Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2026
Monitoring Acupuncture Effects on Human Brain by fMRI
Published on: April 8, 2010
Impact of Acupuncture on Human Metabolomic Profiles: A Systematic Review
Hongjin Li1,2, Hannah Choi1, Madelyn C Houser3
1College of Nursing, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Background/Objectives:
Metabolomics provides insights into the biological underpinnings of disease development and treatment. This systematic review investigated the impact of acupuncture on metabolite levels and associated metabolic pathways using a metabolomic approach.
Methods:
Five databases (i.e., PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central) were searched using terms such as "acupuncture" and "metabolites" to retrieve relevant journal articles published through January 2024. Studies utilizing mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance were included. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Metabolic pathway analysis was conducted using MetaboAnalyst 6.0 to identify common significant pathways affected by acupuncture. Additionally, subgroup pathway enrichment analysis identified metabolites significantly altered in more than two studies.
Results:
Among 4019 articles, 22 studies met inclusion criteria, examining changes in metabolomic biomarkers before and after acupuncture for various diseases and symptoms. A total of 226 metabolites showed significant changes, with 14 common metabolites altered in more than two studies (glutamine, androsterone glucuronide, choline, citric acid, decanoylcarnitine, estrone, glutathione, glycine, hypoxanthine, lactic acid, pyruvic acid, serine, proline, and sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine). Common pathways affected by acupuncture were glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, glutathione metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism.
Conclusions:
This review provides insights of the metabolomic mechanisms underlying acupuncture, highlighting its impact on specific metabolic pathways. Recognizing these changes can enhance acupuncture's effectiveness and support the development of personalized treatments. The findings underscore metabolomics as a valuable tool for understanding and optimizing acupuncture for various diseases and symptoms.
More Related Videos
07:36Analysis of Raw and Processed Cyperi Rhizoma Samples Using Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry in Rats with Primary Dysmenorrhea
Published on: December 23, 2022
03:26Author Spotlight: Improving Anesthesia Protocols for Enhanced Mouse Acupuncture Research
Published on: December 8, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:40Overview of Metabolism
Plant Metabolism
Sunlight, the primary source of energy in plants, is first absorbed by the chlorophyll pigments present in their leaves. Plants then use this energy to carry out photosynthesis, where water is oxidized into oxygen and carbon dioxide...
01:26Toxic Reactions: Overview
Toxicity falls into two primary categories: local and systemic.
Local toxicity appears at the exposure site, such as protein denaturation caused by caustic substances.
In contrast, systemic toxicity requires the toxic agent's absorption and distribution,...
01:19Factors Affecting Drug Biotransformation: Biological
Species differences: Variations in enzyme systems across species can cause disparities in drug metabolism. For instance, humans may metabolize certain drugs faster than rodents, altering therapeutic effects.
Strain differences: Genetic variations within a species can result in differing enzyme activity, impacting drug response and toxicity. For example, some mouse strains may...
01:22Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
01:27Pharmacogenetics of Phase II Enzymes: N-acetyltransferase, Thiopurine S-methyltransferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase
01:25Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity