ObjectiveTo compare the differences in clinical effects on hyperlipidemia of turbid phlegm obstruction pattern/syndrome treated with the different Jin's three-needle therapies so as to provide a new approach and theoretic evidence for the clinical optimal scheme of acupuncture on hyperlipidemia.MethodsA total of 90 patients were randomly divided into education group

electroacupuncture group and catgut embedding group(30 cases in each). The routine health education was given to the education group. On the base of the treatment as the education group

electroacupuncture was applied to the electroacupuncture group for 30 min each time

twice a week;and the catgut embedding was applied to the catgut embedding group at the same acupoints as the electroacupuncture group

once a week.The treatment was given consecutively for 8 weeks in each group. Before and after treatment

the obesity indices[weight

waistline

body mass index(BMI)]

blood lipid indices[serum total cholesterol(TC)

triglyceride(TG)

low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)

high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C)]and insulin resistance indices[fasting blood glucose(FBG)

fasting plasma insulin(FINS)

homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)]were observed in the three groups before and after treatment.ResultsAfter treatment

in the electroacupuncture group and the catgut embedding group

the results of the obesity indices

e. g. weight

waistline and BMI

the levels of blood lipid

e. g. TC

TG

LDL-C and the insulin resistance indices

e. g. FINS and HOMA-IR were all obviously decreased compared with those before treatment(P<0. 05

P<0. 01)

and the level of HDL-C apparently increased than that before treatment(P<0. 01). In the catgut embedding group

FBG was obviously decreased after treatment as compared with that before treatment(P<0. 01). After treatment

the improvements in LDL-C and HDL-C in the catgut embedding group were superior to those in the electroacupuncture group(P<0. 05). Regarding the obesity indices and insulin resistance indices

the differences were not statistically significant in comparison between the catgut embedding group and the electroacupuncture group(all P>0. 05). The total effective rate was 90. 0% in the catgut embedding group(27/30)and it was 83. 3%(25/30)in the electroacupuncture group

either of them was better than 60. 0%(18/30)in the education group

indicating the statistical significance(P<0. 01

P<0. 05).ConclusionOn the base of health education

either the catgut embedding therapy or electroacupuncture of Jin's three-needle treatment achieves the positive regulation on the abnormal lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. The hypoglycemic effect and the improving effect in LDL-C and HDL-C of the catgut embedding therapy are superior to electroacupuncture.