Effects of acupuncture on gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids in patients with functional constipation: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

ABSTRACT: Objective: To comprehensively evaluate the effect of acupuncture on gut microbiota, identify specific microbes closely related to the clinical efficacy of acupuncture, and explored the role of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Methods: A randomized placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 80 FC patients and 28 healthy controls (HCs). FC patients randomly received 16 acupuncture (n = 40) or sham acupuncture (n = 40) sessions over 4 weeks; HCs received no treatment. The change in the proportion of patients with mean weekly complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs) was considered as the primary outcome measure. Moreover, the composition and the predictive metabolic function of the gut microbiota from feceal samples were analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, wh

SUBMITTER: Yan XY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10502303 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature