OXIDATIVE STRESS MARKERS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS TREATED WITH ACUPUNCTURE

Le résumé fourni par la source

Acupuncture is an interesting strategy to control symptoms in elderly patients. A group of 24 aged patients, who attend to the Geriatrics Ambulatory of Hospital das Clínicas of São Paulo Medical School was studied. They had pain complaints and were referred to treatment with acupuncture. Their levels of TBARS (a marker of oxidative stress) and GSH (an anti-oxidant enzyme) were determined before treatment, and after 10 and 20 weekly acupuncture sessions. Results were classified in high, normal or low and compared by ANOVA and Chi squared test. Four patients did not undergo the second evaluation and nine the third one. The mean GSH level was 1,67 before, 1,83 after 10 weeks and 2,04 after 20 weeks of treatment (ANOVA p=0,211, t paired test p=0,077). The mean TBARS level was 1,24 before, 0,55 after 10 weeks and 1,03 after 20 weeks of treatment (ANOVA p=0,327, t paired test p=0,629). No other comparison was statistically significant. The power of the sample for ANOVA was 0,219. The authors conclude that elderly patients treated by acupuncture possibly had their capacity of protection against oxidative stress by GSH enhanced during treatment, but not their oxidant activity marked by TBARS. Due to the small power of the sample, a definite statement needs a larger number of patients.

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