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Meta-Analysis
. 2017 Jan 31;26(143):160092.
doi: 10.1183/16000617.0092-2016. Print 2017 Jan.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of complementary and alternative medicine in asthma

Charlotte M Kohn  1 , Priyamvada Paudyal  2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis of complementary and alternative medicine in asthma

Charlotte M Kohn et al. Eur Respir Rev. .

Abstract

Asthma is a chronic, inflammatory lung disease affecting around 235 million people worldwide. Conventional medications in asthma are not curative and patients have significant concerns regarding their side-effects. Consequently, many asthma patients turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for a more holistic approach to care. We systematically reviewed the available evidence on the effectiveness of CAM in the management of asthma in adults.We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED and Cochrane databases for randomised controlled trials published in English between 1990 and 2016 investigating the effectiveness of oral or topical CAM in asthmatic adults. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool.In all, 23 eligible trials were identified covering 19 different CAMs. Overall, there was limited evidence on the effectiveness of CAM in adult asthma as most CAMs were only assessed in a single trial. CAMs with multiple trials provided null or inconsistent results. Many of the trials were rated as having high risk of bias.The existing evidence is insufficient to recommend any of the oral and topical CAMs in the management of asthma in adults.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow chart of article selection process for this review.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Forest plot of comparison: magnesium versus control (outcome: forced expiratory volume in 1 s).
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Forest plot of comparison: vitamin C versus control (outcome: forced expiratory volume in 1 s).
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Forest plot of comparison: vitamin C versus control (outcome: forced vital capacity).
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Forest plot of comparison: vitamin D versus control (outcome: forced expiratory volume in 1 s).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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