Objective: To observe the curative effect of acupuncture intervention in reducing visceral fat content and secretary function in abdominal obesity patients.
Methods: A total of 73 cases of abdominal obesity patients were randomly divided into acupuncture group (n = 50) and control group (n = 23) according to the randomized block design. For patients of the acupuncture group, Zhongwan (CV 12), Tianshu (ST 25), Daheng (SP 15), Daimai (GB 26), Shuidao (ST 28), Waiguan (SJ 5) and Zulinqi (GB 41) were punctured with filiform needles, followed by electroacupuncture stimulation (2 Hz/100 Hz, 4-8 mA) of bilateral ST 25 and GB 26 for 20 min, once every other day for 8 weeks. In addition, the patients were also given with health education in every session of treatment. The patients of the control group were asked to receive health education including restraining wine or liquor and salt intake, stopping smoking, increasing physical activities, regular daily life habit, etc. The abdominal fat thickness was detected using a color Doppler ultrasonography, and serum visfatin level was assayed using ELISA. Additionally, the body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumstance (WC) and hip circumference (HC) were determind.
Results: After the treatment, the subcutaneous fat thickness levels including the subcutaneous fat at the mid-point between the xyphoid and the umbilicus (S1) and the right side of the umbilicus (S2), and serum visfatin content, WC and HC in both control and acupuncture groups, visceral fat at the mid-point between the xyphoid and the umbilicus (V1) and at the right side of the um- bilicus (V2), and antero-hepatic fat (AHF), perirenal fat (PRF) , and body weight and BMI in the acupuncture group were significantly reduced in comparison with pre-treatment in the same one group ( P<0.05, P<0.001), while the ultrasonic visceral fat index [UVI, = (V1 +V2)/(SI + S2)] of the control group was markedly increased (P<0.05). The S1, V1, V2, AHF, PRF and UVI levels, and BMI, WC and HC were significantly lower in the acupuncture group than in the control group (P<0.05, P<0.001). No statistical differences were found between the two groups in the S2, body weight and serum visfatin levels (P>0.05).
Conclusion: Acupuncture therapy can effectively reduce the visceral fat content, being better than simple health education. Both acupuncture treatment and health education can decrease serum visfatin level, regulating visceral fat's secretion.