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eCAM Advance Access first published online on September 22, 2009
This version published online on October 21, 2009
eCAM, doi:10.1093/ecam/nep145
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© The Author(s) 2009. Published by Oxford University Press.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/uk/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Transcutaneous Electrical Stimulation of Acupoints Changes Body Composition and Heart Rate Variability in Postmenopausal Women with Obesity

Li-Wei Chien1, Miao-Hsiang Lin2, Hsueh-Yu Chung3 and Chi-Feng Liu4

1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Medical University and Hospital, 2Graduate student of Department of Nursing, National Taipei College of Nursing, Taipei, 3Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing, and Management, Miaoli and 4Graduate Institute of Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western Nursing, National Taipei College of Nursing, Taipei, Taiwan

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 < 0.05). Additionally, at the same time points, percentage lean body mass in the experimental group was significantly greater than that in the control group (P < 0.05). SDNN values increased significantly at the 4th and 8th weeks when compared with the control group (all P < 0.05). At 12 weeks, SDNN value was not significantly different from that of the control group (P = 0.105). TEAS treatment improves body composition, and has a transient effect on the HRV in postmenopausal women with obesity.

Keywords: body composition – heart rate variability – obesity – postmenopausal women – transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation

For reprints and all correspondence: Chi-Feng Liu, Graduate Institute of Integration of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Western, National Taipei College of Nursing, No. 365, Ming-De Road, Beitou, Taipei 11211, Taiwan. Tel: +886-2-28227101, ext: 3232; Fax: +886-2-89761761; E-mail: chifeng{at}ntcn.edu.tw

The originally published version of this arcticle, contained errors in Table 3.

Received March 19, 2009; accepted August 30, 2009


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