A new ginger cholesterol study offers an intriguing result—but not a reason to toss out your statin or expect a supplement to transform your heart health. In a small randomized trial, a daily ginger supplement modestly improved a laboratory measure of how well “good cholesterol” helps remove excess cholesterol from cells. The study also found a change in one marker related to oxidative stress. However, it did not lower participants’ cholesterol levels, blood pressure, or body weight.
What the randomized trial tested
Researchers at Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Iran conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. The study, published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice in 2026, included 35 healthy adults.
Participants took three 500-milligram capsules of dried ginger powder each day, for a total of 1,500 milligrams. The ginger was standardized to contain 25 milligrams of gingerols, compounds naturally found in ginger. Participants took either ginger or a placebo for six weeks, followed by a four-week washout period, and then crossed over to the other treatment.
A crossover design means each person received both ginger and placebo at different times. That can help researchers compare responses within the same individuals, although the small number of participants still limits how broadly the results can be applied.
The researchers described the work as the first randomized controlled trial in humans to examine ginger’s effect on cholesterol efflux capacity, or CEC.
The main finding involved HDL function
The trial did not show that ginger reduced total cholesterol or changed the amount of cholesterol carried by different lipoproteins. Instead, it focused on CEC, a measure of how effectively HDL—often called “good cholesterol”—pulls excess cholesterol out of cells.
After six weeks, CEC increased by 2.8% with ginger. It declined by 1.2% with placebo. That difference points to a modest improvement in this particular aspect of HDL function.
Why does that matter? Cholesterol measurements tell only part of the story. HDL function, including its ability to participate in cholesterol removal, is an area of ongoing research. Cohort studies have linked a one-standard-deviation increase in CEC with a 3% to 5% lower risk of cardiovascular events. But that association does not prove that raising CEC with ginger will prevent heart attacks or other cardiovascular problems.
The study also reported that malondialdehyde, or MDA, fell with ginger under oxidizing conditions compared with placebo. MDA is a marker used in research related to oxidative stress. This finding may help explain a possible biological effect of ginger, but it is not the same as demonstrating better cardiovascular outcomes in everyday life.
What the study did not show
The most important nonfinding is that ginger did not significantly change cholesterol or lipoprotein levels. In other words, the trial does not support describing ginger as a supplement that lowers blood cholesterol based on this evidence.
There were also no significant changes in body weight or blood pressure. Those are important measures when evaluating potential cardiovascular benefits, and the trial did not show improvement in either one.
The results should also be viewed cautiously because only 35 healthy adults participated. A short trial in healthy volunteers cannot tell us whether the same effect would occur in people with high cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or other health conditions. It also cannot establish whether the change in CEC leads to fewer cardiovascular events.
The study authors said the findings need confirmation in larger studies. That is especially important because a modest change in a laboratory measure may not translate into a meaningful change in long-term health.
How to think about ginger in daily life
Ginger is a common food spice and is generally safe for many people when used as part of food or beverages. Simple options include ginger tea, adding fresh or powdered ginger to a stir-fry, or grating it into a salad dressing or marinade. These uses can add flavor without presenting ginger as a cure or cholesterol treatment.
Food use and concentrated supplements are not identical. The trial used a standardized daily supplement totaling 1,500 milligrams of dried ginger powder, not the small amounts typically used in cooking. Supplements can also interact with blood thinners, so anyone taking medication—especially a blood thinner—should talk with a doctor before using concentrated ginger products.
People prescribed medication for high cholesterol or cardiovascular disease should not replace it with ginger. The current evidence does not show that ginger lowers cholesterol levels or provides the established benefits of prescribed heart medications.
Key takeaway
This ginger cholesterol study found a small improvement in cholesterol efflux capacity and a reduction in an oxidative stress marker under specific laboratory conditions. It did not lower cholesterol, lipoprotein levels, body weight, or blood pressure. For now, ginger makes sense as a flavorful food, while its potential cardiovascular effects remain an interesting research question rather than a proven treatment.
Sources
– NutraIngredients: Ginger may reduce cholesterol and oxidative stress
– National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Ginger
