Effect of Zingiber Officinale in the Management of Nausea and Vomiting Induced by Treatment With Cisplatin Associated With Radiotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

Objective: evaluate the efficacy of Zingiber Officinale in the management of nausea and vomiting induced by treatment with cisplatin associated with radiotherapy in patients with uterine cervical neoplasms. Methods: a triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Interventions: Comparing the effects of ginger with institutional antiemetic therapy (ondansetron with dexamethasone). Patients with cervical cancer who started treatment with cisplatin with an indication of 40 mg/m² associated with radiotherapy, aged over 18 years, and with the ability to tolerate swallowing a capsule were recruited and equally allocated (1:1:1) into 3 groups of 16 patients each (the ginger capsules 250 mg group, ginger capsules 500 mg group, and placebo group). Nausea and vomiting were measured on baseline, 7 days after the first dose of medication and every seven consecutive days during a treatment break. Results: The 250 mg ginger group had an 8.0% greater chance of experiencing nausea within 24 h after the chemotherapy infusion than the placebo group, although there is no statistical significance (P =.92986). The 500 mg ginger group showed a 63.9% reduction in nausea under the same conditions (P =.40460). No change was detected in the occurrence of nausea episodes during the 6 weeks (P =.8664) or between the groups (P =.2817). No change was detected in acute or late vomiting during the 6 weeks (P =.3510) or between the groups (P =.8500 and P =.5389, respectively). Conclusion: Ginger supplementation does not reduce the intensity of acute and late nausea and vomiting. REBEC (RBR-47yx6p9).