Mechanism of Action of Acupuncture in Obesity: A Perspective From the Hypothalamus

Abstract

Obesity is a prevalent metabolic disease caused by an imbalance in food intake and energy expenditure. Although acupuncture is widely used in the treatment of obesity in a clinical setting, its mechanism has not been adequately elucidated. As the key pivot of appetite signals, the hypothalamus receives afferent and efferent signals from the brainstem and peripheral tissue, leading to the formation of a complex appetite regulation circuit, thereby effectively regulating food intake and energy homeostasis. This review mainly discusses the relationship between the hypothalamic nuclei, related neuropeptides, brainstem, peripheral signals, and obesity, as well as mechanisms of acupuncture on obesity from the perspective of the hypothalamus, exploring the current evidence and therapeutic targets for mechanism of action of acupuncture in obesity.

Comparative Effectiveness of East Asian Traditional Medicine for Childhood Simple Obesity: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

“…Specifically, this intervention has the potential to activate the satiety center and modulate appetite by regulating certain hormones, such as insulin and ghrelin [ 57 ]. The appetite-suppressing effect of acupressure has been consistently reported in previous studies [ 58 , 59 , 60 ]. Moreover, it has been reported that acupressure, especially auricular acupressure for 12 weeks, has a significant weight loss effect in overweight and obese people [ 61 , 62 ].…”

The Connectome and Chemo-Connectome Databases for Mice Brain Connection Analysis

“…Of the network, AON, COA, and PIR receive projections from the main olfactory bulb (MOB) and accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), and there are mutual projections among the nuclei of AON, OT, COA, PIR, and ENT. We also found that OT emits strong projections to ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus (VMH) and lateral hypothalamic area (LHA), two important nuclei which regulate the feeding behavior ( Steffens et al, 1988 ; Wang et al, 2021 ).…”

Comprehensive traditional East Asian medicine treatment strategy for obesity considering the therapeutic effects and adverse events

“…Concerns about these side effects and the need for alternative therapies are the reasons why the demand for TEAM therapies is gradually increasing in obesity treatment. The mechanisms of action of acupuncture in obesity are known to affect the regulation of appetite from the perspective of hypothalamus or a decrease in the expression of leptin and insulin [50] . In herbal medicine, the multi-target, synergistic effect of herbs affects obesity by regulating fat metabolism, hormone level, and energy metabolism through intestinal microflora [51] .…”