Study shows TCM raised live birth rates in over 35s

A clinical research paper on a traditional Chinese medicine that can help increase live births in advanced maternal age women was published in the academic journal Nature Communications in January.

Zishen Yutai, developed by Guangzhou Baiyunshanzhongyi Pharmaceutical Co, a subsidiary of Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings, can significantly increase the live birth rate in women aged 35 and above during fresh embryo transfer cycles, with a relative increase of nearly 23 percent, according to the research paper.

The publication marked the first time that Nature Communications had featured clinical research on the application of TCM in reproductive medicine.

The live birth rate is considered the gold standard for evaluating assisted reproductive outcomes, as it more directly reflects the ultimate clinical value compared to surrogate indicators like implantation rate or clinical pregnancy rate.

The research, led by professor Yang Dongzi from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, and professor Zhang Heping from Yale University, was based on a randomized clinical trial, which was conducted across the reproductive centers of 12 tertiary hospitals in China.

A total of 1,467 women aged 35-42 undergoing fresh transfers of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection have participated in the randomized clinical trial.

In addition to the increased live birth rate, there were notable improvements in the positive pregnancy test rate, embryo implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate for advanced maternal age women after taking the pills.

By validating the wisdom and experience of TCM through internationally recognized modern clinical research methods, Chinese medicine will gain broader recognition within the international medical community, according to Yang.

"The TCM medication provides an example for the modernization and internationalization of traditional Chinese medicine, bringing new hope to older families trying to conceive," Yang said.

Future efforts will continue to deepen research, promote the integration of Chinese and Western medicine in the field of assisted reproduction, and expand the international influence of TCM, he added.

With social development and changes in marriage and childbirth trends, as well as the implementation of China's two-child and three-child policies, the fertility needs of older women have become increasingly prominent in recent years.

According to data from the National Health Commission in 2023, the proportion of mothers aged 35 and above in China exceeded 18.7 percent, with over 25 percent in first-tier cities.

An increasing number of older women are turning to assisted reproductive technology to fulfill their reproductive aspirations.

Publication of the research outcome highlights the vast potential for the development of TCM, according to Luo Songping, a national distinguished TCM practitioner and a professor at the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine.

"The study, based on a rigorous clinical research design, provides relatively reliable evidence-based medical evidence, further supporting the application value of TCM in assisted reproduction," Luo said.

The medication is available in the Macao market as well as on the Chinese mainland.

qiuquanlin@chinadaily.com.cn