Impact of Red Ginger Herbal Drink on Lactate Levels in Fatigued Palm Oil Harvesters

Abstract

Background: Physical fatigue is a significant issue in the palm oil plantation sector, marked by a decline in physical performance that increases the risk of workplace accidents. Intense physical activity in palm oil workers can elevate lactate levels, contributing to muscle fatigue. Red ginger is known to contain gingerol and shogaol, potent antioxidants that help reduce oxidative stress, thus accelerating muscle recovery and lactate metabolism. However, no research has yet demonstrated that red ginger can reduce lactate levels in palm oil workers. This study aims to analyze the difference in lactate levels before and after consumption of red ginger herbal drink in palm oil harvesters experiencing fatigue. Method: This study employed a quasi-experimental design with a one-group pretest-posttest design. The sample was selected using total sampling from a population of 138 palm oil harvesters, with 57 respondents meeting the inclusion criteria. Lactate levels were measured before and 30 minutes after the intervention using an Accutrend Plus device. Data analysis was performed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon Signed-Rank test. Results: The study found a decrease in the average lactate level after consumption of the red ginger herbal drink by 0.78 mmol/L. Before the intervention, the average lactate level was 2.75 mmol/L, and after the intervention, it decreased to 1.97 mmol/L. A statistically significant difference was found with a p-value of 0.000. Conclusion: The consumption of red ginger herbal drink was significantly effective in reducing lactate levels in palm oil harvesters experiencing work-related fatigue. This intervention could potentially serve as a natural solution for managing work fatigue caused by lactate accumulation in physically demanding work environments.