Genetic Characteristics of Sasang Typology: A Systematic Review

Abstract

A systematic review on studies related to the genetic characteristics of Sasang types was conducted with the goal of delineating genetic characteristics of Sasang typology. Six electronic databases of up to the March 2011 were examined with the key words of Sasang typology, constitution, and genetics in both Korean and English. Predefined review criteria were used, including demographic characteristics, type classification methods, genotyping methods, and genotypes. Fifty-nine potentially relevant studies were identified and 40 peer reviewed research articles that contained genetic data were included. Fourteen articles reported statistically significant differences among Sasang types, which are heritability, structural variation, genome-wide screening, and pathophysiological function. Although significant genotypes were reported with vWA, CSF1PO, Penta D, HLA-Cw*04, HLA-Cw*07, PPAR-γ, MDR1, IL-α, IL-β, and IL-6 receptor, results of the review indicate that there was no conclusive genotype related to the Sasang typology. Considering the features of Sasang typology, it is recommended that the macroscopic systems medical approach on genetics be employed, rather than the single genes association approach.

Systematic review of type-specific pathophysiological symptoms of Sasang typology

“…Although previous studies have tried to shape a clinical phenotype by measuring each clinical symptom of each Sasang type, they did not examine the underlying physiological mechanisms by combining all the Sasang type-specific pathophysiological and clinical predispositions 8, 9. Insufficient primary data 14 and a lack of an operational definition or standardized objective measure of the clinical features8, 17 of the Sasang typology might be the reason.…”

“…First, the characteristics of each Sasang type can be explained as predisposition to one side or having a slightly high or low set-point, 74 which can be likened to a seesaw 2, 56. Given this, the physiological mechanism of the Sasang typology could be understood through systems medicine, as suggested by reviews on the genetic features of the Sasang typology,9, 10 not the knockout or modification of several genes related to specific functions.…”

“…There have been studies on the psychological,5, 6, 7 physical,3, 8 genetic,9, 10 and pathophysiological symptoms 8 of each Sasang type, and these have shown that the biopsychosocial profile of each Sasang type is stable across the lifespan using the Sasang Personality Questionnaire 3 and the ponderal index 4 . The biopsychological distinction between Sasang types may be related to specific mechanisms, such as extroversion and neuroticism, 5 novelty seeking and harm avoidance,6, 11, 12 behavioral activation and inhibition systems (neurotransmitters),3, 12, 13 hypothalamic activity, 4 basal metabolic rate, 4 thyroid activity, 4 and the autonomic nervous system 14, 15, 16.…”

“…The biopsychological distinction between Sasang types may be related to specific mechanisms, such as extroversion and neuroticism, 5 novelty seeking and harm avoidance,6, 11, 12 behavioral activation and inhibition systems (neurotransmitters),3, 12, 13 hypothalamic activity, 4 basal metabolic rate, 4 thyroid activity, 4 and the autonomic nervous system 14, 15, 16. The detailed mechanisms can be examined through macroscopic system biology 9, 10…”

Biopsychological Structure of the Sasang Personality Questionnaire in Elementary School Students

“…선행 연구를 통해, 사상 체질 그룹별로 고유하게 지니고 있는 심리적 특성 [3][4] , 신체적 특성 2) , 생병리적 특성 5) , 유전적 특성 6) 이 확인되었으며, 이들의 토대가 되는 생물학적 기전들 또한 제시되었다 [3][4] . 생리심리적 측면에 있어서, 소양인이 높은 행동활성 시스템 (Behavioral Activation System, BAS)과 낮은 행동 억제시스템 (Behavioral Inhibition System, BIS) 활성을, 소음인이 낮은 BAS 및 높은 BIS 활성을 지니는 것으로 제시되었다 [7][8][9] .…”