Chinese patent medicine for osteoporosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
- 2022-03-01
- Bioengineered 13(3)
- Yan Jia
- Jigao Sun
- Yan Zhao
- Kaiqiang Tang
- Ruizheng Zhu
- Wei Zhao
- Rongtian Wang
- Yanqiong Zhang
- Na Lin
- Weiheng Chen
- PubMed: 35184684
- DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2022.2038941
Study Design
- Type
- Meta-Analysis
- Sample size
- n = 2,723
- Population
- adults with OP
- Methods
- Meta-analysis of RCTs using CPM as first-line treatment, six electronic databases prior to 30 April 2021
Chinese patent medicine (CPM) has been widely used in China for patients with osteoporosis (OP) but a comprehensive literature review is still important. Therefore, we performed meta-analysis using six electronic databases prior to 30 April 2021 only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using CPM as the first-line treatment in adults with OP were included. Thirty RCTs met the inclusion criteria with a total of 2723 patients, and seven types of CPM were included. Compared with the control group, 23 studies showed significantly improved bone mineral density (BMD) (lumbar spine) (mean difference [MD] = 0.08; confidence interval [CI], 0.03 to 0.13), 15 studies showed significantly improved BMD (femoral) (MD = 0.05; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.07), 6 studies showed significantly improved BMD (radius) (MD = 0.06; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.09), 2 trials showed significantly improvement of BMD (ulna) (MD = 0.02; 95% CI, 0.01 to 0.03), and 4 trials showed significantly improved BMD (MD = 0.09; 95% CI, 0.09 to 0.10). The meta-analysis also showed that CPM had superior pain improvement, a higher total effectiveness rate, and a lower risk of adverse events compared with standard western treatment. The findings of this study suggest that CPM therapy may be a safe and effective alternative treatment modality for OP, it has potential benefits in relieving symptoms and improving BMD compared to western medications or placebos.