Alcohol consumption reduces effectiveness of acupuncture for pelvic pain

Alcohol consumption reduces effectiveness of acupuncture for pelvic pain

Acupuncture can be an effective treatment for men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), however alcohol consumption may negatively influence treatment outcomes, according to research carried out in China. The authors carried out analysis of data from 224 alcohol drinkers involved in a clinical trial of acupuncture for CP/CPPS. The original trial investigated the effectiveness of acupuncture on CP/CPPS patients, with a focus on symptom relief and quality of life improvement. In the secondary analysis, the researchers specifically aimed to assess how alcohol consumption might influence the response to acupuncture treatment for CP/CPPS. Patients with CP/CPPS were randomly assigned to acupuncture or control groups, with acupuncture administered over eight weeks and follow-up at week 32. The outcomes measured included pain reduction, urinary symptoms and quality of life, using standardised scales and assessments. Results indicated that acupuncture led to significant improvements in pain and urinary symptoms among the participants, with the most notable effects observed in those who consumed alcohol less frequently. While both drinkers and non-drinkers showed improvement, alcohol consumption appeared to limit the effectiveness of acupuncture, with non-drinkers experiencing more substantial benefits. (Efficacy of acupuncture on drinkers with chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome: secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial. Acupunct Med. 2024 Oct;42(5):243-250).

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39219163/