Evaluation of the Therapeutic Efficacy of Auricular Pellets Combined With Atorvastatin 20mg in Patients With Dyslipidemia and Phlegm-Dampness Syndrome

Summary

Dyslipidemia (DL) is a metabolic disorder characterized by an imbalance of blood lipid components, serving as a leading silent cause of dangerous cardiovascular diseases and increased mortality risk globally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases account for 32% of all deaths worldwide, with dyslipidemia playing a crucial role in the pathogenesis of 85% of fatalities caused by heart attacks and strokes. Although current management primarily relies on lifestyle modifications and lipid-lowering medications such as statins, fibrates, or niacin, some patients still encounter difficulties due to inadequate treatment response, adverse side effects, or poor long-term compliance. In this context, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapies are increasingly being widely applied, either as monotherapy or in combination with Western medicine. Notably, auricular acupuncture-a method focusing on specific acupoints on the ear-has been recognized for its great potential in modulating lipid profiles, particularly demonstrating therapeutic efficacy in patients with Phlegm-Dampness syndrome. Theoretically and clinically, Phlegm-Dampness syndrome is inextricably linked to the pathogenesis and progression of dyslipidemia (DL); furthermore, clinical research in China indicates that the Phlegm pattern accounts for the highest proportion among the five traditional syndromes of this condition, and a greater severity of Phlegm-Dampness correlates positively with higher levels of TC and LDL-c. In terms of treatment, auricular pellets (a modality of auricular acupuncture) have been demonstrated to improve cardiovascular health by reducing TC, LDL-c, and TGR levels while elevating HDL-c in obese patients with mild-to-moderate DL. In Vietnam, however, studies evaluating the application of auricular pellets in patients with DL remain limited, primarily focusing on individuals with simple overweight or obesity without documented concurrent metabolic disorders. Notably, a study by Nguyen Vu Thien Duyen (2021) reported that a 3-acupoint formula consisting of Hunger (TGR3), Stomach (CO4), and Endocrine (CO18) effectively reduced lipid profiles to a moderate extent in obese individuals. Given the limitations in evaluating therapeutic efficacy and the scarcity of published studies discussing the effects of lowering blood lipid profiles and alleviating Phlegm-Dampness symptoms for this specific pattern in Vietnam, the investigators conducted this study to evaluate the degree of lipid profile reduction and the clinical symptom improvement of the Phlegm-Dampness syndrome using auricular acupuncture in patients with dyslipidemia presenting with the Phlegm-Dampness syndrome.

Timeline

Start

2026-05-15

Primary completion

2026-10

Completion

2026-10

Publications

• Background Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, Cushman WC, Green LA, Izzo JL Jr, Jones DW, Materson BJ, Oparil S, Wright JT Jr, Roccella EJ; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure; National High Blood Pressure Education Program Coordinating Committee. The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure: the JNC 7 report. JAMA. 2003 May 21;289(19):2560-72. doi: 10.1001/jama.289.19.2560. Epub 2003 May 14.
• Results Writing Group Members; Mozaffarian D, Benjamin EJ, Go AS, Arnett DK, Blaha MJ, Cushman M, Das SR, de Ferranti S, Despres JP, Fullerton HJ, Howard VJ, Huffman MD, Isasi CR, Jimenez MC, Judd SE, Kissela BM, Lichtman JH, Lisabeth LD, Liu S, Mackey RH, Magid DJ, McGuire DK, Mohler ER 3rd, Moy CS, Muntner P, Mussolino ME, Nasir K, Neumar RW, Nichol G, Palaniappan L, Pandey DK, Reeves MJ, Rodriguez CJ, Rosamond W, Sorlie PD, Stein J, Towfighi A, Turan TN, Virani SS, Woo D, Yeh RW, Turner MB; American Heart Association Statistics Committee; Stroke Statistics Subcommittee. Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2016 Update: A Report From the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2016 Jan 26;133(4):e38-360. doi: 10.1161/CIR.0000000000000350. Epub 2015 Dec 16. No abstract available.
• Results Song Q, Yuan Y, Jiao C, Zhu X. Curative effect of Tai Chi exercise in combination with auricular plaster therapy on improving obesity patient with secondary hyperlipidemia. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015 Nov 15;8(11):21386-92. eCollection 2015.
• Results Pang T, Liu Z, Xu B. [Clinical observation on obesity and hyperlipidemia of yang deficiency of spleen and kidney syn- drome in female patients treated with warm acupuncture combined with auricular acupuncture]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2015 Jun;35(6):529-33. Chinese.
• Results Yeh ML, Chu NF, Hsu MY, Hsu CC, Chung YC. Acupoint Stimulation on Weight Reduction for Obesity: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Study. West J Nurs Res. 2015 Dec;37(12):1517-30. doi: 10.1177/0193945914548707. Epub 2014 Sep 1.
• Results Cha HS, Park H. Effects of auricular acupressure on obesity in adolescents. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2019 May;35:316-322. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.03.014. Epub 2019 Mar 18.
• Results Aronow WS. Treatment of high-risk older persons with lipid-lowering drug therapy. Am J Ther. 2008 Mar-Apr;15(2):102-7. doi: 10.1097/MJT.0b013e31802b5aa4.
• Results Zhang T, Chen J, Tang X, Luo Q, Xu D, Yu B. Interaction between adipocytes and high-density lipoprotein:new insights into the mechanism of obesity-induced dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis. Lipids Health Dis. 2019 Dec 16;18(1):223. doi: 10.1186/s12944-019-1170-9.
• Results Wang K, Liu Z, Xu B. [Impact on the lipid level of obesity of spleen deficiency and damp blockage complicated by hyperlipemia treated with warm needling therapy and auricular acupuncture]. Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2016 Mar;36(3):225-30. Chinese.
• Results Ismail LA, Ibrahim AA, Abdel-Latif GA, El-Haleem DA, Helmy G, Labib LM, El-Masry MK. Effect of Acupuncture on Body Weight Reduction and Inflammatory Mediators in Egyptian Obese Patients. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2015 Mar 15;3(1):85-90. doi: 10.3889/oamjms.2015.010. Epub 2015 Jan 14.
• Results Liu X, Chen K, Chen F. Clinical efficacy and safety of acupuncture combined with statin in dyslipidemia: A meta-analysis and system review. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024 Sep 13;103(37):e39663. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000039663.

Drugs

Indications

No indication recorded.