Multimodal Ocular Diagnosis-Guided Precision Acupuncture and Lifestyle Intervention for PCOS

September 2, 2026 updated by: Peking University Third Hospital

MulticenterClinical Study of Intelligent and Precise Acupuncture and Lifestyle Interventions for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Guided by Multimodal With Ocular Diagnosis

This study is designed as a prospective, multicenter, parallel-group randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a "precision acupuncture + personalized lifestyle" intervention, guided by dynamic multimodal risk monitoring based on the four diagnostic methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), in improving insulin resistance in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Compared with "conventional acupuncture + standard lifestyle intervention," the study will primarily assess changes in the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) after 12 weeks of treatment. The safety of the intervention, improvements in endocrine and metabolic profiles, menstrual and ovulatory outcomes, psychological status, quality of life, and health-economic outcomes will also be evaluated. The study aims to provide evidence for establishing an intelligent and individualized clinical management model for PCOS.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
210

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Haolin Zhang, PhD
  • Phone Number: +86 15611963539
  • Email: zoe@bjmu.edu.cn

Study Locations

  • China
    • Beijing Municipality
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China, 100191
        • Recruiting
        • Peking University Third Hospital
        • Contact:
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China, 100080
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Beijing Haidian Hospital
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Aged18-40 years, inclusive.
  • Body mass index (BMI) of 25-40 kg/m², inclusive.
  • Meeting the 2003 Rotterdam diagnostic criteria for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), defined by the presence of at least two of the following three criteria: Oligo-ovulation or anovulation; Clinical and/or biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism; Polycystic ovarian morphology on ultrasonography.
  • Willing to participate voluntarily in the study, able to understand the study procedures, and able to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of hyperandrogenemia due to other causes, such as hyperprolactinemia, thyroid disorders, congenital adrenal hyperplasia, or exogenous androgen use.
  • Presence of renal disease (creatinine clearance <60 mL/min), hepatic impairment, autoimmune disease, or malignancy.
  • Type 1 diabetes mellitus or glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) >53 mmol/mol (7%). - Use, within the past 3 months, of medications that may affect study assessments, including glucocorticoids, insulin, glucose-lowering agents such as acarbose, antidepressants, hormonal contraceptives, ovulation-inducing agents, or other relevant medications.
  • Blood pressure >160/100 mmHg.
  • Currently pregnant or breastfeeding, pregnancy within the past 6 months, or planning to become pregnant during the study period.
  • Having received continuous acupuncture treatment for at least 2 months prior to study treatment.
  • Daily smoking or alcohol consumption.
  • Presence of language barriers, psychiatric disorders, or other conditions that may impair the participant's ability to understand the study, comply with the intervention, or complete follow-up assessments.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Precision Acupuncture Plus Personalized Lifestyle Intervention
Participants receive model-guided precision acupuncture, with treatment frequency determined by insulin resistance risk and reassessed every 4 weeks, together with a personalized lifestyle intervention based on multimodal data and individualized glucose-response prediction. The treatment period is 12 weeks.
Other: Model-Guided Precision Acupuncture
Acupuncture treatment is guided by a multimodal risk-stratification model using clinical and noninvasive indicators. Participants receive one of two standardized alternating acupuncture prescriptions with manual and 2-Hz electroacupuncture for 30 minutes. Treatment frequency is adjusted according to insulin resistance risk: three sessions per week for high risk, two sessions per week for moderate risk, and one session per week for low risk. Risk is reassessed every 4 weeks during the 12-week treatment period.
Behavioral: Personalized Lifestyle Intervention
Participants receive personalized dietary and lifestyle guidance generated from multimodal data, including dietary images, continuous glucose monitoring data, traditional Chinese medicine constitution, body mass index, body fat percentage, blood pressure, and heart rate. Foods are dynamically classified as green, orange, or red according to predicted individual glucose responses, and recommendations are adjusted throughout the 12-week intervention.
Active Comparator: Conventional Acupuncture Plus Lifestyle Intervention
Participants receive conventional acupuncture together with standard lifestyle management, including exercise and nutritional guidance delivered and monitored through the PCOS health management system. The treatment period is 12 weeks.
Other: Conventional Acupuncture
Participants receive conventional acupuncture according to a standardized treatment protocol, administered three times per week by qualified acupuncture physicians.
Behavioral: Standard Lifestyle Intervention
Participants receive standard exercise and nutritional guidance through the PCOS health management system. Exercise is guided and monitored using step-count data, while dietary prescriptions and remote health guidance are delivered through a mobile application and computer-based platform.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
HOMA-IR level after 12 weeks of treatment
Time Frame: End of treatment (Week 12)
Fasting venous blood samples will be collected to measure fasting plasma glucose and fasting insulin. HOMA-IR will be calculated using the following formula: HOMA-IR = fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L) × fasting insulin (μIU/mL) / 22.5.
End of treatment (Week 12)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
HOMA-IR level
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0) and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Fasting venous blood samples will be collected to measure fasting plasma glucose and fasting insulin. HOMA-IR will be calculated using the following formula: HOMA-IR = fasting plasma glucose (mmol/L) × fasting insulin (μIU/mL) / 22.5.
Baseline (Week 0) and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Area under the insulin concentration-time curve during the oral glucose tolerance test
Time Frame: Baseline (0 week), end of treatment (12 week) and end of follow-up (24week).
The area under the insulin concentration-time curve (insulin AUC) will be calculated from insulin concentrations measured during the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A single insulin AUC value will be reported for each assessment.
Baseline (0 week), end of treatment (12 week) and end of follow-up (24week).
Glycated hemoglobin level
Time Frame: Baseline (0 week), end of treatment (12 week) and end of follow-up (24week).
Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) will be measured using the study site's routine clinical laboratory method.
Baseline (0 week), end of treatment (12 week) and end of follow-up (24week).
Serum anti-Müllerian hormone concentration
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), Week 12, and Week 24
Serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) concentration will be measured using the study site's routine clinical laboratory method.
Baseline (Week 0), Week 12, and Week 24
Serum total cholesterol concentration
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Serum total cholesterol (TC) concentration will be measured using the study site's routine clinical laboratory method.
Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Serum triglyceride concentration
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Serum triglyceride (TG) concentration will be measured using the study site's routine clinical laboratory method.
Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration will be measured using the study site's routine clinical laboratory method.
Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration will be measured using the study site's routine clinical laboratory method.
Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Number of menstrual bleeding episodes
Time Frame: During treatment (Weeks 1-12) and during follow-up (Weeks 13-24)
articipants will record menstrual bleeding using menstrual cycle diaries. The number of menstrual bleeding episodes will be summarized separately during the 12-week treatment period and the 12-week follow-up period.
During treatment (Weeks 1-12) and during follow-up (Weeks 13-24)
Number of ovulations
Time Frame: During treatment (Weeks 1-12) and during follow-up (Weeks 13-24)
Ovulatory status will be assessed using menstrual cycle records. When clinically necessary, gynecologic ultrasonography will be used to assess follicular development and endometrial changes. The number of ovulations will be summarized separately during the treatment and follow-up periods.
During treatment (Weeks 1-12) and during follow-up (Weeks 13-24)
Body weight
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Body weight will be measured in kilograms at each assessment.
Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Body mass index
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Body mass index (BMI) will be calculated as body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²).
Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Waist circumference
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Waist circumference will be measured in centimeters using the standardized study measurement procedure.
Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Waist-to-hip ratio
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Waist-to-hip ratio will be calculated as waist circumference divided by hip circumference. A single dimensionless ratio will be reported for each assessment.
Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Modified Ferriman-Gallwey hirsutism score
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Hirsutism will be assessed using the modified Ferriman-Gallwey score. Terminal hair growth in nine androgen-sensitive body areas is scored from 0 to 4, producing a total score ranging from 0 to 36. Higher scores indicate more severe hirsutism.
Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire total score
Time Frame: Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Health-related quality of life will be assessed using the 30-item Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Questionnaire (PCOSQ) described in the protocol. Each item is scored from 1 to 7. The total score is calculated as the sum of all item scores and ranges from 30 to 210, with higher scores indicating better health-related quality of life.
Baseline (Week 0), end of treatment (Week 12), and end of follow-up (Week 24)
Number of participants with adverse events
Time Frame: From the first study intervention through the end of follow-up (Week 24)
Adverse events will be recorded at each study visit and classified as mild, moderate, or severe. Events of interest include hypoglycemia, defined as blood glucose below 3.9 mmol/L; acute diabetic complications; and acupuncture-related events such as bleeding, hematoma, fainting, needling-site pain, and elevated blood pressure. The number and percentage of participants experiencing at least one adverse event will be reported.
From the first study intervention through the end of follow-up (Week 24)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Peking University Third Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 10, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2028

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 19, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 2, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 2, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • PKUTH TCM
  • 2026-2-40912 (Other Identifier: Beijing Municipal Health Commission)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data will not be shared.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings