Changes in Levels of Serum Insulin, C-Peptide and Glucose after Electroacupuncture and Diet Therapy in Obese Women

Abstract

Our purpose was to investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) therapy on body weight and on levels of serum insulin, c-peptide and glucose in obese women. 52 healthy women were included in this study and were allocated into three groups: 1) Placebo EA group (n = 15; mean age = 41.8 +/- 4.6 and mean body mass index {BMI} = 33.2 +/- 3.5); 2) EA group (n = 20; mean age = 42.1 +/- 4.4 and BMI = 35.9 +/- 3.6) and 3) Diet restriction group (n = 20; mean age = 42.9 +/- 4.3 and BMI = 34.7 +/- 2.7). EA was applied to the ear points Hunger and Shen Men on alternating days and to the body points LI 4, LI 11, St 36 and St 44 once a day for 30 minutes over 20 days. Diet restriction that entailed a 1450 kilocalorie (kcal) diet program was applied to the three groups for 20 days. An increase in weight loss was observed when weight loss in the EA group (p < 0.000) was compared to that in the diet restricted and placebo EA groups using the Tukey HSD test. There were increases in the serum insulin (p < 0.001) and c-peptide levels (p < 0.000) in the women treated with EA compared to those in the women treated with the placebo EA and diet restriction groups. A decrease was observed in the glucose levels (p < 0.01) in both the EA and diet restriction groups compared to those in the placebo EA group. Our results suggest that EA therapy is an effective method in treating obesity. EA therapy also helps serum glucose levels to decrease through the increase of serum insulin and c-peptide levels.

Influence of Acupuncture on Leptin, Ghrelin, Insulin and Cholecystokinin in Obese Women: A Randomised, Sham-Controlled Preliminary Trial

“…Studies of the effect of acupuncture on insulin levels have mixed results, showing in different studies an increase 30 and a decrease 31 after treatment. Obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance are closely related.…”

Acupuncture Attenuates Hyperglycaemia and Improves Ovarian Function in Female Rats Subjected to Continuous Light Exposure

“…Furthermore, acupuncture has been reported to have beneficial effects on glucose metabolism and insulin signalling in obese women. 13 Many studies have shown that circadian misalignment increases insulin resistance and decreases pancreatic function. 14 We have found in previous research that high testosterone levels, similar to those observed in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), have been shown in female rats after 16 weeks of continuous light exposure.…”

Therapeutic effects of acupuncture on obesity and HbA1c

“…Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain how acupuncture results in weight loss [3,[13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20]. For this indication, multiple needle locations and application procedures are utilized, though most needles are placed along the stomach and spleen meridians and in hunger points on the ear.…”

“…For this indication, multiple needle locations and application procedures are utilized, though most needles are placed along the stomach and spleen meridians and in hunger points on the ear. The goal of acupuncture treatments for weight loss is to stimulate satiety and to regulate gastrointestinal functions such as acidic flow, gastrointestinal motility, and metabolism [ Acupuncture also facilitates the patient's ability to adapt to a dietary program and ensures greater weight loss when compared to diet-only weight loss programs [13][14][15][16][17]. By balancing energy distribution via needle insertion into the governing vessel-20, Shenmen points, and points with a psychological effect such as Liv 3 and antidepression points, cerebral cortical functions may be affected, leading to an increase in awareness and adaptation to treatment [17,19].…”

“…The goal of acupuncture treatments for weight loss is to stimulate satiety and to regulate gastrointestinal functions such as acidic flow, gastrointestinal motility, and metabolism [ Acupuncture also facilitates the patient's ability to adapt to a dietary program and ensures greater weight loss when compared to diet-only weight loss programs [13][14][15][16][17]. By balancing energy distribution via needle insertion into the governing vessel-20, Shenmen points, and points with a psychological effect such as Liv 3 and antidepression points, cerebral cortical functions may be affected, leading to an increase in awareness and adaptation to treatment [17,19]. Studies conducted on mice demonstrate that acupuncture causes an increase in neurotransmitters such as opioid neuropeptides, encephaline, serotonin, and dopamine [14,[24][25][26][27][28].…”