article · Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies
Obesity and related lipid imbalances significantly contribute to heart disease and metabolic complications in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. A randomised controlled trial investigated the effects of combining laser acupuncture therapy with exercise and diet in 60 obese women aged between 23 and 49 who live with the condition. All participants adhered to a low-calorie diet protocol and completed five 50-minute supervised Pilates sessions each week for 12 weeks. Half of the participants also received two-minute laser acupuncture sessions on specific acupoints three times per week. While both groups experienced significant improvements in total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein, the group receiving laser acupuncture achieved significantly greater improvements across all measured blood lipids.
Systemic lupus erythematosus often brings an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic complications, especially when compounded by obesity. Demonstrating that non-invasive therapies like laser acupuncture can enhance the benefits of diet and exercise provides healthcare practitioners with additional, low-burden options to help manage cardiovascular risk factors in this vulnerable patient group.
This research represents an applied clinical trial demonstrating the efficacy of combining laser acupuncture devices with structured lifestyle programmes. Potential users include rehabilitation centres, integrative healthcare clinics, and physiotherapy providers managing chronic autoimmune conditions. Because it relies on established laser acupuncture equipment and defined exercise protocols, the approach is clinically testable and near to adoption in specialist care settings, though commercial application pathways are not explicitly detailed in the abstract.
AI-generated from the published abstract. Always read the original work before citing.
Background: Obesity-induced dyslipidemia is one of the main factors contributing to morbidity and mortality associated with metabolic syndrome, atherosclerosis, and coronary artery disease among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Objectives: This research aimed to assess the effect of adding laser acupuncture therapy (LAT) to a Pilates exercise program (PEP) and low-calorie diet protocol (LCDP) on blood lipids among 60 obese women with SLE. Methods: Study participants were women aged between 23 and 49 years, randomly assigned to one of two groups, A or B, each comprising 30 women. In addition to adherence to the LCDP, both groups were supervised five times weekly during 50-minute PEP sessions. Group A also received LAT three times weekly, with each session lasting 2 minutes on selected acupoints. After the 12-week intervention, plasma total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein were assessed. Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in the aforementioned lipids after the 12-week intervention. A comparison between the post-intervention values of the lipids in the groups revealed a significant improvement favoring group A (the group that received LAT). Conclusion: Adding a 12-week LAT regimen to PEP and LCDP significantly improved lipid profiles among 60 obese women with SLE.
This page summarises published work. The authoritative version sits with the publisher.
DOI: 10.51507/j.jams.2023.16.4.152
Is something wrong with this record? Report it or request removal.
Discussion
Have you built on this work, tried to replicate it, or seen it applied in practice? Share what you know. Verified researchers and MARATTO™ domain experts can open a discussion, and any member can reply. Contributions are reviewed before they appear.
No discussion yet. Open the first thread.
New to MARATTO™? Create a free account.
