Effect of ginger supplementation on the fecal microbiome in subjects with prior colorectal adenoma

Ajay Prakash, Nathan Rubin, Christopher Staley, Guillaume Onyeaghala, Ya Feng Wen, Aasma Shaukat, Ginger Milne, Robert J. Straka, Timothy R. Church, Anna Prizment

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ginger has been associated with a decreased incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) through reduction in inflammatory pathways and inhibition of tumor growth. Recent pre-clinical models have implicated changes in the gut microbiome as a possible mediator of the ginger effect on CRC. We hypothesized that, in adults previously diagnosed with a colorectal adenoma, ginger supplementation would alter the fecal microbiome in the direction consistent with its CRC-inhibitory effect. Sixty-eight adults were randomized to take either ginger or placebo daily for 6 weeks, with a 6-week washout and longitudinal stool collection throughout. We performed 16S rRNA sequencing and evaluated changes in overall microbial diversity and the relative abundances of pre-specified CRC-associated taxa using mixed-effects logistic regression. Ginger supplementation showed no significant effect on microbial community structure through alpha or beta diversity. Of 10 pre-specified CRC-associated taxa, there were significant decreases in the relative abundances of the genera Akkermansia (p < 0.001), Bacteroides (p = 0.018), and Ruminococcus (p = 0.013) after 6-week treatment with ginger compared to placebo. Ginger supplementation led to decreased abundances of Akkermansia and Bacteroides, which suggests that ginger may have an inhibitory effect on CRC-associated taxa. Overall, ginger supplementation appears to have a limited effect on gut microbiome in patients with colorectal adenomas.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number2988
JournalScientific reports
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2024
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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