Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2011:2011:862121.
doi: 10.1093/ecam/nep145. Epub 2011 Feb 20.

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation of acupoints changes body composition and heart rate variability in postmenopausal women with obesity

Li-Wei Chien  1 , Miao-Hsiang Lin, Hsueh-Yu Chung, Chi-Feng Liu
Affiliations

Transcutaneous electrical stimulation of acupoints changes body composition and heart rate variability in postmenopausal women with obesity

Li-Wei Chien et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2011.

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of transcutaneous electric acupoint stimulations (TEAS) on body composition and heart rate variability (HRV) in postmenopausal women with obesity. In this prospective study, 49 postmenopausal women were recruited in Taiwan. Body composition was used as a screening test for obesity (percentage body fat > 30%, waist circumference > 80 cm). The experimental group (n = 24) received TEAS treatment 30 min twice per week for 12 weeks at the Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) acupoints. The control group (n = 25) did not receive any intervention. The study of HRV was analyzed by time (standard deviation of the normal-to-normal (NN) intervals (SDNN) and square root of the mean squared differences of successive NN intervals (RMSSD) indices) and frequency domain methods. Power spectral components were obtained at low (LF) and high (HF) frequencies. Body composition and HRV values were measured at the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks. A total of 40 subjects completed this study. Waist circumference and percentage body fat in the experimental group (n = 20) were significantly less than those of the control group (n = 20) at the 8th and 12th weeks (all P < .05). Additionally, at the same time points, percentage lean body mass in the experimental group was significantly greater than that in the control group (P < .05). SDNN values increased significantly at the 4th and 8th weeks when compared with the control group (all P < .05). At 12 weeks, SDNN value was not significantly different from that of the control group (P = .105). TEAS treatment improves body composition, and has a transient effect on the HRV in postmenopausal women with obesity.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of the distribution of the cohort study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. World Health Organization (WHO) Obesity and Overweight. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2006. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs311/en/index.html.
    1. Lin Y-C, Yen L-L, Chen S-Y, et al. Prevalence of overweight and obesity and its associated factors: findings from National Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan, 1993–1996. Preventive Medicine. 2003;37(3):233–241. - PubMed
    1. Poehlman ET, Toth MJ, Gardner AW. Changes in energy balance and body composition at menopause: a controlled longitudinal study. Annals of Internal Medicine. 1995;123(9):673–675. - PubMed
    1. Ferrara CM, Lynch NA, Nicklas BJ, Ryan AS, Berman DM. Differences in adipose tissue metabolism between postmenopausal and perimenopausal women. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2002;87(9):4166–4170. - PubMed
    1. Sowers M, Zheng H, Tomey K, et al. Changes in body composition in women over six years at midlife: ovarian and chronological aging. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2007;92(3):895–901. - PMC - PubMed