EFECTO DE LA ELECTROACUPUNTURA CON AGUJA LARGA SOBRE LOS NIVELES DE LEPTINA SÉRICA EN PACIENTES OBESOS

Abstract

Obesity is known as the XXI century epidemic. National polls in Mexico indicate that one in three adults suffer it. In the least decades, some factors have been identified that determine this condition, one example is leptin. Starting from that knowledge, some pathophysiological models of obesity have been developed, in order to modified then through different treatments. This study tries to offer new knowledge about the acupuncture treatment, relating its effects on body with with those on serum leptin levels in obese patients. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether electropucture application using long nail in Zhongwan (RM12), Qihai (RM6), Tianshu (E25) and traditional puncture in Zusanli (E36) y Sanyinjiao (B6), with diet, has some effects on body weight and serum leptin levels in obese patients. METHOD: This study was conducted in 24 women between 18-60 years old with a BMI (Body mass index) between 27-40 kg/m2 without chronic degenerative diseases and pharmacological treatments. Two groups of 14 patients were created: the electropucture group and the patch control group. In the electropucture group, the 6 cun nail was used on Zhongwan (DM12), Tianshu (E25) bilateral and Qihai (RM6), whereas a 1.5 cun nail was used on Zusanli (E36) and Sanyinjiao (B6), with electrostimulation for 20 minutes on abdomen points. The same treatment was conducted on Patch control group only using an innocuous micropore patch instead of nails with no another stimulation, using the patch 20 minutes. In both groups, a 1500 kcal diet was conducted. At the beginning and at the end of treatment, blood samples were taken to be processed by the ELISA assay to obtain the serum leptin levels. IX RESULTS: Treatment of electroacupuncture did not show any effect on BMI, weight, and most parameters somatometric. However, there was a decrease in serum leptin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture and diet were not effective in reducing BMI, weight and anthropometric measurements, perhaps for the short time of our protocol. However the treatment was effective in reducing serum leptin levels.