Efficacy and Safety of Acupoint Catgut Embedding for Obesity Associated with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis
Abstract
Aim: Obesity is common in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and can exacerbate PCOS symptoms. Although Acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) is frequently used to treat the clinical symptoms of simple obesity, it is unclear how it will affect obesity associated with PCOS. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effectiveness of ACE in treating obesity in women with PCOS.
Methods: We searched databases from inception to January 8, 2025. Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the risk of bias. All meta-analyses used random effects models, and the GRADE approach was used to assess the certainty of the evidence.
Results: We included 25 RCTs (1,663 participants). Based on usual care, compared to blank treatment, ACE probably reduces body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist circumference (WC), and may enable a greater proportion of patients to achieve a weight loss no less than 5% (relative risk [RR] 1.33, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.55) and may reduce triglycerides (TG). Furthermore, when compared to active comparators, ACE probably enables a greater proportion of patients to achieve a weight loss no less than 5% (RR 1.40, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.76) and reduces WC and may also reduce BMI and TG. All effects were supported by low to moderate certainty evidence.
Conclusion: When compared to blank treatment, on the basis of usual care, ACE for obesity associated with PCOS may improve obesity-related…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Increased expression of circulating miRNA-93 in women with polycystic ovary syndrome may represent a novel, non-invasive biomarker for diagnosis
- Identification of key genes associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and ovarian cancer using an integrated bioinformatics analysis
- Identification of key pathways and genes in polycystic ovary syndrome via integrated bioinformatics analysis and prediction of small therapeutic molecules
- Regulation of Androgen Receptor Expression Alters AMPK Phosphorylation in the Endometrium: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
- Effect of oral administration of low-dose follicle stimulating hormone on hyperandrogenized mice as a model of polycystic ovary syndrome
- Systems pharmacology to investigate the interaction of berberine and other drugs in treating polycystic ovary syndrome
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.