Effects of Liuwei-Dihuang Pills combined with Ginkgo Biloba Leaves Extract Tablets on complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects of Liuwei-Dihuang Pills combined with Ginkgo Biloba Leaves Extract Tablets on diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Seventy-eight patients with T2DM were randomized into a TCM treatment group and a conventional treatment group by random number table method, 39 in each group. The patients in the conventional treatment group were regularly using antihyperglycemic drugs or insulin. On the basis of conventional treatment group, the patients in the TCM treatment group were additionally treated with Liuwei-Dihuang Pills and Ginkgo Biloba Leaves Extract Tablets. Intima-media thickness (IMT) of internal carotid artery, vibration perception threshold (VPT) and diabetic retinopathy in both groups were detected before the treatment, 12 and 36 months after the treatment. Results The VPT in the left foot 12 months after the treatment in the TCM treatment group were significantly lower than that in the conventional treatment group (13.98 ± 4.38 V vs. 18.70 ± 2.43 V; t=2.764, P=0.008). IMT of internal carotid artery (left: 0.81 ± 0.16 mm vs. 0.70 ± 0.10 mm, t=3.120, P=0.003; right: 0.81 ± 0.17 mm vs. 0.73 ± 0.12 mm, t=2.286, P=0.026), VPT (left foot: 14.82 ± 6.45 V vs. 20.63 ± 9.75 V, t=2.714, P=0.009; right foot: 16.73 ± 7.10 V vs. 20.73 ± 10.35 V, t=2.001, P=0.048) and incidence of diabetic retinopathy (35.9% vs. 53.8%; χ2=5.804, P=0.016) 36 months after the treatment in the TCM treatment group were significantly lower than those in the conventional treatment group. Conclusions Liuwei-Dihuang Pills combined with Ginkgo Biloba Leaves Extract Tablets can effectively reduce the progression of diabetic complications in patients with T2DM. Key words: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan; Folium Ginkgo; Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Diabetes complications