Changes in the levels of serum beta endorphin, serotonin, adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine during smoking cessation by electroacupuncture and nicotine patch

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the changes in the levels of serum beta endorphin, serotonin, adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine during smoking cessation with acupuncture and nicotine patch. Material and Methods: This study consists of 42 volunteer persons who applied to quit smoking to Outpatient Family Medicine Clinic of Meram Medical Faculty. The participants were divided randomly into two groups as: 1- Electroacupuncture (EA) group (n=21) and 2- Nicotine patch group (n=21). EA was performed once a day for a period of 30 minutes in the first three days and then once every other day for 30 days. Nicotine patch was applied on the clean, hairless parts of the skin in several steps; for example, 21, 14, and 7 mg for a period of two months. The serum beta endorphin, serotonin, adrenaline, nor adrenaline, dopamine levels were measured before and after acupuncture and nicotine patch therapy. Results: When we compare serum serotonin, adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine and beta-endorphin levels on the 1st and 30th days in the EA group, we determined that beta endorphin (p=0.000), serotonin (p=0.009), adrenaline (p=0.007) and noradrenaline (p=0.007) levels increased but dopamine (p=0.898) levels did not change. In the nicotine patch group, serum serotonin (p=0.045) levels increased but adrenaline (p=0.318), beta endorphin (p=0.463), noradrenaline (p=0.099) and dopamine (p=0.655) levels did not change. When we compared two groups at the end of 30th day, we found that the serum noradrenaline (p<0.000), dopamin (p<0.028) levels were statistically higher in EA group than nicotine patch group. Conclusion: We think that EA and nicotin patch application makes it easy to quit smoking for those trying to give up smoking with psychological support. There was no statistically difference in the rates of smoking cessation in both groups. Therefore, both electroacupuncture and nicotin patch application are effective to stop smoking. Copyright © 2012 by Türkiye Klinikleri.