Background
Methods
Literature search strategy
Selection of studies for inclusion in the systematic review
Selection of studies for inclusion in the meta-analysis
Data extraction
Data analysis
Results
Systematic review
Chronic pain in arthritic conditions
Pain in primary dysmenorrhea
Pain in delayed onset muscle soreness
Pain in recovery from surgery
Chronic pain in irritable bowel syndrome
Pain in cancer radiotherapy-induced dermatitis
Meta-analysis
Study | Patient group | Number of subjects | Percent female | Mean age ± SD (years) | Intervention | Control | Results for pain | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Treated | Control | Treated | Control | Treated | Control | |||||
Bliddal et al., 2000 [42] | Osteoarthritis of knee or hip. | 56 | 56 | 73 | 73 | Age range 24–87 | Age range 24–87 | Capsules containing 170 mg ginger extract, 3 capsules per day for 3 weeks. | Placebo (crossover design). | Pain was not significantly different between the ginger and placebo groups. |
Altman et al. 2001 [43] | Osteoarthritis of knee. | 124 | 123 | 60 | 63 | 64.0 ± 11.5 | 66.3 ± 11.6 | Capsules containing 255 mg of mixed ginger and galangal rhizome extracts, 2 capsules per day for 6 weeks. | Placebo (parallel design). | Pain on walking was significantly lower in the ginger/galangal group after 6 weeks of treatment compared with the placebo group. |
Wigler et al., 2003 [44] | Symptomatic gonarthritis. | 29 | 29 | 79 | 79 | Age range 42–85 | Age range 42–85 | Capsules containing 250 mg ginger rhizome extract, 4 capsules per day for 3 months. | Placebo (crossover design). | Pain was significantly lower in the ginger group compared with the placebo group. |
Brinkhaus et al., 2005 [56] | Irritable bowel syndrome. | 24 | 58 | 58 | 62 | 49.5 ± 14.5 | 49.0 ± 9.1 | Capsules containing 20 mg Javanese ginger extract, 3 capsules per day for 18 weeks. | Placebo (parallel design). | Pain was not significantly different between the Javanese ginger and placebo groups. |
Black et al., 2010 [37] | Muscle soreness following exercise. | 20 | 20 | 65 | 65 | 20.6 ± 0.6 | 21.4 ± 0.8 | Capsules containing 333 mg ginger rhizome extract, 6 capsules per day for 3 days following eccentric exercise. | Placebo (parallel design). | Pain was significantly lower in the ginger group compared with the placebo group. |
Agarwal et al., 2011 [54] | Recovering from surgery. | 25 | 25 | 84 | 80 | 38.4 ± 12.8 | 37.2 ± 12.7 | Capsules containing 500 mg curcumin, 4 capsules per day for 3 weeks. | Placebo (parallel design). | Pain was significantly lower in the curcumin group compared with the placebo group. |
Rahnama et al., 2012 [52] | Primary dysmenorrhea. | 59 | 46 | 100 | 100 | 21.4 ± 2.0 | 21.3 ± 2.2 | Capsules containing 500 mg ginger rhizome powder, 3 capsules per day for 5 days. | Placebo (parallel design). | Pain was significantly lower in the ginger group compared with the placebo group. |
Panahi et al., 2014 [50] | Osteoarthritis of the knee. | 19 | 21 | 73 | 81 | 57.32 ± 8.78 | 57.57 ± 9.05 | Capsules containing 500 mg curcuminoids and 5 mg black pepper extract (bioavailability enhancer), 3 capsules per day for 6 weeks. | Placebo (parallel design). | Pain was significantly more reduced in the curcuminoid treatment group, compared with the placebo group. |
Publication bias
Meta-analysis of Zingiberaceae extracts for pain
Study | N (treatment) | N (control) | SMD | 95 % CI low | 95 % CI high |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bliddal et al. 2000 [42] | 56 | 56 | −0.05 | −0.42 | −0.32 |
Altman et al. 2001 [43] | 124 | 123 | −0.16 | −0.41 | 0.09 |
Wigler et al. 2003 [44] | 29 | 29 | −0.46 | −0.98 | 0.07 |
Brinkhaus et al. 2005 [56] | 24 | 58 | 0.23 | −0.24 | 0.71 |
Black et al. 2010 [37] | 20 | 20 | −0.69 | −1.33 | −0.05 |
Agarwal et al. 2011 [54] | 25 | 25 | −1.73 | −2.38 | −1.08 |
Rahnama et al. 2012 [52] | 59 | 46 | −1.19 | −1.61 | −0.77 |
Panahi et al. 2014 [50] | 19 | 21 | −1.65 | −2.37 | −0.93 |