title: Heart rate variability and hemodynamic change in the superior mesenteric artery by acupuncture stimulation of lower limb points: a randomized crossover trial.
abstract: Objective. We investigated the relationship between superior mesenteric artery blood flow volume (SMA BFV) and autonomic nerve activity in acupuncture stimulation of lower limb points through heart rate variability (HRV) evaluations. Methods. Twenty-six healthy volunteers underwent crossover applications of bilateral manual acupuncture stimulation at ST36 or LR3 or no stimulation. Heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance index, SMA BFV, and HRV at rest and 30 min after the intervention were analyzed. Results. SMA BFV showed a significant increase after ST36 stimulation (0% to 14.1% ± 23.4%, P = 0.007); very low frequency (VLF), high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), and LF/HF were significantly greater than those at rest (0% to 479.4% ± 1185.6%, P = 0.045; 0% to 78.9% ± 197.6%, P = 0.048; 0% to 123.9% ± 217.1%, P = 0.006; 0% to 71.5% ± 171.1%, P = 0.039). Changes in HF and LF also differed significantly from those resulting from LR3 stimulation (HF: 78.9% ± 197.6% versus -18.2% ± 35.8%, P = 0.015; LF: 123.9% ± 217.1% versus 10.6% ± 70.6%, P = 0.013). Conclusion. Increased vagus nerve activity after ST36 stimulation resulted in increased SMA BFV. This partly explains the mechanism of acupuncture-induced BFV changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Soichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaneko
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Education Center for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai-shi 980-8573, Japan.
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Numata
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Behavioral Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Support for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Support for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Seiki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kanemura
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Education Center for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai-shi 980-8573, Japan.
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kagaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Education and Support for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshitaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yaegashi