title: The Chinese medicine Kuan-Sin-Yin improves liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis C: A randomised and placebo-controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined the effects of a traditional Chinese medicine decoction, Kuan-Sin-Yin (KSY), on patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in a randomised and placebo-controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  This trial enrolled 70 subjects with CHC who were randomised into 2 groups each with 35 participants. In total, 29 participants in the therapeutic group took 100mL of the herbal decoction daily, whereas 28 in the control group took an herbal placebo with the same dose and frequency for the 6-week study. The primary outcomes were liver function and viral load. Secondary measurements included haematopoietic and biochemical profiles, safety parameters, and a quality of life survey. All measurements were collected at the beginning of the study and after 6 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In within-group analysis, significant decreases of glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) 31.7±75.2IU/L and glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) 20.3±45.7IU/L were found in the KSY group (p=0.031 and 0.024, respectively). In the between-group analysis, KSY reduced serum GOT and GPT levels by more than 20IU/L (p=0.027 and 0.047, respectively). KSY also significantly decreased viral load by 0.3 log units (p=0.047). In addition, KSY significantly decreased serum triglyceride 16.9±27.5mg/dL (p=0.024).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that taking the KSY herbal decoction for 6 weeks improves liver function and serum triglyceride levels and is safe for patients with CHC. The potential long-term effects of KSY on lipid metabolism related hepatoprotection and viral clearance warrant further investigation.
authors: Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Chinese Medicine, Branch of Linsen and Chinese Medicine, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors: Chia-Yu
authors: CY
authors: Liu
authors: Graduate Institute of Physiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Pin-Hao
authors: PH
authors: Ko
authors: School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Research Center for Chinese Medicine & Acupuncture, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, and Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors: Hung-Rong
authors: HR
authors: Yen
authors: Department of Chinese Medicine, Branch of Linsen and Chinese Medicine, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Chen-Hung
authors: CH
authors: Cheng
authors: Department of Gastroenterology, Branch of Linsen and Chinese Medicine, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Yu-Hsien
authors: YH
authors: Li
authors: Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors: Zih-Han
authors: ZH
authors: Liao
authors: Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Chinese Medicine, Branch of Linsen and Chinese Medicine, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. Electronic address: owlherbs@yahoo.com.tw.
authors: Chung-Hua
authors: CH
authors: Hsu
mesh_terms: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal
keywords: Chronic hepatitis C; Liver function; Traditional chinese medicine; Viral load