Ginger Extract May Help Ease Indigestion and Bloating

Functional dyspepsia refers to recurring signs and symptoms of indigestion that occur even though there is nothing structurally wrong with the upper digestive area. Symptoms include burning or pain in the upper digestive tract, bloating, nausea, burping, and feeling full after eating a small amount of food. A recent study has found that a ginger extract may help relieve functional dyspepsia symptoms.

Fifty people with functional dyspepsia participated in the study. They were given 200 mg of a ginger extract or a placebo daily for 4 weeks. They completed a weekly questionnaire that evaluated functional dyspepsia symptoms including upper abdominal pain, upper abdominal discomfort, post-meal fullness, upper abdominal bloating, early satiety, excessive belching, nausea, vomiting, and heartburn.

Participants in the ginger group began to see improvements by week 2. At the end of the study, 64% of participants in the ginger group saw an elimination of postprandial fullness, upper abdominal bloating, and early satiation, compared to 13% in the placebo group. They also saw statistically significant decreases in the other symptoms compared to the placebo group.

The study was conducted by researchers from Maharaja Agrasen Hospital. It was published online ahead of print on December 11, 2020 in the Journal of Dietary Supplements.