title: Chinese herbal medicine for obesity: a randomized, double-blinded, multicenter, prospective trial.
abstract: Obesity is a serious medical problem worldwide. As a holistic therapy, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may have a potential in obesity management. In this controlled trial, we evaluated the safety and effectiveness of xin-ju-xiao-gao-fang (XJXGF), a TCM herbal formulation, in 140 obese subjects over a 24-week period. The XJXGF formula mainly consists of rhubarb, coptis, semen cassia, and citrus aurantium. Subjects with body mass index (BMI) 28-40 kg/m(2) were recruited at 5 centers in China. We assessed the changes in subjects' body weight, its related parameters, and the reduction of insulin resistance (IR) after administration of XJXGF formula or low-dose XJXGF (10% of the XJXGF formula, as control). After 24-week treatment, among participants in the XJXGF formula group and low-dose XJXGF group, the mean ± SE changes in the body weight were -3.58 ± 0.48 and -1.91 ± 0.38 kg, respectively (p < 0.01). The changes in the IR-index of two groups were -2.65 ± 1.04 and -1.58 ± 1.3, respectively (p < 0 .05). There were no serious adverse events reported during the 24-week trial. Participants reported 7 minor adverse events, 4 in the XJXGF formula group and 3 in the low-dose XJXGF group (p = 0.578). Future studies are needed to investigate the clinical utility of this TCM formulation in the treatment of obese subjects.
authors.affiliation: Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Bai
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Xin-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shui-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Zhong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: Lan-Lan
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Wan-Qing
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Hong-Fang
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Li-Bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Feng-Mei
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lian
authors.forename: Xiao-Lin
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002366:Cassia; D002957:Citrus; D039323:Coptis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012250:Rheum; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C101858:XK 002
keywords: Body Weight Control; Chinese Medicine; Citrus aurantium; Clinical Trial; Coptis, Semen cassia; Obesity; Overweight; Rhubarb; Xin-Ju-Xiao-Gao-Fang