Research ArticlePractice

Ginger for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy

Adrienne J. Lindblad and Sudha Koppula
Canadian Family Physician February 2016; 62 (2) 145;

Abstract

Clinical question

Can ginger treat nausea and vomiting of pregnancy?

Bottom line

In the first trimester ginger might improve nausea and vomiting by about 4 points on a 40-point scale or stop vomiting for 1 in 3 women at 6 days. The largest study suggests no increase in fetal malformations or stillbirths, but smaller studies suggest otherwise.

Evidence

Systematic reviews of RCTs evaluated ginger.1–7

  • A Cochrane review found statistically significant results1:

    • -Mean score difference on a 40-point nausea and vomiting scale was 4.19 vs placebo at 1 week (1 RCT, 70 women).

    • -Of those taking ginger, 33% were vomiting on day 6 vs 80% of those taking placebo (NNT = 3; 1 RCT, 22 women).

    • -There were no differences in spontaneous abortion or cesarean section rates (1 RCT, 67 women), or congenital abnormalities (1 RCT, 120 women).

    • -There was no difference compared with vitamin B6 (4 RCTs, 625 women), metoclopramide (1 RCT, 68 women), or doxylamine-pyridoxine (1 RCT, 63 women).

    • -Limitations included short-term adverse effects being rarely reported, inconsistent outcome measurements, and underpowered studies.2

  • Cohort safety studies were conducted mostly in women in the first or second trimester:

    • -In 68 522 women (1020 used ginger), there was no increase in fetal malformations, stillbirth or neonatal death, or preterm birth.8

      • —Vaginal bleeding or spotting after 17 weeks significantly increased (7.8% vs 5.8%; P < .05). There was no significant heavier “bleeding” (spotting excluded) and no difference in bleeding-related hospitalization.

    • -In 375 women, there was no increase in major malformations, stillbirths, or spontaneous abortion, but more small babies were born in the control group (1.6% vs 6.4%).9

    • -In 441 women, there was no difference in spontaneous abortion, but there was a trend of increased stillbirths (2.7% vs 0.3%) and major malformations (3.3% vs 0.7%).10

      • —Limitations include small numbers, short exposure (median 2 days), and wide CIs.

Context

  • Based on limited clinical evidence, ginger is contra-indicated close to labour or in those with a history of miscarriage, vaginal bleeding, or clotting disorders, owing to risk of hemorrhage.

  • The total dose is usually approximately 1 g per day, divided to be given twice to 4 times a day.1

Implementation

Nonpharmacologic management of nausea in pregnancy includes avoiding nausea-inducing foods and eating small, frequent meals.1,11 Guidelines suggest pyridoxine or doxylamine-pyridoxine,11,12 although there is little evidence that doxylamine improves control.1 Agents such as dimenhydrinate, promethazine, ondansetron, or chlorpromazine might be added,11,12 while 250 mg of ginger taken orally every 6 hours might be added “at any time.”12 The Cochrane review concluded there was no strong evidence for any intervention.1 Patients should be told that some ginger supplements contain agents with questionable safety in pregnancy.

Notes

Tools for Practice articles in Canadian Family Physician (CFP) are adapted from articles published on the Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP) website, summarizing medical evidence with a focus on topical issues and practice-modifying information. The ACFP summaries and the series in CFP are coordinated by Dr G. Michael Allan, and the summaries are co-authored by at least 1 practising family physician and are peer reviewed. Feedback is welcome and can be sent to toolsforpractice{at}cfpc.ca. Archived articles are available on the ACFP website: www.acfp.ca.

Footnotes

  • This article is eligible for Mainpro-M1 credits. To earn credits, go to www.cfp.ca and click on the Mainpro link.

  • La traduction en français de cet article se trouve à www.cfp.ca dans la table des matières du numéro de février 2016 à la page e76.

  • The opinions expressed in Tools for Practice articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily mirror the perspective and policy of the Alberta College of Family Physicians.

References

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    . Interventions for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2014;(3):CD007575.
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    . Nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy. BMJ Clin Evid 2014;2014:1405. pii:.
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    1. Thomson M,
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    . Effects of ginger for nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy: a meta-analysis. J Am Board Fam Med 2014;27(1):115-22.
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    . The effectiveness and safety of ginger for pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting: a systematic review. Women Birth 2013;26(1):e26-30.
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    1. Borelli F,
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    . Assessment of fetal and neonatal outcomes in the offspring of women who had been treated with dried ginger (Zingiberis rhizoma siccus) for a variety of illnesses during pregnancy. J Obstet Gynaecol 2015;35(2):125-30.
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    Practice bulletin no. 153: nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 2015;126(3):e12-24.
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    7. et al
    . The management of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2002;24(10):817-31.
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Ginger for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy
Adrienne J. Lindblad, Sudha Koppula
Canadian Family Physician Feb 2016, 62 (2) 145;
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