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This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial investigated whether Weishen Decoction — a traditional Chinese medicine herbal formula — could safely and effectively treat osteoporosis in elderly patients aged 60 to 80 years who also presented with a kidney-yang deficiency pattern. Seventy-two participants were divided equally into two groups: one receiving Weishen Decoction granules and the other receiving a placebo over twelve weeks. Importantly, no conventional osteoporosis treatments, including calcium or vitamin D supplements, were permitted during the trial, meaning the herbal formula was tested as a standalone therapy.
The primary measure of success was a composite traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, incorporating back pain assessed via a visual analogue scale, bone mineral density measurements at the lumbar spine and femoral neck, and blood markers of bone metabolism. All seventy-two participants completed the trial. The Weishen Decoction group achieved a notably higher overall effective rate compared with placebo (66.7% versus 41.7%), a statistically significant difference. Exploratory analysis also suggested a meaningful improvement in femoral neck bone mineral density in the treatment group, though lumbar spine bone mineral density did not show a statistically significant difference between groups. No serious adverse events were recorded in either group.
The authors acknowledge that twelve weeks is a relatively short period to detect meaningful bone density changes, and they characterise the bone mineral density findings as preliminary and hypothesis-generating rather than definitive.
Conclusion: Weishen Decoction appears to be safe and shows encouraging early signs of efficacy for symptom relief in elderly osteoporosis patients, though longer confirmatory trials are needed.
Source: Gao S, Zhao B. Journal of visualized experiments : JoVE (2026). View on PubMed (PMID 42615470) · doi:10.3791/71174
