Učinki akupunkturnega zdravljenja na simptome fibromialgije, serotonin in ravni substance P

Skupina raziskovalcev s številnih turških institucij, vključno z ministrstva za zdravje in ostalih dveh univerz, je izvedla raziskavo z namenom, da bi ugotovili, kako bi lahko akupunktura pomagala pri fibromialgiji.

Pred branjem vsebine in rezultatov raziskave pa si najprej preberite razlago nekaterih pomembnejših terminov:

• Fibromialgija (FM) je motnja, za katero je značilna široko razširjena mišično-skeletna bolečina, ki jo spremljajo utrujenost in težave s spanjem, spominom ter razpoloženjem. Raziskovalci verjamejo, da fibromialgija okrepi bolečine z vplivom na način procesiranja signalov bolečin v možganih..

• Serotonin je nevrotransmiter (snov, ki je nujna za prenos živčnih signalov). Poznan je predvsem kot snov za občutke sreče, ki prispeva k vsesplošnemu dobremu počutju in sreči. Njegova dejanska biološka funkcija je zapletena in večplastna, ki oblikuje številne miselne procese, kot so zaznavanje, nagrajevanje, učenje, spomin, in fiziološke procese.

• Snov P(SP) je pomemben del prvotnega telesnega odziva na grožnjo, vključno z doživljanjem bolečine, vnetja za zaščito in ostalih sprememb počutja. Pogosto se stopnjuje, številnokrat znatno pri pacientih s fibromialgijo.

• Randomizirano pomeni, da so vsi preučevani osebki naključno razdeljeni v skupine, tako da raziskava ne more razvrstiti posameznikov tako, da bi bil nekdo bolj ali manj dovzeten za zdravljenje glede na osebno pristranskost raziskovalcev.

• Lažna akupunktura je običajna oblika navidezne akupunkture za primerjavo z učinki prave akupunkture.

• Placebo je nedejavna substanca ali zdravljenje, ki je oblikovano tako, da nima terapevtske vrednosti.

Izvedena raziskava je bila snovana v obliki randomiziranega kontroliranega kliničnega poskusa. 75 žensk s fibromialgijo je bilo naključno porazdeljenih v tri skupine za različne oblike akupunkture: pravo, lažno in simulirano akupunkturo (oblika placeba). Zdravljenja so izvajali dvakrat tedensko v obdobju štirih tednov. Ravni serotonina in substance P v krvi so bile izmerjene pred in po osmih obravnavah. Paciente so nato klinično ocenili s številnimi testi in vprašalniki, da bi dobili neko kvantitativno meritev sprememb glede na stanje pred zdravljenjem, po zadnjem zdravljenju in po enem ter treh mesecih po zaključku vseh zdravljenj.

Raziskovalci so odkrili, da se je v skupini s pravo akupunkturo raven serotonina znatno povečala in substance P vidno zmanjšala glede na kontrolne skupine. Poleg zelo pozitivnega kemijskega vidika sprememb so se v akupunkturni skupini prav tako izboljšale vse lestvice bolečine in ostali markerji. V večini primerov so raziskovalci opazili pozitivne spremembe, ki so trajale več kot 3 mesece po prenehanju z akupunkturnim zdravljenjem.

Raziskovalci so oblikovali zaključek, da ‘akupunktura, prej kot lažna ali placebo akupunktura, lahko vodi do dolgoročnega izboljšanja, kar se tiče kliničnih rezultatov in vrednosti nevromodulacije. Spremembe ravni serumskega serotonina in SP so lahko neprecenljiva razlaga mehanizma delovanja akupunkture pri zdravljenju FM.’’

vir: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29220534

vir fotografij: internet

prevod: Tanja Topić

---

Effects of Acupuncture Treatment on Fibromyalgia Symptoms, Serotonin, and Substance P Levels: A Randomized Sham and Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

A group of researchers from several Turkish institutions, including the Ministry of Health and two other universities, conducted a study to find out how acupuncture might help with fibromyalgia.

Before reading the research content and results, here are some of the important terms:

• Fibromyalgia(FM) is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain processes pain signals.

• Serotonin is a neurotransmitter(substance necessary for neural signal). It is quite known as a “happy feeling” substance that contribute to feelings of well-being and happiness. Its actual biological function is complex and multifaceted, modulating cognition, reward, learning, memory, and numerous physiological processes.

• Substance P(SP) is an important part of the body's initial responses to threat including the experience of pain, inflammation for protection, and other mood changes. It is often elevated, many times considerably so, in patients with fibromyalgia.

• Randomized means all the subjects are allocated to different group randomly so the research cannot put someone who might be more or less successful to treatment according to their personal bias

• Sham acupuncture is a commonly used form of “fake-acupuncture” as a comparison of effect to “real-acupuncture”

• Placebo is an inert substance or treatment which is designed to have no therapeutic value.

It was a randomized controlled clinical trial. 75 women with fibromyalgia were randomized into one of three kinds of acupuncture treatment: real acupuncture group, sham acupuncture group , and simulated acupuncture group (a form of placebo). Treatments were applied two times per week for four weeks. The levels of serotonin and substance P in blood were measured before and after the eight sessions. Patients were clinically assessed by a number of tests and questionnaires to get quantitative measurements of changes before the treatment, after the last treatment, and one and three months after completion of all treatments.

The researchers found that serotonin levels were increased significantly in the acupuncture group and the Substance P levels were significantly decreased compared to the control groups. In the acupuncture group all of the other pain scales and other markers were improved in addition to these very positive chemical changes. In most cases researchers saw that these positive changes lasted upwards of 3 months following cessation of the acupuncture treatment.

The researchers concluded that "Acupuncture, rather than sham or placebo acupuncture, may lead to long-term improvements in clinical outcomes and pain neuromodulator values. Changes in serum serotonin and SP levels may be a valuable explanation for acupuncture mechanisms in FM treatment."

source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29220534

#ZdokaziutemeljenaTKMEvidencebasedTCM