Table 1 Characteristics of included studies for meta-analysis
From: Zingiberaceae extracts for pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Study | Patient group | Number of subjects | Percent female | Mean age ± SD (years) | Intervention | Control | Results for pain | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Â | Â | Treated | Control | Treated | Control | Treated | Control | Â | Â | Â |
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. |