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Effects of Auricular Acupressure Versus Intermittent Dietary Restriction in Children With Gastric Heat and Dampness Obstruction

Not Applicable
Recruiting
Conditions
Obesity, Childhood
Interventions
Other: Auricular acupressure of traditional Chinese Medicine
Behavioral: Intermittent low carbohydrate diet
Behavioral: Health education
Registration Number
NCT05847478
Lead Sponsor
Children's Hospital of Fudan University
Brief Summary

This is a three-month randomized controlled trial to investigate the effects of auricular acupressure versus Intermittent carbohydrate restriction on cardiometabolic risk in obese children with gastric heat and dampness obstruction.

Detailed Description

Obesity in childhood is associated with multiple cardiometabolic risk factors including hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia and hypertension, which predicts increased risk for developing obesity-driven complications in adulthood. Auricular acupuncture therapy is an intervention with purported success for the treatment of obesity. However, traditional intervention rarely has long-term success in children and adolescents. Low-carbohydrate diets have also been shown to reduce body weight and improve insulin sensitivity in children.

This is a three-month randomized controlled trial in children with gastric damp-heat obstruction, in order to explore the effects of traditional Chinese medicine auricular acupressure and intermittent carbohydrate restriction on cardiovascular metabolic health.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
240
Inclusion Criteria
  • Have at least one of the following cardiometabolic risk factors: overweight or obesity, prediabetes, dyslipidemia or elevated blood pressure.
  • Traditional Chinese medical syndrome type is gastric heat and dampness obstruction syndrome.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Diagnosis of obesity associated with genetic or endocrine diseases, including hypercortisolism, polycystic ovary syndrome, primary hypothyroidism and hypothalamic obesity.
  • Participating in other clinical trials or have participated in other clinical trials in recent 3 months.
  • Diagnosis of organic diseases, including heart, liver, kidney and brain or infectious diseases and mental diseases.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Auricular acupressure therapy group (AAT)Health educationThe participants will be randomly assigned to receive the auricular point patch therapy. The intervention period is 3 months.
Intermittent low carbohydrate diet group (ILCD)Health educationThe participants will be randomly assigned to receive the intermittent low carbohydrate diet. The duration of the study is 3 months, including 1-month intervention period and 2-month self maintenance period.
Auricular acupressure therapy group (AAT)Auricular acupressure of traditional Chinese MedicineThe participants will be randomly assigned to receive the auricular point patch therapy. The intervention period is 3 months.
Intermittent low carbohydrate diet group (ILCD)Intermittent low carbohydrate dietThe participants will be randomly assigned to receive the intermittent low carbohydrate diet. The duration of the study is 3 months, including 1-month intervention period and 2-month self maintenance period.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in body weightFrom baseline to one month after intervention

The body weight will be measured by fixed research staff at baseline and one month after intervention.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Changes in blood lipid ,liver and kidney function levelFrom baseline to three month after intervention

Serum from fasting blood sample is used for measurement of blood lipid ,liver and kidney function at baseline, one month and three month after intervention.

changes in the cumulative score of traditional Chinese medicine syndromesFrom baseline to three month after intervention

The investigators will measure the change in scores of chinese medicine symptoms according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Guideline Scale: 0 - 3. 0 = None. 1 = Mild. 2 = Moderate. 3= Severe

Changes in body fat contentFrom baseline to three month after intervention

Body composition involves measuring the body fat percentage by using the LUNAR DPX Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) equipment (General Electric Company, USA)) at baseline , one month and three month after intervention.

Changes in dietary and exercise dataFrom baseline to three month after intervention

Diet and exercise data are recorded by the children and their families, but they will be educated by qualified clinicians before recording.

Changes in waist-to-height ratio(WtHR), body mass index (BMI) and blood pressureFrom baseline to three month after intervention

The weight、height、waist circumference and blood pressure will be measured by fixed research staff at baseline , one month and three month after intervention. BMI and WtHR are calculated using the corresponding equation.

Changes in glucose metabolism level, including fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin level, etcFrom baseline to three month after intervention

Serum from fasting blood sample is used for measurement of glucose metabolism at baseline, one month and three month after intervention.

Changes in Gut microbiotaFrom baseline to one month after intervention

Stool samples are collected with Boyou®- nucleic acid storage tube and stored in the laboratory -80℃ refrigerator at the baseline and one month after intervention. For the study of intestinal flora diversity, the 16SrDNA target region is amplified, and the information of intestinal microbial diversity and community composition is obtained by detecting the sequence variation and abundance of the target region.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Children's Hospital of Fudan University

🇨🇳

Shanghai, China

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