Patients receiving true acupuncture for refractory irritable bowel syndrome experienced significant symptom relief, with a response rate more than double that of those receiving sham treatment.

A randomized, sham-controlled trial evaluated acupuncture as an adjunctive treatment for patients with refractory irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) unresponsive to conventional therapies. Conducted across multiple centers, the study included 170 adults, randomized to receive either true acupuncture (TA) or sham treatment (SA) for 12 sessions over 4 weeks.

The primary outcome, measured by the IBS-Symptom Severity Scale (IBS-SSS) and published in Frontiers of Medicine, showed significant symptom improvement in the TA group. By week 4, TA patients reported a mean IBS-SSS reduction of 140 points compared to 64.4 points in the SA group, for a between-group difference of 75.6 points. Secondary outcomes supported the results, with 90.6% of TA patients achieving a 50 or greater point reduction in IBS-SSS scores versus 44.7% in the SA group, a difference of 45.9%.

Additional improvements in IBS-specific quality of life and stool frequency were observed in the TA group, with effects persisting through a 4r-week follow-up. Mild adverse events, including subcutaneous hematomas, were noted in both groups, but no serious adverse events were reported.

These findings suggest potential adjunctive benefits of acupuncture for refractory IBS patients who do not respond to standard treatments.

Full disclosures are available in the published trial.