Electro-acupuncture for central obesity: a patient-assessor blinded, randomized sham-controlled clinical trial
Abstract Background Central obesity is considered as a significant health threat to individuals. Scientific research has demonstrated that intra-abdominal fat accumulation is associated with higher metabolic and cardiovascular disease risks independent of Body Mass Index (BMI). This study aimed to e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-024-04340-5 |
| _version_ | 1827328710637780992 |
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| author | Tsz Fung Lam Zipan Lyu Xingyao Wu Yi Ping Wong Peihua Cao Emily Yen Wong Hung Bun Hung Shiping Zhang Zhaoxiang Bian Linda L. D. Zhong |
| author_facet | Tsz Fung Lam Zipan Lyu Xingyao Wu Yi Ping Wong Peihua Cao Emily Yen Wong Hung Bun Hung Shiping Zhang Zhaoxiang Bian Linda L. D. Zhong |
| author_sort | Tsz Fung Lam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Central obesity is considered as a significant health threat to individuals. Scientific research has demonstrated that intra-abdominal fat accumulation is associated with higher metabolic and cardiovascular disease risks independent of Body Mass Index (BMI). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture in treating central obesity compared with sham acupuncture. Method This was a patient-assessor blinded, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. One hundred sixty eight participants aged between 18 and 65 years old with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and waist circumference (WC) of men ≥ 90 cm / women ≥ 80 cm were enrolled and allocated to the acupuncture or sham acupuncture group equally. For the acupuncture group, disposable acupuncture needles were inserted into eight body acupoints, including Tianshu (ST-25), Daheng (SP-15), Daimai (GB-26), Qihai (CV-6), Zhongwan (CV-12), Zusanli (ST-36), Fenglong (ST-40), and Sanyinjiao (SP-6) with electrical stimulation. For the control group, Streitberger’s non-invasive acupuncture needles were utilized at the same acupoints with identical stimulation modalities. The treatment duration was 8 weeks with 2 sessions per week and the follow-up period was 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in WC before and after the treatment. The secondary outcomes were the changes in hip circumference, waist-to-hip circumference ratio, BMI, and body fat percentage during the treatment and follow-up period. Results The acupuncture group displayed a significant change in WC compared to the sham group both treatment and follow-up period (MD = -1.1 cm, 95% CI = -2.8 to 4.1). Significant change in body fat percentage was recorded for both groups after treatment but no significance was observed during the follow-up period (MD = -0.1%, 95% CI = -1.9 to 2.2). The changes in hip circumference were also significant both treatment and follow-up period for the acupuncture group (MD = -2.0 cm, 95% CI = -3.7 to -1.7). Compared with sham acupuncture, the body weight (MD = -1 kg, 95% CI = -3.3 to 5.3), BMI (MD = -0.5, 95% CI = -0.7 to 1.9) also decreased significantly within and between groups. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups. Conclusion This study provided evidence that electro-acupuncture could be effective in treating central obesity by reducing WC, hip circumference, body weight, BMI, and waist-to-hip circumference ratio. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03815253, Registered 24 Jan 2019. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:21:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bd0bd5da3aef478e930ffde345c9a77c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-7671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:21:15Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies |
| spelling | doaj.art-bd0bd5da3aef478e930ffde345c9a77c2024-03-05T17:40:46ZengBMCBMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies2662-76712024-01-0124111010.1186/s12906-024-04340-5Electro-acupuncture for central obesity: a patient-assessor blinded, randomized sham-controlled clinical trialTsz Fung Lam0Zipan Lyu1Xingyao Wu2Yi Ping Wong3Peihua Cao4Emily Yen Wong5Hung Bun Hung6Shiping Zhang7Zhaoxiang Bian8Linda L. D. Zhong9School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist UniversitySchool of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological UniversitySchool of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist UniversitySchool of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist UniversityClinical Research Center, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical UniversityDepartment of Family Medicine and Primary Care, LKS Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong KongPromed Chinese Medicine Specialist ClinicSchool of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist UniversitySchool of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist UniversitySchool of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist UniversityAbstract Background Central obesity is considered as a significant health threat to individuals. Scientific research has demonstrated that intra-abdominal fat accumulation is associated with higher metabolic and cardiovascular disease risks independent of Body Mass Index (BMI). This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electro-acupuncture in treating central obesity compared with sham acupuncture. Method This was a patient-assessor blinded, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial. One hundred sixty eight participants aged between 18 and 65 years old with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 and waist circumference (WC) of men ≥ 90 cm / women ≥ 80 cm were enrolled and allocated to the acupuncture or sham acupuncture group equally. For the acupuncture group, disposable acupuncture needles were inserted into eight body acupoints, including Tianshu (ST-25), Daheng (SP-15), Daimai (GB-26), Qihai (CV-6), Zhongwan (CV-12), Zusanli (ST-36), Fenglong (ST-40), and Sanyinjiao (SP-6) with electrical stimulation. For the control group, Streitberger’s non-invasive acupuncture needles were utilized at the same acupoints with identical stimulation modalities. The treatment duration was 8 weeks with 2 sessions per week and the follow-up period was 8 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in WC before and after the treatment. The secondary outcomes were the changes in hip circumference, waist-to-hip circumference ratio, BMI, and body fat percentage during the treatment and follow-up period. Results The acupuncture group displayed a significant change in WC compared to the sham group both treatment and follow-up period (MD = -1.1 cm, 95% CI = -2.8 to 4.1). Significant change in body fat percentage was recorded for both groups after treatment but no significance was observed during the follow-up period (MD = -0.1%, 95% CI = -1.9 to 2.2). The changes in hip circumference were also significant both treatment and follow-up period for the acupuncture group (MD = -2.0 cm, 95% CI = -3.7 to -1.7). Compared with sham acupuncture, the body weight (MD = -1 kg, 95% CI = -3.3 to 5.3), BMI (MD = -0.5, 95% CI = -0.7 to 1.9) also decreased significantly within and between groups. The incidence of adverse events was similar in the two groups. Conclusion This study provided evidence that electro-acupuncture could be effective in treating central obesity by reducing WC, hip circumference, body weight, BMI, and waist-to-hip circumference ratio. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03815253, Registered 24 Jan 2019.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-024-04340-5Central obesityAcupunctureElectro-acupunctureRandomized controlled trial |
| spellingShingle | Tsz Fung Lam Zipan Lyu Xingyao Wu Yi Ping Wong Peihua Cao Emily Yen Wong Hung Bun Hung Shiping Zhang Zhaoxiang Bian Linda L. D. Zhong Electro-acupuncture for central obesity: a patient-assessor blinded, randomized sham-controlled clinical trial BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Central obesity Acupuncture Electro-acupuncture Randomized controlled trial |
| title | Electro-acupuncture for central obesity: a patient-assessor blinded, randomized sham-controlled clinical trial |
| title_full | Electro-acupuncture for central obesity: a patient-assessor blinded, randomized sham-controlled clinical trial |
| title_fullStr | Electro-acupuncture for central obesity: a patient-assessor blinded, randomized sham-controlled clinical trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Electro-acupuncture for central obesity: a patient-assessor blinded, randomized sham-controlled clinical trial |
| title_short | Electro-acupuncture for central obesity: a patient-assessor blinded, randomized sham-controlled clinical trial |
| title_sort | electro acupuncture for central obesity a patient assessor blinded randomized sham controlled clinical trial |
| topic | Central obesity Acupuncture Electro-acupuncture Randomized controlled trial |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-024-04340-5 |
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