Acupoint catgut embedding regulates community structure of intestinal flora in central obesity during perimenopause

Acupoint catgut embedding (ACE) is a safe and effective method for treating obesity. However, how it modulates intestinal flora and adiponectin remains unclear. We employed 16s rRNA sequencing technology to investigate ACE induced changes in intestinal flora and its association with adiponectin in subjects who received real (<i>n</i> = 41) and Sham (<i>n</i> = 41) stimulation. After treatment, the ACE group's body weight, BMI, WC, HC, WHtR, and WHR were significantly lower than those of the Control group (<i>p</i> < .01), there was statistically significant differences in ADPN between the two groups (<i>p</i> < .01). ACE reduces the species abundance and increased the diversity and differences of the gut microbiota in perimenopausal patients with central obesity. Most notably, there was an increase in Kosakonia and Klebsiella after ACE treatment in the patients. Significant negatively correlations were found between body weight/waist circumference and adiponectin. Increases in Klebsiella and Kosakonia were positively correlated with adiponectin, and were negatively correlated with body weight/waist circumference. Our results showed increases in Klebsiella and Kosakonia were correlated with body weight/waist circumference and adiponectin. These findings suggest that ACE-induced weight loss is probably in part associated with increases in adiponectin, Klebsiella and Kosakonia.<b>Trial re-registration:</b> www.chictr.org.cn, ID: ChiCTR2400087718, Registration Date: August 2nd 2024.