title: Effects of body electroacupuncture on plasma leptin concentrations in obese and overweight people in Iran: a randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of obesity, a major public health problem, is increasing in many countries, including Iran. Leptin, a peptide hormone that is released from adipocytes, is a major factor in appetite regulation. Levels of plasma leptin increase with increased body fat mass (BFM). Research has found acupuncture to be effective both in weight loss and suppression of appetite. Although a few studies have reported the effect of body and ear acupuncture on leptin levels, researchers have performed few studies on the effect of body electroacupuncture in humans.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The research team examined the effects of body electroacupuncture and a low-calorie diet on plasma leptin in obese and overweight individuals with an excess (phlegm-dampness or phlegm-heat) or deficiency (spleen/stomach qi deficiency or primary qi deficiency) pattern according to Chinese medicine.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research team randomly assigned participants to one of two groups, intervention or control.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study occurred in the nutritional clinic at Ghaem Hospital in Mashhad, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were individuals (N = 86) between 18 and 65 years of age with body mass indexes (BMI) between 25 and 45 kg/m2.
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention group (n = 47) received actual electroacupuncture, and the control group (n = 47) received sham acupuncture. Both groups consumed a low-calorie diet for 6 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The research team measured plasma leptin, BFM, body weight (BW), and BMI before and after treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For participants in the intervention group with both the excess and the deficiency patterns, the research team found a significant reduction in plasma leptin (24.96%, P = .001) and BFM (8.29%, P = .001). In the control group, the team found a less significant reduction in leptin and BFM. The difference between the two groups was significant for leptin (P = .03) but not for BFM (P = .8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While body electroacupuncture with a low-calorie diet can reduce plasma leptin concentration, the mechanism will require further clarification.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry of Nutrition Research Center, Mashad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Darbandi
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Darbandi
authors.forename: Pooneh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mokarram
authors.forename: Ali-Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Owji
authors.forename: Baxiao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Majid
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghayor-Mobarhan
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abdi
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saberfiroozi
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nematy
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safarian
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Parizadeh
authors.forename: Mohamad-Taghi
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Shakeri
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soukhtanloo
authors.forename: Parisa
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abbasi
authors.forename: Masoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salehmoghadam
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Dabbaghmanesh
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ferns
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015992:Body Mass Index; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015431:Weight Loss; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001067:Appetite Depressants; D020738:Leptin