Effectiveness of Ginger in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Study of the Randomized Clinical Trial Type

Objective: To analyze the effectiveness of ginger in the reduction of the glycemic, lipid and anthropometric levels in people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Materials and method: A double-blind pilot study of the randomized clinical trial type, conducted between October 2017 and January 2018. The inclusion criteria were as follows: individuals with type 2 diabetes, aged from 18 to 80 years old, using oral antidiabetic drugs, and with glycated hemoglobin values between 7 % and 10 %. The participants were randomized and allocated in two different groups. In the experimental group, the participants used 1.2 g of ginger and, in the control group, 1.2 g of placebo. The primary outcome was the reduction in blood glucose. The reduction in the lipid and anthropometric levels was the secondary outcome. The intervention lasted four weeks. Results: A total of 21 participants were included in the study. The use of 1.2 g of ginger resulted in noticeable reductions in the anthropometric and lipid levels in 30 days of follow-up, but it did not reduce the glycemic levels. Conclusions: In this study, it was shown that ginger capsules, in doses of 1.2 g a day, can help to reduce anthropometric measures and lipid levels in the population under study; however, it had no effect on the glycemic levels.