Effects of Auricular Acupressure Combined with Low-Calorie Diet on the Leptin Hormone in Obese and Overweight Iranian Individuals

Abstract

Background Human leptin is a peptide hormone that is released from white adipocytes. The absence of leptin or its receptor leads to uncontrolled food intake, leading to obesity. In the present work, the effects of auricular acupressure combined with low-calorie diet on the leptin hormone level were investigated. Methods Volunteers (n=86) with body mass indices (BMI) between 25 and 45 kg/m 2 were randomised into a case (n=43) or a control (n=43) group. Participants in each group received a low-calorie diet for 6 weeks. The case group was treated with auricular acupressure and the control group received a sham procedure. Plasma leptin levels, body fat mass, body weight and BMI were measured before and after treatment. Results Participants who received auricular acupressure showed signifi cant reductions in their plasma leptin levels (18.57%, p<0.01) as well as in their body fat mass (4%, p<0.05). These changes were not observed in the control group. The reduction in leptin was signifi cantly greater in the acupressure group than the controls. Conclusions Auricular acupressure combined with a low-calorie diet signifi cantly reduced plasma levels of leptin. However, the mechanism of this reduction is not clear.

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

“…Main characteristics of included RCTs were shown in Table 1 . The participants were from Australia [ 28 ], the United States [ 26 ], Turkey [ 46 ], Korea [ 51 ], Iran [ 36 ], Egypt [ 48 ], and China. Age of participants ranged from 15 to 70 years, while the sample size of the studies ranged from 12 to 86.…”

“…Ten RCTs [ 26 – 28 , 31 , 32 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 45 ] reported adverse events, while no major complications were noticed in all included studies. Three included studies [ 35 , 36 , 39 ] reported that no adverse effects were noted in both experimental group and placebo group. In one included RCT, there were two patients reporting mild ecchymosis and one abdominal discomfort case reported as adverse events after electroacupuncture treatment; no case was reported in the lifestyle modification group [ 27 ].…”

La auriculopuntura disminuye los niveles de ansiedad en adultos chilenos con malnutrición por exceso

“…En ninguno de los grupos se encontró cambios en relación a las variables antropométricas aunque en ambos el promedio de kilogramos disminuyó marginalmente, similar a los resultados presentados por Hsu et al (29) , Lien et al (30) , y Ruan et al (31) . Sin embargo, difieren con otros estudios donde se ha presentado una reducción significativa de peso y/o masa grasa en sujetos tratados con auriculopuntura (32)(33)(34) . En relación al control de peso o masa grasa, autores sugieren que el posible mecanismo de acción por la cual la auriculopuntura pudiese actuar es a través de una reducción de la insulina y leptina e incremento de la grelina, colecistoquinina y la expresión del neuropéptido Y (35)(36)(37) .…”

Sham Control Methods Used in Ear-Acupuncture/Ear-Acupressure Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review

“…12,54,60,64 For the RCTs with multiple treatment sessions, the frequency of earacupuncture or electro/laser ear-acupuncture was from one session within 30 days 19 to one session each day, 29 while the ear-acupressure pellets/seeds were pressed three to five times a day 42,51,52,55,58,60,62,64,66 or as needed. 38,47,67 De qi sensation was mentioned in two RCTs. 55,58 The characteristics of the included studies are summarized in Table 1.…”