Efficacy and tolerability of micronized purified flavonoid fractions (MPFF) for haemorrhoids: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Aziz Z
Published in Complementary Therapies in Medicine
Methodology
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials from CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE and MEDLINE to April 2018 plus journal and conference proceedings; two authors independently selected trials, extracted data, assessed risk of bias and graded evidence quality.
Key Findings
A systematic review searched CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE and MEDLINE to April 2018 and included 10 randomised trials with 1,164 participants with haemorrhoids. Pooling three studies, micronized purified flavonoid fraction significantly reduced bleeding compared with placebo (risk ratio 1.46, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.93, p = 0.008), but the certainty of that evidence was judged low. No other outcome examined showed a significant benefit over placebo. The authors call for more rigorous research before routine use.
Conclusions
Apart from bleeding, MPFF showed no significant effect on other haemorrhoid outcomes versus placebo.
Limitations
Trials varied in haemorrhoid grade, length and outcomes, most did not adequately describe randomisation or allocation concealment, and the bleeding result rests on only three inconsistent studies rated low certainty.
Related Health Concerns
Study Details
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