Shengxuebao Mixture for Iron Deficiency Anemia: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE

Traditional Chinese medicine Shengxuebao Mixture (SXBM) has been approved for treating iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in China. This study aimed to collect evidence and quantify the effect of SXBM on IDA.

METHODS

Seven online databases were surveyed up to July 13, 2021. Randomized controlled trials in which SXBM was combined with conventional therapies to treat IDA and compared with placebo or conventional therapies were included in the study. The red blood cell (RBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) level, serum ferritin (SF) level, and adverse events rate (AER) were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 1,108 patients from 8 trials were recruited. SXBM plus conventional therapy increased the Hb level (mean difference [MD] = 13.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.37-17.7, p < 0.00001), RBC count (MD = 0.41, 95% CI 0.19-0.62, p = 0.002), SF level (MD = 6.25, 95% CI 2.88-9.62, p = 0.0003), and AER (risk ratio = 0.56, 95% CI 0.36-0.86; p = 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

SXBM combined with conventional treatment seemed to be beneficial for patients with IDA. However, the harmlessness of SXBM was not confirmed due to insufficient trials and low methodological quality. Follow-up clinical studies should be cautiously designed, and more research is needed.