Acupuncture on 5-hydroxytryptamine levels and clinical outcomes in depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Key Points

• Acupuncture significantly improves clinical outcomes in depression, particularly symptoms and anxiety.
• Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials indicates a notable effect on 5-hydroxytryptamine levels.
• Systematic review highlights the efficacy of acupuncture in alleviating antidepressant side effects across various studies.
• Caution is warranted due to the low quality of included randomized controlled trials.