Efficacy observation on acupuncture for diabetic gastroparesis

Objective: To observe the effect of acupuncture on gastric motility, plasma motilin and serum gastrin in patients with diabetic gastroparesis (DGP) and evaluate its clinical efficacy. Methods: A total of 100 eligible cases were randomly allocated into an acupuncture group (n=50) and a control group (n=50). Patients in the acupuncture group were treated by needling Zhongwan (CV 12), Zusanli (ST 36) and Neiguan (PC 6), whereas patients in the control group were treated with oral administration of Domperidone. The clinical efficacies of the two groups were compared; and changes in gastric motility, plasma motilin and serum gastrin in both groups were observed before and after treatment. Results: After treatment, the symptom scores, gastric motility and contents of plasma motilin and serum gastrin were significantly improved in both groups (P<0.05). There were between-group statistically significant differences in symptom scores, gastric motility and levels of plasma motilin and serum gastrin after treatment (all P<0.05). The total effective rate was 96% in the treatment group, versus 78% in the control group, showing a statistically significant difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: Acupuncture is effective for DGP and can reduce the levels of plasma motilin and serum gastrin. © 2016, Shanghai Research Institute of Acupuncture and Meridian and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.