Dietary ginger as a complementary medicine in patients with type ۲ diabetes mellitus: A systematic review

Introduction & Objective: Diabetes is one of the most substantial and general metabolic diseases that is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is a non-toxic spice that has low side effects in long-term administration, which was used as a complementary and alternative medicine therapy in diabetic patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the role of ginger supplements in diabetic patients’ treatment and also other complications of diabetes.Methods: This review article was carried out through PubMed, Science Direct, SciELO, Google Scholar, SID, and Wiley online library until December ۲۰۲۲. The keywords were Diabetes mellitus, Ginger, prevention, and treatment. Among the ۶۰ articles found in this regard, ۲۵ related articles were used at the end. All articles were selected from English and Persian articles.Results: Ginger which contains bioactive substances such as gingerol, shogaol, zingerone, and paradol had been shown to possess anti-diabetic activity. Ginger could be beneficial for diabetic patients by influencing the blood level of Super oxidase dismutase and phospho-insulin receptor substrate-۱. Also, ginger promoted glucose clearances in insulin-responsive peripheral tissues, which was crucial in maintaining blood glucose homeostasis. FBS, HbA۱C, FBG, LDL, TG, and oxidative stress were reduced in diabetic patients by ginger. Furthermore, ginger consumption could influence the diameter of the retinal vessels, vascular basement membrane thickness, expression of NF-κB, the activity of TNF-α and VEGF in the retinal tissue which all these factors reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetic retinopathy, pathological changes in the intestinal tract, pancreatic fibrosis, renal tubular cells demolishing and inflammation as secondary chronic complications in diabetic patients. Some articles mentioned that ginger could preclude insulin resistance and improve patients’ liver index. More investigation indicated that ginger is helpful for TAC and PON-۱ activities.Conclusion: It seems that diabetes can be improved by ginger and its properties. Further research might investigate whether ginger is helpful to treat diabetes and also can obstruct other complications of this disease.

کلیدواژه ها:

Diabetes mellitus ، Ginger ، complementary medicine