The potential of acupuncture in treating sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

The global population is aging at an unprecedented rate, leading to a sharp rise in late-life diseases such as sarcopenia. Despite its increasing prevalence, effective pharmacological treatments, exercise regimens, and dietary recommendations for sarcopenia remain limited. Acupuncture has demonstrated potential in improving quality of life for individuals with sarcopenia. However, whether acupuncture is effective for treating sarcopenia remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the therapeutic effectiveness of acupuncture in treating sarcopenia. We conducted a comprehensive search across nine major English and Chinese electronic databases, covering all available studies up to May 2024. We compared sarcopenia outcomes between patients who received acupuncture and those who did not. The retrieved literature was systematically organized and categorized using EndNote 21. We performed data analysis using Review Manager 5.3 and STATA 18.0. Our comprehensive search identified 1,106 publications, including 384 basic research, 324 systematic reviews and meta-analyses, 281 unrelated studies, 109 randomized controlled trials, and 8 case reports. Finally we analyzed 10 RCTs. Compared to conventional treatment, acupuncture significantly improved total treatment efficiency (RR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.13–1.73), muscle mass (SMD = 1.31, 95% CI: 0.19–2.43), grip strength (SMD = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.49–0.83), and usual gait speed (SMD = 2.53, 95% CI: 0.78–4.28). Additionally, acupuncture reducing C-reactive protein levels (SMD = −0.99, 95% CI: −1.42–−0.56). Among the results, acupuncture-based therapies demonstrated therapeutic potential on muscle mass and some physical function in patients with sarcopenia. Moreover, acupuncture constitutes an essential complementary modality for frail older adults unable to tolerate conventional treatments. However, the limited number and quality of RCTs necessitates further research to confirm these findings and fully elucidate acupuncture’s potential in sarcopenia management. Further validation through multicenter, high-quality RCTs with larger sample sizes is essential to ensure the robustness and generalizability of these findings. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251040930 , Identifier, CRD420251040930.