{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,10]],"date-time":"2026-06-10T15:00:39Z","timestamp":1781103639035,"version":"3.54.1"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,12]],"date-time":"2025-09-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757635200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Neurol."],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title><jats:p>Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by constipation, abdominal discomfort, and a substantial impact on patients\u2019 quality of life. While acupuncture could be effective in treating general IBS, high-quality clinical evidence specifically supporting its efficacy in IBS-C remains limited. Our study aims to address this gap by evaluating the effectiveness and safety of electro-acupuncture in managing IBS-C symptoms.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>This a multicentre, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial. A total of 60 IBS-C patients are randomized to receive either electro-acupuncture (n\u202f=\u202f30) or sham acupuncture (n\u202f=\u202f30). Patients undergo a 2-week screening period, followed by 6\u202fweeks of treatment (12 sessions) and 6\u202fweeks of follow-up. From the beginning of the screening period to the end of the trial, patients are instructed to complete daily diaries recording bowel movement timing, stool consistency, straining severity, sensation of complete or incomplete evacuation, and the name and dosage of any medications taken. The primary outcome measure follows the FDA-recommended endpoint for IBS-C trials. Additionally, biological samples are collected to explore the potential mechanisms underlying the effects of acupuncture on IBS-C pathology.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Ethics and dissemination<\/jats:title><jats:p>The protocol (version 1.4.4) has received approval from the Institutional Review Board of Nanyang Technological University (IRB-2023-451).<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Trial registration number<\/jats:title><jats:p>NCT06219707.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fneur.2025.1632822","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,12]],"date-time":"2025-09-12T05:36:45Z","timestamp":1757655405000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Electro-acupuncture for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: study protocol of a pilot, randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Wai Ching","family":"Lam","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Huangyan","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kewin Tien Ho","family":"Siah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Elyse R.","family":"Thakur","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Linda L. D.","family":"Zhong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1675","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(20)31548-8","article-title":"Irritable bowel syndrome","volume":"396","author":"Ford","year":"2020","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1475","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2023.08.010","article-title":"Prevalence and burden of illness of Rome IV irritable bowel syndrome in the United States: results from a Nationwide cross-sectional study","volume":"165","author":"Almario","year":"2023","journal-title":"Gastroenterology"},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"99","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2020.04.014","article-title":"Worldwide prevalence and burden of functional gastrointestinal disorders, results of Rome foundation global study","volume":"160","author":"Sperber","year":"2021","journal-title":"Gastroenterology"},{"key":"ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"651","DOI":"10.1007\/s00406-014-0502-z","article-title":"Anxiety and depression comorbidities in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"264","author":"Fond","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci"},{"key":"ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.2147\/CEG.S464375","article-title":"Review of the patient burden and therapeutic landscape of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation in the United States","volume":"17","author":"Sendzischew Shane","year":"2024","journal-title":"Clin Exp Gastroenterol"},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"786","DOI":"10.1053\/j.gastro.2019.10.036","article-title":"Use of treatments for irritable bowel syndrome and patient satisfaction based on the IBS in America survey","volume":"158","author":"Rangan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Gastroenterology"},{"key":"ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"718356","DOI":"10.3389\/fnut.2021.718356","article-title":"Inflammatory and microbiota-related regulation of the intestinal epithelial barrier","volume":"8","author":"Barbara","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Nutr"},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"G775","DOI":"10.1152\/ajpgi.00155.2012","article-title":"Irritable bowel syndrome: methods, mechanisms, and pathophysiology. 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