Effects of auricular acupressure combined with low-calorie diet on the leptin hormone in obese and overweight Iranian individuals.
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/m² 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 significant 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 significantly greater in the acupressure group than the controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Auricular acupressure combined with a low-calorie diet significantly reduced plasma levels of leptin. However, the mechanism of this reduction is not clear.
Department of Medicine, Biochemistry and Nutrition Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Mahsa
M
Darbandi
Sara
S
Darbandi
Majid Ghayor
MG
Mobarhan
Ali Akbar
AA
Owji
Baxiao
B
Zhao
Kambiz
K
Iraji
Hamid
H
Abdi
Mehdi
M
Saberfiroozi
Mohsen
M
Nematy
Mohammad
M
Safarian
Mohammad Reza
MR
Parizadeh
Parisa
P
Abbasi
Masoud
M
Salehmoghadam
Majid
M
Fardaei
Mohammad Hossein
MH
Dabbaghmanesh
Gordon
G
Ferns
Pooneh
P
Mokarram
D019050:Acupressure; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult
D020738:Leptin