Acupuncture in the Regulation of Dai Meridian for the Metabolism of Visceral Adipose Tissue in Abdominal Obese Patients

Acupuncture in the Regulation of Dai Meridian for the Metabolism of Visceral Adipose Tissue in Abdominal Obese Patients

A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Acupuncture on Regulating Dai Meridian for Visceral Fat Metabolism in Abdominal Obesity.

To evaluate the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy combined with healthy education for patients with abdominal obesity.

This subject is a prospective, single-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled clinical trial.120 patients with abdominal obesity are allocated into two groups with a ratio of 2:1.Randomized series was generated by computer. The allocation was concealed. Patients in the intervention group are received acupuncture therapy and healthy education. Patients in the control group are only given healthy education. The treatment in both intervention group and control group lasts for 8 weeks. Comparison of two groups of patients with abdominal fat thickness, fasting serum visfatin concentration, simple anthropometric parameters (including body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, waist-to-hip radio, waist-to-height radio, the percentage of body fat), fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting blood lipid (total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein), uric acid, blood pressure, insulin resistance level, and obesity related lifestyle survey.

Acupuncture needles of 0.3mm in diameter and 100mm in length are inserted into gallbladder-meridian(GB)26 about 25-65mm deep by an angle of 15°, following the path of Dai Meridian (towards medial and downside) . The other acupoints are inserted with needles of 0.25-0.3mm in diameter and 25-40mm in length approximately 10-30mm deep, with an angle of 90°. Electro-acupuncture is applied to both sides of GB26 and stomach-meridian(ST)25: cathode is connected to GB26; anode to ST25. Dense-disperse wave pattern and a wave frequency of 2/100 Hertz is chosen. The intensity of the electro-acupuncture is adjusted on average 4-8 milliampere. The needles are subsequently retained for 20min. The results of the study are based on 8 weeks, each week consisting of 3 sessions.

Healthy knowledge lectures and issuing brochures are given. Education of patients for conditioning and changing bad habits, diet, quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, salt restriction, appropriate increase in physical activity.

Antero-hepatic fat thickness (AHF) was determined by the distance of peritoneum to the hepatic cortex at the subcostal level.

Perirenal fat thickness (PRF) was determined by the thickest one of the perirenal fat capsule of the right kidney short axis, when the right renal short axis and the maximum width of the renal sinus were clearly displayed.

ultrasound viscerofatty index (UVI) = (visceral fat thickness 1 + visceral fat thickness2)/(subcutaneous fat thickness 1 + subcutaneous fat thickness 2)

5ml venous blood was told after an 8 hours fast. Visfatin was measured by enzyme-linkedimmuno sorbent assay (ELISA).

It's made at the situation of fasting, after emptying bowels, with minimal clothing, without headdress and footwear, at the end of expiration.

Inclusion Criteria: Met the diagnostic criteria of abdominal obesity (waist circumference of male ≥ 90cm, waist circumference of female ≥ 80cm); Ultrasound viscerofatty index ≥ 3; Age between 18-70 years old; Signed informed consent voluntarily. Exclusion Criteria: Secondary obesity caused by endocrine, hereditary, nervous system,or drugs; Within 3 months adjusted drug therapy for diabetes or hypertension or hyperlipidemia; undergoing other therapies for reducing body mass and waist circumference, such as surgery, medication, etc; participating or have participated in other studies; pregnant or breast-feeding women; critically ill, having hepatic-renal dysfunction or mental illness; severe impairment in sight and hearing.