Table 1.
Main characteristics of randomized controlled trials reported in included systematic reviews.
| Author(s) (country) | Studies, n
(patients, n) |
Study design | Age range (years): | Treatment duration (weeks) |
Diagnostic criteria | Intervention | Control | Reported adverse events | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liu et al.38
(China) |
4 (309) | RCT | Median age: 37–52 |
4 | Rome criteria and TCM diagnosis standard | CHM | Pharmacotherapy | NR | AGDS; alleviation of fullness |
| Qin et al.31
(China) |
11 (1072) | RCT | 16–72 | 2–8 | Reported as FD patients | CHM; CHM + pharmacotherapy |
Pharmacotherapy | Yes | AGDS |
| Cui and Shen29 (China) | 39 (3546) | RCT; quasi-RCT |
NR | NR | Rome II/III criteria | CHM | Pharmacotherapy | NR | AGDS |
| Wang et al.30
(China) |
13 (1153) | RCT | Mean age: 34.5–45.6 |
2–4 | Rome II/III criteria and TCM diagnosis standard | CHM | Pharmacotherapy | Yes | AGDS |
| Xiao et al.32
(China) |
11 (884) | RCT | 18–70 | 2–4 | Reported as FD patients | CHM | Pharmacotherapy | Yes | AGDS; plasma acylated ghrelin |
| Xiao et al.33
(China) |
9 (918) | RCT | 16–85 | 4–6 | Rome III criteria | CHM + pharmacotherapy | Pharmacotherapy | Yes | AGDS |
| Yang et al.34
(China) |
14 (1198) | RCT | Mean age: 33.9–56.0 | 4 | Rome II/III criteria and TCM diagnosis standard | CHM; CHM + pharmacotherapy |
Pharmacotherapy | Yes | AGDS |
| Gan et al.35
(China) |
9 (872) | RCT | NR | 2–4 | Rome II/III criteria | CHM | Pharmacotherapy | Yes | AGDS |
| Fan and He36
(China) |
9 (907) | RCT | 14–87 | 2–6 | Rome II/III Criteria and TCM diagnosis standard | CHM | Pharmacotherapy | Yes | AGDS |
| Liu25
(China) |
53 (5142) | RCT | 16–87 | 2–8 | Rome II/III criteria | CHM; CHM + pharmacotherapy | Placebo; pharmacotherapy | NR | AGDS; quality of life; gastric emptying rate; |
| Zhang27
(China) |
20 (1998) | RCT | NR | 2–4 | Reported as FD patients | CHM | Pharmacotherapy | NR | AGDS |
| Akarayosapong37
(China) |
17 (1715) | RCT | 18–79 | 2–4 | Rome I/II/III criteria and TCM diagnosis standard |
CHM | Pharmacotherapy | Yes | AGDS; alleviation of postprandial fullness; epigastric pain; epigastric burning; early satiety; gastric emptying rate; |
| Ling et al.28
(China) |
27 (2793) | RCT | NR | 2–4 | Rome III criteria | CHM | Pharmacotherapy | Yes | AGDS |
| Guo et al.26
(China) |
10 (1424) | RCT | NR | 4–8 | Rome III criteria | CHM | Placebo | NR | AGDS; alleviation of Chinese medicine
syndrome; quality of life; |
AGDS, alleviation of global dyspeptic symptoms; FD, functional dyspepsia; NR, not reported; CHM, Chinese herbal medicine; RCT, randomized controlled trial; TCM, traditional Chinese medicine.