title: Effects of the traditional Chinese herb Astragalus membranaceus in patients with poststroke fatigue: A double-blind, randomized, controlled preliminary study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is the first-choice herb for fatigue treatment in traditional Chinese medicine and the main herb used for stroke treatment in China and Taiwan. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of AM on poststroke fatigue (PSF).
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was designed as a double-blind, randomized, controlled preliminary study. Sixty-four patients with PSF were assigned to treatment group (TG; 31 patients), which received oral administration of AM (2.8g three times per day) for 28 days, and a control group (CG; 33 patients), which received a placebo. The primary outcome measures were the changes in the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and Brief Fatigue Index (BFI) scores RESULTS: A total of 61 patients (29 patients in the TG and 32 patients in the CG) completed the trial. The difference in BFI scores between Visit 2 and Visit 1 was -17.83±17.70 in the TG, which was greater than that in the CG (-8.03±9.95; p=0.01); additionally, the difference in BFI scores between Visit 3 and Visit 1 was -16.48±16.41 in the TG, which was also greater than that in the CG (-9.47±13.39; p=0.05). In the EORTC QLQ-C30, the difference in cognitive functioning scores between Visit 2 and Visit 1 was 14.37±13.89 in the TG, which was greater than that in the CG (3.65±19.74; p=0.02); additionally, the difference in these scores between Visit 3 and Visit 1 was 14.37±16.50 in the TG, which again was greater than that in the CG (6.25±19.74; p=0.04). The difference in social functioning scores between Visit 3 and Visit 1 was 9.77±15.12 in the TG, which was greater than that in the CG (-1.56±20.46; p=0.01). The difference in global quality of life (QOL) scores between Visit 2 and Visit 1 was 14.08±18.78 in the TG, which was also greater than that in the CG (1.56±18.14; p=0.003); moreover, the difference in these scores between Visit 3 and Visit 1 was 10.92±17.55 in the TG, and this was greater than that in the CG (1.82±15.8; p=0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AM can improve BFI scores; cognitive functioning, social functioning, and global QOL scores in the EORTC QLQ-C30. Our results suggest that physicians should pay close attention to the unmet medical needs of patients with PSF. AM is helpful for treating patients with PSF; however, additional studies with a larger sample and a longer period of investigation are required.
authors: Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan. Electronic address: greengen@gmail.com.
authors: Chung-Hsiang
authors: CH
authors: Liu
authors: School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan; Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan. Electronic address: chchai@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors: Chang-Hai
authors: CH
authors: Tsai
authors: Graduate Institute of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan. Electronic address: tcli@mail.cmu.edu.tw.
authors: Tsai-Chung
authors: TC
authors: Li
authors: Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan. Electronic address: d6136@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors: Yu-Wan
authors: YW
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan. Electronic address: d2742@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors: Wei-Shih
authors: WS
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan. Electronic address: d4297@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors: Ming-Kui
authors: MK
authors: Lu
authors: Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan. Electronic address: d8333@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors: Chun-Hung
authors: CH
authors: Tseng
authors: Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan. Electronic address: d12483@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors: Hui-Chun
authors: HC
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan. Electronic address: d11866@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors: Kuan-Fei
authors: KF
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan. Electronic address: d12712@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors: Thih-Shan
authors: TS
authors: Hsu
authors: Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan. Electronic address: d11835@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors: Yi-Ting
authors: YT
authors: Hsu
authors: Department of Neurology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan. Electronic address: d8079@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors: Chon-Haw
authors: CH
authors: Tsai
authors: Graduate Institute of Integrated Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan; Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan; Research Center for Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan. Electronic address: clhsieh@mail.cmuh.org.tw.
authors: Ching-Liang
authors: CL
authors: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D027885:Astragalus propinquus / Q000737:chemistry*; D002681:China; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005221:Fatigue / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011788:Quality of Life; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: Astragalus membranaceus; BFI scores; Clinical trial; EORTC QLQ-C30 scores; Poststroke fatigue; SF-36 scores