Objective: To observe the therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) and acupoint catgut embedding in the treatment of simple obesity.
Methods: Simple obesity patients were randomized into EA group (7 men and 36 women, 21－42 years in age) and catgut embedding group (4 men and 37 women, 22－41 years in age). EA (4 Hz/20 Hz, a tolerable strength) was applied to main acupoints Zhongwan (CV12), bilateral Tianshu (ST25), Daheng (SP15), Daimai (GB26), Shuidao (ST28), Zhigou (TE6), Yinlingquan (SP9), Zusanli (ST36), Fenglong (ST40), and Sanyinjiao (SP6), and some auxiliary acupoints for 30 min, once every other day for 30 times. Subcutaneous catgut-embedment was performed in the same acupoints. Nine to 11 acupoints were used every time, once every 10 days for 6 times. Before and after the treatment, fasting serum leptin and insulin (INS) contents were detected by radioimmunoassay, and the correlation between the leptin, INS and the body mass index (BMI) was analyzed, respectively.
Results: Following the treatment, the serum leptin and INS concentrations and BMI in both groups were significantly decreased in comparison with those of their own pre-treatment (P<0.01). No significant differences were found between the two groups in the levels of serum leptin and INS after the treatment (P>0.05). There were positive correlations between the decreased BMI and serum leptin/INS contents in both EA and catgut embedding groups (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Both catgut embedding and EA interventions have a positive effect in reducing body weight of simple obesity patients, which may be related to its effects in down-regulating serum leptin and INS levels and in correcting leptin resistance and insulin resistance.
Keywords: Catgut embedding; Electroacupuncture; Insulin; Leptin; Simple obesity.