Treatment of Hyperuricemia with Individualized Homeopathic Medicines: Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Hyperuricemia is a disorder resulting from disrupted purine metabolism, leading to excessive production and/or inadequate excretion of uric acid, thereby increasing serum uric acid (SUA) levels. Although homeopathic literature documents an ample successfully treated cases of hyperuricemia and gout, high-quality research evidence remains lacking. Objective: This trial evaluated the efficacy of individualized homeopathic medicines (IHMs) against placebos in the treatment of hyperuricemia. Materials and Methods: A 3-month, double-blind, randomized (1:1), placebo-controlled trial enrolled 60 participants with hyperuricemia at The Calcutta Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital to determine the differences between IHMs (n = 30) and identical-looking placebos (n = 30) alongside concomitant care. The primary outcome measure was the blood SUA levels (g/dL); the secondary outcome measures were the hyperuricemia quality of life (HUQoL) questionnaire, the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions 5 Level version (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire, and visual analog scales (VASs), all assessed monthly for 3 months. A comparative analysis was conducted on the intention-to-treat sample to detect group differences. Results: After 3 months of intervention, IHMs showed significant improvements over placebos in the SUA levels (P = 0.004), HUQoL total scores (P < 0.001), EQ-5D-5L questionnaire scores (P < 0.001), and EQ-5D-5L VAS scores (P = 0.008). The HUQoL subscales also favored IHMs against placebos. The most frequently prescribed medicine was Lycopodium clavatum (13.3%). Conclusions: IHMs demonstrated significantly promising results by outperforming placebos in reducing SUA levels and improving quality of life in hyperuricemia patients. Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registry – India CTRI/2022/04/041991