http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8246584&dopt=Abstract 

The effectiveness of low-calorie diet or diet with acupuncture treatment in obese peri- and postmenopausal women]

[Article in Polish]

Wozniak P, Oszukowski P, Stachowiak G, Szyllo K.

Specjalistycznej Przychodni ICZMP w Lodzi.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the efficacy of low calorie diet and low calorie diet applied together with acupuncture in treatment of obesity in peri- and postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty nine obese peri- and postmenopausal women qualified for hormone replacement therapy were divided into two groups. Women from the first group (n = 33) during six months used a low calorie slimming diet: 1000 kcal below daily energy requirement (1200-1500 kcal per day on the average), 5-6 meals a day, consisted of proteins in 10-15%, fat in 25% and carbohydrates in 60-65%. The second group (n = 36) during this period had the same kind of diet as well as one cycle of six-week acupuncture procedures. Each cycle consisted of 12 procedures (2 per week). Following acupuncture points were applied: -GV 20 (Baihui), CV 12 (Zhongwan), ST 36 (Zusanli), ST 21 (Liangmen), ST 25 (Tianshu), LIV3 (Taichong), LIV 13 (Zhangen), P 6 (Neiguan), H 7 (Shenmen); auriculotherapy--55 (Shenmen), 87 (Stomach). RESULTS: In the first group on the low calorie slimming diet mean body weight decreased from 85.48 +/- 8.48 kg to 77.07 +/- 7.7 kg (BMI dropped from 33.23 +/- 1.90 kg/m2 to 29.95 +/- 1.66 kg/m2) during six-week period (p < 0.001). In the second group (acupuncture together with a low calorie diet) decreased mean body weight from 85.5 +/- 5.99 kg to 72.68 +/- 6.06 kg (BMI dropped from 33.54 +/- 1.77 kg/m2 to 28.51 +/- 2.00 kg/m2) at the same time (p < 0.001). The mean drop of body weight as well as BMI was significantly higher in the group treated with acupuncture and slimming diet (12.81 +/- 2.85 kg and 5.03 +/- 1.08 kg/m2) than in the low calorie diet group (8.41 +/- 2.02 kg and 3.28 +/- 0.78 kg/m2); p < 0.01. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Our results testify to the higher efficacy of the complex low calorie diet and acupuncture treatment in comparison to the low calorie therapy in the lowering of BMI and body weight. 2. Acupuncture seems to be an additional useful healing method in treatment of menopausal obesity.

Publication Types:

• Clinical Trial
• Controlled Clinical Trial

PMID: 12715418 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=12715418&dopt=Abstract

Stimulation of auricular acupuncture points in weight loss.

Richards D, Marley J.

Department of General Practice, University of Adelaide, South Australia.

OBJECTIVE: Many overweight people are aware that diets can help with weight loss but have difficulty in suppressing their appetite. Acupuncture stimulates the auricular branch of the vagal nerve and raises serotonin levels, both of which have been shown to increase tone in the smooth muscle of the stomach, thus suppressing appetite. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation of specific auricular acupuncture points on appetite suppression. METHODS: Sixty overweight subjects, randomly divided into an active and a control group, used the AcuSlim device twice daily for four weeks. The active group attached the AcuSlim to the acupuncture ear points shenmen and stomach, whereas the control group attached the device to their thumb where there are no acupuncture points. The goal of a 2 kg weight loss was set and changes in appetite and weight were reported after four weeks. RESULTS: Of those who responded, 95% of the active group noticed suppression of appetite, whereas none of the control group noticed such a change. None of the control group lost the required 2 kg, with only 4 subjects losing any weight at all. Both the number of subjects who lost weight and the mean weight loss were significantly higher in the active group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Frequent stimulation of specific auricular acupuncture points is an effective method of appetite suppression which leads to weight loss.

Publication Types:

• Clinical Trial
• Controlled Clinical Trial

PMID: 9679359 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9679359&dopt=Abstract

The time-effect relationship of central action in acupuncture treatment for weight reduction.

Zhao M, Liu Z, Su J.

Second Clinical College of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy.

PURPOSE: To study the time-effect relationship of action of acupuncture on the satiety center of ventromedial nucleus of hypothalamus (VMH) in rats with experimental obesity. METHODS: Microelectrode recording method of nerve cells and stereotaxic technique for brain were adopted with discharge frequency (Hz/s) of nerve impulse in VMH as the index, and the time-effect of acupuncture action in different periods between groups were observed. RESULTS: Electric activity in acupuncture group was higher than in the obesity model group (P < 0.001) and the normal group (P < 0.01) respectively, and the curve of acupuncture action within 2 hours showed irregular fluctuation. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture can increase excitability of the satiety center, with a better long-term effect.

PMID: 10921165 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10921165&dopt=Abstract