Li, X., Qin, Y., Liu, W., Zhou, X.Y., Li, Y.N., & Wang, L.Y. (2018). Efficacy of ginger in ameliorating acute and delayed chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting among patients with lung cancer receiving cisplatin-based regimens: A randomized controlled trial. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 17, 747–754.

To determine the effectiveness of a standardized low-dose ginger supplement in addition to standard antiemetic therapy decreased the incidence of acute and delayed CINV in patients with lung cancer receiving chemotherapy regimens containing cisplatin

Patient randomly allocated to receive ginger root powder taken orally in the dose of 250 mg twice daily for five days starting 30 minutes prior to the start of chemotherapy or identical placebo in addition to standard antiemetics therapy (5HT₃ RA)

• N: 140   
• AGE: 57
• MALES: 71%  
• FEMALES: 29%
• CURRENT TREATMENT: Chemotherapy
• KEY DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Lung cancer
• OTHER KEY SAMPLE CHARACTERISTICS: Cisplatin-based regimen

• SITE: Single site   
• SETTING TYPE: Inpatient    
• LOCATION: Peking, China

PHASE OF CARE: Active anti-tumor treatment

Randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled

Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC) antiemesis tool; Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (QOL)

There was no significant difference between the intervention group and the control group in the incidence and severity of acute and delayed CINV or quality of life.

The use of a standardized ginger product with standardized antiemetic protocols produced no additional benefit in improving the incidence and severity of CINV in patients with lung cancer receiving chemotherapy regimens containing cisplatin.

• Unintended interventions or applicable interventions not described that would influence results
• Other limitations/explanation: No control for at what point the intervention was initiated in each patients’ chemotherapy cycle so that patients who experienced CINV with previous cycles of chemotherapy are more likely to have CINV. No stratification for the previous experience of CINV. There was some difficulty in blinding because patients could smell the ginger. There also was no control of the among of dietary ginger that patients used during the study. Using a standardized dose of ginger which contains 5% gingerol could affect generalizability.

Although nurses have historically recommended ginger-containing products to relieve nausea, a standardized dose of ginger extract demonstrated no efficacy.