• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.827-837
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• 1999

Presently Sasang constitutional medicine draws public attention and a diet based on this theory in gaining popularity. However, scientific data are not available to probe the effects of constitutional diet and the correlations between constitution and food consumptions. Thiry-four healthy subjects[26 females and 8 males] with Tae-eum(females: 5, males: 7), So-yang(females: 9)and So-eum(females: 12, males: 1), were studied. Subjects were not told the kind of constitutional diets they were consuming. Tae-eum constitutional diet was given to all subjects more than 2 meals a day for 8 weeks. The Sasang constitutional classification, food frequency questionnaire and food habits were assessed. The anthropometric assessment, dietary assessment, health status assessment and blood analysis were carried out before and after taking the Tae-eum constitution diet. In case of females, the body weights and BMI were different among the constitutional groups in the following order : Tae-eum constitutional diet. In case of females, the body weights the body weights and BMI were different among the constitutional groups in the following order: Tae-eum>So-yang>So-eum. In case of males, the body weights and BMI of Tae-eum were significantly higher than those of So-eum. In general, habitual food consumption of all of these four groups were very close to those for each of Sasang constitutional types described by Sasang medicine. After 8-weeks of Tae-eum diet, the health status and blood biochemical parameters were not significantly changed.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.193-212
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• 1992

Comparative hormones quantities on the blood analysis was carried out to investigate the hormones specific characters on the blood in four types of physical constitution. Thyroid-stimulating (TSH), triiodothyronine($T_3$), triiodothyronine uptake($T_3$ uptake), free triiodothyronine(free $T_3$), thyroxine($T_4$), free thyroxine (free $T_4$), thyroxine-binding globulin(TBG), adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH), luteinizing hormone(LH), testosterone were measured. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The value of thyroid-stimulating hormone(TSH) on the constitution didn't shown significant difference, while the value of So-EUM-IN was increased and SO-YANG-IN was decreased. 2. The value of triiodothyronine($T_3$) on the constitution didn't shown significant difference, while the value of TAE-EUM-IN was decreased. 3. The value of triiodothyronine uptake($T_3$ uptake) on the constitution didn't shown significant difference, but between the value of TAE-EUM-IN and SO-EUM-IN, TAE-EUM-In and SO-YANG-IN showed significant difference. 4. The value of free triiodothyronine(free $T_3$) on the constitution didn't shown signifcant difference, but between the value of TAE-EUM-IN and SO-EUM-In, TAE-EUM-In and SO-YANG-IN showed significant difference. 5. The value of thyroxine($T_4$) on the constitution didn't shown significant difference, while the value of TAE-EUM-IN and SO-YANG-IN showed difference. 6. The value of free thyroxine(free $T_4$) on the constitution didn't shown significant difference, but between the value of TAE-EUM-IN and SO-YANG-IN showed significant difference. 7. The value of thyroxine-binding globulin(TBG) on the constitution didn't shown significant difference. 8. The value of adrenocorticotropic hormone(ACTH) on the constitution didn't shown significant difference. 9. The value of luteinizing hormone(LH) on the constitution didn't shown significant difference, but between the value of TAE-EUM-IN and SO-EUM-IN, TAE-EUM-IN and SO-YANG-IN showed significant difference. 10. The value of testosterone on the constitution didn't shown significant difference.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.101-110
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• 1999

In Sasang constitutional medicine, the classification of Sasang constitutional types (Tae-Yang, Tae-Eum, So-Yang, and So-Eum) is important for the treatment. There are some problems with the methods used for classifying Sasang constitutional types; old methods such as pulse-palpation are not considered objective and recent methods such as immunohematology are considered expensive, painful and time-consuming. To overcome these problems, a body measurement and finger prints analysis were performed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the palm prints and the palm creases could be helpful in classifying Sasang constitutional types. Thus, we looked for characteristics of the palm prints and the palm creases according to Sasang constitutional types. Before analyzing the palm prints and palm creases, 760 Korean (465 males, 295 females) were surveyed using two kinds of questionnaires for classifying Sasang constitutional types. As there were no Tae-Yang individuals, we were only able to identify the characteristics of the palm prints and the palm creases for Tae-Eum (288 persons), So-Yang (193 persons), and So-Eum (279 persons) individuals. In this study, the terminal points of D, closed crease, and open crease seemed to be helpful in classifying Tae-Eum and So-Eum individuals. Terminal point 11 and closed crease were frequent in Tae-Eum individuals; whereas, terminal point 7 and open crease were frequent in So-Eum individuals. Therefore, the palm prints and the palm creases seem to contribute to the classification of Sasang constitutional types.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.125-132
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• 2005

According to Sa-Sang constitution, people can be classified into 4 types, Tae-Yang-In, Tae-Eum-In, So-Yang-In, and So-Eum-In. 1he purpose of this study was to examine any significance between types of Sa-Sang constitution and dietary factors. Physical and constitutional examinations as well as a questionnaire survey were conducted on a group of 483 college students. Among the group of 483 college students, only 428 subjects were determined to have identical constitution through both the questionnaire survey and Korean traditional medical doctors' inquiries. Of 428 subjects, $29.7\%$ were determined to be Tae-Eum-Ins; $35.5\%$ were identified as So-Yang-Ins; $34.8\%$ were classified as So-Eum-Ins. Tae-Eum-Ins showed a statistically significant difference in BMI and higher smoking rate in comparison with groups of So-Yang-Ins and So-Eum-Ins. So-Eum-Ins had a tendency to take vegetables and fruits more often but they had lower preferences for balanced diets. Tae-Eum-Ins showed higher propensity to eat a visible fat protein. In terms of degrees of doneness of meat, So-Yang-Ins showed a higher tendency to prefer well-broiled meat Tae-Eum-Ins also tended to have significantly higher iron, potassium, sodium, vitamin $B_1$, niacin, $\beta$-carotene and vitamin E in their diet So-Eum-Ins had significantly lower intakes of protein, phosphorous, and folate. Considering the fact that most chronic degenerative diseases could be developed by any lifestyle factors, it is necessary to conduct educational programs about lifestyles including dietary habits for maintaining good health; On the basis of the results of this study, it is expected that the scientific, objective and accurate diet information depending upon individual's type of constitution will be provided.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.76-85
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• 2002

Since the 1970s, the average life expectancy of Koreans has been increasing. Our concerns are not simply about longevity, but also about disability-free life. lately, Sasang constitutional medicine has attracted public attention, especially with respect to the elderly. The purpose of this study was to investigate the food habits, nutrients intake, and disease distribution among the elderly, according to their Sasang constitutions. The results are as follow : The distribution of constitutions of the subjects were Tae-eum 48.8%, So-yang 27.4%, So-eum 22.6%, and So-yang + So-eum 1.2%. In both elderly men and women, body weight, percent ideal body weight, and diastolic pressure of the Tae-eum were significantly higher than those of other constitutions. In both men and women, the level of hemoglobin in the Tae-eum was significantly higher than those of other constitutions. The level of LDL-cholesterol was higher, and the level of HDL-cholesterol was lower in the So-eum elderly women. Food habits of the So-eum were the most irregular, and nutrients intake of the So-eum was lower than that of other constitutions in both elderly men and women. In elderly men, the incidence of hypertension was the highest in the Tae-eum, and the incidence of gastritis was the highest in both So-yang and So-eum. In elderly women, the incidence of fatty liver was the highest in the Tae-eum and So-yang, and gastritis and hypertension were the highest in the So-eum. In the elderly, obese and anemic persons were significantly more in the Tae-eum and the So-eum, respectively. The results of this study showed that there were significant differences of physical, characeristics, food, habits, and distributions of disease for the subjects according to each Sasang constitutions. Intake of nutrient was poor, regardless of Sasang constitutions, in both men and women.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.126-133
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• 1992

Comparative amino acid quantities on the blood analysis was carried out to investigate the amino acid specific characters on the blood in four type of physical constitution 1. In TAE-EUM-IN group, compared with control group, the proline and the serine were more observed. 2. In SO-EUM-IN group, compared with control group, the aspartic acid was more observed. 3. In SO-YANG-IN group, compared with control group, the proline was more observed. but the threonine and the aspartic acid were less observed. 4. In SO-EUM-IN group, compared with TAE-EUM-IN group, the aspartic acid and the serine were more observed. 5. In SO-YANG-IN group, compared with TAE-EUM-IN group, the serine and the proline were more observed, but the glutamic acid and the threonine were less observed. 6. In SO-YANG-IN group, compared with SO-EUM-IN group, the threonine and the aspartic acid were less observed.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.215-225
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• 2003

Purpose: Sasang constitutional medicine is Korea's creative medical science, that has attracted public attention. But for lack of indices in objectifying constitutions, there are difficulties for most of health professionals in approaching Sasang medicine. The purpose of this study was to compare the results of clinical diagnostic data according to the type of Sasang constitution. Method: The subjects were 195 examinees who had a general health check-up at A hospital. The instrument used for this study were Questionnaire of Sasang Constitution Class II(QSCCII) program for personal computer developed by Kim Sun Ho et al. Result: The distribution of constitutions of the subjects were the So-eum 46.7%, the Tae-eum 36.9% and the So-yang 16.4%. The level of body compositionrelated indices(body weight, obesity) of the Tae-eum were significantly higher than those of other constitutions. In heart-related indices, systolic BP were the highest in the Tae-eum. In liver-related indices, the level of triglyceride, SGPT were significantly higher in the Tae-eum. But the hematologic indices and lung-related indices were not showed significantly difference among any constitutions. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that there were significant difference of clinical diagnostic data according to Sasang constitutions, especially in the Tae-eum. So, to understand the human nature of nursing clients, nurses need to apply the oriental based medical theory, like Sasang constitution, to the discipline of nursing.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1201-1206
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• 2002

In oriental medicine, human being is classified into four groups according to their body constitution status (;tae-yang, tae-eum, so-yang, and so-eum persons) considering the differences in function of internal organs and characteristics. Four body constitution, called 'sa-sang' has been recognized as an important factor for diagnosing the patients before madical teratment. Yet, the criteria to divide body constitutions or its scientific principle are not clearly defined. As an initial effort to elucidate biological priciples underlying four body constitution groups, we studied genetic variations among three constitution groups (tae-eum, so-yang, and so-eum persons). Noting distinct responses to ingested food and administered drugs among three groups, SNPs and haplotype experiments were performed in 2D6, 2C9, and 1A2 DNA regions of the cytochrome P450 gene. Significant variability in SNPs types was found in 2D6 region. Moreover, haplotyping in 2D6 region showed relatively high occurrences of haplotype 3 and 5 in so-eum person, haplotype 6 in tae-eum person, and hyplotype 1 in so-yang person. These results indicate that individuals with different body constitutions respond differently to ingested food and drugs, which might reflect constitution-specific genetic background. The genetic approach would therefore be useful to reveal intrinsic differences among four constitution body groups in the responsiveness to various drugs and external stimulations to human body.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.302-306
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• 2003

The purposes of this study were to investigate eating attitudes and food Preferences among female college students by their body constitution types, such as Tae-yang, Tae-eum, So-yang, and So-eum by using the more accurate and objective classification method of the Sasang Constitutional Medicine. People with Tae-eum (51.6%)body constitution type showed the highest percentage level, followed by So-yang (33.0%) and So-eum (15.4%)body constitution types. In respect to the taste preference, people with Tae-eum and So-yang body constitution types tended to preferred spicy taste and So-eum body constitution type preferred sweet taste. In the satisfaction and interests toward the body shape, people with Tae-eum body constitution types showed the lowest satisfaction levels for their body shapes and showed the highest interests levels for their body shapes. In regard to eating attitudes, So-eum body constitution type state that they eat food relatively slowly. Tae-eum and So-yang body constitution type state that they eat food until they feel full. Tae-eum body constitution type state they normally overeat when they got stressed. The food preferences for the food group, there is no significant difference body constitution types with regard to food preferences.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.185-199
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• 1991

Knowing the reason for constitutional severe sweating of Tae-Eum-In, we have collected 20 person of Tae-Eum-In and 20 person of the others, and measured weight and circumference of neck, chest, abdomen and hip and cholinesterase, epinephrine and norepinephrine in blood. Except group of epinephrine among them, remakable difference had been in the rest comparision, so it considerded that be able to distinguish the characteristics of constitutions.