title: Efficacy of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials.
abstract: Objective. To explore the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine in treating diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (D-IBS). Methods. Four English and four Chinese databases were searched through November, 2015. Randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trials were selected. Data extraction and quality evaluation were performed by two authors independently. RevMan 5.2.0 software was applied to analyze the data of included trials. Results. A total of 14 trials involving 1551 patients were included. Meta-analysis demonstrated superior global symptom improvement (RR = 1.62; 95% CI 1.31, 2.00; P < 0.00001; number needed to treat = 3.6), abdominal pain improvement (RR = 1.95; 95% CI 1.61, 2.35; P < 0.00001), diarrhea improvement (RR = 1.87; 95% CI 1.60, 2.20; P < 0.00001), pain threshold assessment (MD = 54.53; 95% CI 38.76, 70.30; P < 0.00001), and lower IBS Symptom Severity Score (SMD = -1.01; 95% CI -1.72, -0.30; P = 0.005), when compared with placebo, while for defecation threshold assessment, quality of life, and adverse events, no differences were found between treatment groups and controlled groups. Conclusion. This meta-analysis shows that Chinese herbal medicine is an effective and safe treatment for D-IBS. However, due to the small sample size and high heterogeneity, further studies are required.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Diagnosis and Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China; Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Jia-Jie
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0900-3502
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Diagnosis and Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Lan
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Zi-Song
authors.initials: ZS
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6802-0708
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100700, China.
authors.forename: Yi-Jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Diagnosis and Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Diagnosis and Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China.
authors.forename: Li-Wei
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Basic Medical College, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China.
authors.forename: Qing-Guo
authors.initials: QG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115-2214, USA.
authors.forename: Ru-Han
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Diagnosis and Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Qin
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Diagnosis and Treatment of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wangjing Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100102, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8572-921X
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wei