Ginger May Prevent Diabetic Kidney Damage

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Ginger may prevent diabetic kidney damage - animal study

By Stephen Daniells

10/03/2006

 

http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=66351 & m=2nie310 & c=qdrhrvoeraoq

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Previously posted to SoFlaVegans

 

Ginger could help protect against kidney damage, a condition said to

threaten one in three diabetics, if the results of an animal study

published in Food Chemistry are also seen in humans.

 

An estimated 19 million people are affected by diabetes in the EU,

equal to four per cent of the total population. This figure is

projected to increase to 26 million by 2030.

The rhizome of the ginger plant (Zingiber officinale) is a rich

source of antioxidants, including gingerols, shogaols, zingerones and

other ketone derivatives. It has long been used as a remedy for

nausea, especially associated with morning sickness.

 

The new study, published on-line in Food Chemistry (doi:

10.1016/j.foodchem.2006.01.013), assessed the effects of ginger on

the blood antioxidant levels and kidney health of diabetic rat

models.

 

Twenty-four male rats were divided into three groups of eight. The

first group (control 1) were healthy rats, the second group (control

2) were diabetic and non-supplemented, and the third group (test) was

diabetic and had the diet supplemented with ginger powder as five per

cent of the daily food intake.

 

After eight weeks of supplementation the researchers, led by Dr Ali

Taghizadeh Afshari from the Emam Khomeini Hospital, reported:

" Antioxidant capacity in the ginger supplemented rats was higher when

compared to the other groups. "

 

The blood antioxidant levels, measured by using the ferric

reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP) assay, were 582, 586, and 763

millimoles per litre for the control 1, control 2 and test groups,

respectively.

 

" At the same time, ginger supplemented diabetic rats had

significantly reduce nephropathy, " said Afshari.

 

" Impaired glucose metabolism leads to oxidative stress, proteins

glycation and formation of free radicals, " explained the researcher.

 

" Thus, an augmentation of plasma antioxidant capacity decreases

plasma free radicals, as shown by this and other studies when

consuming herbals extracts containing antioxidants. "

 

The researchers proposed that the ginger might work by regulating the

vasoconstrictor thromboxane and the vasodilator prostacyclin to

preserve the natural blood vessel balance.

 

" In diabetes, levels of thromboxane are increased while prostacyclin

levels are decreased and this imbalance leads to a decrease of blood

flow which in the kidney will cause nephropathy [kidney damage], "

said Afshari.

 

This is the first such report that links ginger with diabetic kidney

damage, and as such a leading diabetic expert could not to offer

comment on the findings. Much more study is needed before any firm

conclusions can be drawn.

 

Questions are also raised about the size of the dose, and whether

smaller doses would be equally effective.

 

The researcher stressed that normal diabetic treatment with insulin

was not in question, but offered that increased ginger intake may be

a " useful addition " to the diet.

 

Ginger has been given a class one safety rating by the American

Herbal Products Association (AHPA), indicating that a wide dosage

range is safe.