title: Plasma nesfatin-1 level in obese patients after acupuncture: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nesfatin-1 is an anorexigenic hormone suggested to regulate obesity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between nesfatin-1 level and anthropometric and metabolic parameters in obese patients, and examine the change in plasma nesfatin-1 level after acupuncture treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  64 obese adult patients without diabetes and 58 normal weight control subjects were enrolled in this study. The obese patients were randomly divided into an acupuncture plus diet group (n=32) and a diet only group (n=32). Measurements were repeated after 45 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences, serum insulin, lipoprotein and insulin resistance measures were significantly higher, and plasma nesfatin-1 level was significantly lower, in obese patients than in normal weight controls. In addition, negative correlations were found between plasma nesfatin-1 level and BMI, waist and hip circumferences. Weight reduction in participants after acupuncture and diet restriction was 7.0% and 4.3%, respectively. Plasma nesfatin-1 level increased from 2.75±1.16 to 3.44±1.28 ng/mL and from 2.86±1.07 to 3.23±1.06 ng/mL in acupuncture and diet groups, respectively; the difference was significant, p<0.05.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma nesfatin-1 level is reduced in obese adults, and is increased after acupuncture. The beneficial effect of acupuncture on obesity is associated with increased plasma nesfatin-1 level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical College Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Yongfang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Mingqing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Wenjuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Hongyan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Qingdao Municipal Hospital, Qingdao, China.
authors.forename: Huamin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001835:Body Weight; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D000080866:Nucleobindins; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007328:Insulin; C000630650:NUCB2 protein, human; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D000080866:Nucleobindins
keywords: Acupuncture