Objective    To investigate the mechanism of electroacupuncture in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) .     Methods    Thirty-three male SD rats were randomized into 2 groups: normal control group (n=11

fed with normal food) and experimental rats (n=23

fed with high-fat food). Eight weeks later

3 rats were randomly selected from the 2 groups respectively and killed to undergo pathological examination of the liver. When the establishment of experimental rats was confirmed

the remaining 20 experimental rats were divided into 2 equal subgroups: NAFLD group (fed continuously with high-fat food) and electroacupuncture treatment group (fed continuously with high-fat food and received the treatment 15 min per day

once a day for 4 weeks). Then all rats were killed to detect the serum levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG)

fasting insulin (FINS) and free fatty acids (FFA)

liver contents of    malondialdehyde  (MDA)

  glycerin tripalmitate    (TG) and total cholesterol (TC)

and the activities of liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) and  glutathione   (GSH). Liver pathological changes was examined.     Results    Compared with NAFLD group

electroacupuncture reduced the serum levels of FBG

FINS and FFA (P0.05)

the liver contents of MDA

TG and TC (P0.01)

and increased the activities of SOD and GSH (P0.01). It also attenuated the liver fatty degeneration and inflammatory injury.     Conclusion    Electroacupuncture can treat NAFLD by blocking the vicious circle of insulin resistance and perooxidation.