Article

The effect of auricular acupuncture in obese women: a randomized controlled trial.

Institute of Traditional Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Journal of Women s Health (impact factor: 1.57). 06/2009; 18(6):813-8. DOI:10.1089/jwh.2008.1005 pp.813-8
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT The aims of this randomized study are to examine the effect of auricular acupuncture on obese women and to explore the relationship between the effect of auricular acupuncture and obesity-related hormone peptides.
Forty-five of 60 obese women aged between 16 and 65 years with body mass index (BMI) >27 kg/m2 and who had not received any other weight control maneuvers within the last 3 months completed this study. The subjects were blinded and randomly divided into groups A and B. Group A (n = 23) received auricular acupuncture, and group B (n = 22) received sham auricular acupuncture using placebo needles, twice each week for 6 weeks. The subjects' body weight (BW), BMI, waist circumference (WC), and obesity-related hormone peptides were measured at the beginning of the study and after 6 weeks of treatment. The data were compared and expressed as percent reductions.
This study found no statistical difference in percent reduction in BW, BMI, and WC between the group receiving 6 weeks of auricular acupuncture treatment and the control group. After treatment, group A revealed a significant increase in ghrelin level and decrease in leptin level. On the other hand, group B, who received sham auricular acupuncture, showed no significant difference in ghrelin and leptin levels.
This study found no statistical difference in percent reduction in BW, BMI, and WC between the two groups. No adverse effects of short-term auricular acupuncture treatment were seen in the study. Auricular acupuncture may have potential benefit on obesity-related hormone peptides.

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Keywords

6 weeks
 
60 obese women
 
adverse effects
 
auricular acupuncture treatment
 
B. Group
 
body mass index
 
control group
 
group B
 
last 3 months
 
obese women
 
obesity-related hormone peptides
 
percent reductions
 
placebo needles
 
sham auricular acupuncture
 
short-term auricular acupuncture treatment
 
statistical difference
 
subjects' body weight
 
two groups
 
waist circumference
 
weight control maneuvers
 

Chung-Hua Hsu