Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate short-term efficacy of acupoint application at base of sport exercise in the treatment of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods 119 patients with NAFLD were encountered in our hospital between January 2022 and March 2024, and were randomly divided into control (n=59) and combination group (n=60), receiving sport exercise under guidance or acupoint application at base of sport exercise for 3 months. Weight, waist circumference, and body fat percentage (BFP) were measured, and body mass index (BMI) and waist to hip ratio (WHR) were calculated. Serum leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were assayed by ELISA. Results By end of 3 months of treatment, body weight, BMI and BFP in combination group were (62.3±7.8)kg, (24.5±3.3)kg/m² and (29.2±3.6)%, all significantly lower than [(68.2±8.9)kg,(26.8±2.8)kg/m² and (31.7±3.9)%, respectively, P<0.05] in the control; serum TG and LDL-C levels were (2.1±0.3)mmol/L and (2.3±0.5)mmol/L, both significantly lower than [(2.9±0.3)mmol/L and(2.8±0.7)mmol/L, P<0.05], while serum HDL-C level was (1.3±0.3) mmol/L, significantly higher than [(1.1±0.3)mmol/L, P<0.05] in the control group; serum ALT, AST and GGT levels were (45.1±8.7)U/L, (41.5±8.0)U/L and (38.7±7.8)U/L, all much lower than [(56.8±7.3)U/L, (52.4±6.6)U/L and (46.2±8.5)U/L, respectively, P<0.05] in the control; serum leptin, resistin, TNF-α and IL-6 levels were (9.7±2.1)pg/mL, (9.8±3.9)ng/mL, (21.2±5.2)ng/L and (20.1±2.3)mg/L, all much lower than [(11.8±2.0)pg/mL, (13.2±4.3)ng/mL, (27.8±4.7)ng/L and (27.5±2.7)mg/L, respectively, P<0.05], while serum adiponectin level was (3.1±1.0)ng/mL, much higher than [(2.5±0.8)ng/mL, P<0.05] in the control group. Conclusion Acupoint application in combination with exercise in treating patients with NAFLD is short-termly efficacious, with body weight loss and reduced blood fat, which might be related to inhibition of body inflammatory reactions.

Key words: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Acupoint application, Exercise prescription, Therapy