WITHDRAWN: Effect of electroacupuncture on chest circumference, breast volume and Breast-Q: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract

: To determine the clinical effect and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) for the the breast appearance improvement so as to explore the effective approaches to the appearance improvement in female breasts and provide the reliable evidences. : Randomised, controlled clinical trial with blinded outcome assessment, and statistician. : Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, September, 2020 to the cut-off of March, 2021. : Fifty subjects who met the inclusion criteria of flat chest/small breasts were divided into an EA group and a manual acupuncture(MA) group according to the random number table, 25 cases in each one . : In the EA group, EA was the intervention measure. In the MA group, the simple acupuncture therapy was adopted. In both groups, four-breast points (bilateral) (Extrapoints), Guanyuan (CV4) and Danzhong (CV17) were selected as the basic prescription. One week before menstruation, Hegu (LI4) (bilateral) and Taichong (LR3) (bilateral) were added. The treatment discontinued during menstrual flow. On the 2nd day after menstruation, the treatment restarted and lasted about 2 weeks, with Zusanli (ST36) (bilateral) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) (bilateral) supplemented. The treatment was given three times per week, once every two days (discontinuity on Sunday). The treatment for 1 menstrual cycle was taken as one course and 2 courses of treatment were required. : Before and after treatment, chest circumference, breast volume and Breast-Q score were the indicators for the effect assessment in two groups. The main outcome was chest circumference and breast volume. Blood and urine routine tests, liver and kidney functions, as well as the adverse effects were the indicators for safety evaluation. Eventually, the clinical effect and safety of EA could be determined for the improvement of the breast appearance. : A total of 46 cases were included finally, 25 cases in the EA group and 21 cases in the MA group. The difference in the total effective rate had no statistical significance between two groups (P > 0.05), but the remarkably effective rate was different with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Before treatment, the difference in the chest circumference had no statistical significance between two groups (P > 0.05). In 8 weeks of treatment, compared with the value before treatment, the chest circumference was different with statistical significance in either group (both P < 0.05). At each time point after treatment, the differences in the chest circumference presented statistical significance between two groups (all P < 0.05). Before treatment, the difference in breast volume had no statistical significance between two groups (P > 0.05). In 8 weeks of treatment, breast volume was different with statistical significance as compared with the value before treatment in each group (both P < 0.05). At each time point after treatment, the differences in breast volume presented statistical significance between two groups (all P < 0.05). Before treatment, Breast-Q score was different, but without statistical significance between two groups (P > 0.05). At each time point after treatment, the differences presented statistical significance between two groups (all P < 0.05). After treatment, Breast-Q score in the EA group was higher than the MA group (P < 0.05). In the whole process, there were no obvious adverse reactions and adverse events in the two groups. : EA therapy may effectively improve the breast appearance and is of high safety in treatment.