Effects of Chinese Patent Drug Zishen Pills in Treatment of Elderly Patients with Impaired Glucose Tolerance(IGT)

[Objectives]To evaluate the efficacy of Zishen Pills(ZSP),a Chinese patent drug,in the treatment of elderly patients with impaired glucose tolerance(IGT)and its effects on the prevention of diabetes mellitus(DM).[Methods]Thirty-five IGT patients were randomized to receive 10 g of ZSP three times daily(ZSP group,n=24)or no drug intervention(control group,n=11)for 12 weeks.Oral glucose tolerance test,glycated hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c),body mass index,blood lipids levels,fasting insulin,and insulin resistance calculated using homeostatic model assessment(HOMA-IR)of all the patients were observed and compared before and after the treatment.[Results]Thirty participants completed the trial(20 in ZSP group and 10 in the control group).There were statistically significant decreases in plasma triglycerides(TG),fasting blood-glucose(FBG),2-h plasma glucose(2-h PG),HbA1c,and HOMA-IR in ZSP group compared with the control group after 12 weeks of treatment(P<0.05 or P<0.01).After 12 weeks of treatment,2(20.0%)patients returned to normal blood glucose,and 2(20.0%)patients turned into DM in control group,while in the ZSP group,9(45.0%)patients returned to normal blood glucose and 1(5.0%)patient turned into DM.[Conclusions]ZSP effectively improved glucose control,increased the conversion of IGT to normal glucose,and improved the insulin resistance in elderly patients with IGT.This Chinese patent drug may have a clinical value for IGT.