1.
Acupuncture and related techniques for obesity and cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis.
Chen, J, Chen, D, Ren, Q, Zhu, W, Xu, S, Lu, L, Chen, X, Yan, D, Nie, H, Zhou, X
Acupuncture in medicine : journal of the British Medical Acupuncture Society. 2020;(4):227-234
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess how acupuncture and related techniques affect weight-related indicators and cardiovascular risk factors compared with non-acupuncture interventions in overweight and obese patients. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase and CENTRAL up to 19 April 2018 and included relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were pooled using the inverse variance method with random-effects model. Prespecified hypotheses were tested in meta-regression to investigate the source of heterogeneity. Statistical software packages used were RevMan 5.3.5 and Stata 14.0. RESULTS Thirty-three RCTs were included (n=2503 patients). Compared with non-acupuncture interventions, acupuncture produced a greater reduction in body weight (WMD -1.76 kg, 95% CI -2.22 to -1.30, I2=77%; moderate quality), body mass index (WMD -1.13 kg/m2, 95% CI -1.38 to -0.88, I2=85%; low quality) and waist circumference (WMD -2.42 cm, 95% CI -3.22 to -1.62, I2=75%; moderate quality). Acupuncture plus lifestyle intervention resulted in a greater reduction in body weight than acupuncture alone (MD -1.94 kg, 95% CI -3.17 to -0.70). Acupuncture also led to a greater reduction in total cholesterol (WMD -12.87 mg/dL, 95% CI -22.17 to -3.57, I2=87%; very low quality) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD -13.52 mg/dL, 95% CI -21.47 to -5.58, I2=74%; low quality). The differences were not statistically significant for blood glucose or blood pressure. CONCLUSION In the short term, acupuncture and related techniques may produce a small but statistically significant degree of weight loss based on moderate- to low-quality evidence, and improve serum lipid parameters based on low- to very-low-quality evidence. Their effects on blood glucose and blood pressure remain uncertain.
2.
Dose-response association between the triglycerides: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio and type 2 diabetes mellitus risk: The rural Chinese cohort study and meta-analysis.
Cheng, C, Liu, Y, Sun, X, Yin, Z, Li, H, Zhang, M, Zhang, D, Wang, B, Ren, Y, Zhao, Y, et al
Journal of diabetes. 2019;(3):183-192
Abstract
BACKGROUND High triglyceride (TG) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels are traditional risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study evaluated the dose-response relationship between the TG/HDL-C ratio and T2DM risk. METHODS The study included 11 946 adults without baseline diabetes from the Rural Chinese Cohort Study. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to investigate the association between the TG/HDL-C ratio and T2DM. The dose-response relationship was evaluated by restricted cubic spline analysis. In addition, pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated with a random-effects model in a meta-analysis including the present study and another three eligible articles. RESULTS During 2007-14, 618 patients with T2DM were identified (9.68/1000 person-years). People in the highest TG/HDL-C ratio quartile had a higher T2DM risk than those in the lowest quartile (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.55-2.86); however, the association between the TG/HDL-C ratio and T2DM was stronger in females than males (aHR 1.27 [95% CI 1.16-1.39; and 1.19 [95% CI 1.04-1.37], respectively). In body mass index-specific analysis, the association was stronger in normal weight than overweight/obese people. The dose-response meta-analysis showed that a 1-unit increment in the TG/HDL-C ratio increased the T2DM risk by 28% (95% CI 20%-36%), with a positive linear relationship (Plinear = 0.326). CONCLUSIONS The TG/HDL-C ratio was an independent risk factor of T2DM, especially in females, and linearly increased the risk of T2DM; thus, it may be a useful indicator to identify future T2DM.