Effect of Hedan Tablets on Body Weight and Insulin Resistance in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

• Published in: Obesity facts 2022-03, Vol.15 (2), p.180-185
• Main Authors: Liu, Lian-Yong, Zhou, Lin, Liu, Xing-Zhen, Zou, Da-Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adiponectin; Blood Glucose; Blood pressure; Body Mass Index; Chinese medicine; Cholesterol; Disease; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Enzymes; Females; Homeostasis; Humans; Insulin; Insulin Resistance; Lipoproteins; Metabolic disorders; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - drug therapy; Obesity; Pharmaceuticals; Research Article; Social sciences; Statins; Statistical analysis; Tablets - therapeutic use; Triglycerides; Weight control; Weight Loss
• ISSN: 1662-4025; 1662-4033
• DOI: 10.1159/000520711

Abstract Introduction: Apart from their recognized lipid-lowering effect, Hedan tablets, a mixture of Chinese herbal medicines, have demonstrated a certain weight-loss effect in clinical practice. The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to verify the effect of Hedan tablets on body weight (BW) and insulin resistance (IR) in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: A total of 62 eligible patients with MetS were divided into two groups: the treatment group (Hedan tablets at 4.38 g/day tid) and the control group (placebo treatment). Both groups attended follow-ups at 8, 16, and 24 weeks during the process. The parameters of the assessment include lipid level, BW, triglyceride (TG) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc) ratio (TG/HDLc), homeostasis model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR) index, and adiponectin. Results: Patients in the treatment group showed a significant decrease in BW compared to those in the control group (−4.47 vs. 0.06 kg) after 8 weeks of treatment. A significant decrease in body mass index (BMI) was also observed in the treatment group after 16 weeks of treatment (−1.79 vs. −0.03 kg/m2). In the treatment group, 20 out of 31 (64.5%) patients lost 5–10% BW and 4 out of 31 (12.9%) patients lost over 10% BW after 24 weeks of treatment. Although there were no significant changes in the patients’ HOMA-IR, the treatment group showed a significant reduction in TG/HDLc (−0.98 vs. −0.19) after 8 weeks of treatment and a significant increase in adiponectin (6.87 vs. −0.43) after 16 weeks of treatment. Discussion/Conclusion: The Hedan tablets significantly improve BW, BMI, TG/HDLc, and adiponectin in patients with MetS. Thus, Hedan tablets may be used as an adjunct to existing MetS management methods.