Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41501215›Full record

ReviewPflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology2026

Electroacupuncture as a therapeutic intervention for obesity: mechanisms and implications.

Lili Hong, Yi An, Xiaoyuan Feng, Huan Chen, Lei An, Guo Zhang

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Pflugers Archiv : European journal of physiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Lili Hong *Institute of Metabolism and Health, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China.
Yi An *Institute of Metabolism and Health, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China.
Xiaoyuan FengInstitute of Metabolism and Health, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China.
Huan ChenInstitute of Metabolism and Health, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China.
Lei AnInstitute of Metabolism and Health, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China. anlei@henu.edu.cn.
Guo ZhangInstitute of Metabolism and Health, Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, 475004, Henan, China. gzhang@henu.edu.cn.

Funding

Education Department of Henan Province 24ZX014Henan Provincial Science and Technology Research Project 252102311039National Natural Science Foundation of China 82171554Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases-National Science and Technology Major Project 2024ZD0530200
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Obesity, a prevalent metabolic disease characterized by chronic systemic inflammation and dysregulated energy homeostasis, contributes to comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Despite advancements in lifestyle interventions, pharmacotherapy and bariatric surgery, limitations in efficacy and safety emphasize the necessity for alternative therapeutic interventions. Electroacupuncture (EA), a contemporary form of traditional acupuncture, has emerged as a promising non-invasive intervention for obesity. This review synthesizes current evidence on the neuroendocrine, immunomodulatory, and metabolic mechanisms through which EA modulates hypothalamic nuclei, gut-liver axis signaling, white adipose tissue browning, and sympathetic-immune interactions. Preclinical studies have highlighted the potential of EA to enhance satiety signals, restore gut microbiota balance, suppress inflammasome activity, and promote white adipose tissue browning. Future research needs to prioritize human studies, elucidate neural circuitry, and optimize treatment protocols to translate preclinical findings into clinical practice.

Indexed as

ElectroacupunctureObesityAnimalsHumansHypothalamusElectroacupunctureGut-liver axisHypothalamusNeuroimmune regulationObesity

Identifiers

PMID41501215

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.