Oral Astragalus Root Supplementation for Mild to Moderate Chronic Kidney Disease: A Self-Controlled Case-Series

Abstract

In this self-controlled case series, we aimed to investigate the variation in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after taking astragalus-containing preparations in patients with mild to moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) by retrospectively reviewing their charts in our clinic. We set the inclusion criteria as first-visit patients aged 20 years or older presenting to our clinic between 1 October 2014, and 31 June 2019, and who were prescribed astragalus-containing herbal preparations for any reason. We calculated the mean eGFR from the readings taken 6 months before (pre) and after (post) the intake of astragalus-containing preparations for each participant. Among the 37 patients included in our final analysis, we found a statistically significant improvement in the eGFR after prescribing astragalus-containing preparations (pre, 66 ± 12 ml/min/1.73 m2 vs. post, 70 ± 14 ml/min/1.73 m2; p < 0.001 by paired t-test). Our results were consistent regardless of age, sex, CKD stage of the participants (G2 or G3), daily dosage of astragalus root, or duration of astragalus-containing preparations. No severe adverse reactions were recorded in the charts of the study participants. Our results suggest that there is eGFR improvement after taking astragalus-containing preparations in mild to moderate CKD cases as reported previously. The findings should be considered with caution due to major limitations such as small sample size without optimum control, short follow-up period, and incomplete data. Further adequately powered and designed studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of the long-term use of astragalus root in patients with mild to moderate CKD.

Synergism of calycosin and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells to combat podocyte apoptosis to alleviate adriamycin-induced focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

“…CA is the top ingredient in Astragalus , which is one of the most widely used herbs in Chinese medicine to treat kidney disease[ 47 - 49 ]. The effectiveness of CA in CKD has been confirmed in recent years[ 50 - 52 ].…”

Traditional Chinese Medicine in the Treatment of Chronic Kidney Diseases: Theories, Applications, and Mechanisms

“…In addition to small clinical trials, a systematic review of 66 studies involving 4,785 diabetic kidney disease participants also demonstrated the benefits of AR injection or preparation in reducing albuminuria, proteinuria, and serum creatinine levels ( Zhang L. et al, 2019 ). Furthermore, AR-containing preparations are effective in improving eGFR in patients with mild to moderate CKD ( Yoshino et al, 2022 ).…”

Renal protective effects of astragalus root in rat models of chronic kidney disease

“…Astragalus root is a commonly used herb in traditional Chinese medicine. It has been reported to have renoprotective effects in some clinical and animal studies [ 5 , 6 ] and has been prescribed for patients with CKD in Japan and China [ 6 , 7 ] However, the pathophysiological mechanism has not been completely elucidated.…”