The Effects of Electrical Acupuncture and Essential Amino Acid Supplementation on Sarcopenic Obesity in Male Older Adults: A Randomized Control Study

Abstract

Objective: Aging which is accompanied by loss of skeletal muscle and increase of body fat in some adults older than 60 years does not only result in remarkable influences on daily life function but also increases the risk of cardiovascular events. This study used electrical acupuncture together with essential amino acid supplementation to treat sarcopenic obesity (SO) in male older adults.

Methods: A total of 48 male participants with SO (>60 years old) were randomized to electrical acupuncture with oral essential amino acids (EA + AA) or oral essential amino acids alone (AA). Acupuncture points on the limbs were punctured and stimulated electrically once every 3 days for 12 weeks. All participants received essential amino acids orally, twice per day for 28 weeks. Body fat percentage (BFP) and appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASM/H2) was determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis.

Results: Both groups exhibited significant changes in BFP after 12, 20, and 28 weeks compared with baseline values; for ASM/H2, there were significant differences to baseline values after 12, 20, and 28 weeks in the EA + AA group, but only after 28 weeks in the AA group. Between the two groups, there were significant differences in BFP after 12, 20, and 28 weeks, and in ASM/H2 after 20 and 28 weeks.

Conclusion: Both methods decrease BFP and increase ASM/H2. In male older adults, electrical acupuncture with oral essential amino acids is more effective and can increase muscle mass in a shorter time than oral essential amino acids alone.

Keywords: Electrical acupuncture; Essential amino acid; Male older adults; Sarcopenic obesity.

© 2018 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg.

Figures

Fig. 1

Body fat percentage (BFP) and appendicular skeletal muscle mass-height index (ASM/H2) after treatment between electrical acupuncture (EA) + amino acids (AA) and AA group. Data are mean ± SEM. For BFP, compared with AA group, *p = 0.110 at 4 weeks, but **p = 0.00 at 12, 20, and 28 weeks. For ASM/H2, compared with AA group, *p = 0.480 at 4 weeks and **p = 0.128 at 12 weeks, but ***p = 0.000 at 20 and 28 weeks.