Ginger supplementation for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

INTRODUCTION: The efficacy of ginger supplementation remains controversial for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We conduct this meta-analysis to explore the influence of ginger supplementation versus placebo on the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. METHODS: We have searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through November 2021 and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of ginger supplementation versus placebo for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. This meta-analysis was performed using the random-effect model. RESULTS: Four RCTs involving 177 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, ginger supplementation was associated with significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT, standard mean difference (SMD)=-0.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]=-0.85 to -0.02; P=0.04), homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR, SMD=-1.14; 95% CI=-2.05 to -0.22; P=0.02), but revealed no obvious impact on aspartate-aminotransferase (AST, SMD=-0.66; 95% CI=-0.81 to 2.12; P=0.38), total cholesterol (SMD=-0.33; 95% CI=-0.67 to 0.02; P=0.06), low density lipoprotein (LDL, SMD=-0.30; 95% CI=-0.64 to 0.04; P=0.08) or body mass index (BMI, SMD=0; 95% CI=-0.41 to 0.40; P=0.99). CONCLUSIONS: Ginger supplementation benefits to treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.