Non-Invasive Auricular Acupoint Stimulation Improves Slow-Transit Constipation: Evidence From a Randomized Controlled...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Neuromodulation
• Complementary Medicine

Background:

• Slow-transit constipation (STC) lacks effective treatments due to adverse effects and limited efficacy of current therapies.
• Auricular acupoint stimulation (AAS) presents a potential neuromodulatory adjunctive approach for STC, but its clinical utility is unproven.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of non-invasive auricular acupoint stimulation (AAS) as an adjunct to prucalopride for treating slow-transit constipation (STC).
• To investigate the mechanistic role of AAS in modulating gastrointestinal function and symptom scores in STC patients.

Main Methods:

• Sixty STC patients (40-75 years) were randomized into two groups: study (AAS + prucalopride) and control (prucalopride monotherapy).
• Interventions were assessed by monitoring serum neuropeptide Y (NPY), nitric oxide (NO), fecal water content, and gastrointestinal transit time.
• Symptom scores were used to determine comparative therapeutic outcomes.

Main Results:

• The study group achieved a significantly higher overall efficacy rate (93.3%) versus the control group (84.6%, P<0.05).
• Both groups showed reduced NPY and NO levels, with increased fecal water content and colonic transit.
• The AAS group demonstrated more significant reductions in NPY/NO and greater improvements in transit and water content compared to controls (P<0.05).

Conclusions:

• Non-invasive auricular acupoint stimulation significantly enhances symptom relief in patients with slow-transit constipation.
• AAS shows potential as an effective complementary therapy for constipation management, improving gastrointestinal function markers.