Wan-Ting Liao1, Cheng-Chiung Su2, Ming-Tsung Lee3, Chia-Jung Li4, Cheng-Li Lin5, Jen-Huai Chiang6, Hung-Rong Yen7. 1. Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan; Department of Chinese Medicine, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, 500, Taiwan. Electronic address: enolainsky@gmail.com. 2. Post Baccalaureate Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, 807, Taiwan. Electronic address: yakultaxel@gmail.com. 3. Research Assistant Center, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, 500, Taiwan. Electronic address: lee6717kimo@yahoo.com.tw. 4. Research Assistant Center, Show Chwan Memorial Hospital, Changhua, 500, Taiwan. Electronic address: nigel6761@gmail.com. 5. Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan. Electronic address: orangechengli@gmail.com. 6. Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan; College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan. Electronic address: zinvii@gmail.com. 7. Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan; Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan; Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan; Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan; Chinese Medicine Research Center, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan; Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, 413, Taiwan. Electronic address: hungrongyen@gmail.com.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects 5%-10% of women of reproductive age worldwide. Patients with PCOS have a high degree of insulin resistance and are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The currently available therapeutic approaches for PCOS mainly focus on symptomatic treatment. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to determine whether Chinese herbal medicine (CMH)-based interventions could reduce the risk of T2DM in PCOS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study randomly selected 1 million enrollees from the National Health Insurance Database and identified 3797 patients who were newly diagnosed with PCOS in 1997-2010. After 1:1 frequency-matched by age, diagnosis of PCOS year and index days, we selected 342 eligible patients in each group. RESULTS: The incidence of T2DM in the CHM group was significantly lower than that in the non-CHM group (hazard ratio = 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.64; p = 0.0014) after a mean follow-up period of 5.2 years (4.20 years for the comparison cohort). Five herbal formulas and two single herbs showed protective effects, and Paeonia lactiflora was a common ingredient in the five formulas. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, CHM may help prevent T2DM-related complications in patients with PCOS. Further clinical and pharmacological analysis based on these findings is expected in the future.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects 5%-10% of women of reproductive age worldwide. Patients with PCOS have a high degree of insulin resistance and are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The currently available therapeutic approaches for PCOS mainly focus on symptomatic treatment. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to determine whether Chinese herbal medicine (CMH)-based interventions could reduce the risk of T2DM in PCOSpatients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study randomly selected 1 million enrollees from the National Health Insurance Database and identified 3797 patients who were newly diagnosed with PCOS in 1997-2010. After 1:1 frequency-matched by age, diagnosis of PCOS year and index days, we selected 342 eligible patients in each group. RESULTS: The incidence of T2DM in the CHM group was significantly lower than that in the non-CHM group (hazard ratio = 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.64; p = 0.0014) after a mean follow-up period of 5.2 years (4.20 years for the comparison cohort). Five herbal formulas and two single herbs showed protective effects, and Paeonia lactiflora was a common ingredient in the five formulas. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, CHM may help prevent T2DM-related complications in patients with PCOS. Further clinical and pharmacological analysis based on these findings is expected in the future.