In a new study funded by the National Cancer Institute and the University of Michigan Clinical Research Center, inexpensive ginger supplements reduced markers of colon inflammation, indicating that ginger root may be beneficial in preventing colon cancer (Zick SM, et al. Cancer Prev Res [Phila]. 2011 Oct 11. Epub ahead of print). Colon inflammation is a precursor of colon cancer.
“Interest in this is only going to increase as people look for ways to prevent cancer that are nontoxic, and improve their quality of life in a costeffective way,” said Suzanna M. Zick, ND, MPH, a research assistant professor at the University of Michigan Medical School and lead investigator.
The study included 30 patients with colon inflammation who were randomly assigned to 2 g of ginger root supplements daily or to placebo for 28 days. Most of the standard measures of colon inflammation were significantly reduced after 28 days with the ginger supplement compared with placebo; other inflammatory markers were trending toward significant reductions.
