Complementary and integrative medical therapies, the FDA, and the NIH: definitions and regulation

Complementary and alternative medicines and liver disease

Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) include conventional medical treatments. Patients worldwide use CAM at alarming rates; thus, reports of CAM-related DILI have been on the rise. The clinical presentations include asymptomatic liver test abnormalities, acute hepatitis with or without jaundice, acute cholestatic liver disease (bland or with hepatitis), acute liver failure, severe hepatitis with features of portal hypertension, and acute decompensation of known or unknown cirrhosis that can lead to acute-on-chronic liver failure. Acute hepatitis with or without necrosis, hepatocellular and canalicular cholestasis, herb-induced or CAM-triggered autoimmune hepatitis, granulomatous hepatitis, severe steatohepatitis, and vanishing bile duct syndrome are common liver biopsy findings in CAM-DILI. The presence of preexisting liver disease predicts severe liver injury, risk of progression to liver failure, and decreased transplant-free survival in patients with CAM-DILI. This review discusses global epidemiology and trends in CAM-DILI, clinical presentation, assessment and outcomes, commonly emerging threats in the context of hepatotoxic herbs, pragmatic assessment of "liver beneficial" herbs and health care myths, patient communication, regulatory framework, and future directions on research in CAM.

How cancer patients get fake cancer information: From TV to YouTube, a qualitative study focusing on fenbendazole scandle

BACKGROUND

Korean society has faced challenges in communicating with cancer patients about false information related to complementary alternative medicine. As the situation has become severe with the 2020 fenbendazole scandal, the demand for reliable information from health authorities has increased.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to examine patients' acquisition patterns and perception of false information by presenting empirical evidence to help health authorities enable effective preemptive responses in the cancer communication context.

METHOD

We conducted a focus group interview with 21 lung cancer patients who were informed about fenbendazole based on a semi-structured questionnaire with three categories: 1) acquisition channel of the general cancer information and the false information, 2) quality of obtained information, and 3) perception toward it. The interviewees, comprising 13 men and eight women, were aged 50 or older. Participants' current stages of cancer were stages one, three, and four and there were seven people in each stage.

RESULTS

1) Acquisition channel: Participants had their first encounter with false information through the TV, while the channels to obtain general cancer information were through Internet communities or portal sites. YouTube was a second channel to actively search for information regardless of the information type. 2) Information quality: participants had only fragmented information through media. 3) Perception: Most patients had a negative attitude toward complementary and alternative medicine information such as fenbendazole. They perceive that it needs to be verified by experts and filtered according to their arbitrary criteria. They had vague expectations based on a hope for "what if" at the same time.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the complex media environment, traditional or legacy media is an important channel to encounter information. YouTube is independent of other media as an "active" information-seeking channel. Patients required the appropriate intervention of experts and governments because they perceived that they had obtained irrational and unreliable information from the media. Suggestions are made about how health authorities can construct an effective communication system focusing on the user to prevent patients from getting false cancer information.

Complementary and alternative interventions for stroke recovery - a narrative overview of the published evidence

OBJECTIVES

Stroke survivors dissatisfied with their progress often seek complementary and alternative interventions (CAI). This paper reviews the evidence for CAIs in stroke recovery.

METHODS

A literature search was performed for publications until December 2019 of CAI for stroke in Pubmed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED. Evidence was assessed according to Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine criteria.

RESULTS

In a meta-analysis, acupuncture reduced death or dependency compared to control at the end of follow-up and over the long term (≥3 months), OR 0.61(95%CI 0.46-0.79) and OR 0.67(95%CI 0.53-0.85) respectively, but was neutral against sham acupuncture. A Cochrane review of acupuncture vs. sham acupuncture in subacute or chronic stroke vs. showed no differences in motor function and quality of life. Three trials found favourable effects of moxibustion on motor function (SMD=0.72, 95%CI 0.37-1.08, p<0.0001). Two trials showed cupping compared to acupuncture reduced hemiplegic shoulder pain and upper-limb 'myodynamia'. A meta-analysis of traditional Chinese medicines for ischaemic stroke showed marked improvement in neurological deficit on stroke scales. There was no evidence for Ayurveda, homoeopathy or reiki. Tui-na reduced the Modified Ashworth Scale in some muscle groups. Marma massage improved Motricity Index and trunk control. Thai massage and herbal treatments improved the Barthel Index. On meta-analysis, Yoga improved memory and anxiety, while tai-chi improved activities of daily living, balance and walking ability. Studies were generally of poor quality.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence for benefit of CAIs for stroke recovery is weak. More research is needed to justify these treatments for stroke, by well-conducted, adequately-sized, double-blinded, randomized controlled trials.

Randomised clinical trial: the effects of daikenchuto, TU-100, on gastrointestinal and colonic transit, anorectal and bowel function in female patients with functional constipation

BACKGROUND

Daikenchuto, a Japanese herbal medicine used for post-operative ileus and constipation, dose dependently stimulates gastrointestinal (GI) motility and decreases rectal compliance and sensation. Effects of TU-100 (commercial form of daikenchuto) in adults with constipation are unknown.

AIM

To compare the effects of oral TU-100, 2.5 g t.d.s. or 5 g t.d.s. and placebo t.d.s. on GI and colonic transit (CT), rectal compliance (RC) and sensation thresholds (RST), anal sphincter pressures (ASP) and bowel function in female patients with functional constipation (FC).

METHODS

We conducted a single-centre, randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, pharmacodynamic study; 45 female patients with FC without evidence of rectal evacuation disorder were assigned to 28 days' treatment with oral placebo or TU-100 (Tsumura USA, Princeton, NJ, USA). Demographic data and CT were measured at baseline and randomisation stratified by baseline CT (GC> or <1.9) and by BMI (<25 or ≥25 kg/m(2) ). At the end of treatment period, we measured GI and CT by scintigraphy, RST and RC by barostat, ASP by manometry, psychosensory sensations, bowel function by daily diary and quality of life (QOL). The study had power to detect effect sizes of 33% (CT), 40% (RC) and 46% (RST). Statistical analysis included BMI as covariate.

RESULTS

TU-100 had no significant effects on GI or CT, RC, ASP, recto-anal pressure difference, or RST. The 5 g t.d.s./day dose was associated with lower RST for first sensation and gas (unadjusted P: 0.045 and 0.024 respectively). There were no treatment effects on psychosensory symptoms, stool frequency, stool consistency or QOL.

CONCLUSION

Mechanisms underlying the observed clinical benefit of TU-100 remain unclear (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01139216).

A Medicina Integrativa e a construção de um novo modelo na saúde

Medicina Integrativa (MI) é o conceito mais recente no debate das Medicinas Alternativas e Complementares (MAC), em busca do modelo que viabilize introdução e gerenciamento de novas práticas nos sistemas nacionais de saúde. Este artigo analisou diferentes definições de MI e sua relação com as MAC, por meio de revisão sistemática da literatura no Medline, no período de 1996 a 2005. Foram utilizadas as palavras Integrative Medicine e selecionados 36 trabalhos que apresentaram definição de MI. Identificou-se que as MAC são parte da MI, e as definições abrangem: integração da medicina convencional com as MAC; utilização de evidências; combinação de antigos sistemas de cura com a biomedicina; valorização do relacionamento médico-paciente e da comunicação; consideração da pessoa por inteiro; e enfoque na saúde, na cura e na prevenção de doenças. Conclui-se que o crescente interesse de usuários, profissionais e gestores aponta a necessidade do desenvolvimento do modelo de MI, dando suporte à implementação e ao gerenciamento de novas práticas de cuidado e cura.

Effect of daikenchuto (TU-100) on gastrointestinal and colonic transit in humans

Daikenchuto (TU-100) is a traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicine used to treat postoperative ileus. TU-100 dose dependently increases gastrointestinal (GI) motility by modulating cholinergic and serotonergic mechanisms in animal studies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of orally administered TU-100 on GI and colonic transit and bowel function in healthy humans. In a randomized, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-response study, 60 healthy subjects were randomly assigned to placebo or TU-100 2.5 g or 5 g tid ingested immediately before meals for 5 consecutive days. We measured GI and colonic transit by validated scintigraphy and stool frequency and consistency by daily diaries of bowel function. There were overall treatment effects on colonic filling at 6 h without any significant differences between each dose of TU-100 and placebo. There tended to be overall treatment effects on ascending colon (AC) emptying half-time; the TU-100 (7.5 g/day) treatment significantly accelerated AC emptying compared with placebo. There were numerically higher values of GC24 (which reflect overall colonic transit) with both doses of TU-100, but these changes were not statistically significant. There were no significant overall treatment effects on gastric emptying or stool frequency and consistency. One subject, who received 7.5 g/day of TU-100, had elevated creatine phosphokinase following the study. TU-100 (7.5 g/day) significantly accelerated AC emptying. Further randomized controlled trials in patients with functional constipation or irritable bowel syndrome with constipation are warranted to evaluate the clinical efficacy of TU-100 in these disorders.

Evidence-Based Efficacy of Kampo Formulas in a Model of Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver

Data on the efficacy of herbal compounds are often burdened by the lack of appropriate controls or a limited statistical power. Treatments to prevent the progression of non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to steatohepatitis (NASH) remain unsatisfactory. A total of 56 rabbits were arrayed into 7 groups fed with standard rabbit chow (SRC), SRC with 1% cholesterol, or each of the five experimental treatments (Kampo formulas 1% keishibukuryogan [KBG], 1% orengedokuto [OGT], and 1% shosaikoto [SST]; vitamin E [VE]; or pioglitazone [PG]) in a 1% cholesterol SRC. We analyzed changes after 12 weeks in plasma and liver lipid profiles, glucose metabolism, adipocytokines, oxidative stress, and liver fibrosis. Data demonstrated that all five treatments were associated with significant amelioration of lipid profiles, oxidative stress, and liver fibrosis compared to no supplementation. KBG was superior to VE and PG in the reduction of liver total cholesterol ( P < 0.01) and lipid peroxidase levels ( P < 0.05), urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine ( P < 0.05), hepatic α-smooth muscle actin positive areas ( P < 0.01) and activated stellate cells ( P < 0.01). In conclusion, there was a statistically significant benefit of Kampo formulas (KBG in particular) on a dietary model of NAFLD/NASH. Future studies need to be directed at the mechanisms in the treatment of NASH.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine During Cancer Treatment: Beyond Innocence

Nowadays, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is popular all over the world. Billions of dollars are spent in this booming business. For several reasons, young, female, educated, and higher socioeconomic class cancer patients, in particular, have shown interest in these agents. Unfortunately, besides direct (and sometimes serious) side effects, several CAM ingredients are capable of interfering with the metabolism of concurrently used drugs, which may render the therapeutic outcome of the subscribed drug unpredictable. In the case of anticancer drugs, with their usually narrow therapeutic window, this may have dramatic consequences and can lead to unacceptable toxicities in some cases or decreased therapeutic activity in others. Therefore, cancer patients should be warned for these possible interactions and be advised to discuss CAM use openly with their treating physician. The general concept that natural products are harmless should thus be changed into a more realistic and responsible attitude. A tightened legislation and regulation (including Internet advertising and sales) could play a crucial role in this awareness process. This should finally enable safe exploration of the potential advantageous aspects of CAM, while living with cancer.

Health status and health care utilisation of patients in complementary and conventional primary care in Switzerland--an observational study

BACKGROUND

The study is part of a nationwide evaluation of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in primary care in Switzerland.

OBJECTIVES

Patient health status with respect to demographic attributes such as gender, age, and health care utilisation pattern was studied and compared with conventional primary care.

METHODS

The study was performed as a cross-sectional survey including 11932 adult patients seeking complementary or conventional primary care. Patients were asked to document their self-perceived health status by completing a questionnaire in the waiting room. Physicians were performing conventional medicine and/or various forms of complementary primary care such as homeopathy, anthroposophic medicine, neural therapy, herbal medicine, or traditional Chinese medicine. Additional information on patient demographics and yearly consultation rates for participating physicians was obtained from the data pool of all Swiss health insurers. These data were used to confirm the survey results.

RESULTS

We observed considerable and significant differences in demographic attributes of patients seeking complementary and conventional care. Patients seeking complementary care documented longer lasting and more severe main health problems than patients in conventional care. The number of previous physician visits differed between patient groups, which indicates higher consumption of medical resources by CAM patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The study supports the hypothesis of differences in socio-demographic and behavioural attributes of patients seeking conventional medicine or CAM in primary care. The study provides empirical evidence that CAM users are requiring more physician-based medical services in primary care than users of conventional medicine.

Herbs and alternative therapies: Relevance to hypertension and cardiovascular diseases

Herbal remedies, supplements, and alternative therapeutic items are used by many patients with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Scientific knowledge about their efficacy and safety is lacking, and unfortunately, physicians are frequently not aware that patients are using these nontraditional forms of medical care. Patients may anticipate physicians' disapproval of their use, or not realize that it is important for the physician to know what they are taking. Therefore, it is imperative that patients are asked nonjudgmental questions about current and past use of herbals and alternative therapies. Even when physicians are aware of such use, they feel poorly trained to identify the constituents and effects. Although many such therapies are innocuous, several herbal or alternative therapeutic items can significantly elevate blood pressure or cause interactions with cardiovascular drugs. Practitioners in cardiovascular medicine should be competent and know current scientific evidence for the benefits and adverse effects of herbal supplements and provide patients reasonable advice. In this brief article, we review the epidemiology of alternative therapy use, and select several important herbal or other supplements that patients with hypertension and cardiovascular diseases may be taking. We discuss the therapies considered biological in nature as opposed to mind-body interventions or manipulative body or energy therapies.

Herbal remedies in gastroenterology

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is presently not considered to be part of conventional medicine. Nevertheless, an estimated 51% of patients with gastrointestinal disorders have tried some from of CAM. Indeed, 10% of alternative medicines are being used for digestive symptoms. After prayer or spiritual healing, herbal medicine is the second most common CAM therapy. While herbal products make numerous health-related claims, those that have been systematically evaluated are unfortunately few. The modern gastroenterologist must be up to date with the regulations, side effects, and possible benefits of specific herbal products used in patients with gastrointestinal disorders.

Can claims, misleading information, and manufacturing issues regarding dietary supplements be improved in the United States?

The safety and effectiveness of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are assessed through the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) OTC drug review. Prescription drugs are approved through the rigorous new drug application (NDA) process. In contrast, dietary supplements are regulated as foods, and the FDA must determine that a dietary supplement ingredient poses a "significant or unreasonable risk of illness or injury" instead of requiring the manufacturer to provide safety data. According to the FDA, there are more than 29,000 different dietary supplements available to consumers today. This momentum has its roots in consumer interest in health and self-care and suggests that Americans are searching for alternatives to conventional foods for physical and mental well being. The Committee on the Framework for Evaluating the Safety of Dietary Supplements was formed under the auspices of the Food and Nutrition Board that produced a report entitled Dietary Supplements: A Framework for Evaluating Safety. Categories of specific information identified for use are 1) human data, 2) animal studies, 3) in vitro experiments, and 4) information on related substances. Several factors were identified to guide the FDA in applying the framework. Two of these factors are expressed as follows: 1) "the appropriate scientific standard to be used to overturn this basic assumption of safety is to demonstrate significant or unreasonable risk, not prove that an ingredient is unsafe"; and 2) "approaches taken by diverse organizations and governmental bodies, both within and outside the United States, which evaluate the safety and at times efficacy of dietary supplement ingredients, vary in their relevance to the protection of the American public from risks associated with consumption of dietary supplement ingredients".

Ethical and legal issues in antiaging medicine

The development of specific antiaging treatments and the emergence of the practice of antiaging medicine have created new ethical and legal issues. The ultimate desirability of treatments designed to alter human aging is currently an actively debated issue that needs to emerge as an issue of public dialogue, given the potentially dramatic effect these therapies could have on both individual health and societal structure. Current therapies carry many doubts about their safety and effectiveness, which makes the practice of antiaging medicine with the prescription of these therapies a challenging issue from both a legal and ethical perspective. Finally, although the practice of antiaging medicine is not directly recognized and regulated by legislation, both anti-aging treatments and practice are regulated by emerging state and federal legislation that is evolving to address the emerging area of complementary and alternative medicine.