Early intervention with electroacupuncture may help protect pancreatic function and regulate blood glucose in prediabetes, according to a study published by a research team from the Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. The findings were reported on July 21 following publication in Acupuncture Research.
The researchers used C57BL/6J mice to examine how electroacupuncture at bilateral ST36 affected blood glucose regulation across different stages: acute hyperglycemia, low-risk prediabetes, and high-risk prediabetes. The study also explored whether these effects were linked to vagus nerve-mediated protection of pancreatic β-cell function.
Disease models were induced using various methods: acute hyperglycemia through intraperitoneal glucose injection, low-risk prediabetes by one week of high-fat feeding, and high-risk prediabetes by eight weeks of high-fat feeding. Electroacupuncture was administered at ST36 with specific parameters for each model. Blood glucose levels and tolerance were measured alongside serum markers such as HbA1c, insulin, and glucagon. Pancreatic tissue was analyzed for morphological changes.
Results showed that electroacupuncture reduced blood glucose levels at certain time points in acute hyperglycemic mice and increased serum insulin. In low-risk prediabetic mice, it lowered blood glucose on multiple days, improved glucose tolerance, and raised insulin levels without significant tissue injury. High-risk prediabetic mice experienced more limited benefits.
Mechanistic analysis indicated that electroacupuncture increased choline acetyltransferase- and c-fos-positive neurons in the pancreas-related ganglia and dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve while boosting muscarinic acetylcholine receptor expression. It also reduced markers associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress and β-cell senescence in pancreatic cells.
The authors said their findings suggest early-stage intervention is more effective than later treatment after prolonged metabolic stress has caused greater dysfunction, according to the study. They concluded that timing is crucial for maximizing the benefit of this approach but noted that further studies—particularly human trials—are needed before clinical application.
