Table 2.
Characteristics of RCTs using herbal medicine in the treatment of metabolic syndrome.
| Author, year, country | Sample size (I/C) | Age | Sex (M/F) | Inclusion criteria of MetS | Chinese pattern identification | Intervention | Control | Period | Outcomes | Main conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agrawal et al., 2008, India [13] | 94/89 | I: 51.85 ± 11.8 C: 52.81 ± 10.3 | 103/80 | NCEP-ATP guideline (2002) | ND | Dia-No, 1 tab, bid |
Placebo, 1 tab, bid |
3 m | WC, FPG, HbA1c, TC, TG, HDL-C, VLDL, LDL-C, SBP, DBP, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, GOT, GPT | Dia-No is safe and effective drug in the management of MetS. |
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| Chen et al., 2014, China [14] | 22/21 | I: 48.73 ± 9.4 C: 48.90 ± 8.9 |
28/15 | China Dyslipidemia Prevention guideline (2007) | ND | Yiqi Huaju Formula | Placebo, bid | 12 w | BMI, body weight, WC, HC, WHR, FPG, HbA1c, FPI, 2 hPG, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, 24 hBP, dBP, nBP, 24 hBPv, dBPv, nBPv, 24 hBPp, dBPp, nBPp | Yiqi Huaju Formula combining with diet-control and exercise has effect on reducing blood pressure. |
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| Zhang et al., 2014, China [15] | 56/52 | 61.5 (37~80) | 59/49 | IDF guideline (2005) |
Phlegm-Dampness Type | Daotan decoction | No treatment | 4 w | BMI, WC, TG, HDL-C, FPG, SBP, DBP | Daotan decoction can ameliorate the blood lipid and blood pressure of MetS of phlegm-dampness constitution. |
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| Xu et al., 2014, China [16] | 83/69 | I: 51.75 ± 10.1 C: 52.30 ± 14.3 |
70/82 | IDF guideline (2005) |
ND | Gegen shanzha decoction | No treatment | 6 m | BMI, body weight, WC, AC, HC, WHR, SFA, VFA, FPG, FINS, HOMA-IR, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, SBP, DBP, SF-36 | Gegen Shanzha decoction combining with TCM physique recuperation is effective for MetS. |
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| Li, 2014, China [17] | 32/30 | NR | NR | Chinese Diabetes Society criteria (2004) | Blood-Stasis Type | Xuefu zhuyu decoction, bid | No treatment | 4 w | Blood stasis symptoms | Xuefu Zhuyu decoction has clinical efficacy for MetS of Blood-Stasis Type. |
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| Wang et al., 2005, China [18] | 30/30 | I: 49.6 ± 7.9 C: 50.6 ± 7.6 |
27/33 | American Diabetes Association guideline (1997) | Heart-Liver Stagnated Heat Type | Qinggan Jiangtang, 3 tabs, bid |
Glucophage (metformin), 3 tabs, bid |
2 m | FPG, 2 hPG, HbA1c, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, SBP, DBP, FINS, PINS, F-CP, P-CP, HOMA-IR, HOMA-β, FFA, | Qinggan Jiangtang tablet has effects on reducing blood glucose, blood lipids, blood pressure, and insulin resistance. |
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| Liu et al., 2008, China [19] | 30/30 | 30–60 | NR | IDF guideline (2005) |
Exuberance of Phlegm-Dampness Type | Modified Banxia Baizhu Tianma decoction, 120 mL, bid |
Metformin, 0.25 mg, tid |
6 w | WC, BMI, FPG, 2 hPG, FINS, ISI, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, ApoA1, ApoB, SBP, DBP, effective rate, Chinese symptoms | Modified Banxia Baizhu Tianma Decoction has effects on treating MetS of Exuberance of Phlegm-Dampness Type. |
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| Zhang et al., 2010, China [20] | 50/50 | I: 52.61 ± 5.4 C: 51.10 ± 12.2 |
80/20 | Chinese Diabetes Society criteria (2004) | Flaming-Up of Fire of the Liver Type | Pinggan Jiangya pill, 6 g, tid | Nifedipine, 10 mg, tid |
1 m | BMI, body weight, WC, SBP, DBP | Pinggan Jiangya pill has effects on decreasing blood pressure and weight of MetS of Flaming-Up of Fire of the Liver Type. |
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| Guan et al., 2012, China [21] | 36/32 | 47.2 ± 15.4 | 39/29 | AACE clinical criteria (2003) | ND | Huanglian Wendan decoction | Metformin, 0.25 mg, bid |
8 w | BMI, FPG, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, SBP, DBP | Huanglian Wendan decoction is the same as metformin in reducing weight and blood sugar but better in decreasing blood lipids and blood pressure. |
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| Dong, 2012, China [22] | 58/48 | I: 24~78 C: 21~73 |
44/62 | NCEP ATP guideline (2002) | ND | Xueguan Ruanhua decoction (1 m) → Xueguan Ruanhua pill (2 m) | ① DM: metformin or rosiglitazone ② HL: simvastatin or fenofibric acid ③ HTN: captopril or nifedipine |
3 m | FPG, TG, HDL-C, SBP, DBP, effective rate | Xueguan Ruanhua decoction has effects on the treatment of MetS. |
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| Cui and Wie, 2014, China [23] | 60/60 | I: 51.3 ± 6.0 C: 52.3 ± 5.4 |
69/51 | Chinese Diabetes Society criteria (2004) | ND | Shengjiangtongmai powder, 300 mL, bid |
① Metformin, 0.25 mg, bid ② Simvastatin, 10 mg, qd ③ Enalapril, 10 mg, qd |
2 m | BMI, SBP, DBP, TC, TG, FPG, effective rate | Shengjiangtongmai powder can effectively improve blood glucose, blood lipid, blood pressure, and obesity. |
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| Danyang Zhao and Danun Zhao, 2015, China [24] | 40/40 | I: 48.7 ± 12.5 C: 47.6 ± 12.6 |
NR | IDF guideline (2005) | Spleen Deficiency and Stagnation of Dampness Type | Shenling Jianpihuashi decoction, bid | ① DM: metformin, 500 mg, tid ② HTN: losartan, 50 mg, qd |
12 w | WC, BMI, FPG, 2 hPG, HbA1c, TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C, SBP, DBP, HOMA-IR, effective rate | Shenling Jianpihuashi decoction can effectively improve MetS of Spleen Deficiency and Stagnation of Dampness type. |
I: intervention group; C: control group; M: male; F: female; NR: not reported; MetS: metabolic syndrome; DM: diabetes mellitus; HTN: hypertension; HL: hyperlipidemia; WC: waist circumference; FPG: fasting plasma glucose; TC: total cholesterol; HDL-C: high density lipoprotein cholesterol; VLDL: very low density lipoprotein; LDL-C: low density lipoprotein cholesterol; SBP: systolic blood pressure; DBP: diastolic blood pressure; GOT: glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase; GPT: glutamic-pyruvic transaminase; BMI: body mass index; HC: hip circumference; WHR: waist hip ratio; FPI: fasting plasma insulin; 2hPG: 2-hour postprandial glucose; TG: triglycerides; AC: arm circumference; SFA: subcutaneous fat area; VFA: visceral fat area; FINS: fasting serum insulin; PINS: postprandial serum insulin; F-CP: fasting serum C-peptide; P-CP: postprandial serum C-peptide; FFA: free fatty acids; ISI: insulin sensitivity index.