Effects of auricular stimulation on feeding-related hypothalamic neuronal activity in normal and obese rats

doi:10.1016/0361-9230(94)00179-5

Brain Research Bulletin

Volume 36, Issue 2, 1995, Pages 141-148

https://doi.org/10.1016/0361-9230(94)00179-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

It is known that auriculotherapy occasionally affects dramatic body weight reduction for obese patients, although the physiological and anorexigenic functions are not clear. Effects of auricular stimulation on feeding-related lateral (LHA) and ventromedial (VMH) hypothalamic neuronal activity in normal and experimental (hypothalamic and dietary) obese rats were investigated. The LHA and/or VMH neuronal activity were recorded from feeding-related regions in Wistar SPFNAF male and experimental (hypothalamic and dietary) obese rats, anesthetized with urethane-chloralose, under stereotaxic coordination. Recording was through 3 M KCI glass microelectrodes, while stimulating the ipsilateral vagal innervated region of the auricle. This is equivalent to the cavum conchae in the human, and was identified by resistance less than 10–50 kπ The stimulating electrode was a stainless steel ear acupuncture (0.12 x 2.0 mm). The latency of potentials evoked in the LHA by unilateral stimulation of a specific site in the ear was 28.1 ± 3.3 ms (8–92, n = 41). LHA neuronal activity was depressed 45.6% (n = 12, p < 0.01, and VMH activity was excited (60.5%, n = 18, p < 0.01. The auricular acupuncture stimulation clearly modulates feeding-related hypothalamic neuronal activity of experimental (both hypothalamic and dietary) obese rats. These auricle acupuncture stimulation effects were correlated to the degree of obesity. In conclusion, the results suggest that auricular acupuncture stimulation may not reduce appetite, but is more likely concerned with satiation formation and preservation. Thus, auricular acupuncture should be more effective on obese rats than on normal rats.

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Cited by (75)

The effectiveness of different modes of acupuncture for mature adult females with obesity: A systematic review and meta-analysis
2024, Advances in Integrative Medicine
This study aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy of different modes of acupuncture for obesity treatment in adult females. Auricular Acupuncture (AA), Electroacupuncture (EA), and Manual Acupuncture (MA) were the acupuncture methods evaluated. This was accomplished through a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Seven electronic databases were searched from inception to May 2022 to source for Randomized Control Trials (RCTs). Acupuncture's effect on obesity in adult females was measured using body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and body weight (BW). To assess the quality of the RCTs, the Cochrane Collaboration's Risk of Bias Tool was used. Pooled analysis was done using the Review Manager software and the random-effects model was used to account for heterogeneity of the included studies. The differences between treatment groups were reported as mean differences (MD).
12 RCTs were selected through screening of results from electronic databases. The acupuncture and control groups each had 375 and 376 participants, respectively. Body parameters such as BMI, WC, and BW were found to be reduced by AA, EA, and MA. BMI had a MD of −0.81 kg/m² (95% CI= −1.26 to −0.37, P=0.0003), WC had a MD of −1.10 cm (95% CI= −2.08 to −0.12, P=0.03), and BW had a MD of −1.37 kg (95% CI= −2.17 to −0.58, P=0.0007).
Acupuncture showed potential benefits to improve BMI, BW, and WC in obese adult females, indicating its efficacy in treatment. However, these findings must be confirmed by higher-quality RCTs in the future.
Acupuncture for obesity and related diseases: Insight for regulating neural circuit
2024, Journal of Integrative Medicine
Obesity is defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. Obesity is associated with numerous pathological changes including insulin resistance, fatty liver, hyperlipidemias, and other obesity-related diseases. These comorbidities comprise a significant public health threat. Existing anti-obesity drugs have been limited by side effects that include depression, suicidal thoughts, cardiovascular complications and stroke. Acupuncture treatment has been shown to be effective for treating obesity and obesity-related conditions, while avoiding side effects. However, the mechanisms of acupuncture in treating obesity-related diseases, especially its effect on neural circuits, are not well understood. A growing body of research has studied acupuncture’s effects on the endocrine system and other mechanisms related to the regulation of neural circuits. In this article, recent research that was relevant to the use of acupuncture to treat obesity and obesity-related diseases through the neuroendocrine system, as well as some neural circuits involved, was summarized. Based on this, acupuncture’s potential ability to regulate neural circuits and its mechanisms of action in the endocrine system were reviewed, leading to a deeper mechanistic understanding of acupuncture’s effects and providing insight and direction for future research about obesity.
Please cite this article as: Jiang LY, Tian J, Yang YN, Jia SH, Shu Q. Acupuncture for obesity and related diseases: insight for regulating neural circuit. J Integr Med. 2024; 22(2): 93–101.
The efficacy and safety of auriculotherapy for weight loss: A systematic review and meta-analysis
2022, European Journal of Integrative Medicine
Obesity and overweight are common metabolic disorders, affecting people's physical and psychological health. Auriculotherapy is based on the understanding that the external ear represents all parts of the human body, including the internal organs, and provides acupuncture points corresponding to these parts. Previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have reported the preliminary results of auriculotherapy for weight loss, but the conclusions were controversial. Therefore, this review aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of auricular therapy for obese and overweight patients.
We searched 9 databases from their inception to August 1, 2020 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of auriculotherapy concerning obesity and overweight. All analyses were conducted by RevMan5.3. The Cochrane RoB tool and GRADE were used to assess the risk bias and quality of evidence, respectively.
Eleven RCTs involving 892 patients were included. Auriculotherapy alone or combined with lifestyle modification showed more body mass index (BMI) reduction than no treatment (MD -1.08 kg/m², 95%CI [-1.29 to -0.86], P < 0.001), sham auriculotherapy (MD -0.22 kg/m², 95%CI [-0.44 to -0.01], P = 0.04), lifestyle modification alone (MD -0.87 kg/m², 95%CI [-1.18 to -0.56], P < 0.001) or lifestyle modification plus sham auriculotherapy (MD -0.23 kg/m², 95%CI [-0.44 to -0.02], P < 0.001). Both auricular acupuncture (MD -0.63 kg/m², 95%CI [-0.99 to -0.28], P < 0.001) and acupressure(MD -0.65 kg/m², 95%CI [-1.07 to -0.22], P = 0.003) favored BMI reduction. Finally, auriculotherapy was effective in the reduction of BMI and body weight (BW) for patients who were overweight (MD -0.76 kg/m², 95%CI [-1.14 to -0.38], P < 0.001; MD -0.60 kg, 95%CI [-1.12 to -0.08], P = 0.001), not for patients with obesity. Three RCTs reported adverse events, which were mostly minimal.
Both auricular acupuncture and acupressure seemed to be effective for weight loss, particularly for overweight patients. However, the results were inconclusive due to weak evidence, and robust methodological RCTs with appropriate placebos are still needed to reconfirm the findings of our review.
(PROSPERO ID is CRD42020136827)
Effects of auricular acupressure on obesity in adolescents with obesity
2019, Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice
and purpose: Adolescent obesity has been increasing globally, and intervention is important. This study examined the effects of auricular acupressure on reducing obesity in adolescents.
Participants were 58 obese adolescents, divided into an experimental (n = 32) and a control group (n = 26). The study design was a randomized controlled trial. Auricular acupressure using vaccaria seeds was administered to the experimental group, while placebo auricular acupressure using vaccaria seeds was administered to the control group. Sessions continued for 8 weeks. Outcome measures included body weight, abdominal circumference, hip circumference, waist–hip ratio, body-mass index, body-fat mass, body-fat percentage, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, serum glucose, and leptin.
Adolescents in the experimental group showed significant improvement in total cholesterol levels and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels after 8 weeks compared with those in the control group (p < 0.001).
Auricular acupressure using vaccaria seeds was effective in decreasing total cholesterol levels and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in adolescents with obesity.
Therapeutic effects of acupuncture on obesity and HbA1c
2015, European Journal of Integrative Medicine
Citation Excerpt :
In the present study, 20 acupuncture sessions for obesity therapy resulted in significant decreases in HbA1c levels, weight, and BMI. Many mechanisms have been proposed to explain how acupuncture results in weight loss [3,13–20]. For this indication, multiple needle locations and application procedures are utilized, though most needles are placed along the stomach and spleen meridians and in hunger points on the ear.
The popularity of acupuncture as a complementary treatment for obesity has been increasing. Its role in body weight reduction (BWR) in obese patients is promising, but no studies have yet examined its effects on glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA_1c) levels. Our aim was to investigate whether acupuncture reduces HbA_1c levels, weight and BMI in obese patients.
Patients presenting to the acupuncture clinic for weight loss with a BMI greater than 25 were enrolled into this prospective before and after study. Each patient received 20 sessions of acupuncture therapy delivered by a certified acupuncturist. Weight, BMI and HbA_1c levels were measured both before and after the full course of acupuncture treatments for comparison. Comorbid conditions that influence the development of obesity such as diabetes, age and postmenopausal state were reviewed.
A total of 42 patients were enrolled into the study mean age of 42.6 ± 11.9 years. Of the 42 patients completing all 20 sessions, the average of body weight was 99.7 ± 21.6 and BWR was 6.9 ± 4.5 kg (95% CI, 5.5–8.3; p < 0.001). At the beginning and end of the acupuncture treatment, mean BMI was 38.1 ± 7.6 kg/m² (25.2–59.5 kg/m²) and 35.4 ± 7.2 kg/m² (95% CI, 2.1–3.2; p < 0.001), respectively. The mean HbA_1c level before and after acupuncture was 5.9 ± 0.8% and 5.7 ± 0.4% (95% CI, 0.1–0.4; p = 0.015), respectively.
20 sessions of acupuncture treatment for obese patients may confer reductions in weight, BMI and HbA_1c levels.
The effects of auricular electroacupuncture on obesity in female patients - A prospective randomized placebo-controlled pilot study
2014, Complementary Therapies in Medicine
Citation Excerpt :
Recent studies showed a positive effect of acupuncture on appetite, metabolism, intestinal motility and emotional factors such as stress. In addition, it can increase neural activity in the ventromedial nuclei of hypothalamus, the tone of the smooth muscle of the stomach and levels of encephalin and serotonin in the plasma and brain tissue.2,3 The clinical effects of acupuncture on obesity have been summarized by several meta-analyses in4,5 suggesting a positive effect of acupuncture on weight loss in obese patients.
Obesity is a chronic condition related to serious morbidity and mortality of increasing incidence and prevalence. Several studies show a significantly higher weight loss with acupuncture treatment. This is the first prospective, randomized, double-blinded study, testing the effects of auricular electroacupuncture on weight loss in obese female patients.
56 female obese patients (age > 18, Body Mass Index, BMI > 25) were randomized to receive either auricular acupuncture with electrical stimulation with a P-Stim^® device (verum group, n = 28) or placebo treatment with a P-Stim^® dummy (n = 28) for four days. Three auricular acupuncture points were chosen (hunger 18, stomach 87 and colon 91). The treatment was performed once a week for a period of six weeks. A follow-up visit was performed after 4 weeks. At each visit body weight, BMI (Body Mass Index) and body fat were measured.
Relative reduction of body weight was significantly greater in the verum group (−3.73%; CI = −4.70 to −2.76) than in the placebo group (−0.70%; CI = −1.57 to +0.16; p < 0.001) In addition we also observed a significant reduction of BMI (p < 0.001) in the verum group (−3.62%; CI = −4.39 to −2.84) compared to placebo (−0.82%; CI = −1.55 to −0.10; p < 0.001). No patient reported side effects related to acupuncture.
In conclusion electrical auricular acupuncture could be a safe, additive, non-pharmacological treatment in obese patients.

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ArticleEffects of auricular stimulation on feeding-related hypothalamic neuronal activity in normal and obese rats

Abstract

Elements d'auriculotherapie

Recent studies on auriculoacupuncture and its mechanism

J. Tradit. Chin. Med.

Auricular acupuncture and weight reduction. A controlled study

Am. J. Acupunct.

Therapeutic effects of acupuncture: A review

Am. J. Acupunct.

Effects of acupuncture on weight reduction

Am. J. Acupunct.

215 cases of obesity treated with TCM modalities

J. Tradit. Chin. Med.

Neuropharmacology and neurochemistry of subjective effects, analgesia, tolerance, and dependence produced by narcotic analgesics

Treatment of obesity by acupuncture

Am. J. Clin. Nutr.

Traite d'auriculotherapie

Treatise of auriculotherapy

Hunger: Basic mechanisms and clinical implications

Reciprocal relationship of the lateral and ventromedial hypothalamus in the regulation of food intake

Physiol. Behav.

Central mechanism of feeding

Article
Effects of auricular stimulation on feeding-related hypothalamic neuronal activity in normal and obese rats