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. 2016 Jun 19;2016:5936402. doi: 10.1155/2016/5936402

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.