Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42545016›Full record

ArticleMicrobiology spectrum2026

Gut microbiota contributes to the therapeutic effect of acupuncture in atopic dermatitis.

Yerin Seo, Jundong Kim, Mijung Yeom, Su-Yang Park, Sujin Lee, Sora Ahn, Dae-Hyun Hahm, Kyuseok Kim, Soon-Kyeong Kwon, Hi-Joon Park

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Microbiology spectrum, 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

10 authors.

Yerin Seo *Division of Applied Life Science (BK21), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0009-0004-8301-6303
Jundong Kim *Department of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Dermatology of Korean Medicine, Graduate School of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Dongdaemun District, Republic of Korea.
Mijung Yeom *Acupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Su-Yang ParkAcupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Sujin LeeDivision of Applied Life Science (BK21), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.
Sora AhnAcupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Dae-Hyun HahmAcupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Kyuseok KimDepartment of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Dermatology of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-3802-8717
Soon-Kyeong KwonDivision of Applied Life Science (BK21), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-0721-6328
Hi-Joon ParkAcupuncture and Meridian Science Research Center, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-0538-2664

Funding

National Research Foundation of Korea RS-2023-00211512National Research Foundation of Korea RS-2024-00409969
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a central regulator of immune homeostasis, metabolic balance, and therapeutic outcomes. Atopic dermatitis (AD), a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is closely linked to gut microbial dysbiosis. Traditionally regarded as a neurostimulatory therapy, acupuncture (Acu) has demonstrated increasing efficacy in alleviating AD symptoms and improving gastrointestinal function. These observations suggest that the therapeutic effects of Acu in AD may be mediated, in part, by modulation of the gut microbiome. In this study, AD patients were stratified into responder (R) and non-responder (NR) groups based on clinical improvement. Gut microbiome profiling revealed that R patients exhibited greater microbial diversity and compositional stability, indicative of a more balanced gut ecosystem. Specific taxa, including IMPORTANCE: Increasing evidence supports the gut microbiome's role in modulating treatment responses in atopic dermatitis (AD), but direct evidence linking acupuncture efficacy with microbiome composition has been lacking. Previous studies did not assess causal relationships via fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) or functional metagenomics. This study identifies specific gut microbes associated with acupuncture response in AD and confirms their causal role using FMT. It also links functional metabolic pathways to therapeutic efficacy, offering a mechanism-based insight. Our findings support microbiome-informed personalized acupuncture approaches for AD and suggest gut microbiota as a therapeutic modulator in neuroimmune regulation. CLINICAL TRIALS: This study was registered in the Korean Clinical Trial Registry (CRIS, registration number: KCT0005422).

Indexed as

Acupuncture TherapyDermatitis, AtopicGastrointestinal MicrobiomeAdultAnimalsBacteriaDisease Models, AnimalDysbiosisFecal Microbiota TransplantationFecesFemaleHumansMaleMiceTreatment Outcomeacupuncture treatmentAtopic dermatitisgut microbiometherapeutic responsiveness

Identifiers

PMID42545016
PMCPMC13532318

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read underepoch 390

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.