Acupuncture and relaxation response: Synergies and mechanism for promoting quality of life in people living with HIV/AIDS

Objectives: Reduction in oxygen consumption (VO₂) has been used to measure the state of relaxation response (RR). We examined the correlation of VO₂ reduction with quality of life (QoL) improvement. 

Methods: We conducted a double-blind randomized controlled trial on HIV/AIDS patients who were on antiretroviral regimen. Study participants wore earbuds to listen to a 20-minute CD while receiving acupuncture treatment for 12 sessions. A 2x2 study design: true vs. sham acupuncture (A vs. S) and RR vs. health education CD (R vs. E) yielded AR, AE, SR, and SE groups. VO₂ data were collected during the first and the last intervention sessions. QoL measurements were self-administered at enrollment and upon the completion of the 8-week intervention.

Results: The AR group had the highest decreasing rate (ml/minute) in VO₂ during the CD listening period, followed by SR, AE and SE groups (-1.61, -1.27, -1.18 and -0.80 respectively) at the last intervention session. These VO₂ change rates were correlated with the emotional dimension of QoL for the AR group (r=-.45, p=0.03) and with the physical (r=-0.50, p=0.04), emotional (r=-0.50, p=0.04) and cognitive functioning (r=-0.52, p=0.045) dimensions of QoL for the AE group. The mean VO₂ value during the RR CD listening period was correlated with emotional well-being for the SR group (r=-0.45, p=0.04).

Conclusions: These results indicate that the decrease in VO₂ levels might be an underlying mechanism of the intervention effects of acupuncture and the RR. The decrease in VO₂ levels is associated with improvements in quality of life.