Heart rate variability and hemodynamic change in the superior mesenteric artery by acupuncture stimulation of lower limb points: a randomized crossover trial.

Author: Kaneko S1, Watanabe M1, Takayama S2, Numata T1, Seki T3, Tanaka J4, Kanemura S4, Kagaya Y2, Ishii T4, Kimura Y1, Yaegashi N1.
Affiliation: 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. 2Comprehensive Education Center for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-1 Seiryo-machi, Aoba Ward, Sendai-shi 980-8573, Japan. 3Department of Geriatric Behavioral Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan. 4Department of Education and Support for Community Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, Japan.
Conference/Journal: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med.
Date published: 2013
Other: Volume ID: 2013 , Pages: 315982 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1155/2013/315982 , Word Count: 157



Objective. We investigated the relationship between superior mesenteric artery blood flow volume (SMA BFV) and autonomic nerve activity in acupuncture stimulation of lower limb points through heart rate variability (HRV) evaluations. Methods. Twenty-six healthy volunteers underwent crossover applications of bilateral manual acupuncture stimulation at ST36 or LR3 or no stimulation. Heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance index, SMA BFV, and HRV at rest and 30 min after the intervention were analyzed. Results. SMA BFV showed a significant increase after ST36 stimulation (0% to 14.1% ± 23.4%, P = 0.007); very low frequency (VLF), high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), and LF/HF were significantly greater than those at rest (0% to 479.4% ± 1185.6%, P = 0.045; 0% to 78.9% ± 197.6%, P = 0.048; 0% to 123.9% ± 217.1%, P = 0.006; 0% to 71.5% ± 171.1%, P = 0.039). Changes in HF and LF also differed significantly from those resulting from LR3 stimulation (HF: 78.9% ± 197.6% versus -18.2% ± 35.8%, P = 0.015; LF: 123.9% ± 217.1% versus 10.6% ± 70.6%, P = 0.013). Conclusion. Increased vagus nerve activity after ST36 stimulation resulted in increased SMA BFV. This partly explains the mechanism of acupuncture-induced BFV changes.
PMID: 24381632