Use of herbal dietary supplement si-wu-tang and health-related quality of life in postpartum women: a population-based correlational study.

Objective. The aim of the study was to explore the association between women's use of herbal dietary supplement Si-Wu-Tang during the postpartum period and their health-related quality of life. Methods. This is a population-based correlational study. We used multistage, stratified, systematic sampling to recruit 24,200 pairs of postpartum women and newborns from the Taiwan National Birth Registry in 2005. A structured questionnaire was successfully administered to 87.8% of the sampled population. Trained interviewers performed home interviews 6 months after the women's deliveries between June 2005 and July 2006. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form (SF-36) was used to measure the quality of life of the women along with the frequency of Si-Wu-Tang use. Results. Si-Wu-Tang use after delivery improved women's score for bodily pain and also improved their score for mental health when used more than 10 times. In addition, there were increases in general health and vitality scores in the group who continuously used Si-Wu-Tang more than 10 times after using Sheng-Hua-Tang. Conclusion. Use of Si-Wu-Tang after delivery may be associated with women's health-related quality of life especially for those who previously used Sheng-Hua-Tang. These results are exploratory and need to be replicated.

Dietary supplement intake by 6-month-old Taiwanese infants.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to investigate the types of dietary supplements administered to healthy 6-month-old infants and to identify the factors influencing the use of such supplements. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The present study was based on the Taiwan Birth Cohort Study database. Questionnaires were used to collect information on the use of dietary supplements from birth, infant feeding practices, and other covariates at 6 months of age. We excluded low-birth-weight, preterm babies, and those whose caregivers returned incomplete questionnaires, leaving a sample size of 18,658. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the characteristics capable of predicting the use of supplements in this population. A total of 34.9% of infants were fed dietary supplements from birth. RESULTS: The most common types of supplements administered to infants were probiotics, calcium, and multivitamin/mineral supplements. Formula feeding, earlier weaning, and earlier complementary feeding were positively related to the use of several supplements. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that the use of pediatric dietary supplements is relatively common among infants in Taiwan, even in the earliest stages of life. For infants whose diet is adequate, no need exists for dietary supplements, and excessive intake can adversely influence health. Communication between health professionals and child caregivers should be promoted to increase understanding of infant feeding, as well as the safety and efficacy of dietary supplements.

Use of Sheng-Hua-Tang and health-related quality of life in postpartum women: a population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND: Although Sheng-Hua-Tang (comprising Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Ligustici Rhizoma, Semen Persicae, Zingiberis Rhizoma and Glycyrrhizae Radix) use during the postpartum has been popular in Chinese communities over a long period, its benefits have not been evaluated in terms of its effects on the health-related quality of life of postpartum women. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to explore the relation between different patterns of Sheng-Hua-Tang use and the health-related quality of life in postpartum women. DESIGN: A longitudinal birth cohort follow-up study. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: We used multistage stratified systematic sampling to recruit 24,200 pairs, postpartum women and newborns, from the Taiwan national birth register in 2005. A structured questionnaire was successfully administered to 87.8% of the sampled population. METHODS: Subjects underwent a home interview 6 months after their deliveries between June 2005 and July 2006. The Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form (SF-36) was used to measure the quality of life of the women with different patterns of Sheng-Hua-Tang use. RESULTS: Compared with those who never used after delivery, the scores of role limitations due to physical health and emotional problems significantly increased in women who used Sheng-Hua-Tang within 1 month only but decreased in those who continuously used within 1 month and later. In addition, the scores of role limitations due to physical health and emotional problems significantly increased in women who used Sheng-Hua-Tang regardless of the frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Sheng-Hua-Tang use during the first month of the postpartum period may have a positive effect on women's health-related quality of life especially in terms of role limitations due to physical health and emotional problems. However, continuous use after the first month of the postpartum period might have a negative effect on women's quality of life. Further studies are needed to replicate the results and elucidate the causal relations.

Chinese herbal medicine use in Taiwan during pregnancy and the postpartum period: a population-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Using Chinese herbal medicines during pregnancy and postpartum is common in the Chinese community. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this current study is to explore the use of Chinese herbal medicines by women during pregnancy and postpartum in Taiwan. DESIGN: It is an on-going prospective longitudinal study design. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: We used multistage stratified systematic sampling to recruit 24,200 pairs, postpartum women and newborns, from the Taiwan national birth register in 2005. Subjects underwent a home interview 6 months after their deliveries between June 2005 and July 2006. A structured questionnaire was successfully administered to 87.8% of the sampled population. RESULTS: At least one Chinese herbal medicine was used by 33.6% and 87.7% of the interviewed subjects during pregnancy and the postpartum period, respectively. An-Tai-Yin, Pearl powder, and Huanglian were the most commonly used during pregnancy, while Shen-Hua-Tang and Suz-Wu-Tang were the most commonly used by postpartum women. Pregnant women aged 20-34, with high education, threatened abortion, chronic disease, and primipara appeared to use more Chinese herbal medicines than others in the sample. Postpartum women with high education, primipara, normal spontaneous delivery, and breastfeeding were found to use more Chinese herbal medicines; but women with pregnancy-related illness used less. CONCLUSIONS: Chinese herbal medicines are frequently used by women during pregnancy and the postpartum period in Taiwan and those with high education and primipara used more such herbs. Due to limited safety information on these herbs, we would advise caution regarding their use either during pregnancy or postpartum breastfeeding period. Moreover, it is important for nurses/midwifes enquiring about such habits, and providing the adequate education to women during prenatal and postpartum care to prevent potential side effects.

Chinese herbal medicines used in pregnancy: a population-based survey in Taiwan.

PURPOSE: To explore the use (prevalence and related factors) of Chinese herbal medicines used by pregnant women. METHODS: We used multistage stratified systematic sampling to recruit 2048 postpartum women from the Taiwan national birth register between November and December 2003. Subjects underwent a home interview 6 months after their deliveries. A structured questionnaire was successfully applied to 87% of the sampled population. RESULTS: At least one Chinese herbal medicine was used during pregnancy by 24.1% of the interviewed subjects. Pregnant women with threatened abortion appeared to use more Chinese herbal medicines than other pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Chinese herbal medicines are frequently used by pregnant women in Taiwan and are very frequently used by those with a threatened abortion.

Herbal medicines used during the first trimester and major congenital malformations: an analysis of data from a pregnancy cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Major congenital malformations place a considerable burden on the affected child, the family and society. Any kind of medicine used during pregnancy might have a harmful impact; therefore, such practice has raised concerns. The objective of the current study was to explore the relationship between the use of herbal medicines by pregnant women during the first trimester of pregnancy and the risk of major congenital malformation in their live born infants. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from a prospective pregnancy cohort, which was established between 1984 and 1987. To assemble the cohort, pregnant women of >or=26 weeks of gestation who came to the Taipei Municipal Maternal and Child Hospital in Taiwan for prenatal care were enrolled in the study and interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Detailed information, including herbal medicine use during different periods of pregnancy, was obtained during the interview. Past medical history, current obstetric data and details on conventional medicines used during pregnancy were abstracted from medical records. Data on birth weight, gestational duration and characteristics of live born infants were gathered from the Taiwan national birth register. Congenital malformation information was obtained from multiple sources: the newborn examination record (1984-7); the national death register (1984-2003); and Taiwan National Health Insurance data (1996-2000). Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratio [OR] of major congenital malformation by herbal medicines used during the first trimester. RESULTS: A total of 14,551 live births were analysed. After adjustment for confounding factors, taking huanglian during the first trimester of pregnancy was found to be associated with increased risk of congenital malformations of the nervous system (adjusted OR 8.62, 95% CI 2.54, 29.24). An-Tai-Yin was associated with an increased risk of congenital malformations of the musculoskeletal and connective tissues (adjusted OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.10, 2.36) and the eye (adjusted OR 7.30, 95% CI 1.47, 36.18). CONCLUSION: We found evidence for a possible link between the use of specific herbal medicines during the first trimester of pregnancy and increased risks of specific groups of congenital malformations. We could not investigate whether the adverse effects were related to direct toxicity from the herbal medicines, or were from misuse, contamination or uncontrolled confounding. Nonetheless, we would advise caution regarding use of herbal medicines during pregnancy, and we suggest that further investigation of these findings is warranted.

Use of Coptidis Rhizoma and foetal growth: a follow-up study of 9,895 pregnancies.

PURPOSE: To explore the effect of Coptidis Rhizoma on foetal growth in pregnancy. METHODS: During 1985-1987, each pregnant woman with 26 or more weeks of gestation who came to the Taipei Municipal Maternal and Child Hospital for prenatal care was enrolled and interviewed by three trained interviewers using structured questionnaires to obtain detailed information including the herbal medicines used during pregnancy. Medical histories of diabetes, hypertension, antepartum haemorrhage and medicines used during pregnancy were abstracted from medical records of mothers'. Data of birth weight, gestational duration and characteristics of infants were gathered from the Taiwan national birth registration. A total of 9,895 singleton livebirths were analysed. The variables related to foetal growth included two dichotomous measures: low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA); and one continuous measure: birth weight. Potential risk factors associated with these outcomes were investigated using multiple logistic and linear regression models. RESULTS: After adjustment, pregnant women taking Coptidis Rhizoma during pregnancy had no significantly adverse effect on foetal growth. There was a non-significantly slightly decreased mean of birth weight and increased risk of LBW and SGA babies if the frequency of using Coptidis Rhizoma was more than 56 times. CONCLUSIONS: The usual usage of Coptidis Rhizoma during pregnancy seemed not to increase the adverse risk on foetal growth. Future observations for use of longer than 56 times or a higher cumulated dose were needed to clarify the safety.