Results from a Japanese human clinical trial, published in August, revealed that by enhancing peripheral blood flow ginger consumption may reduce eye fatigue and shoulder stiffness associated with prolonged screen use in woman aged 51 and under. Ginger is a staple ingredient in traditional Japanese cuisine and is believed to offer various health benefits such as improvements to thermogenetic function and blood flow acceleration. Based on ginger’s potential to boost blood flow the study investigated if daily supplementation with ginger could exert any benefits for people with visual display terminals (VDT) syndrome.
In recent years there has been a significant increase in the use of VDTs such as computers, smartphones, tablets and video games due to rapid advancements in information technology. While technology has many positive aspects prolonged exposure to VDTs, along with more office work and inadequate exercise, has increased the prevalence of VDT syndrome, a modern malady also referred to as digital eye strain (computer vision syndrome). This condition is characterised by symptoms such as dry eyes, eye fatigue and stiffness of the neck and shoulders. Digital eye strain, which contributes to deteriorating eyesight, is an emerging public health threat and is directly proportional to the duration of digital screen exposure. It results from prolonged computer, tablet, eReader and cell phone use. It has become a pressing social issue that must be addressed because it negatively impacts an individual’s quality of life. Studies have associated low ocular blood flow with eye diseases such as glaucoma and myopia, a known risk factor for glaucoma. These findings suggest that improving ocular blood flow may be an effective strategy for preventing or treating eye diseases since proper blood flow to the eye is crucial for providing sufficient oxygen and nutrients to the optic nerve.
This study included 100 healthy people, aged 20-73 years old, with eye fatigue and shoulder stiffness. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either placebo capsules or ginger extract powder capsules (100mg) daily for eight weeks. Ocular blood flow, peripheral blood flow, eye fatigue, shoulder stiffness, body warmth and shoulder muscle stiffness were assessed at weeks 0, 4 and 8 respectively. Peripheral blood flow in deep vessel areas was enhanced in females under 51. Similarly, subjective complaints of eye fatigue and shoulder stiffness were improved by ginger consumption in females under 51. Body warmth changed significantly in males aged 51 and under due to ginger consumption. Considering that eye fatigue was significantly improved in the ginger group, it is possible that the optic nerve and surrounding tissue were delivered more oxygen and nutrients owing to improvements in ocular blood flow, thereby improving eye fatigue. i
References
i Higashikawa F, Nakaniida Y, Li H, Liang L, Kanno K, Ogawa-Ochiai K, Kiuchi Y.
Beneficial Effects of Ginger Extract on Eye Fatigue and Shoulder Stiffness: A
Randomized, Double-Blind, and Placebo-Controlled Parallel Study. Nutrients. 2024
Aug 15;16(16):2715. doi: 10.3390/nu16162715. PMID: 39203851; PMCID:
PMC11357383.
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