Exploratory Study on the Pre-and Post-Prandial Subjective Appetite and Plasma Gut Hormone Levels in Spleen Qi Deficiency (SQD) Syndrome

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate clinical factors of SQD syndrome by tracking plasma gut hormone (active ghrelin, active Glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1), pancreatic polypeptide(PP), total peptide YY(PYY)) profiling of pre-post prandial standard meal between SQD group and normal group. Methods A total of 24 adult participants were consecutively recruited on April 2014. They were diagnosed as either by SQD syndrome or normal by Spleen Qi Deficiency Questionnaire (SQDQ). On the experimental day, blood samplings of 2 ml were repeatedly collected at 6 points from 2 groups for measuring plasma levels of gut hormones. At every point, subjective appetite sensations were self-registered. Results & Conclusions 1. There were significantly lower subjective 'Appetite' (p=0.012) and higher 'Satiety' (p=0.012) in SQD group. At each time point, subjective 'Appetite' was significantly lower at 60 min after breakfast (p=0.034) and 'Satiety' were significantly higher at 15 min (p=0.020) and 120 min (p=0.044) after breakfast in SQD group. 2. There were no significant differences in plasma levels of gut hormones (active ghrelin, active GLP-1, PP, total PYY) between SQD and normal group. Also at each time point, there were no significant differences of plasma levels of gut hormones between SQD and normal group. 3. Changes in plasma levels of gut hormones compared to baseline were not significantly different at each time point between SQD and normal group. Plasma PYY levels compared to baseline increased in SQD group following 15 min and 30 min after breakfast but decreased in normal group. 4. Further investigation is needed to construct gut hormone profiling and in this perspective, we can approach evaluation tool on variable appetite in Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM) syndrome in the future.

비기허증(脾氣虛證) 환자의 식사 전후 주관적 식욕과 Gut Hormone 혈중 농도에 대한 탐색적 연구