"A small preliminary study finds that ginger root supplements seem to reduce inflammation in the intestines  a potential sign that the pills might reduce the risk of colon cancer.  However more study needs to be done and the researchers arent yet recommending that people head to the supplements aisle or start gobbling up more ginger at meal times. If you want to add ginger to part of a healthy diet thats great. But you cant make any conclusions about definite health benefits based on the study findings said lead author Suzanna M. Zick a naturopathic physician and research associate professor at University of Michigan Medical Center Ann Arbor. The study funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute was published online Oct.  in Cancer Prevention Research. Ginger an herb is found in supplements and in many foods such as ginger snaps and Asian dishes. Research has supported its use to treat stomach problems such as nausea and vomiting the U.S. National Library of Medicine says its likely safe although some people may develop mild side effects. Previous research in animals has suggested that ginger can reduce inflammation but isnt potentially toxic to the stomach like aspirin Zick noted. And scientists have linked chronic inflammation in the gut to colon cancer suggesting that easing this inflammation could reduce the risk of the disease. In the new study Zicks team randomly assigned  people to take pills containing  grams of ground ginger root extract or a dummy placebo pill each day for  days. They measured the level of inflammation in the participants intestines before and after the test period. The amount of ginger in the pills is equivalent to  grams of raw ginger root the authors said. That is probably well beyond what most people would eat in their regular diet Zick noted. As for cost she said that a months supply of similar ginger supplements typically runs about  to .  The researchers found that the level of inflammation in the subjects who took the ginger pills fell by an average of  percent while staying about the same in those who took the placebo.  If more funding becomes available the researchers hope to launch a larger study Zick said. But for now she said if you want to embrace ginger because you like the taste go ahead but theres no solid evidence that it prevents colon cancer.  Dr. Andrew Chan an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital Boston said the findings are promising because they hint at how ginger may prevent colon cancer.  Its already clear that people with inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease are at higher risk of colon cancer he noted. We know there are antiinflammatory drugs like aspirin that appear to have anticancer properties. And we know there are certain basic mechanisms which seem to be common to both inflammation and cancer he said.  Still Chan said its much too early to tell whether ginger has anticancer properties.  More information Theres more on ginger at the U.S. National Library of Medicine http SOURCES Suzanna M. Zick N.D. M.P.H. research associate professor University of Michigan Medical Center Ann Arbor Andrew Chan M.D. assistant professor of medicine Harvard Medical School and gastroenterologist Massachusetts General Hospital Boston Oct.   online Cancer Prevention Research"