Joint pain and inflammation are prevalent conditions affecting millions worldwide, diminishing quality of life and functional capacity. Conventional management often involves nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which, despite their efficacy, carry risks such as gastrointestinal, renal, and cardiovascular side effects, especially with chronic use. Consequently, there is escalating interest in natural alternatives with anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has long been utilized in traditional medicine due to its bioactive compounds—including gingerols, shogaols, and paradols—which exhibit anti-inflammatory and pain-modulating activities. This backdrop underscores the clinical importance of evaluating standardized ginger extracts for managing joint and muscle discomfort.
Study Design and Methods
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-arm trial enrolled 30 adults (mean age 56±9 years) experiencing mild to moderate joint and muscle pain, with or without osteoarthritis. Participants were randomized to receive either 125 mg/day of a supercritical CO2-extracted and fermented ginger extract (standardized to 10% total gingerols, ≤3% shogaols) or a placebo for 58 days. The dosage corresponded to 12.5 mg/day of gingerols, substantially lower than typical ginger powder doses, aiming for improved compliance and bioavailability.
Primary endpoints included subjective muscle pain ratings at three thigh sites using a standardized pressure algometer, functional capacity assessed via validated osteoarthritis questionnaires (WOMAC and Lequesne Index), and inflammatory biomarkers (including IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-8, GM-CSF, and C-reactive protein). Secondary outcomes encompassed range of motion (ROM), quality of life (SF-36), clinical blood profiles, the usage frequency of over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics, and safety assessments. Participants engaged in a standardized weighted squat exercise (30% body mass, 3 sets of 10 repetitions) during testing to induce muscle soreness, with measures recorded at baseline, day 30, and day 56, including 48-hour post-exercise recovery assessments.
Key Findings
Supplementation with the ginger extract resulted in multiple beneficial effects compared to placebo:
1. Pain Perception and Functional Capacity: Participants receiving ginger reported significantly reduced muscle pain, particularly at the vastus medialis, after 48-hours post-exercise. The WOMAC index reflected lower pain, stiffness, and physical function limitations, especially following exercise recovery periods. The Lequesne osteoarthritis index corroborated these findings, indicating less pain during activities such as sitting, stair climbing, and nocturnal discomfort. These subjective improvements suggest meaningful analgesic effects from low-dose ginger supplementation.
2. Inflammatory Markers: Ginger supplementation modulated inflammatory and immunological biomarkers. IL-5, IL-8, TNF-α, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were attenuated, signifying reduced systemic inflammation. Some cytokines like IL-6 and IFN-γ showed complex changes, possibly reflecting ginger’s immunomodulatory role rather than straightforward suppression. These results align with known anti-inflammatory pathways of ginger constituents, including COX-2 inhibition and NF-κB signaling modulation.
3. Secondary Outcomes: Although joint range of motion and flexibility did not significantly differ between groups, the ginger group reported better perceptions of bodily pain and vitality in quality of life assessments (SF-36). Fasting glucose levels tended to be lower with ginger, albeit without significant baseline-adjusted differences. Blood lipid profiles did not show consistent improvements.
4. Safety and Analgesic Use: Ginger supplementation was well tolerated, with minimal reported side effects, except a slight increase in self-reported headaches, palpitations, and nervousness in some individuals. Notably, fewer participants in the ginger group used OTC analgesics compared to placebo, suggesting a reduced need for rescue medication, though this did not reach statistical significance.
Expert Commentary
This study underscores the potential of a standardized, concentrated ginger extract at a relatively low dose to modulate pain perception and systemic inflammation in individuals with mild to moderate joint discomfort. The findings extend prior research demonstrating the anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of gingerols to a clinically relevant population subjected to exercise-induced muscle soreness.
The use of supercritical CO2 extraction and fermentation likely enhanced the bioavailability and potency of ginger’s active constituents, allowing therapeutic effects at lower doses compared to powdered ginger. The modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase reactants supports a plausible mechanistic basis involving the suppression of inflammatory pathways and inhibition of pain receptors like TRPV1.
Limitations include the modest sample size, duration limited to 8 weeks, and assessment of acute recovery from a standardized exercise challenge rather than chronic pain progression or physical training adaptations. The study’s population—middle-aged adults with mild to moderate pain—may limit generalizability to more severe cases or other demographics. Future research should examine longer-term effects, dosing frequency optimization, and interaction with conventional analgesics.
Conclusion
Daily supplementation with a highly standardized ginger extract (125 mg/d providing 12.5 mg gingerols) for 8 weeks reduces pain perception, improves functional capacity, and attenuates inflammatory markers in individuals with mild to moderate joint and muscle pain. Ginger represents a promising, well-tolerated natural adjunct or alternative to NSAIDs for managing chronic musculoskeletal discomfort. Clinicians may consider recommending ginger supplementation as part of a multimodal pain management strategy. Further large-scale, longer-term studies are warranted to confirm efficacy and establish safety over extended use.
References
Broeckel J, Estes L, Leonard M, et al. Effects of Ginger Supplementation on Markers of Inflammation and Functional Capacity in Individuals with Mild to Moderate Joint Pain. Nutrients. 2025;17(14):2365. doi:10.3390/nu17142365 IF: 5.0 Q1
