Acupuncture may counter atrial fibrillation by jointly improving mitochondrial energy regulation, metabolism, inflammation, and autonomic nervous system signalling.
The review searched major international and Chinese scientific databases for recent English- and Chinese-language studies on atrial fibrillation, acupuncture, metabolic changes, and mitochondrial biology. It prioritised studies directly testing acupuncture alongside metabolic or mitochondrial measurements in atrial fibrillation, while also incorporating mechanistically relevant evidence from related conditions. Findings were qualitatively synthesised without pooled statistical analysis or formal bias assessment.
Across serum, atrial tissue, and experimental models, atrial fibrillation was associated with disrupted energy production, lipid and amino acid metabolism, mitochondrial formation and dynamics, oxidative stress, electrical remodelling, and fibrosis-related signalling. Preclinical and small clinical studies indicated that acupuncture can shift metabolic profiles and improve mitochondrial-related measures, potentially through coordinated effects on vagal activity, immune responses, inflammation, and metabolism.
