EVALUATING THE EFFICACY OF ASTRAGALUS INJECTION IN MITIGATING HYPERTENSIVE RENAL DAMAGE: IMPLICATIONS FOR ATHLETE HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Objective: To systematically analyze the efficacy of Astragalus Injection, a traditional Chinese herbal remedy, on hypertensive renal damage—a condition of concern for athletes exposed to high physiological stress—which could provide insights into alternative treatments enhancing athlete health and recovery. Methods: We searched databases including PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, Web of Science, CBM, and EMBASE for clinical studies on the impact of Astragalus Injection in treating essential hypertensive renal damage. Quality assessments of included studies were performed using the Cochrane Reviews Handbook's bias risk assessment tool. Meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.4 software. Results: Nine randomized controlled trials were included. Analysis of 24-hour urinary protein levels (a key marker of renal damage) revealed significant improvements in the experimental group compared to controls (SMD = -0.966, 95% CI [-1.56, -0.35], P < 0.05), though with high heterogeneity (I2 = 82%, P < 0.01). Other markers such as β2-microglobulin (β2-Mg), albumin (A1b), and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) also showed significant improvements in the experimental group. The overall therapeutic effectiveness rate was significantly higher in the experimental group (SMD = 1.57, 95% CI [1.28, 1.92], P < 0.05). Conclusion: Astragalus Injection has demonstrated effectiveness in controlling key biomarkers of renal damage in hypertensive conditions, suggesting potential applications in managing similar stress-related renal impairments in athletes. This approach could be an adjunct or alternative to conventional methods, promoting faster recovery and sustained health in sports environments.