Study design
This is a randomized controlled clinical trial. The research protocol is compliant with the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) guidelines[11] as well as the Standard Protocol Items: Recommendations for Interventional Trials (SPIRIT) statement[12]. The SPIRIT checklist is presented in additional file 1.
This study has been approved by the ethics committee of Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. The patients will be recruited from the Department of Reproduction of Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. Informed consent will be obtained from each participant before the study procedure is performed according to good clinical practice. This trial has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100043415) and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Participants
A total of 190 patients diagnosed with PCOS and IR will be recruited in this study after signing informed consent. All of them will be provided with the background information, purpose, possible benefits and harms of this study. The recruitment plan will begin in March 2021 and be completed in March 2022.
Inclusion criteria
- Chinese women aged from 18 to 35 years old.
- BMI[13] over 25.0 kg/m2.
- Confirmed diagnosis of PCOS according to the 2003 Rotterdam criteria[14]: (a) irregular menstruation cycles (a periodic interval >35 days or <8 cycles in a year) or amenorrhea (a periodic interval >90 days) or abnormal uterine bleeding; (b) clinical manifestations of hyperandrogenism (hirsutism in mainland China is taken as Ferriman-Gallwey score ≥5[15]) and/or hyperandrogenemia [free androgen index (FAI)=total testosterone (nmol/L)/SHBG (nmol/L)*100 >4.5[16]]; and (c) transvaginal ultrasonography showing PCOM: the number of follicles with a diameter of 2-9 mm in one or both ovaries ≥12, and/or ovarian volume ≥10 ml [ovarian volume calculation: 0.5* long diameter (cm) * diameter (cm) * anteroposterior diameter (cm)]. Among all the above, (a) is a necessary condition, and matching one of (b) or (c) represents suspected PCOS, which then requires ruling out other factors and diseases that may cause hyperandrogenism and ovulation dysfunction.
- In line with the diagnosis criteria of TCM syndrome differentiation: kidney deficiency and phlegm dampness.
- Confirming the diagnosis of insulin resistance: the criteria of IR are defined according to the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) [fasting plasma glucose (mmol/l) * fasting serum insulin (uIU/ml)/22.5]. A value ≥2.29[17] is considered to be indicative of IR.
- No history of using hormone drugs or drugs that affect glucose metabolism within the 3 months prior to treatment.
- Volunteer to participate in this trial and give informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
- Patients with any other endocrine diseases related to this disease (such as Cushing's syndrome, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, 21-hydroxylase deficiency, hyperprolactinemia, uncorrected thyroid disease, type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, etc. ).
- Patients with congenital malformations or defects of the reproductive system, organic lesions of the reproductive system (such as uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, etc. ).
- Patients with reproductive malignancies (such as endometrial cancer, cervical cancer, etc. ).
- Patients with genital inflammation, genital tuberculosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
- One of the spouses has a sexually transmitted disease such as syphilis and AIDS.
- Patients with serious primary diseases of the cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, liver, kidney and hematopoietic systems or psychoses.
- Patients with chromosomal abnormalities, pregnancy or lactation.
- Interventions of any other medication treatments, including hormone drugs, drugs that will affect glucose metabolism, Chinese herbal prescriptions or acupuncture in the previous 3 months.
- Patients allergic to the drugs used in this study.
- Patients in other clinical trials at the same time.
Interventions
After baseline measurements, participants satisfying the inclusion criteria will be randomly divided into one of the following 5 clinical groups:
- Group A: metformin at a dose of 500 mg per meal, 3 times per day, orally for 2 courses.
- Group B: BSHTD at a total dose of 400 ml per day, divided into 2 oral, doses for a total of 2 courses.
- Group C: Baduanjin exercise for 30 minutes per day, for a total of 2 courses.
- Group D: BSHTD combined with metformin, orally for 2 courses.
- Group E: BSHTD combined with Baduanjin exercise, for a total of 2 courses.
Group A: Metformin
For the purpose of reducing symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort caused by metformin, the daily oral dose will be gradually increased from 500 mg during the first week, to 1000 mg during the second week, and to 1500 mg during the third week. From the fourth week onwards, the daily oral dose will be maintained at 500 mg per meal, 3 times per day (orally along with breakfast, lunch and dinner). One course of treatment is three months long, and patients will be given a total of two courses.
Group B: Bushen Huatan Decoction
The Bushen Huatan Decoction is composed of 12 g of Cuscuta chinensis Lam, 12 g of Astragali Radix, 10 g of Atractylodis Rhizoma, 12 g of Cyperi Rhizoma, 10 g of Poria, 9 g of Pinelliae Rhizoma, and 6 g of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium. The patients will take a total dose of 400 ml, divided into 2 oral doses per day (one hour after breakfast and one hour after dinner), and will stop taking it during menstruation. In the course of the trial, the TCM doctor will add or subtract the herbal medicine according to the patients' systemic and local concomitant symptoms. One course of treatment is three months long, and patients will be given a total of two courses. If a pregnancy test is positive during the course, the Bushen Huatan Decoction will be changed to kidney-nourishing and foetal soothing prescriptions to prevent miscarriage.
Group C: Baduanjin exercise
The Baduanjin exercise newly promulgated by the Ministry of Sport of China in 2003 will be adopted in this trial. We will guide the patients to learn Baduanjin exercise through 8 courses and ensure that all participants can master standard movements. After that, the patients will consciously perform these exercises at home once a day, for 30 minutes each session, and will stop during menstruation. One course of treatment is three months long, and patients will be given a total of two courses. We will provide free training videos and daily training registration cards to urge and monitor practice attendance.
Group D: Bushen Huatan Decoction combined with metformin
The patients will take a total dose of 400 ml of Bushen Huatan Decoction, divided into 2 oral doses per day (one hour after breakfast and one hour after lunch), and stop the intervention during menstruation, together with the daily dose of metformin (the regimen is the same as that of group A).
Group E: Bushen Huatan decoction combined with Baduanjin exercise
The daily oral solution of Bushen Huatan Decoction is similar to that of group B; in addition, the participants in this group are required to practice Baduanjin exercise during the stage of the trial (the specific exercise program is similar to that of group C). All interventions will be stopped during menstruation. One course of treatment is three months long, and patients will be given a total of two courses.
Follow up
To assess the accuracy of diagnosis, effectiveness and safety of treatment in individual interventions, a follow-up via face-to-face interview, telephone, WeChat, text message, or e-mail will be conducted 6 months after the final treatment. During this stage, none of the subjects will receive any other therapy other than routine cervical care. The case observers will investigate the situation of all participants, mainly including menstrual cycle, TCM syndromes and signs, the appearance of hyperandrogenism (body weight, excessive hairiness, acne, acanthosis nigricans), and pregnancy. Participants are welcome to inform the assessors of their clinical symptoms at additional times throughout the experimental period.
Patient and public involvement
This trial was designed by investigators in accordance with previous clinical experience and pertinent literature. No patients were involved in the design of this study. All participants will be guided to learn Baduanjin exercise through 8 educational courses. We will also give general information about IR-PCOS in these courses and encourage the participants to ask questions and give us feedback to ensure the smooth progress of this trial. The cost of interventions and clinical examination will be mostly covered by study funding so it won’t to be a significant burden and will be in line with participants preferences. We will also send out a summary of their own clinical data and the study results to all participants at the completion of the trial.
Study specific visits and procedures
All participants will receive 2 courses of treatment lasting for 6 months and will be followed up for 6 months. All participants will attend a total of 6 visits: screening visit, baseline visit, first course visit, end-of-treatment visit, and two follow-up visits. Simultaneously, close monitoring of possible adverse events during the trial process will be performed. A flowchart of this trial is depicted in Figure 1. The schedule of trial enrolment, intervention and assessment is expounded in Table 1.
Outcome measurements
Primary outcomes
The primary outcomes are changes in HOMA-IR (calculated according to the fasting plasma glucose and serum insulin) and improvements in the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and insulin-releasing test (INS).
Secondary outcomes
The secondary outcomes will include the levels of basic serum sex hormones [including luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), oestradiol (E2), testosterone (T), progesterone (P), prolactin (PRL), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG)], the ovulation rate in each menstrual cycle, the clinical pregnancy rate, BMI, FAI, Ferriman-Gallwey scores, TCM syndrome scores and security index tests (including routine blood examination, routine urine and stool tests, hepatic and renal function, and ECG examination).
All the participants will be instructed to return to visit the doctor every week. They will be contacted by phone if they miss a scheduled appointment. All clinical progress, adverse events and additional medication use will be recorded at every visit.
Sample size calculation
The sample size calculated by Power Analysis & Sample Size (NCSS-PASS 11.0) was assessed based on HOMA-IR, which is the most significant outcome in this trial. In a one-way ANOVA study, sample sizes of 30, 30, 30, 30, and 30 were obtained for the 5 groups whose means are to be compared. A total sample size of 150 subjects achieves 90% power to detect differences among the means versus the alternative of equal means using an F test with a 5% significance level. By enrolling 38 participants in each group, we allow the rate of attrition to be estimated to be 20%.
Randomization and allocation concealment
The eligible participants will be allocated into 5 groups at a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 1: 1. The Department of Reproduction of Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine will use a random number generator of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 to carry out the randomization process. The random sequences will be put into several opaque paper envelopes, numbered sequentially and then distributed to clinical researchers and doctors[18]. When new patients are recruited in this trial, the opaque paper envelopes will be opened to decide their distribution; moreover, the researchers will arrange the corresponding interventions for the patients. All procedures above will be maintained and followed as appropriate.
Blinding
This study is a single-blinded trial. Outcome assessors and people responsible for statistical analysis will be blinded to the randomization status.
Data collection and management
Documentations such as case report forms (CRFs) will be applied to record relevant information (personal identity information, clinical data, etc.) of each participant. All medical information will be accurately recorded and kept strictly confidential in an electronic database that needs special permissions. Information in the database and all original materials will be stored by a member of this trial who will never be involved in the clinical data collection throughout the whole process. All members of this study will keep the participants' information confidential. A data monitoring committee will not be necessary given the known safety of the proposed interventions.
Statistical analysis
Clinical data of all participants will be disposed in the final statistical analysis based on the intent-to-treat principle to determine the robustness of the evidence. The data processors will be unaware of the specific allocation situation. Basic indicators will be analysed to test the balance of each group at baseline. Comparisons will be processed based on changes from baseline to the end of the intervention and follow-up. The one sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and graphical methods will be applied to test the normal distribution of continuous variables (such as the levels of basic serum sex hormones, HOMA-IR, ovulation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, BMI, FAI, Ferriman-Gallwey scores and TCM syndrome scores), which will be presented as the mean ± standard deviation if normally distributed and as the median with an interquartile range if not normally distributed. A paired T-test or the Wilcoxon rank test will be used to compare variables within a group from baseline to the end of the intervention. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni correction will be carried out to compare differences among groups of continuous variables consistent with a normal distribution. Continuous variables that do not meet the normal distribution will be processed by using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Mann-Whitney U test. Categorical variables will be analysed by chi-square statistics when appropriate, and Fisher's exact test will be used to compare discrete variables with fewer than 5 observations. All data analyses will be processed by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. A P value <0.05 with a two-tailed test and mean difference with 95% confidence intervals will be considered statistically significant.
Ethics and dissemination
The protocol has been approved by the ethics committee of Zhangjiagang TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine. This trial has been registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100043415) and conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. The results of this trial will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals.
Safety
All adverse events occurring during the study period will be documented in CRFs. Serious adverse events (SAEs) will be reported to the principal investigator within 24 hours. All SAEs must be recorded on the adverse events page of the CRFs. The principal investigator is responsible for the management of security reports according to local guidelines.