Review of Acupuncture for Infertility

From the available acupuncture literature this group concluded that acupuncture can be of benefit for fertility treatments in women with Polycystic Ovary Disease. In addition, it can increase the rate of live births during embryo transfer for invitro fertilization patients if given on the day of transfer. It can also improve sperm count and motility in males with infertility of idiopathic origin. Interestingly, they do attribute some of acupuncture's success to changes in the autonomic nervous system. So more researchers coming around to my way of thinking?

(To read further about acupuncture, HRV, and my practice please click here.)


Acupuncture in clinical and experimental reproductive medicine: a review.
J Endocrinol Invest. 2011 Feb 4. [Epub ahead of print]
Franconi G, Manni L, Aloe L, Mazzilli F, Giambalvo Dal Ben G, Lenzi A, Fabbri A.

Endocrinology Unit, S. Eugenio and CTO Hospitals, Tor Vergata University, Roma, Italy. giovanna.franconi@uniroma2.it.

Abstract

Background: Acupuncture has been used as treatment for infertility for hundreds of years, and recently it has been studied in male and female infertility and in assisted reproductive technologies, although its role in reproductive medicine is still debated. Aim: To review studies on acupuncture in reproductive medicine, in experimental and clinical settings. Methods: Papers were retrieved on PubMed and Google Scholar and were included in the review if at least the abstract was in English. Results: There is evidence of benefit mainly when acupuncture is performed on the day of embryo transfer (ET) in the live birth rate. Benefit is also evident when acupuncture is performed for female infertility due to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). There is some evidence of sperm quality improvement when acupuncture is performed on males affected by idiopathic infertility. Experimental studies suggest that acupuncture effects are mediated by changes in activity of the autonomic nervous system and stimulation of neuropeptides/neurotransmitters which may be involved in the pathogenesis of infertility. Conclusions: Acupuncture seems to have beneficial effects on live birth rate when performed on the day of ET, and to be useful also in PCOS as well as in male idiopathic infertility, with very low incidence of side effects. However, further studies are necessary to confirm the clinical results and to expand our knowledge of the mechanisms involved.

Metabolic Syndrome and Heart Rate Variability (HRV)

This study is related to my last post concerning acupuncture and metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in that acupuncture can enhance HRV so may help with Insulin resistance and its relationship to metabolic syndrome. Because the ANS (autonomic nervous system) decrease has been associated with a higher risk of sudden cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. So they explored the relationship between ANS control of the cardiovascular system and metabolic syndrome. In this study they looked at short term HRV (5 minutes) and long term (overnight and 24 hour sessions) in relation to metabolic syndrome status, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and waist circumference. Both nighttime and 24-h HRV showed closer associations with metabolic syndrome than did short-term HRV.

(To read more about acupuncture and my practice, please click here.)

Metabolic Syndrome and Short-Term and Long-Term Heart Rate Variability in Elderly Free of Clinical Cardiovascular Disease: The PROOF Study.
Assoumou HG, Pichot V, Barthelemy JC, Dauphinot V, Celle S, Gosse P, Kossovsky M, Gaspoz JM, Roche F.
Rejuvenation Res. 2010 Sep 6
University Hospital and Jean Monnet University , Pres Lyon, Saint-Etienne, France .
Abstract Objective: Autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity decrease has been associated with a higher risk of sudden cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Thus, we explored the relationship between ANS control of the cardiovascular system and metabolic syndrome. Methods: We analyzed the relationship with both short-term and long-term heart rate variability (HRV) and metabolic syndrome in the cross-sectional PROgnostic indicator OF cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (PROOF) cohort study of 1,011 elderly subjects recruited amongst the inhabitants of the city of Saint Etienne, France, aged 65.6 +/- 0.8 years at the inclusion date. Physical examination included measurements of height, weight, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist circumference, and biological parameters. HRV variables were measured over 5-min, nighttime, and 24-h periods using Holter monitoring. Results: After adjustment for current type 2 diabetes, depression, and smoking, we found that metabolic syndrome status, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and waist circumference were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with total power, very-low frequency, low-frequency/high-frequency (LF/HF) ratio, and normalized LF. HDL-C and metabolic syndrome status were significantly associated with decreased long-term HRV variables. Both nighttime and 24-h HRV showed closer associations with metabolic syndrome than did short-term HRV (5-min). Metabolic syndrome severity was associated with a decrease in both the long-term and short-term HRV variables. Conclusions: ANS control alteration of the cardiovascular system was more pronounced when evaluated by long-term than short-term HRV recordings, particularly in women.

Acupuncture: is it effective for treatment of insulin resistance?

Acupuncture: is it effective for treatment of insulin resistance?
Diabetes Obes Metab. 2010 Jul;12(7):555-69.
Liang F, Koya D.Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa, Japan.

This study out of Japan looks at the literature concerning acupuncture and conditions related to Insulin Resistance and concludes that acupuncture might very well improve insulin sensitivity, though, of course, calls for better, controlled, studies. This review analyses 234 English publications listed on the PubMed database between 1979 and 2009 on the effectiveness of acupuncture as a treatment for IR.
A few quotes

"Insulin resistance (IR) is closely associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), non-alcohol fatty liver diseases (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome and is also a risk factor for serious diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. Pharmacological treatments available for IR are limited by drug adverse effects."

" Numerous experimental studies have demonstrated that acupuncture can correct various metabolic disorders such as hyperglycemia, overweight, hyperphagia, hyperlipidemia, inflammation, altered activity of the sympathetic nervous system and insulin signal defect, all of which contribute to the development of IR. In addition, acupuncture has the potential to improve insulin sensitivity."

(To read more about acupuncture and my practice, please click here.)