Exercise and electro-acupuncture treatments can reduce sympathetic nerve activity in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

Exercise and electro-acupuncture treatments can sympathetic activity in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which, after a new study. The finding is important because women with PCOS often have increased sympathetic activity, which play an important role in hyperinsulinemia, insulin resistance, obesity and cardiovascular disease

The study also found that electro-acupuncture treatment led to a regular menstrual cycle, reduced testosterone and waist reduced.

The exercise had no impact on the irregular or absent menstrual cycles, which are often women with PCOS, it has yet to reduce the size. However, the movement resulted in a decrease of weight and body mass index.

"The results, low-frequency electro-acupuncture and exercise reduction in sympathetic activity in women with PCOS shows an alternative non-pharmacological approach to reducing cardiovascular disease in patients at risk, a said one of the researchers, Dr. Elisabet Stener-Victorin of the University of Gothenburg, Sweden. The results with regard to menstrual cycles and decreased testosterone low frequency electro-acupuncture is also of interest to researchers.

The study, "Low-frequency electro-acupuncture and reduce the high level of physical activity on muscle sympathetic Ovar polycystic syndrome" by Elisabet Stener-Victorin, Elizabeth Jedele, Per Olof Janson and Vrsa Bergmann Sverrisdottir, all of the Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg University, Sweden and the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. The study is in the online edition of the American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, integration and physiology, published by the American Physiological Society.

Common endocrine disease

Polycystic ovaries (PCOS) is one of the endocrine disorders, estimated at 10% of women of reproductive age. The problems associated with the condition are increased androgens (testosterone, for example, the "male" hormone in the other sex), ovarian cysts, the irregular menstrual cycles and infertility.

PCOS is associated with increased sympathetic activity in blood vessels, which are part of the "fight or flight" reaction that results in the narrowing of blood vessels. The chronic activation of the sympathetic nervous system increases the risk of diabetes, hypertension, myocardial infarction and stroke.The Swedish researchers have found that PCOS is associated with increased sympathetic activity and said it may be the increase in the level of testosterone, is characteristic of PCOS.

Three groups

The researchers wanted, for a period of treatment of PCOS, which have no negative side effects, and they saw that may practice acupuncture, or if the sympathetic activity in women with PCOS. The study focused on 20 women, average age 30 years, divided into the following categories:

* Low electro-acupuncture (9)
* Exercise (5)
* Lack of control (6)

The acupuncture group, 14 treatment during 16 weeks of the study. Acupuncture points were abdominal and back of the knee, are thinking of points in the ovary. The needles in the stomach and legs were stimulated with a low electrical charge, enough to muscle contraction, but not enough for the pain or discomfort.

The exercise was the heart rate and watches was that they regularly rain hiking, cycling or other aerobic exercises, more quickly than on foot, but that at least 30 minutes. It has at least three days per week for 30-45 minutes, maintaining a heart rate of 120 beats per minute.

The researchers of the importance in controlling movement and a healthy diet, the same instructions from the experimental groups to receive, but not specifically to do something else.

The main results

The researchers measured muscle sympathetic activity before and after 16 weeks of study. After treatment in the study were as follows:

* The practice of acupuncture and groups of muscle sympathetic activity decreased compared to the control group.
* The group of acupuncture, with a decrease in the size of size, but not a drop in body mass index or weight.
* The exercise group decreased in terms of weight and body mass index, but not in the size of size.
* The acupuncture group experienced less menstrual irregularities, but the exercise of the irregularities are not modified.
* In the acupuncture group, there was a significant decrease in testosterone. This is an important indicator as the strongest independent predictor of high sympathetic activity in women is the level of testosterone.

"This is the first study to show that repeated low electrical acupuncture and physical activity are the high level of sympathetic activity seen in women with PCOS, according to the authors. "In addition, the two measures of treatment of obesity has decreased, while the low electric acupuncture improved model of the menstrual flow.