Adjunctive Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation in Overweight or Obese Patients With a Suboptimal Weight-Loss Response to Incretin Receptor Agonists: A Single-Center, Randomized, Sham-Controlled Pilot Study
Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Device
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY
This is a single-center, randomized, participant-blinded, sham-controlled pilot trial designed to evaluate the adjunctive effect of transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) in overweight or obese patients who show a suboptimal weight-loss response to incretin receptor agonist therapy. A total of 24 participants will be randomly assigned to receive either taVNS plus tirzepatide 5 mg or sham stimulation plus tirzepatide 5 mg for 12 weeks. The primary objective is to compare the percent change in body weight from baseline to week 12 between the two groups.
Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 50
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:
• Individuals with obesity, or overweight accompanied by at least one weight-related comorbidity (e.g., hypertension or fatty liver disease), who have been receiving incretin receptor agonist therapy for at least 6 months and have achieved ≤10% weight loss during treatment;
• Willingness to provide written informed consent.
Locations
Other Locations
China
Department of Endocrinology, the Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School
RECRUITING
Nanjing
Contact Information
Primary
Yan Bi, MD, PhD
biyan@nju.edu.cn
6-25-83-105302
Backup
Tian Wei Gu, MD, PhD
gtw0235@163.com
(86) 25-83106666
Time Frame
Start Date:2026-04-21
Estimated Completion Date:2026-07-21
Participants
Target number of participants:24
Treatments
Experimental: taVNS Plus Tirzepatide 5 mg
Participants will receive active transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation plus tirzepatide 5 mg for 12 weeks. Active stimulation will be delivered to the bilateral cymba conchae, an auricular region innervated by the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. Stimulation will use an intermittent waveform of 15 seconds on and 5 seconds off at 20 Hz, with a pulse width of 0.2 ms. Stimulation intensity will be titrated from 0 mA to a level that produces mild tingling without obvious discomfort, usually 1.0-2.5 mA. Stimulation will be administered twice daily for 30 minutes per session, 5 days per week, for 12 weeks. Tirzepatide will be administered as a subcutaneous injection once weekly.
Sham_comparator: Sham Stimulation Plus Tirzepatide 5 mg
Participants will receive sham stimulation in addition to tirzepatide 5 mg for 12 weeks. Sham stimulation will be applied to the bilateral tail of the helix, an auricular site without vagus nerve distribution, whereas active taVNS targets the cymba conchae, which is innervated by the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. The sham group will use the same waveform parameters, stimulation intensity titration, and treatment schedule as the active group, namely twice daily for 30 minutes per session, 5 days per week, for 12 weeks. Tirzepatide will be administered as a subcutaneous injection once weekly.