OBJECTIVETo observe the effect mechanisms of mild moxibustion in treatment of hyperlipidemia.

METHODSSixty SD rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a moxibustion group, an acupuncture group and a medication group, 12 rats in each group. The hyperlipidemia model was established by intro-gastric administration of fat emulsion for 4 weeks in the later four groups, and 0.9% sodium chloride was given in the normal group. Treatments started when hyperlipidemia model was sullessfully established. No treatment was given in the normal group and the model group. The acupuncture group and the moxibustion group were treated with acupuncture and moxibustion at Zusanli (ST 36) and Shenque (CV 8), respectively, once a day. The medication group was treated with introgastric administration of lovastatin (10 mg/kg), once a day. The model group, acupuncture group, moxibustion group and medication group were treated with continuing introgastric administration during the 4-week treatment. Four blood lipoids items were detected by biochemical colorimetry, and the contents of serum NO were measured by nitrate reductase method.

RESULTSCompared with the model group, the contents of serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and NO in the moxibustion group, acupuncture group and medication group were decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.001), mean-while, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) showed a increasing trend without statistical significance. The moxibustion group was better than the medication group at the effect in decreasing the contents of TC, LDL-C and NO. NO had positive correlation with TC and LDL-C in the moxibustion group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while NO had negative correlation with TC and LDL-C in the medication group (both P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONMild moxibustion has a favorable regulative action on blood lipoids and serum NO in hyperlipidemia rats. Mild moxibustion can play a role in anti-vascular injury, anti-inflammation and prevention of atherosclerosis by lowering the serum NO in rats.