Randomized comparative blood glucose, lipids, malondialdehyde, liver enzymes, and C-reactive protein responses to laser acupuncture versus interscapular wet cupping in fatty liver

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Published: Oct 28, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.66285/JAMS.2027.018
Keywords:
wet cupping, laser acupuncture, blood glucose, lipids, oxidative stress, fatty liver

Main Article Content

Ali Mohamed Ali Ismail
Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1447-8817
Yousef M. Alshehre
Department of Health Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2374-7716
Ahmed Mohamed Abdelhalim Elfahl
Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Badr University in Cairo, Cairo, Egypt.
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8429-6632
Ahmed Bayuomy Abo Elatta
Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Horus University, New Damietta, Egypt.
https://orcid.org/0009-0009-2050-6061
Ahmed M. Elfahl
Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Al-Zaytoonah University of (Jordon), Amman, Jordan.
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5475-1676
Sami Kamal Mohamed Elgendy
Department of Physical Therapy for Internal Medicine and Elderly, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Modern University for Technology and Information, Egypt.
https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6300-7551

Abstract

Background: Wide appreciation of the use of complementary therapies is reported by patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).


Objectives: This study aimed to compare the effect of interscapular wet cupping (IWC) versus laser acupuncture (LA) on systolic and diastolic blood pressure, aspartate transaminase, pulse rate, alanine transaminase, serum malondialdehyde, fasting blood glucose, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and blood lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein) in NAFLD patients. This was a randomized comparative study.


Materials and methods: Sixty fatty liver participants were recruited from the Internal Diseases Outpatient Clinic, Specialized Clinics, Badr City, Egypt. Patients were randomly assigned to the IWC or LA group. For 3 months, the TWC group received 2 cupping sessions per month (on days 0 and 14). The selected acupoints received 3 LA sessions per week for 3 months. We assessed the above measurements before and after the 3-month complementaryinterventional study period.


Results: Significant improvements were reported in the IWC and LA groups (except for serum hs-CRP in the IWC group).


Conclusion: LA or IWC may help in controlling blood pressure, blood glucose, lipids, inflammatory markers, liver enzymes, and oxidative stress markers in patients with fatty liver.

Article Details

How to Cite
Ismail, A., M. Alshehre, Y., Abdelhalim Elfahl, A. M., Abo Elatta, A. B., M. Elfahl, A., & Mohamed Elgendy, S. K. (2026). Randomized comparative blood glucose, lipids, malondialdehyde, liver enzymes, and C-reactive protein responses to laser acupuncture versus interscapular wet cupping in fatty liver. Journal of Associated Medical Sciences, 60(1), 185–194. https://doi.org/10.66285/JAMS.2027.018
Issue
Vol. 60 No. 1 (2027): January-April
Section
Research Articles
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Personal views expressed by the contributors in their articles are not necessarily those of the Journal of Associated Medical Sciences, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University.

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