The Effect of Channa Striatus Extract on Serum Albumin and High Sensitive C-Reactive Protein in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients

Study design This research was a randomized, double blinded, 2-arm parallel comparative study of CS extract vs placebo. This was conducted at the Department of Kidney and Hypertension, Moewardi General Hospital Surakarta from January 2021 - March 2021. The researcher has obtained an ethical clearance from the local ethics commission for basic/clinical research at Moewardi General Hospital, Surakarta.

Patient selection The population in this study were ESRD patients aged between 18 and 60 years old who underwent HD and CAPD at Moewardi General Hospital, Surakarta and agreed to being included in this study. Patients with history of malignancies, autoimmune disease, and active infection all were excluded. Patients who had taken any form albumin, herbal supplementation, antioxidant, steroid, immunosuppressive or heparin medication were also excluded. Sample selection was done by consecutive sampling to all eligible ESRD patients. The samples in this study would be divided into 2 groups; treatment group and control group, each had the same proportion of HD and CAPD patient.

Randomization and blinding The participants were randomized into 2 equal size groups which were the CS and placebo group. Participants were numbered sequentially following time of participation, and the type of RRT received. This separation of numbering according to RRT was performed to ensure an equal proportion of RRT received in both groups. A randomization list was generated using Random Allocation Software and subject numbers were allocated with 1:1 ratio, separately according to the type of RRT received. Blinding of participants and attending physicians were achieved by using identical capsules of placebo and CS extract.

The intervention The CS extract was obtained from ONOIWA® capsules (PT. Natura Nuswantara Nirmala, Tangerang, Indonesia) and purchased from a retail drug store. Each capsule contained pure 500 mg CS extract powder. The placebo used was 500 mg maltodextrin powder encapsulated in the same capsule color of the CS extract capsule. The placebo was prepared in Pharmacy Department of Moewardi General Hospital, and pre-purchased from a commercial drug store. Both of the groups consumed the extract of the placebo, with a dose of three times a day for 21 days.

Study visit and endpoint The venous blood samples for hs-CRP and albumin were collected before the administration of intervention, and at day 21. All of the tubes were then sent to the Department of Clinical Pathology at Moewardi General Hospital for the blood analysis to be performed. All social demographic feature of the patients were collected at baseline, including gender, age, type and length of RRT treatment. All of the patients were then monitored at each weekly visit to examine their clinical status and will be drop-outed when clinical deterioration occurred.