Journal of Sport and Exercise Physiology

Journal of Sport and Exercise Physiology

The effect of black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) supplementation combined with resistance training on muscular performance and body composition

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
minoo bassami
Homan Rahmani
Rasul Eslami
Atefeh Sadeghi
Department of Exercise Physiology, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, Iran
10.48308/joeppa.2026.243686.1440
Abstract
Background and Purpose: Regular exercise plays a vital role in promoting health and physical performance. Scientific evidence indicates that consistent training can lead to significant improvements in body composition, muscular strength, endurance, and cardiorespiratory efficiency. Among various training modalities, resistance training is recognized as one of the most effective methods, which induces muscular hypertrophy and neuromuscular adaptations, thereby improving functional performance indicators. Concurrently, black ginger extract, rich in polymethoxyflavonoids with antioxidant and vasodilatory properties that enhance nitric oxide production and improve blood flow, has gained attention as a potential ergogenic aid in the active muscles. Research evidence suggests that black ginger influences variables related to exercise performance. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of black ginger extract supplementation on maximal strength, muscular fatigue, and body composition in trained young men.

Materials and Methods: In this study, 30 trained young men with at least one year of regular training experience (age, 23.89 ± 4.23 years; BMI, 23.75 ± 2.71 kg/m²) were randomly assigned to either training + supplement group (daily intake of two 90-mg capsules of black ginger extract) or training + placebo (starch placebo). The training program consisted of eight weeks of resistance training, three sessions per week, including exercises such as barbell bench press, lat pulldown, dumbbell biceps curl, barbell squat, seated cable row, barbell shoulder press, triceps pushdown, hammer curl, and dumbbell lateral raise. After eight weeks, maximal strength (squat and bench press), muscular endurance, and body composition were assessed. Data were analyzed using repeated-measures of ANOVA.

Results: The results showed a significant difference in muscular endurance between the black ginger extract supplementation group and the placebo group after eight weeks (F = 6.06, p = 0.02). In contrast, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in squat strength (F = 0.041, p = 0.84), bench press strength (F = 0.48, p = 0.49), bench press endurance (F = 0.001, p = 0.99), body fat percentage (F = 0.07, p = 0.79), or muscle mass percentage (F = 0.98, p = 0.33).

Conclusion: The results indicate that eight weeks of black ginger extract supplementation combined with resistance training in trained men significantly improved squat endurance only, with no substantial effects on strength or body composition variables. These findings suggest that black ginger extract may be beneficial for improving lower-body muscular endurance; however, longer interventions, higher dosages, or combined strategies may be required to achieve broader performance enhancements.
Keywords
Maximum strength
Black ginger extract
Muscular fatigue
Body composition
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 22 February 2026
  • Revise Date 27 May 2026
  • Accept Date 19 June 2026
  • First Publish Date 19 June 2026
  • Publish Date 22 June 2026