The Effect of Ginger (Zingiber officinale) on Platelet Aggregation: A Systematic Literature Review.
BACKGROUND
The potential effect of ginger on platelet aggregation is a widely-cited concern both within the published literature and to clinicians; however, there has been no systematic appraisal of the evidence to date.


METHODS
Using the PRISMA guidelines, we systematically reviewed the results of clinical and observational trials regarding the effect of ginger on platelet aggregation in adults compared to either placebo or baseline data. Studies included in this review stipulated the independent variable was a ginger preparation or isolated ginger compound, and used measures of platelet aggregation as the primary outcome.


RESULTS
Ten studies were included, comprising eight clinical trials and two observational studies. Of the eight clinical trials, four reported that ginger reduced platelet aggregation, while the remaining four reported no effect. The two observational studies also reported mixed findings.


CONCLUSIONS
Many of the studies appraised for this review had moderate risks of bias. Methodology varied considerably between studies, notably the timeframe studied, dose of ginger used, and the characteristics of subjects recruited (e.g. healthy vs. patients with chronic diseases).


CONCLUSIONS
The evidence that ginger affects platelet aggregation and coagulation is equivocal and further study is needed to definitively address this question.
Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Wolfgang
W
Marx
Division of Cancer Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Daniel
D
McKavanagh
Division of Cancer Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Institute of Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Alexandra L
AL
McCarthy
Division of Cancer Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Medicine, Griffith University, Queensland, Australia.
Robert
R
Bird
National Institute of Integrative Medicine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Karin
K
Ried
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
Alexandre
A
Chan
Health Sciences & Medicine, Bond University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia; Department of Nutrition & Dietetics, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Queensland, Australia.
Liz
L
Isenring
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D020939:Zingiber officinale / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010974:Platelet Aggregation / Q000187:drug effects*; D010979:Platelet Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
D010936:Plant Extracts