Effect of caffeine gel and caffeine gel associated with iontophoresis in women gynoidlipodystrophy: A pilot randomized trial
Alana Roberta Forti Quessada, Karina Couto Furlanetto, Thainá Bessa Alves, Ovídia Ignêz Pires, André Lucino Pinto, Audrey Alesandra Stinghen Garcia Lonni, Rodrigo Antônio Carvalho Andraus
Abstract
Caffeine has been widely used to treat gynoid lipodystrophy (GLD). Despite caffeine has been considered as a promise treatment, there is a lack of scientific evidences regarding its effect on GLD when associated with iontophoresis or others equipment. We aimed to evaluate the effects of a caffeine gel alone and associated with iontophoresis in GLD treatment. In a single-blind randomized clinical trial, women with mild/moderate GLD in the buttocks were randomized to topical caffeine gel group (CG; n=10); caffeine gel plus iontophoresis group (CIG; n=11) or iontophoresis group (IG; n=10). The groups were treated with 10 sessions, two times/week, 20 min/session. The subjects were evaluated pre and post treatment by photonumeric GLD severity scale, ultrasound image, thermography and quality of life questionnaire with a blind evaluator. There were statistical reduction in subcutaneous tissue thickness (P≤0.046) as well as in subcutaneous tissue plus dermis thickness (P≤0.044) in buttocks both in CG and CIG. GLD reduction was similar between CG and CIG, and these reductions were more pronounced than in IG (P<0.0001). Furthermore, quality of life improved in all groups (P<0.017). We concluded that caffeine alone and associated with iontophoresis were effective for decreasing the subcutaneous fat layer in women with GLD.