Effects of Acupuncture on Arterial Hypertension and Endothelial Dysfunction: The AHEaD Trial.

BACKGROUND

Sympathetic overactivity, oxidative stress, and impaired nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vasodilation are key mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Acupuncture may decrease blood pressure by modulating autonomic nervous system activity, increasing NO bioavailability, attenuating sympathoexcitatory responses, and promoting vasodilation.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether acupuncture decreases peripheral systolic blood pressure (pSBP), peripheral diastolic blood pressure (pDBP), central systolic blood pressure (cSBP), central diastolic blood pressure (cDBP), and pulse wave velocity (PWV), and improves flow-mediated dilation (FMD).

METHODS

This prospective, single-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center randomized clinical trial included adults with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension who were at low cardiovascular risk and were not receiving antihypertensive therapy. Participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving manual acupuncture (n = 14) or a control group receiving nonpenetrating sham acupuncture (n = 16). Both groups underwent two 30-minute sessions per week for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in pSBP measured at baseline (V1), after 12 weeks of treatment (V2), and at the 30-day end-study visit (V3). Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics were comparable between the groups. At V2, acupuncture decreased pSBP by 13.2 mmHg (p = 0.003) and increased FMD by 2.7% (p = 0.016). In the control group, pSBP decreased by 4.1 mmHg (p = 0.035), whereas FMD increased by 1.6% (p = 0.029). Compared with the control group, the intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in pSBP (-9.1 mmHg, p = 0.006) and FMD (+3.0%, p = 0.037) at V2. These between-group differences remained significant at V3 (pSBP: -8.4 mmHg, p = 0.038; FMD: +2.9%, p = 0.028).

CONCLUSION

Acupuncture significantly improved endothelial function and decreased pSBP in adults with prehypertension or stage 1 hypertension who were not receiving antihypertensive therapy after 12 weeks of treatment.