Condition
Pitting Edema
Pitting edema is swelling from extra fluid trapped in the tissues, usually in the legs, ankles and feet, that leaves a dent when pressed. Little research on supplements for it has been reviewed here so far, though potassium and horse chestnut have the most support, and one small pilot study looked at dandelion. Since causes range from heart, kidney and liver trouble to pregnancy, the underlying reason matters, and the evidence is limited.
Sources: PMID 19678785
- Supplements studied
- 3
- Graded outcomes
- 0
- Trials
- 3
- People studied
- 112
Evidence by supplement
- Strong
- Moderate
- Limited
- Very limited
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diuresis | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 17 people | |||
Studies that measured diuresis | ||||||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diuresis | Improves (the measure goes up) | 1 study | 80 people | |||
| Grade | Outcome | Effect | Size | Studies | People | Studies list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leg Edema | Changes; see studies | 1 study | 15 people | |||
The Pitting Edema Supportive Care protocol
2 primary supplements · 6 supporting supplements
Shop the evidence-backed picks
Support alongside medical care. These supplements are not a treatment for Pitting Edema. If you are being treated for it, talk to your clinician before adding one: supplements can interact with medicines.
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Studies cited
3 studies from PubMed
- Effect of topical application of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), EDTA on pitting edema and oxidative stress in a double blind, placebo-controlled study
- The diuretic effect in human subjects of an extract of Taraxacum officinale folium over a single day
- Studies on the individual and combined diuretic effects of four Vietnamese traditional herbal remedies (Zea mays, Imperata cylindrica, Plantago major and Orthosiphon stamineus)