Acupuncture influences multiple diseases by regulating gut microbiota

1. Regulation of Gut Microbiota Composition: Acupuncture can balance the abundance and composition of gut microbiota, adjusting the ratio of beneficial bacteria to pathogenic bacteria. This regulation helps maintain gut health and treat various diseases like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn’s disease (CD).
2. Reduction of Inflammation: Acupuncture inhibits the expression of inflammatory factors and reduces pro-inflammatory mediators, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-6. This helps improve gut health and reduce symptoms of diseases like UC and CD.
3. Improvement of Gut Barrier Function: By enhancing the expression of tight junction proteins and promoting the repair of the intestinal mucosa, acupuncture improves the integrity of the gut barrier, which is crucial for preventing dysbiosis and maintaining overall gut health.
4. Modulation of Gut-Brain Axis: Acupuncture influences the gut-brain axis, which affects the central nervous system’s physiological functions. This modulation can help alleviate conditions like depression, poststroke depression (PSD), and insomnia by regulating gut microbiota and associated neurotransmitter levels.
5. Alteration of Metabolite Production: Acupuncture affects the production of metabolites by gut microbiota, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). These metabolites play a role in gut health and can influence conditions like metabolic disorders, obesity, and diabetes.
6. Immune System Modulation: Acupuncture impacts the gut neuroendocrine-immune network, which helps regulate the body’s immune responses and can improve conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease by balancing the gut microbiota and reducing inflammation.

These effects demonstrate acupuncture’s potential in maintaining gut health and treating various diseases by modulating the microbiome.

Abstract