“Adding acupuncture is more effective than doubling the proton pump inhibitor dose,” according to researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson.

First, the details.

• 30 patients with classic heartburn symptoms who continued to be symptomatic on standard-dose proton pump inhibitors were enrolled into the study.
• Examples of proton pump inhibitors include omeprazole (Losec, Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), esomeprazole (Nexium), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex)
• Each patient received upper endoscopy while on proton pump inhibitors once daily.
• They were then randomly assigned to adding acupuncture to their proton pump inhibitor or doubling the proton pump inhibitor dose over 4 weeks.
• An expert delivered acupuncture twice a week.

And, the results.

• The acupuncture + proton pump inhibitor group had a significant decrease in the average scores for daytime heartburn, nighttime heartburn, and acid regurgitation at the end of treatment compared to baseline.
• The double-dose proton pump inhibitor group had no change in response.
• The general health score was only significantly improved in the acupuncture + proton pump inhibitor group.

The bottom line?
These findings are supported by an earlier study that showed alterations in gastric myoelectrical activity with acupressure.

4/2/08 20:07 JR