ESPE Yearbook of Paediatric Endocrinology

qhfka9357@naver.com Integr Med Res 11 (2022) 100832. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2022.100832

Brief Summary: This systematic review found that East Asian traditional medicine (EATM) therapies may have beneficial effects in children with idiopathic short stature, however, high-quality studies are necessary.

The authors reviewed 14 studies (1,066 participants) that investigated the effects of East Asian traditional medicines (EATMs) on childhood height. EATMs are widely used to treat various conditions, including idiopathic short stature (ISS). Such treatments include acupuncture, moxibustion (the burning of leaves of mug wort, a small, spongy herb that is believed to enhance acupuncture), herbal medicine, and qigong (a series of exercises that optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit). Such an analysis is welcome when considering the high cost of growth hormone (GH) therapy, the most commonly used approach for the management of ISS. Unfortunately, most of the studies discussed by the authors were prone to bias in at least some areas, were of short duration (6–12 months) and, with one exception, lacked post-study follow up.

The main conclusion is that EATMS alone may increase height velocity compared to no treatment. The best results were obtained with the combination of GH and herbal remedies (well described in the article). The underlying mechanism of herbal remedies is unclear and might range from a direct effect on growth to indirect improvements in other conditions limiting growth. Despite the many limitations of these studies, it is suggested that the results could serve as a rationale for high-quality studies that formally evaluate the effects of EATMs on growth.