Effect of Enteral Feeding With Ginger Extract in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Rationale: Clinical ARDS occurs primarily as the result of inflammatory injury to the alveoli producing diffuse alveolar damage. Objective: To evaluate the effects of an enteral diet enriched with ginger extract on inflammatory factors, respiratory profile and outcome of patients with ARDS. Methods: In this single center, randomized, controlled double blind study, 32 patients with ARDS were randomized to receive a high protein enteral diet enriched with ginger extract or placebo. Measurements and Main Results: Serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and LTB-4, oxygenation, measured as PaO2/FiO2, static compliance measured on days 0, 5 and 10. Patients fed enteral diet enriched with ginger extract had significantly lower serum levels of IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and LTB-4 on days 5 and 10 compared to control group (P<0.05). Significant improvement in oxygenation was observed on day 5 (P=0.02) and 10 (P=0.003) in ginger extract group compared to control group. Static compliance was also increased significantly on day 5 (P=0.01) in ginger extract group compared to control group. A significant difference was found in duration of mechanical ventilation (P0.02) and length of ICU stay (P=0.04) in favor of ginger extract group. We did not find any difference in barotraumas, organ failure and mortality between the study groups. Conclusions: An enteral diet supplemented with ginger extract in ARDS patients may be beneficial for gas exchange and could decrease duration of mechanical ventilation and length of stay in ICU.