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Research: BORRELLI and others,
Listed in Issue 125
Abstract
BORRELLI and others, Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy, have reviewed (55 references) the safety and efficacy of ginger in the treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy.
Background
Conventional antiemetics tend to have potentially damaging effects on the embryo during the critical developmental period of pregnancy. Thus, a safe and effective medication would be highly welcome. This aim of this study was to assess the evidence for or against the efficacy and safety of ginger for nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.
Methodology
Systematic literature searches were conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library, and the reference lists of all papers located were checked for further relevant publications. For the evaluation of efficacy, only double-blinded, randomized controlled trials were included.
Results
Six trials with a total of 675 participants and a prospective observational cohort study (n = 187) met all inclusion criteria. The methodological quality of 4 of 5 trials was high. 4 of the 6 trials (n = 246) showed superiority of ginger over placebo; the other 2 (n = 429) indicated that ginger was as effective as the reference drug (vitamin B6) in relieving the severity of nausea and vomiting episodes. The observational study retrieved and trials (including follow-up periods) showed the absence of significant side effects or adverse effects on pregnancy outcomes.
Conclusion
Ginger may be an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. However, more observational studies, with a larger sample size, are needed to confirm the encouraging preliminary data on ginger safety.
References
Borrelli F, Capasso R, Aviello G, Pittler MH, Izzo AA. Effectiveness and safety of ginger in the treatment of pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting. Obstetrics & Gynecology 105 (4): 849-856, Apr 2005.
