SupplementsShen-Qi Paste Shows Promise for Preserving Muscle in Dialysis Patients
Muscle loss can undermine independence in adults receiving dialysis. In a randomized trial, 128 dialysis patients with sarcopenia received Shen-Qi Paste, a traditional Chinese herbal formulation, or placebo for 12 weeks. Both groups also performed light exercise. The paste improved a measure of muscle mass compared with placebo. Grip strength was higher relative to the placebo group, although the abstract reports that strength declined in the paste group, suggesting preservation rather than improvement. Nutrition and sleep scores also favored the paste, but chair stand performance and quality of life did not differ significantly between groups. These preliminary findings do not establish benefits for healthy adults or justify starting the formulation independently. This summary relies on the abstract only, which provides no detailed adverse event results despite the study’s stated safety objective.
