A Chinese Medicine, Kuan-Sin-Yin Decoction, Improves Liver Function in Hepatitis B Virus Carriers: A Randomized, Controlled Study

Objective: To examine the effects of a Chinese medical herb complex formula, Kuan-Sin-Yin (KSY) decoction, on hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers. Methods: Of 86 HBV carriers, 57 who met the inclusion criteria completed this study from February 2011 to December 2011 in Taipei City Hospital, Taiwan. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: the KSY group ( n =29) and a control group ( n =28) that received KSY diluted 16 times. The participants took one packet of decoction per day after dinner for 6 weeks. The major outcome measurements were the percentage reduction in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and the log of the HBV DNA level. The other measurements included seroconversion of hepatitis B e antigen and responses to the World Health Organization Quality of Life–Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) and Short-Form-12. The measurements were collected before the first treatment and 6 weeks later. Results: In the KSY group, AST and ALT levels decreased significantly and the score on the physical component of WHOQOL-BREF increased significantly. However, in the control group, there was no significant change after 6 weeks of treatment. Only the KSY group had a significant percentage reduction in ALT (change, −25.2% versus −0.74% in the control group) after 6 weeks of treatment. No major adverse effects occurred after 6 weeks of treatment. Conclusions: KSY significantly improved ALT levels. The study suggests that a longer-term study testing the efficacy of KSY in a larger sample is warranted.