OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Renshen Jianxin Capsule (RJC) on insulin resistance in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) and glucose tolerance impairment (GTI).

METHODSEighty patients with CHD-GTI of qi-deficiency blood-stasis syndrome were randomly assigned to 2 groups equally, the treated group was treated by RJC and the control group by metformin, based on the conventional Western medical treatment with nitric esters for 20 weeks. Changes before and after treatment in clinical symptoms and levels of blood glucose insulin, and insulin sensitivity index (ISI) were observed.

RESULTSThe scores of clinical symptoms of Chinese medicine decreased in both groups, which showed statistical significances compared with those before treatment (P<0.01, P<0.05). On alleviating the angina pectoris, the markedly effective rate of the treated group is 47.5%, the total effective rate was 80.0%, and the difference between the two groups showed statistical significance (P<0.05). FBG, INS and ISI were improved significantly in both groups after treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01); while the three indices showed in significant difference between the two groups after treatment (P> 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRJC was effective in improving insulin resistant, which may be one of the mechanisms of its therapeutic effect on CHD.