Antiemetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts