Meta-analysis of effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbal medicine treatment for obese patients

Zhen-Xiu Liu, Jun-Rui Guo, Xin Jin, Xiao-Tian Zhang✉, Feng Tao

1.Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China

2. Shanghai Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of TCM, Shanghai 200071, China

ARTICLE INFOArticle history:Received 25 Feb 2022 Received in revised form 5 Mar 2022 Accepted 12 Mar 2022 Available online 29 Mar 2022

ABSTRACTObjective:To systematically review the efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine for weight loss.Methods:We used standard methodologies to search, review, analyse and synthesize published data on the efficacy, safety. Search randomized controlled trial(RCT)from CNKI、WanFang Data,VIP Data, Sinomed,The Cochrane Library,Pubmed,MEDLINE and Web of Scinece.Two reviewers independently screened literature,extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included trials according to the Cochrane handbook. Then use review manager5.3 completed meta-analysis.Results:A total of 16 RCT were included.The results of meta-analysis showed that compared with placebo or other anti-obesity medicine,CHM is effective and safe in reducing theweight[MD=-1.99,95%CI(-2.94,-1.02),p＜0.0001]，BMI[MD=-0.78,95%CI(-1.02,-0.54), p＜0.00001]，waist circumference[MD=-2.71,95%CI(-3.81,-1.59), p＜0.00001],fat mass[MD=-1.23,95%CI(-2.37,-0.18), p=0.02],fat mass percentage[MD=-2.71,95%CI(-3.81-1.59), p＜0.00001] of patients.There were no significant changes in glucose and lipid metabolism. 6 RCTs reported adverse events (gastrointestinal reactions and headaches), 18 cases (1.40%) in the treatment group and 7 cases (0.54%) in the control group;no serious adverse reactions were seen. Conclusion：Chinese herbal medicine has define effect and safety, but that is uncertain about inregulating the glucose and lipid metabolism, and more high-quality literature is needed for further verification.

Keywords:Obesity Overweight Chinese herbal medicine Herbal extract Randomized controlled trial Meta-analysis

✉Corresponding author: TAO Feng,Ph.D., Chief Physician, Postgraduate Supervisor.E-mail: taofeng@shutcm.edu.cn;ZHANG Xiao-tian, Chief Physician,Postgraduate Supervisor; zhxiaotian@hotmail.com.

Fund Project: National Ministry of Science and Technology's Key R＆D Program "Active Health and Aging Technology Response" Special Project(No.2020YFC2003104); Shanghai Shenkang Hospital Development Center ClinicalTechnology Innovation Project（No.SHDC12018X27）;National Natural Science Foundation of China（No.81774237）; Shanghai Science and Technology Commission Traditional Chinese Medicine Bootstrap Project（No.17401935200）