title: Effects of Chinese herbal medicine Yiqi Huaju Formula on hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with hypertension coupled with metabolic syndrome (MetS) are among the high risk population in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. To reduce the prevalence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, it is essential to appropriately control blood pressure together with other cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effects on blood pressure, blood pressure variability and other cardiovascular risk factors by giving Yiqi Huaju Formula, a compound traditional Chinese herbal medicine, in addition to routine treatment to hypertensive patients coupled with MetS.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 43 patients with hypertension coupled with MetS were recruited into this study. The enrolled patients were randomly divided into the Chinese herbal formula group (anti-hypertensive drugs plus Yiqi Huaju Formula, CHF) and the control group (anti-hypertensive drugs plus placebo). The CHF group enrolled 22 patients while the control group received 21 cases. Treatments were given for 12 weeks in both groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parameters examined include 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), fasting glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose (PPG), fasting plasma insulin, serum lipid, etc.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, the CHF group had significant improvement (P<0.01) in anthropometric parameters, FPG, HOMA-IR, blood pressure amplitude, blood pressure variability and blood pressure load.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study showed that integrated traditional Chinese and Western medicine treatment can achieve better results in controlling blood pressure as well as other cardiovascular risk factors. The mechanism of controlling of blood pressure may be associated with the improvement of insulin sensitivity due to the Yiqi Huaju intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION IDENTIFIER: ChiCTR-TRC-11001633.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Integrative Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: De-yu
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yan-ming
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Xiao-dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yan-qiu
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-Tao
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Teng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Wen-Jian
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008055:Lipids