Effect of Sancaijiangtang on plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and vascular dementia: a single-blind randomized controlled trial

To observe the effect of Sancaijiangtang powders on plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels. We sought to identify the common pathological link and mechanism of action for Traditional Chinese medicine in type 2 diabetes mellitus and vascular dementia, and to explicate the material basis for treating the different diseases with the same method in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In total, 168 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and vascular dementia were enrolled in the study, and randomly divided into two groups by simple randomization. Patients in the treatment group received oral Sancaijiangtang powders with pioglitazone hydrochloride three times daily, while patients in the control group received pioglitazone hydrochloride alone. The treatment course was for 12 weeks. Mini-mental state examinations (Chinese version) and Montreal Cognitive Assessments (Beijing version) were performed, and fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, hemoglobin A1c, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, plasma nitric oxide and endothelin-1 levels were measured before and after the treatment. The post-treatment levels for all measurements in both groups were better than pre-treatment levels (P < 0.05). The post-treatment levels for all measurements in the treatment group were better than the levels measured in the control group (P < 0.05). Type 2 diabetes mellitus and vascular dementia have common pathological mechanisms for insulin resistance and endothelium dysfunction. Sancaijiangtang powders could improve the release of nitric oxide and inhibit the secretion of endothelin-1. Therefore, the material basis exists for treating the different diseases with the same method in Traditional Chinese Medicine.