Treating intermittent claudication with Tibetan medicine Padma 28: does it work?

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Integrative Medicine
• Clinical Therapeutics

Background:

• Herbal drug use is rising, necessitating safety and efficacy evaluations.
• Padma 28, a Tibetan herbal formulation, has been used since the 1960s for circulatory disorders.
• Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) is a common circulatory condition impacting patient mobility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze available data on Padma 28's efficacy and safety.
• To evaluate Padma 28's effectiveness in treating peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD).
• To compare Padma 28's outcomes with placebo and other treatments.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review and data collection from published studies and original sources.
• Meta-analysis of five controlled clinical trials involving patients with PAOD.
• Inclusion of data from 19 trials, encompassing 2084 patients, with a focus on six controlled PAOD studies.

Main Results:

• Padma 28 significantly increased walking distance by over 100m in 18.2% of PAOD patients compared to 2.1% with placebo.
• The meta-analysis indicated a strong treatment effect (odds ratio: 10; number needed to treat: 6.2).
• Padma 28 demonstrated a favorable safety profile and comparable efficacy to other available medications.

Conclusions:

• Padma 28 offers significant symptomatic relief for PAOD patients, primarily by improving walking distance.
• The herbal drug's safety profile is favorable.
• Larger randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are recommended to confirm these findings.