Objective To observe the effect of acupuncture of Feishu(BL 13)

Pishu(BL 20)

etc.on body weight

blood lipid

leptin(LP)and soluble leptin receptor(sOB-R)levels in prediabetic patients

so as to explore its mechanisms underlying treatment and prevention of prediabetes.Methods A total of 100 prediabetic patients were randomly assigned to medication(Metformin)group(n=35)

acupuncture group(n=35)and simple lifestyle intervention group(n=30)with random number table method.All the patients of the 3 groups were treated with lifestyle intervention(reasonable diet and moderate physical exercise)and ordered to stop administration of any hypoglycemic drugs during the treatment period.Bilateral Feishu(BL 13)

Pishu(BL 20)

Weishu(BL 21)

Shenshu(BL 23)

Zusanli(ST 36)and Sanyinjiao(SP 6)were punctured with filiform needles which were manipulated by lifting

thrusting and twirling repeatedly for about 2 min every 5 min during 30 minutes' needle retaining.The acupuncture treatment was conducted once every other day for 12 weeks.Patients of the medication group were ordered to orally take Metformin tablets(0.5 g/time

twice a day)for continuous 12 weeks.Body mass index(BMI)

waist circumference(WC)

waist-to-hip ratio(WHR)

2 h-postprandial blood glucose(2 h-PBG)

fasting blood glucose(FBG)

glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1 c)

total cholesterol(TC)

triglyceride(TG)

fasting insulin(FINS)

serum LP and sOB-R levels were measured before and after the treatment.Results After the treatment

the BMI in the acupuncture group

and BMI

WC and WHR in the medication group were significantly decreased relevant to their own pre-treatment in each group(P<0.05

P<0.01).Following the treatment

the levels of FBG

2 h-PBG

HbA1 C

TC

TG

FINS

HOMA-IR and LP in both acupuncture and medication groups

and FBG in the simple lifestyle intervention group were significantly decreased in comparison with their own pre-treatment in each group(P<0.01

P<0.05)

and the levels of FBG

2 h-PBG

HbA1 C

TC and TG

HOMA-IR and LP in both acupuncture and medication groups were all considerably lower than those of the simple lifestyle intervention group(P<0.01

P<0.05).The level of FINS in the medication group was significantly lower than that of the simple lifestyle intervention group(P<0.05).Additionally

following the treatment

serum sOB-R contents in both acupuncture and medication groups were obviously increased compared with their own pre-treatment in each group and also relevant to the simple lifestyle intervention group(P<0.01).No significant changes were found in the simple lifestyle intervention group in all the above-mentioned blood indexes except FBG(P>0.05).Conclusion Acupuncture can induce body weight loss

down-regulate FINS

insulin resistance and LP resistance

and up-regulate sOB-R content in prediabetic patients

displaying apositive role in the treatment of prediabetes.