Thread Embedding Acupuncture Combined With Auricular Acupuncture for Overweight and Obesity

NCT ID: NCT06091761

Last Updated: 2024-03-22

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

66 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2023-10-30

Study Completion Date

2024-03-21

Brief Summary

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Overweight and obesity are chronic non-communicable diseases with a rapidly increasing global prevalence. They constitute risk factors for various chronic conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cancer, as well as musculoskeletal disorders and numerous other disorders, significantly impacting the quality of life.

Numerous non-pharmacological interventions have been employed in the management of these conditions. Particularly, Auricular acupuncture (AA) has been a widely used and established method for weight management, owing to its effectiveness, safety, and convenience. Recently, a novel therapy known as Thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) has also demonstrated efficacy in weight reduction. Several studies have shown a substantial increase in treatment effectiveness when combining TEA with other acupuncture therapies. However, there is currently no available data on the combination of TEA with AA.

This study is conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of combining TEA with AA compared with AA monotherapy in overweight and obesity.

Detailed Description

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Eligible participants with overweight or obesity, defined according to the criteria set by The World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific Region (Body Mass Index \[BMI\] of 23 kg/m² or higher), will be enrolled and subsequently randomized into two groups: the intervention group (AA + TEA group) and the placebo group (AA + Sham-TEA group), with a 1:1 allocation ratio.

In both groups, the intervention duration is eight weeks, with Auricular acupuncture (AA) administered weekly, along with recommended lifestyle modifications. For the intervention group, Thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) therapy will be added every two weeks, totaling four sessions during the eight-week period. Meanwhile, Sham-TEA will be administered in the placebo group.

Data regarding body weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, appetite, and adverse effects will be recorded immediately following randomization and weekly thereafter over the eight-week duration.

Conditions

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Overweight or Obesity

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors
Participants will be unaware of their random allocation into either the intervention or placebo group. Sham Thread embedding acupuncture (Sham-TEA) will be administered in a manner similar to TEA, but without the insertion of threads, ensuring that no threads are left at the acupoints after the procedure.

The physician responsible for administering the treatments will be aware of the group assignments but remain uninvolved in the evaluation of outcomes and subsequent data analysis. Those responsible for outcome assessment and data analysis will be kept blinded to the treatment assignments.

Study Groups

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AA + TEA

Auricular acupuncture (AA) every week in eight weeks (eight sessions). Combined with Thread embedding acupuncture (TEA) every two weeks in eight weeks (four sessions).

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Auricular acupuncture

Intervention Type OTHER

Auricular acupuncture is conducted weekly in eight weeks using patches, each with a square shape and a side length of 10 mm, along with sterilized needles measuring 0.25 x 1.3 mm. Five acupoints on one ear are selected, which included Shen-men (TF4), Stomach (CO4), Spleen (CO13), Endocrine (CO18), and Hunger point. The patch with the needle will remain in place for one week.

Thread embedding acupuncture

Intervention Type OTHER

Thread embedding acupuncture is performed every two weeks in eight weeks using a single Polydioxaone thread. Needles has a gauge size of 29G, a shaft length of 38mm, and a thread length of 50mm, folded in half, and are applied to ten acupoints, including Qihai (CV6), Shuifen (CV9), and Tianshu (ST25), Shuidao (ST28), Daheng (SP15), Siman (KI14) on both sides of the body. Needles with a gauge size of 30G, a shaft length of 25mm, and a thread length of 30mm, folded in half, are used for five acupoints, which included Zhongwan (CV12) and Zusanli (ST36), Pishu (BL20) on both sides of the body. After the thread being inserted into the body, the needle will be withdrawn immediately.

AA + Sham-TEA

Auricular acupuncture (AA) every week in eight weeks (eight sessions). Combined with Sham Thread embedding acupuncture (Sham-TEA) every two weeks in eight weeks (four sessions).

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Auricular acupuncture

Intervention Type OTHER

Auricular acupuncture is conducted weekly in eight weeks using patches, each with a square shape and a side length of 10 mm, along with sterilized needles measuring 0.25 x 1.3 mm. Five acupoints on one ear are selected, which included Shen-men (TF4), Stomach (CO4), Spleen (CO13), Endocrine (CO18), and Hunger point. The patch with the needle will remain in place for one week.

Sham Thread embedding acupuncture

Intervention Type OTHER

Sham Thread embedding acupuncture is performed every two weeks in eight weeks. Needles without threads has a gauge size of 29G, and a shaft length of 38mm, are applied to ten acupoints, including Qihai (CV6), Shuifen (CV9), and Tianshu (ST25), Shuidao (ST28), Daheng (SP15), Siman (KI14) on both sides of the body. Needles without threads with a gauge size of 30G, and a shaft length of 25mm, are used for five acupoints, which included Zhongwan (CV12) and Zusanli (ST36), Pishu (BL20) on both sides of the body. After the needle being inserted into the body, it will be withdrawn immediately.

Interventions

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Auricular acupuncture

Auricular acupuncture is conducted weekly in eight weeks using patches, each with a square shape and a side length of 10 mm, along with sterilized needles measuring 0.25 x 1.3 mm. Five acupoints on one ear are selected, which included Shen-men (TF4), Stomach (CO4), Spleen (CO13), Endocrine (CO18), and Hunger point. The patch with the needle will remain in place for one week.

Intervention Type OTHER

Thread embedding acupuncture

Thread embedding acupuncture is performed every two weeks in eight weeks using a single Polydioxaone thread. Needles has a gauge size of 29G, a shaft length of 38mm, and a thread length of 50mm, folded in half, and are applied to ten acupoints, including Qihai (CV6), Shuifen (CV9), and Tianshu (ST25), Shuidao (ST28), Daheng (SP15), Siman (KI14) on both sides of the body. Needles with a gauge size of 30G, a shaft length of 25mm, and a thread length of 30mm, folded in half, are used for five acupoints, which included Zhongwan (CV12) and Zusanli (ST36), Pishu (BL20) on both sides of the body. After the thread being inserted into the body, the needle will be withdrawn immediately.

Intervention Type OTHER

Sham Thread embedding acupuncture

Sham Thread embedding acupuncture is performed every two weeks in eight weeks. Needles without threads has a gauge size of 29G, and a shaft length of 38mm, are applied to ten acupoints, including Qihai (CV6), Shuifen (CV9), and Tianshu (ST25), Shuidao (ST28), Daheng (SP15), Siman (KI14) on both sides of the body. Needles without threads with a gauge size of 30G, and a shaft length of 25mm, are used for five acupoints, which included Zhongwan (CV12) and Zusanli (ST36), Pishu (BL20) on both sides of the body. After the needle being inserted into the body, it will be withdrawn immediately.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Simple overweight or obesity with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 23 kg/m2 or higher, following the criteria of The World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific Region.
* Waist circumference of 90 cm or more for males, or 80 cm or more for females.
* Voluntary informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

* Secondary obesity resulting from endocrine diseases or medication.
* Presence of severe medical conditions (e.g., cardiovascular, hepatic, renal or others) that could potentially affect treatment outcomes as per researchers' assessments.
* Current use of weight-affecting medications, including diabetes medications, endocrine medications, and medications for neurological psychiatric disorders.
* Pregnancy, lactation, or recent childbirth within the past 6 months.
* Severe mental and neurological conditions that may impact treatment compliance.
* Alcohol or substance addiction.
* History of hypersensitivity reactions to any form of acupuncture with needles or to Polydioxanone.
* Existing injuries or lesions at the acupoints under investigation in this study.
* Concurrent participation in other clinical trials or utilization of other weight reduction therapies.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

60 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Bui Pham Minh Man

Principal Investigator

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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University of Medical Center HCMC - Branch no.3

Ho Chi Minh City, , Vietnam

Site Status

Countries

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Vietnam

References

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Chen X, Huang W, Wei D, Zhao JP, Zhang W, Ding DG, Jiao Y, Pan HL, Zhang JJ, Zhong F, Gao F, Jin YT, Zheng YW, Zhang YJ, Huang Q, Zeng XT, Zhou ZY. Effect of Acupoint Catgut Embedding for Middle-Aged Obesity: A Multicentre, Randomised, Sham-Controlled Trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 Feb 27;2022:4780019. doi: 10.1155/2022/4780019. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35265146 (View on PubMed)

Jiali W, Lily L, Zhechao L, Jianping L, Mei H. Acupoint catgut embedding versus acupuncture for simple obesity: a systematic review and Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Tradit Chin Med. 2022 Dec;42(6):839-847. doi: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2022.06.001.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36378040 (View on PubMed)

Dai L, Wang M, Zhang KP, Wang L, Zheng HM, Li CB, Zhou WJ, Zhou SG, Ji G. Modified acupuncture therapy, long-term acupoint stimulation versus sham control for weight control: a multicenter, randomized controlled trial. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022 Jul 28;13:952373. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2022.952373. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35966092 (View on PubMed)

Trinh DT, Kieu QV, Tran AH, Bui MP, Vuong NL. Adding thread-embedding acupuncture to auricular acupuncture enhances short-term weight reduction in overweight and obesity: A double-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Integr Med Res. 2024 Sep;13(3):101050. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2024.101050. Epub 2024 Jun 1.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 38911552 (View on PubMed)

Lillingston F, Fields P, Waechter R. Auricular Acupuncture Associated with Reduced Waist Circumference in Overweight Women-A Randomized Controlled Trial. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Dec 18;2019:6471560. doi: 10.1155/2019/6471560. eCollection 2019.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31929817 (View on PubMed)

Yasemin C, Turan S, Kosan Z. The Effects of Auricular and Body Acupuncture in Turkish Obese Female Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial Indicated Both Methods Lost Body Weight But Auricular Acupuncture Was Better Than Body Acupuncture. Acupunct Electrother Res. 2017 Jan;42(1):1-10. doi: 10.3727/036012917x14908026364990.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29772131 (View on PubMed)

Sheng J, Jin X, Zhu J, Chen Y, Liu X. The Effectiveness of Acupoint Catgut Embedding Therapy for Abdominal Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 Jun 23;2019:9714313. doi: 10.1155/2019/9714313. eCollection 2019.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31341504 (View on PubMed)

Wang ZY, Li XY, Gou XJ, Chen CL, Li ZY, Zhao C, Huo WG, Guo YH, Yang Y, Liu ZD. Network Meta-Analysis of Acupoint Catgut Embedding in Treatment of Simple Obesity. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2022 May 23;2022:6408073. doi: 10.1155/2022/6408073. eCollection 2022.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35656457 (View on PubMed)

Zhao HY, Kim S, Son MJ. Comparing acupoint catgut embedding and acupuncture therapies for simple obesity: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2022 Dec 23;101(51):e31531. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000031531.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36595747 (View on PubMed)

Yan RH, Liu XM, Bai J, Hou BB, Yu J, Gu JS. Clinical efficacy of simple obesity treated by catgut implantation at acupoints. Chin J Integr Med. 2015 Aug;21(8):594-600. doi: 10.1007/s11655-012-1215-7. Epub 2012 Dec 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23212565 (View on PubMed)

Wujie YE, Jingyu X, Zekai YU, Xingang HU, Yan Z. Systematic review and Meta-analysis of acupuncture and acupoint catgut embedding for the treatment of abdominal obesity. J Tradit Chin Med. 2022 Dec;42(6):848-857. doi: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2022.06.002.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36378041 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

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Other Identifiers

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700/HDDD-DHYD

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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