Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40937416›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in endocrinology2025

Traditional Chinese medicine for diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a network meta-analysis.

Jinglin Hu, Haili Wang, Xiaogang Hao, Ting Pan, Xuefeng Li, Xue Zhou, Siyi Wang, Yubo Gong, Lingfeng Wu, Shuo Dong and 2 more

Abstract readNetwork Meta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Review
  4. Review
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Jinglin Hu *College of Acupuncture and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Haili Wang *Department of Acupuncture and Tuina, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Xiaogang HaoDepartment of Acupuncture and Tuina, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Ting PanDepartment of Acupuncture and Tuina, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Xuefeng LiDepartment of Acupuncture and Tuina, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Xue ZhouCollege of Acupuncture and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Siyi WangCollege of Acupuncture and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Yubo GongCollege of Acupuncture and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Lingfeng WuCollege of Acupuncture and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Shuo DongCollege of Acupuncture and Tuina, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Xinhua ChenDepartment of Acupuncture and Tuina, Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.
Xichen WangSchool of Medical Information, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun, Jilin, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by high morbidity and significant disability. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown potential in relieving symptoms and improving neurological function through multi-targeted mechanisms; however, the efficacy and safety of different TCM therapies have yet to be systematically evaluated. Objective: This study aims to provide evidence-based medicine for treating DPN with TCM therapy by network meta-analysis (NMA). Methods: This study comprehensively searched nine databases constructed up to November 2024. The quality and evidence of the included RCTs were assessed using the risk of bias assessment tool and GRADE pro, and pairwise meta-analysis and NMA were performed using RevMan, Stata, and R Studio. The results showed that 95 RCTs involving 8194 patients were included, containing 9 TCM therapies. Results: TCM Decoration + Acupuncture ranked highest in improving the motor conduction velocity of the common peroneal nerve (SUCRA = 0.81), followed by TCM Decoction + Chinese Herbal Footbath (SUCRA = 0.80), electroacupuncture (SUCRA = 0.75). Regarding the sensory conduction velocity of the common peroneal nerve, TCM Decoration + Chinese Herbal Foot (SUCRA=0.87) ranked first, followed by TCM Decoction + Acupuncture (SUCRA = 0.83), and TCM Decoction (SUCRA = 0.51). Electroacupuncture (SUCRA = 0.83) ranks first in improving median nerve motor conduction velocity, followed by TCM Decoction + Acupuncture (SCURA = 0.98), TCM Decoction (SUCRA = 0.55). TCM Decoration + Acupuncture (SUCRA=0.98) ranks first in improving the sensory conduction velocity of the median nerve, followed by electroacupuncture (SUCRA = 0.51), and Chinese Patent Medicine (SUCRA = 0.51). TCM Decoration + Chinese Herbal Footbath (SUCRA = 0.85) ranked first in improving overall clinical symptoms of DPN. Conclusion: The effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine therapy in treating DPN have been preliminarily verified. In clinical practice, conservative clinical stratification selection can be made based on the results of this study and the actual situation. In addition, due to the limited quality of the included studies, larger sample sizes and high-quality research are still needed. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier (CRD42024589159).

Indexed as

Diabetic NeuropathiesDrugs, Chinese HerbalMedicine, Chinese TraditionalAcupuncture TherapyHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicDrugs, Chinese Herbaldiabetic peripheral neuropathymeta-analysisnetwork meta-analysisTCMtraditional Chinese medicine

Identifiers

PMID40937416
PMCPMC12420273

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.