Effect of Needling at CV-12 (Zhongwan) on Blood Glucose Levels in Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial

Item

Title

Effect of Needling at CV-12 (Zhongwan) on Blood Glucose Levels in Healthy Volunteers: A Pilot Randomized Placebo Controlled Trial

Author(s)

Journal Publication

Date

2016

volume

9(6)

pages

307-310

Research Type

RCT

Keywords

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Acupuncture, a key part of traditional Chinese medicine, is used to relieve symptoms of diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of needling CV-12 (Zhongwan) on blood glucose levels in healthy volunteers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six individuals were recruited and randomized into either the acupuncture group or the placebo control group. The participants in the acupuncture group were needled at CV-12 (4 cun above the center of the umbilicus), and those in the placebo control group were needled at a nonexisting "sham" point on the right side of the abdomen (1 cun beside the CV-12)-a nonacupuncture point. For both groups, the needle was retained for 20 minutes without stimulation. Assessments were performed prior to and after the intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 16. RESULTS: The result of this study showed a mild reduction in random blood glucose (RBG) levels in the acupuncture group and a mild increase in RBG levels in the placebo control group. However, these changes were not statistically significant both within and between groups. CONCLUSION: The result of this study suggests that although 20 minutes of needling at CV-12 without stimulation produced a mild reduction in RBG levels in healthy volunteers, it did not produce a statistically significant result.

doi

10.1016/j.jams.2016.08.002

pmid

PMID:28010832

View on Pubmed

Language

English

has health condition studied

Healthy Subjects

has study population number

36

has duration

1 Day

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