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Ancient herbal formula put to the test against Age-Related muscle loss

NCT ID NCT05919368

Disease control Sponsor: Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing This study
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Sep 04, 2026 · Last updated Sep 04, 2026

Summary

This trial tests whether Shanyu pill, a traditional Chinese herbal supplement made from yam, Atractylodes, and ginseng, can help older adults with sarcopenia, a condition marked by progressive muscle loss and weakness. Researchers will give 192 participants either the pill or a placebo for 24 weeks, then track changes in muscle mass, strength, and physical performance. The study also looks at whether the pill affects cognitive function and gut health, exploring a possible gut-muscle-brain connection. If successful, this could point toward a new, natural way to support healthy aging.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Shanyu pill, a dietary supplement made from Chinese yam, Atractylodes macrocephala, and ginseng
What this could lead to
If it works, Shanyu pill could offer a natural option to slow or reverse muscle loss in older adults, potentially improving strength, mobility, and quality of life.
What could go wrong
This is an early-stage trial with 192 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The supplement could also fail to outperform placebo, and its long-term safety is not yet established.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

192 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Jul 2023

Expected to finish

Dec 2026

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

60 to 85 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 60-85 years; meeting the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia and the traditional Chinese medicine diagnostic criteria for spleen qi deficiency syndrome. 2. Able to understand and cooperate with study procedures and voluntarily provide written informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Severe neurological or musculoskeletal disorders that may affect motor function, including severe osteoporosis or severe osteoarthritis. 2. Severe cardiovascular, pulmonary, or psychiatric disorders; uncontrolled endocrine or metabolic diseases; or severe hepatic or renal dysfunction, including cirrhosis, renal failure, or dialysis. 3. Inability to communicate effectively with the investigators because of speech impairment or uncorrected hearing impairment. 4. Severe cognitive impairment, defined as a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score \<24, resulting in an inability to understand or complete the study questionnaires and assessments. 5. Use of growth hormone, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, or related hormonal supplements within the previous 3 months, or presence of severe nutritional deficiency. 6. Participation in another clinical trial or a clinical trial involving traditional Chinese medicine supplements within the previous 3 months.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Sarcopenia

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Sarcopenia

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Rehabilitation Hospital Affiliated to Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

    Fuzhou, Fujian, 350003, China

  • The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

    Fuzhou, Fujian, 350003, China

  • The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University

    Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510655, China

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