Based on NIH | Does ginger supplementation help improve bone mineral density in people with osteoporosis?

Ginger supplements and bone density: what we know today There is no high‑quality human evidence showing that ginger supplements improve bone mineral density (BMD) in people with osteopenia or osteoporosis. Most clinical trials of ginger in musculoskeletal health have focused on osteoarthritis pain, not bone mass, and they have not measured or shown gains in BMD. ^[1] Current, well‑established ways to preserve or improve BMD include sufficient calcium and vitamin D intake, weight‑bearing and muscle‑strengthening exercise, limiting alcohol, not smoking, and using approved osteoporosis medicines when indicated. ^{[2] [3]} For improving BMD and preventing fractures, FDA‑approved drugs such as bisphosphonates (for example, alendronate) have demonstrated increases in spine and hip BMD and fracture risk reduction in rigorous randomized trials. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

What clinical evidence exists for ginger and bones?

• Human trials: Randomized trials of ginger have evaluated symptom relief in osteoarthritis (knee/hip pain and function) and did not assess BMD outcomes. These studies show modest pain reduction but do not inform bone density or fracture risk. ^[1]
• Osteoporosis-specific trials: There are no randomized, placebo‑controlled clinical trials in humans showing that ginger (alone or in combination) increases BMD or reduces fractures in osteopenic/osteoporotic adults. Reviews of plant‑based therapies for bone health highlight many herbs and phytonutrients under study, but they do not identify convincing human data for ginger on BMD. ^{[7] [8]}

What does work for BMD and fracture risk?

• Lifestyle and nutrition: A balanced diet with adequate calcium, vitamin D, and protein; regular weight‑bearing and strengthening exercise; fall‑prevention; not smoking; and limiting alcohol are widely recommended to help maintain bone strength. ^{[2] [3]}
• Medications: Multiple large trials show that bisphosphonates like alendronate (Fosamax) increase lumbar spine and hip BMD and reduce fracture risk in postmenopausal women with low bone density. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Safety considerations if you still want to take ginger

Ginger is generally considered safe as a food, but concentrated supplements may not be right for everyone. Ginger supplements can have antiplatelet effects and may increase bleeding risk, especially if you take blood thinners, high‑dose omega‑3s, or aspirin. ^{[9] [10]} They may also increase bile flow (caution with gallstones) and could increase bleeding risk around surgeries. ^{[11] [12]} If you are considering ginger capsules or extracts, discuss dosing and interactions with your clinician, particularly if you use anticoagulants/antiplatelets, have gallbladder disease, or have upcoming surgical procedures. ^{[11] [12]}

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Bottom line

• Evidence gap: There is currently no reliable clinical evidence that ginger supplements improve BMD or prevent fractures in people with osteoporosis. ^{[1] [7] [8]}
• Proven strategies: Emphasize calcium/vitamin D, exercise, and, when appropriate, osteoporosis medications with proven efficacy on BMD and fractures. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5] [6]}
• Safety first: If you choose to use ginger supplements for other reasons (for example, nausea), review potential bleeding risks and drug interactions with your healthcare professional. ^{[9] [11] [12]}

Quick reference table

Topic	Ginger supplements	Established osteoporosis therapies
Evidence for increasing BMD	No randomized human trials demonstrating BMD improvement or fracture reduction in osteopenia/osteoporosis. [1] [7] [8]	Multiple randomized trials show increased spine/hip BMD and reduced fractures with bisphosphonates. [4] [5] [6]
Guideline role	Not included as a recommended strategy to improve BMD. [2] [3]	Core recommendations: adequate calcium/vitamin D, exercise, lifestyle changes; medications when indicated. [2] [3]
Safety notes	May increase bleeding risk (antiplatelet effects), caution with anticoagulants/antiplatelets, surgeries, and gallstones. [9] [11] [12]	Approved medications have known risk–benefit profiles discussed with clinicians. [4] [5]

If your goal is to improve or maintain bone density, consider focusing on the lifestyle measures above and talk with your clinician about whether you are a candidate for proven medications, while viewing ginger as a culinary spice rather than a bone‑building supplement. ^{[2] [3]}