Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a complex disorder defined by a cluster of abdominal obesity, atherogenic dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension; the condition is recognized as a risk factor for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study assessed the effects of the Sasang constitution group (SCG) on the risk of MS in Korean subjects. We have analyzed 1,617 outpatients of Korean oriental medicine hospitals who were classified into three SCGs, So-Yang, So-Eum, and Tae-Eum. Significant differences were noted in the prevalence of MS and the frequencies of all MS risk factors among the three SCGs. The odds ratios for MS as determined via multiple logistic regression analysis were 2.004 for So-Yang and 4.521 for Tae-Eum compared with So-Eum. These results indicate that SCG may function as a significant risk factor of MS; comprehensive knowledge of Sasang constitutional medicine may prove helpful in predicting susceptibility and developing preventive care techniques for MS.

Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5) was identified as a strong modulator of serum lipids. Moreover, an APOA5 gene −1131T>C polymorphism has been associated with serum lipids, but the results are inconsistent according to ethnic and racial groups. We have genotyped and analyzed 1,619 outpatients of Korean oriental medicine hospitals who were classified into three Sasang constitution groups (SCGs), So-Yang (SY), So-Eum (SE), and Tae-Eum (TE). There were no significant difference in the distribution of the APOA5 −1131T>C genotype among the three SCGs. Subjects with the C allele in SY and TE showed significantly lower serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and higher triglyceride (TG) levels than noncarriers of the C allele. These results show the differences in the prevalence of decreasing serum HDL-C and elevating serum TG levels along with APOA5 −1131T>C polymorphism according to SCG and suggest that SCG may act as a significant risk factor for hypo-HDL-C-emia and hypertriglyceridemia susceptibility.

We assessed the associations between the APOA5  −1131T>C polymorphism and lipid parameters and other risk factors of the metabolic syndrome in Korean subjects. A total of 2,901 participants from 20 oriental medical hospitals in Korea were enrolled between 2006 and 2011. According to the modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III definitions, subjects were classified into the metabolic syndrome group and control group. The APOA5  −1131T>C genotype was significantly associated with serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (effect = − 1.700 mg/dL, P=6.550-E07) in the total study population after adjustment for differences in age and gender. The association of the APOA5  −1131T>C genotype with serum log-transformed triglyceride was also significant in an additive genetic model (effect = 0.056 mg/dL, P=2.286E-19). After adjustment for age and gender, we determined that the odds ratio for the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome was 1.322 for C-allele carriers in the additive model (95% CI = [1.165 − 1.501], P=1.48E-05). In the current study, we demonstrated that the APOA5  −1131T>C polymorphism is associated with the metabolic syndrome because of its remarkable effect on serum triglyceride levels in Korean subjects.

The current authors systematically identified the biologic pathways and core-node genes associated with SC types from the GWA study; this information should provide insights regarding the molecular mechanisms inherent in constitutional pathophysiology.

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The apolipoprotein A5, APOA5, genetic polymorphisms, ‐ 1131T>C (rs662799) has been reported to be associated with hypertriglyceridemia that is one of the metabolic syndrome components. We assessed the association between the genetic polymorphism of APOA5 ‐1131T>C and lipid parameter and other risk factors of the metabolic syndrome in Korean subjects.A total of 2,683 participants from 20 oriental medical hospitals in Korea between 2006 and 2011 were enrolled. The APOA5 ‐ 1131T>C genotype was significantly associated with serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (effect= −1.516 mg/dL, p = 6.414E‐06) in total study population after adjustment for differences in age and gender. The association of APOA5 ‐ 1131T>C with serum triglyceride was also significant in an additive genetic model (effect = 19.891 mg/dL, p = 3.876E‐17). Multiple logistic regression model adjusted for age and gender revealed that the subjects with CC genotype had an increased risk for metabolic syndrome (OR= 1.951, 95% CI=[1.443–2.637], P = 1.397E‐05).We demonstrated that APOA5 ‐1131T>C polymorphism was not only associated with serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels but also was associated with the metabolic syndrome as a result of its remarkable effect on serum triglyceride levels in Korean subjects in the current study.