Horse chestnut seed extract for chronic venous insufficiency

Pittler MH, Ernst E

Published in Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Methodology

Cochrane systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized, placebo-controlled and comparator trials of oral horse chestnut seed extract in patients with chronic venous insufficiency, pooling leg volume, pain, oedema and adverse-event outcomes.

Key Findings

Horse chestnut seed extract reduced leg pain, oedema volume, leg circumference, itching and heaviness compared with placebo in chronic venous insufficiency, with adverse events generally mild and infrequent.

Conclusions

Horse chestnut seed extract improved signs and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, including oedema.

Limitations

Included trials were mostly short (2-16 weeks) with small samples and variable methodological quality, and long-term efficacy and safety remain untested.