Acupoint Catgut Embedding for Obesity: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) was applied widely to antiweight in China. The aim of this review is to estimate the effectiveness and safety of ACE on obesity. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Cochrane Library, EBASE, CNKI, and so forth, using combination subject terms of obesity (or overweight, weight loss, etc.) and acupoint catgut embedding (or catgut implantation, catgut embedding). Improvement rate, reduction of body weight and body mass index (BMI), and so forth were analyzed. 43 studies were included for systematic review and meta-analysis. Although with poor methodological quality, ACE was superior to manual acupuncture (MA), sham, and cupping in improvement rate and presented a better tendency (OR > 1) compared with drugs and electroacupuncture (EA). Mean values of weight loss by ACE were 1.14 kg, 1.26 kg, 1.79 kg, and 3.01 kg comparing with MA, drugs, EA, and sham, respectively. Mean of BMI reduced to 0.56 kg/m2, 0.83 kg/m2, 0.79 kg/m2, and 1.63 kg/m2 comparing with MA, drugs, EA, and sham. Less adverse effects were reported. Pooled outcomes presented a tendency of equal or superior effects to other interventions and fewer side effects. Future high quality trials with rigorous design and positive FDA approved drug as control are urgent to assess the effect of ACE for obesity. PROSPERO registration number is as follows: CRD42015016006.

Acupuncture and Related Therapies for Obesity: A Network Meta‐Analysis

“…Results of Yeh's research suggested that ear acupoint stimulation had remarkable improvements in the anthropometric parameters of Body Weight (BW), BMI, and so on [ 13 ]. In addition, another systematic review performed in 2015 has also shown that clinical efficacy of acupoint catgut embedding therapy was better than that of the control group for simple obesity [ 14 ]. However, a major problem is that whether acupuncture or acupuncture-related therapies alone or combined therapy is more effective than lifestyle modification management remains disputable.…”

Efficacy of verum and sham acupoint catgut embedding for treatment of obesity: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…It is noteworthy that ACE is extensively applied for weight loss. Although previous studies have shown that ACE might be effective in improving the overweight, high-quality trials with rigorous design are still urgently required to assess the effects of ACE on obesity [29]. The results of the present study may contribute to a better understanding that ACE can exert its potential therapeutic effects on obesity.…”

Shu-mu point Catgut embedding therapy for abdominal obesity: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…Although ACE is widely used in Chinese TCM hospitals for weight loss institutions of obesity, there is still a lack of high-quality evidence for efficacy of ACE to treat AO according to systematic review [20].…”