AUTHOR=Shi Ruifeng , Wang Yanping , An Xiaofei , Ma Jianhua , Wu Tongzhi , Yu Xiaojin , Liu Su , Huang Liji , Wang Lijuan , Liu Jingshun , Ge Jing , Qiu Shanhu , Yin Han , Wang Xiaolai , Wang Yao , Yang Bingquan , Yu Jiangyi , Sun Zilin 

TITLE=Efficacy of Co-administration of Liuwei Dihuang Pills and Ginkgo Biloba Tablets on Albuminuria in Type 2 Diabetes: A 24-Month, Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Randomized Clinical Trial

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Endocrinology

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2019

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/endocrinology/articles/10.3389/fendo.2019.00100

DOI=10.3389/fendo.2019.00100

ISSN=1664-2392

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Purpose:</bold> We investigated the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on the occurrence and progression of albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> In this randomized, double-blind, multicenter, controlled trial, we enrolled 600 type 2 diabetes without diabetic nephropathy (DN) or with early-stage DN. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive Liuwei Dihuang Pills (LWDH) (1.5 g daily) and Ginkgo biloba Tablets (24 mg daily) orally or matching placebos for 24 months. The primary endpoint was the change in urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) from baseline to 24 months.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> There were 431 patients having UACR data at baseline and 24 months following-up in both groups. Changes of UACR from baseline to follow-up were not affected in both groups: −1.61(−10.24, 7.17) mg/g in the TCM group and −0.73(−7.47, 6.75) mg/g in the control group. For patients with UACR ≥30 mg/g at baseline, LWDH and Ginkgo biloba significantly reduced the UACR value at 24 months [46.21(34.96, 58.96) vs. 20.78(9.62, 38.85), <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05]. Moreover, the change of UACR from baseline to follow-up in the TCM group was significant higher than that in the control group [−25.50(−42.30, −9.56] vs. −20.61(−36.79, 4.31), <italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05].</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> LWDH and Ginkgo biloba may attenuate deterioration of albuminuria in type 2 diabetes patients. These results suggest that TCM is a promising option of renoprotective agents for early stage of DN.</p><p><bold>Trial registration:</bold> The study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. (no. ChiCTR-TRC-07000037, chictr.org)</p>