Effects of Ginger on LDL-Cholestrol, Total Cholestrol and Body Weight

Abstract

Hyperolestrolemia (one type of hyperlipidemia), due to high level of LDL (bad) cholestrol in the blood, inreases the deposition of fats in arteries and cause coronary artery disease. This condition can be prevented or treated by allopathic drugs but they can develop severe side effects. So many cardiologists have recommended the use of medicinal herbs to control hyperlipidemia. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is the commonly used spice around the world; it has been used in traditional medicine to cure some diseases. We conducted this research to evaluate the weight lost and hypolipidemic effects of ginger in primary and secondary hyperlipidemic patients.

Materials and Methods

Fifty hyperlipidemic patients were selected in the age range of 18 to 70 years, including both male and female patients. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. 25 patients were advised to take 5 grams of drug ginger pasted-powder in divided doses with their normal diet for the duration of three months. Other 25 patients were on placebo pasted-wheat powder, with same color as that of ginger powder, and advised to take 5 grams in divided doses for the duration of three months with their normal diet. Their body weight and base line lipid profile were recorded at the start of the treatment and advised to come for check-up, fornightly. When the duration of 3 months was over, their body weight and lipid profile was measured and compared statistically with the pre-treatment values.

Results

3 months treatment with 5 grams of ginger decreased LDL-cholestrol 17.41%, total-cholestrol 8.83% and body weight 2.11%. When ginger treated group was compared with placebo group, all changes were significant biostatistically in mentioned parameters.

Conclusion

It was concluded from results that ginger’s active ingredients lower plasma lipids and body weight significatly, preventing coronary artery disease in primary and secondary hyperlipidemic patients. Increasing rate of unwanted body weight and obesity over the past 20 years had become a worldwide problem. According to WHO, there are more than 400 million obese and about 1.6 billion obese adults. Hyperlipidemia, a major health problem, have role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is major cause of CVD, essential hypertension and cerebral strokes [1]. Hyperlipidemic medicines play major role in preventing coronary artery disease. Many hyperlipidemic drugs have been proved for lowering serum lipid levels [2]. However, mostly drugs focused on stimulating or blocking enzymes and biomolecules that are involved in fat metabolism are associated with side effects in long term treatment [1]. The alternative to these drugs has led to the discovery of natural medicinal herbs. Herbs have been used for medicinal purpose for centuries. Various herbs have hypolipidemic effect that may help in reducing CVD [3]. Several drugs have been used in treating the number of diseases even without knowing about their constituents and proper function. Ginger is widely employed in Ayurvedic, Unani and Chinese medicines [4]. Over 70% of German doctors prescribe plant-based medicines and over 80% of world’s population uses natural remedies as medicine. Ginger is of considerable interest for its potiential in treatment of cardiovascular disease because of its hypolipidemic effect. Ginger exerts its considerable hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-platelet, antioxidant, anti-tumorigenic and hypotensive effects [5]. Ginger has been originated from China and then spread to India. Due to profitable spice trade widely exploited by the Roamns, Europe imported Ginger from India in the first century AD. Antiplatelet and hypolipidemic therapy is effective to prevent CVD. Ginger activates an enzyme that lowers cholestrol level by increasing body’s usage of cholesterol.

Materials and Methods

Research study was conducted at Sir Ganga Raam hospital Lahore Pakistan, from May 2019 to September 2019. Written consent was taken from fifty hyperlipidemic patients in the age range of 18 to 70 years, including both male and female patients. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. 25 patients were advised to take 5 grams of drug ginger pasted-powder in divided doses with their normal diet while other 25 were on placebo pasted-wheat powder, with same color as that of ginger powder, advised to take 5 grams with their normal diet in divided doses for the period of three months.

Their body weight and base line lipid profile (LDL-cholestrol, total serum cholestrol) was recorded at the start of the treatment and the patients were advised to come for checkup, fortnightly. After the duration of treatment, body weight and lipid profile was measured and compared with the pre-treatment values, statistically. Level of serum total cholestrol was estimated by enzymatic calorimetric method and serum LDL- cholestrol level was calculated by Friedwald formula [6]. Body weight was determined by conventional method of weight machine. Data was expressed as mean ± SD and paired ‘t’ test was applied to determine the statistical difference. Probability value.