ObjectivesTo systematically review the efficacy and safety of autologous bone marrow cells therapy for patients with diabetic foot. GRADE system was used to evaluate the evidence quality of outcomes.MethodsWe searched databases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CBM, WanFang Data and CNKI for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about bone marrow cell transplantation in patients with diabetic foot from inception to February 28th 2017. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. The evidence quality was evaluated by using GRADE profiler 3.6 software.ResultsFour RCTs were included. Meta-analysis showed that the bone marrow cell transplantation could decrease the rate of amputation (RR=0.08, 95%CI 0.00 to 1.32, P=0.08) and rest pain score (MD=–1.89, 95%CI –2.24 to –1.55, P<0.000 01), increase the rate of ameliorate ulcer healing (RR=2.01, 95%CI 1.45 to 2.79,P<0.000 1) and the quantity of new collateral vessels (MD=1.33, 95%CI 0.60 to 2.05,P<0.000 3). Besides, bone marrow cell transplantation could improve ankle-brachial index (MD=0.16, 95%CI 0.10 to 0.22,P<0.000 01) and transcutaneous arterial oxygen tension (MD=18.81, 95%CI 16.06 to 21.57,P<0.000 01). No adverse event was reported for all included studies. The qualities of evidence for all outcomes were rated as "low" to "very low".ConclusionBased on the current evidence, autologous bone marrow cells transplantation therapy has a certain effect and it is safe for patients with diabetic foot. However, due to the limited quantity and quality of included studies, the above conclusions are still needed more multicenter clinical trials with large sample size to confirm.