Allgemeine Homöopathische Zeitung 2017; 262(02): 2-76
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1601115
Vorträge
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

First results of a new systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials of ultra-low doses and high dilutions

Erste Ergebnisse einer neuen systematischen Übersicht mit Meta-Analyse kontrollierter, klinischer Studien mit potenzierten Arzneien

K Gaertner
1   University of Bern, Institute for Complementary Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
,
L Torchetti
1   University of Bern, Institute for Complementary Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
,
M Frei-Erb
1   University of Bern, Institute for Complementary Medicine, Bern, Switzerland
,
M Kundi
2   Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
,
M Frass
2   Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
21 March 2017 (online)

 

Background:

Though there exists a considerable amount of placebo-controlled trials and several meta-analyses of ultra-low doses (ULD) and high dilutions (HD) of active ingredients, their benefits remain unclear due to the variety of homeopathic interventions, and to limited transferability of homeopathic practice into experimental conditions of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and vice versa.

Aim:

The aim was to conduct a comprehensive systematic review with meta-analyses focusing on the epidemiological reality of ULD/HD use and on the applicability of the results for therapeutic practice. The study protocol foresees three meta-analyses of clinical effects of ULD and HD drugs: 1) compared to placebo in 9 pathology-based subgroups; 2) compared to conventional treatment in 9 pathology-based subgroups; and 3) in preventive use.

Method:

In addition to available studies from previous reviews, an extended literature research was conducted considering 'grey' literature (e.g. theses, conference proceedings), too. In contrast to prior reviews not only RCTs but also controlled observational studies were eligible. Studies testing the effects of substances beyond 3C homeopathic potentiation against placebo or standard-care in diseased humans will be included for risk of bias assessments and meta-analyses.

Result:

Literature search and data-extraction will be concluded by the end of 2016. First descriptive results will be presented at the conference. To date of abstract submission, 536 studies have been identified for full-text screening: 350 are recognized as RCTs (65%) and 82 as controlled trials with unclear randomization status (15%). 161 full-texts have been reviewed, out of which 77 will be included for data-extraction (48%).