The Effects of Body Acupuncture on Obesity: Anthropometric Parameters, Lipid Profile, and Inflammatory and Immunologic Markers

Abstract

A randomized controlled clinical trial in 196 obese subjects was performed to examine the effectiveness of body acupuncture on body weight loss, lipid profile and immunogenic and inflammatory markers. Subjects received authentic (cases) or sham (controls) acupuncture for 6 weeks in combination with a low-calorie diet. In the following 6 weeks, they received the low-calorie diet alone. Subjects were assessed at the beginning, 6 and 12 weeks later. Heat shock protein (Hsps)-27, 60, 65, 70 antibody titers and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were also assessed. A significant reduction in measures of adiposity and improvement in lipid profile were observed in both groups, but the levels of anti-Hsp-antibodies decreased in cases only. A reduction in anthropometric and lipid profile in cases were sustained in the second period, however, only changes in lipid profile were observed in the control group. Anti-Hsp-antibodies and hs-CRP levels continued to be reduced in cases but in controls only the reduction in hs-CRP remained. Changes in anthropometric parameters, lipid profile, and anti-Hsp-antibodies were more evident in cases. Body acupuncture in combination with diet restriction was effective in enhancing weight loss and improving dyslipidemia.

Acupuncture in the Treatment of Obesity: A Narrative Review of the Literature

“…Significant decreases in total cholesterol, 66 76 LDL-C 76 85 and triglycerides 66 76 were observed whereas HDL-C did not change significantly. 76 In another study 84 there were significant decreases in lipoprotein A and apolipoprotein B and no changes in apolipoprotein A levels.…”

“…For EA the evidence is more positive; the majority of studies suggest that EA induces significantly greater weight loss than sham EA, 18 78 or acupuncture performed at no acupuncture points 85 whereas only one study concluded that EA and exercise resulted in similar reductions in body weight. 77 Effects on obesity-related peptides As already mentioned, obesity is characterised by hyperleptinaemia and leptin resistance.…”

“…Similarly, high-sensitive C-reactive protein did not differ among obese subjects treated with manual acupuncture and EA and those who received acupuncture at no acupuncture points. 85 …”

Body Composition Changes after Weight-Loss Interventions among Obese Females: A Comparison of Three Protocols

“…Li and Wang [16], from China also have reported significant changes in total and LDL cholesterol during acupuncture therapy. In Iran, Abdi et al [3], studied the weight loss of 196 subjects and stated that acupuncture intervention was associated with improvement in lipid profile with significant difference in TC, LDL-C, but not significant difference in fat %. However, some studies in agree with current lipid profile but with no changes for HDL-C as Cabioglu and Ergene [17] when studied obese women from Turkey and Sun and Xu [18] who studied obese patients from Chongqing in China, this may be explained by application of different acupoints.…”

“…Several weight loss strategies have been developed and experimented over the past decades for treatment of obesity in order to improve health [3]. Common intervention methods for obesity include lowcalorie diet, exercise.…”