Acupuncture Treatment in Elderly People with Sarcopenia: Effects on the Strength and Inflammatory Mediators

This Brazilian controlled clinical study investigated the effects of acupuncture in older adults with sarcopenia, a condition characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass and strength associated with aging. Sarcopenia significantly affects the quality of life of older adults, increasing the risk of falls, decreasing functional capacity, and elevating mortality. The study was initially conducted with 53 older adults, of whom 26 completed all evaluations. Participants were divided into three groups: sarcopenic patients treated with acupuncture (G1, n=11), sarcopenic patients without treatment (G2, n=4), and non-sarcopenic patients as control (G3, n=12).

The acupuncture protocol consisted of 24 sessions performed three times per week for 8 weeks, using specific tonification points: KI-3, SP-3, SP-6, GB-34, LR-8, ST-36, and TE-6, applied bilaterally. Each session lasted 20 minutes with sterile disposable needles. Evaluations included body composition by bioimpedance, hand grip strength, the Timed Up and Go (TUG) functional test, and analysis of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α). The results showed that there were no statistically significant differences between the group that received acupuncture and the control groups regarding the variables evaluated (muscle mass, muscle strength, functionality, and inflammatory markers).

Lean body mass remained stable in all groups, with no significant changes during the study period. Hand grip strength also did not show significant improvements, although the group treated with acupuncture presented more stable values compared to the control groups. As for inflammatory markers, all groups presented elevated levels of IL-6, associated with increased mortality in older adults. There was a significant reduction of IL-6 in all groups at the post-treatment time point, but without differences between groups.

TNF-α levels remained normal in all groups, while IL-10 showed a significant reduction in the sarcopenic control group. Despite the lack of statistical significance, the researchers observed important subjective reports from acupuncture group participants. Eight volunteers reported decrease in joint and muscle pain, two older adults who needed a cane or crutch were able to discontinue the use of these devices in the first ten sessions, six participants reported improvement in performance of daily activities, and all G1 members reported a sense of well-being with acupuncture, even 30 days after the end of treatment. The limitations of the study include the small sample size, especially in G2 with only 4 participants, all women, and significant sample loss during the study.

The authors suggest that sarcopenia, being a chronic condition established over the years, may require a longer intervention period to present effective results. The literature on resistance exercise for older adults with sarcopenia shows that significant results appear between 8 and 24 weeks of treatment, suggesting that the acupuncture protocol used may have been insufficient in duration. The researchers conclude that, although acupuncture did not produce statistically significant effects on the objective measures evaluated, the subjective benefits reported by participants are clinically relevant. They recommend future studies with larger samples and longer treatment periods, in addition to investigation of acupuncture as adjuvant therapy combined with physical exercise and nutritional intervention for the treatment of sarcopenia in older adults.