Effect of Ginger Tea Consumption on the Tear Film Parameters in Subjects with Healthy and Dry Eyes

Abstract

<i>Background</i>: To assess the tear film in normal and dry eye subjects after the consumption of hot ginger tea. <i>Methods</i>: Forty subjects (25 males and 15 females) aged 18–36 years (mean ± standard deviation = 23.5  5.2 years) were enrolled in the current study. Written informed consent was obtained from each participant prior to the start of the research. Temperature and humidity were controlled during the measurement. Phenol red thread (PRT) test was performed first, followed by tear ferning (TF) and noninvasive tear breakup time (NITBUT) tests. A 10 min gap was allowed between tests. Measurements were obtained 30 min before the consumption of ginger tea and repeated 60 minutes after the drink. <i>Results</i>: TF grades increased for a majority of subjects (<I>N</I> = 34; 85%), remained unchanged for two subjects (5%), and decreased for four subjects (10%) after the consumption of hot ginger tea. NITBUT scores decreased for 31 subjects (77.5%), remained unchanged for 7 subjects (17.5%), and increased for two subjects (5%) after the drink. Mean TF scores were significantly (Wilcoxon test; <i>p</i> ˂ 0.001) higher after the consumption of ginger tea compared to those obtained before the drink. For the NITBUT test, the median score was significantly (Wilcoxon test; <i>p</i> ˂ 0.001) lower after the drink. No significant (Wilcoxon test; <i>p </i>= 0.623) difference was found between the median scores obtained from the PRT test before and after the consumption of ginger tea. Strong correlations were found between the scores obtained from the PRT (<i>r </i>= 0.978; <i>p </i> 0.001) and TF (<i>r </i>= 0.685; <i>p </i>= 0.001) tests before and after the consumption of a hot ginger drink. <i>Conclusion</i>: Consumption of ginger tea has a negative effect on the tear film and seems to reduce the quality of tears.