[Effects of warm needle moxibustion on bone mass density and biochemical indexes of bone metabolism in patients of postmenopausal osteoporosis].
OBJECTIVE
To compare therapeutic effects of warm needle moxibustion and medication on osteoporosis and to study the mechanism.


METHODS
Forty cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group and a medication group, 20 cases in each group. The acupuncture group was treated by warm needle moxibustion at Dazhu (BL 11), Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23), Zusanli (ST 36), Yanglingquan (GB 34) etc. once other day, for 3 months; and the medication group was treated by oral administration of tablet Caltrate with Vit D2 for 3 months. The changes of bone mass density (BMD), estradiol (E2), osteocalcin (bone growth protein, BGP), urine calcium/creatinine (Ca/Cr) in the two groups before and after treatment and therapeutic effects were investigated.


RESULTS
After treatment, BMD significantly increased (P<0.05, P<0.01) in the acupuncture group and did not signifi cantly changed in the medication group (P>0.05) with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). After treatment E2 level significantly increased as compared with before treatment in both of groups (P<0.01); after treatment BGP significantly decreased as compared with before treatment in both of groups (P<0.01); after treatment Ca/Cr significantly decreased as compared with before treatment in the acupuncture group (P<0.05) ; af ter treatment, there were significant differences in BGP and Ca/Cr between the two groups (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The clinically controlled rate in the acupuncture group and in the medication group were 35.0%, 5.0%, respectively, the therapeutic effect of the acupuncture group being better than that of the medication group (P<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The therapeutic effect of warm needle moxibustion on osteoporosis is better than that of oral administration of tablet Caltrate with Vit D2 and it can increase levels of hormones and delay bone loss. It is an effective method for preventing and treating postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Zhao
Li-hua
LH
Department of Acupuncture, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi University of TCM, Nanning 530023, China. zhaolh@21cn.com
Nong
Ze-ning
ZN
Zhong
Xuan
X
Pang
Yong
Y
Liang
Jin-song
JS
Li
Xiao-dong
XD
Ye
Fang-wu
FW
D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000652:urine; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004958:Estradiol / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009071:Moxibustion; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000378:metabolism; D015663:Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
D015675:Osteocalcin; D004958:Estradiol; D003404:Creatinine; D002118:Calcium