Cold and Spleen-Qi Deficiency Patterns in Korean Medicine Are Associated with Low Resting Metabolic Rate

Abstract

Background. Korean medicine (KM) patterns such as cold, heat, deficiency, and excess patterns have been associated with alterations of resting metabolic rate (RMR). However, the association of KM patterns with accurately measured body metabolic rate has not been investigated. Methods. Data on cold (CP), heat (HP), spleen-qi deficiency (SQDP), and kidney deficiency (KDP) patterns were extracted by a factor analysis of symptoms experienced by 954 participants. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between KM patterns and RMR measured by an indirect calorimeter. Results. The CP and SQDP scores were higher and the HP score was lower in women. The HP and SQDP scores decreased with age, while KDP scores increased with age. A multiple regression analysis revealed that CP and SQDP scores were negatively associated with RMR independently of gender and age, and the CP remained significantly and negatively associated with RMR even after adjustment for fat-free mass. Conclusions. The underlying pathology of CP and SQDP might be associated with the body's metabolic rate. Further studies are needed to investigate the usefulness of RMR measurement in pattern identification and the association of CP and SQDP with metabolic disorders.

Association between Resting Energy Expenditure and Heat Pattern in Traditional Medicine

“…e two previous studies that evaluated the association of REE with HP symptoms showed similar results to ours. However, unlike in our study, the significance disappeared when adjusted for other confounders [8,9]. In those studies, HP was defined by only a few HP-related symptoms or was extracted using a factor analysis of common symptoms that were used in the basic examination.…”

“…One study reported that resting energy expenditure (REE) of individuals with a warm sensation in the limbs and abdomen is greater than in those with a cold sensation; however, the differences disappeared after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) [8]. Another study reported that REE was positively associated with HP scores, which was defined using factor analysis of common symptoms used in the basic examination; however, the association was not significant after adjustment for sex and age [9]. To date, no study has focused on HP along with its comprehensive symptoms and considered body composition characteristics as confounders in the analysis of the association between HP and REE.…”

Qi-Deficiency Related Increases in Disease Susceptibility Are Potentially Mediated by the Intestinal Microbiota

“…QX people demonstrate significantly higher BMI scores and waist-to-hip ratios and significantly lower scores in back muscle strength [ 55 ]. QX symptoms include a reduction of resting metabolic rate, which results in flabby muscles, vulnerability to fatigue, feeble pulse, shallow breathing [ 56 ], and potential concern with disturbances in energy metabolism. Research has shown that GLUT4, a critical protein in glucose metabolism, increases following low-intensity exercise [ 57 ] and that moderate-intensity exercise increases fatty acid oxidation to adapt energy metabolism [ 58 ].…”

The Association of Quantitative Facial Color Features with Cold Pattern in Traditional East Asian Medicine

“…The development of an objective pattern identification process has long been desired in order to standardize the diagnostic process of TEAM. Recent studies have shown that various objective variables have significant associations with cold pattern including anthropometric measures such as body mass index [ 39 ], resting metabolic rate [ 4 ], heart rate variability parameters [ 8 ], adiponectin [ 40 ], norepinephrine, and changes in glucose and insulin during oral glucose tolerance testing [ 5 ]. Together with these previous findings, we hope that our results contribute to the formation of an objective pattern identification system and understanding the underlying mechanism of cold pattern.…”

“…Cold pattern is indicated when an individual has aversion to cold, preference for warmth, pale face, absence of thirst, cold limbs, clear urine in increased volume, and loose stools [ 3 ]. Recent studies indicate that cold pattern is common in women and individuals with low body mass index [ 4 , 5 ]. Cold pattern has been associated with alterations in metabolic rate [ 4 ], thyroid function [ 6 , 7 ], the sympathetic nervous system [ 5 , 8 ], the renin-angiotensin system [ 9 ], and glucose metabolism [ 5 ].…”