Steamed ginger extract for mild knee osteoarthritis
What it found
In 100 people with mild knee osteoarthritis, a steamed ginger extract reduced pain scores over 12 weeks compared with a placebo.
No significant changes were seen in safety measures.
What they found
Studies in people
Pain scores improved
Pain on a visual analog scale, Korean-Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index total and sub-scores, and patient global assessment all decreased significantly more in the ginger extract group than in the placebo group.
Safety measures unchanged
No significant changes were seen in any safety endpoint.
What the authors conclude
“These results suggest that GGE03 intake is useful as a functional food because it has beneficial effects in terms of improving joint pain as well as managing or preventing knee OA without side effects.”
Also in their conclusions
- They suggest that GGE03 intake is useful as a functional food because it has beneficial effects in terms of improving joint pain as well as managing or preventing knee OA without side effects.
How it was done
The authors wanted to test whether a steamed ginger extract (GGE03) helps people with mild knee osteoarthritis.
They randomly split 100 people with mild knee osteoarthritis into two groups. One group took 1.6 g of a product providing 0.48 g per day of GGE03, and the other took a placebo, for 12 weeks. Biomarkers were measured before and after.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This trial lasted 12 weeks, so it cannot show what happens over longer periods.
- It cannot show whether the extract prevents knee osteoarthritis from developing.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Woosuk University, Republic of Korea; Aerospace Center Hospital, China; Kyung Hee University, Republic of Korea
The paper
- Title
- Effectiveness and safety of steamed ginger extract on mild osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
- Type
- Randomised controlled trial
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Baek HI, Shen L, Ha KC, et al (2024). Effectiveness and safety of steamed ginger extract on mild osteoarthritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Food & function. doi:10.1039/d4fo01640hPubMed 39212491DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error