• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.283-290
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• 1998

Sasang Constitutional Medicine focuses on the different constitutional manifestations of the individual's nature and emotions. The nature and emotions drive the ascending and descending of Qi in the body. And this dynamics of the Qi's ascent and descent shapes the different types of structures, functions and temperaments. Although Sasang Constitutional Medicine has many advantages, its diagnosis of the constitution still depends on the doctors' own idea and has no objective identification. So many doctors in Korea have been trying to solve this problem. Recently, there are several efforts to find out the relationship between genetic information and constitution. By the way, May, 1998 there is a astonishing report about the gene which determines the human performance, that is ACE(angiotensin converting enzyme). And it suggests that the I allele was associated with improved endurance performance. ACE has three genotype including II, ID and DD. "I" means insertion and "D" means deletion. We determined the type of the Sasang constitution with QSCCII questionaire and the one's ACE genotype with PCR of the 127 people and we discovered the relationship between the constitution and the ACE genotype. The result is as follow. Among 39 people who have the II genotype, 7(18%) belong to Taeum(Taiyin), 9(23.1%) belong to Soyang(Shaoyang) and 23(59%) belong to Soeum(Shaoyin). Among 62 people who have the ID genotype, 18(29%) belong to Taeum(Taiyin), 21(33.9%) belong to Soyang(Shaoyang) and 23(37.1%) belong to Soeum(Shaoyin). Among 26 people who have DD genotype, 11(42.3%) belong to Taeum(Taiyin), 4(15.4%) belong to Soyang(Shaoyang) and 11(42.3%) belong to Soeum(Shaoyin). This data indicates that there are implicable relationship between the Sasang constitution and ACE genotype. Especially people who have II genotype have much possibility to be a Soeum(Shaoyin) person (59%) and Soyang(Shaoyang) person have less possibility to have DD genotype (15.4%). With this conclusion, we suggest further study of relationship between the Sasang constitution and ACE genotype and we think that other polymorphism can be a candidate of the partner of Sasang constitution.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.46-57
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• 2022

Background Adherence to healthy diet acts as a key role to modify sedentary lifestyle in real life setting. Constitution type of traditional Korean medicine has been prediagnosed to risk factors of cardiometabolic diseases. This study aims to evaluate the associations between body composition and healthy eating status in Korean adults by their constitution type. Methods Of 4046 participants from Korean Medicine Daejeon Citizen Cohort study, Korean Medicine Daejeon Citizen Cohort (KDCC) study were included for analysis. Demographic, health-related behaviors and Korean Medicine (KM) type were surveyed based on a general health-related questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements and dietary factors by using Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) were assessed only in the half of the original participants. Results 50.8% of Taeeum was observed from eligible 1967 participants (66.7%, women). The highest KHEI score was observed in soyang group (52.0±0.3, p=0.006) compared to other two groups. In taeeum group, lower appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM)(%)(Taeeum: 38.7±0.1 vs. Soeum/Soyang: 39.2±0.1, p < 0.05), and higher percent of body fat (PBF)(%) (Taeeum: 32.9±0.2 vs. Soeum/Soyang: 29.0±0.2, p < 0.05) by the lowest tertile (T1) of the KHEI score, respectively. When the KHEI score increased by 1 point in taeeum group, a positive relationship was observed, which increased by 0.015% of ASM, however, a negatively related to in which body fat mass (BFM) decreased by 0.022 kg and PBF decreased by 0.024%. Conclusion Customized nutritional management is required that could help maintaining physical health and diet by their constitution type.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2020

Dietary habits are known to be closely related not only to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but also to self-rated health (SRH). Consequently, there is a highly important lifestyle component in maintaining a healthy life. The aim of the present study was to determine the correlation between diverse dietary habits based on the Sasang constitutions (SC) and SRH. The data were collected from 2,984 participants who met the constitution pharmacology criteria and whose SC were clinically confirmed by SC professionals. Dietary habits were observed by assessing the regularity of diet, meal volume, and meal speed; single-answer questions were used for SRH. Fisher's exact/chi-square test and logistic regression were used to analyze the correlation between dietary habits depending on constitutional type and SRH. In association with constitutional SRH, the Taeum type is related to the amount of meal, the Soeum and Soyang types are related to the regularity of meal and meal volume. In the Taeum type, there was a significantly higher risk of lower SRH when meal volumes were irregular less than previous amounts. Irregular diet, as well as increased or decreased meal volume, negatively correlated with SRH in the Soeum type; in the Soyang type, irregular diet and decreased or irregular meal volume negatively affected SRH. This showed the presence of the different effects of dietary habits on health depending on constitution and also confirmed the association of the regularity of diet and meal volume based on constitution and the frequency of bad dietary habits with SRH. We suggest that personalized healthcare with adequate dietary improvement considering constitution is needed for health management or improvement.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.119-126
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• 2012

1. Objectives Sasang constitutional medicine is unique in Korean traditional medicine. It diagnoses and treats patients based on his/her Sasang constitution (SC). Skin properties have been used as an effective diagnostic component in the classification of SC types in clinics. In this paper, we investigated the SC-based health relevance of skin elasticity and wrinkle properties. 2. Methods The skin elasticity and wrinkle of forearm and dorsal hand were measured in 299 elderly female subjects. To determine the subject's Sasang constitution, we adopted the classification results from a newly developed SC diagnostic tool. The health states of the subjects were scored by two Korean traditional medical doctors, by whom each subject was categorized either into the healthy state or the unhealthy state. 3. Results As a result, the elasticity hysteresis of forearm (E_HYS), the visco-elasticity (VE_MEAN), and the wrinkle frequency energy of backhand (W_HAND) showed significant differences between Taeum-in group and Soeum-in group. In case of the Soeum-in on unhealthy state, VE_MEAN was decreased significantly (p<.05). W_HAND and W_ARM_H of the healthy Taeum-in were less than those of the unhealthy Taem-in. 4. Conclusions In this study we showed that, for an elderly female population, skin elasticity and viscosity were significantly different not only between each SC type but also between healthy group and unhealthy group in each constitution. In particular, Soeum-in subjects were inferred to be superior in retaining skin softness when they were healthy, and Taeum-in subjects were easy to lose their firmness of skin surface when they became unhealthy.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2006

This study examine the relationship between the intake of food conformable to each Sasang constitution and the recognition of irregular symptoms of health condition. The study subjects were 362 university students nationwide, classified by heir Sasang constitution. In terms of the intakes of conformable food and the symptom recognition, the number of multiple subjective symptoms tended to rise as the Soeum type digested the conformable food. As for the kinds of food, the Soyang type showed a significant positive correlation between the intake of cucumber namul and the symptoms of eyes and skin, but a negative correlation between the intake of Chongak Kimchi and the symptoms of the digestive system The Soeum type showed a significant positive correlation between multiple subjective symptoms and the intake of Gatkimchi, fernbrake namul, naeng-i soup, naeng-i namul, Korean leek Kimchi, crown daisy namul, and curled mallow soup, a significant positive correlation between the symptom recognition of the respiratory system and the intake of fried flatfish, and chicken gomtang but a negative correlation between the symptom recognition of the eye and skin and the intake of boiled eel. The Taeum type presented the a sigmificant positive correlation between multiple subjective symptoms and the intake of spaghetti, a positive correlation between the symptoms of the respiratory system and the intake of tuna salad, a positive correlation between the symptoms of the eye and skin and the intake of mafa tofu, spaghetti, and tuna salad, a negative correlation between the symptoms of the mouth and anus and the intake of codfish jiri, and a negative correlation between the symptoms of the respiratory system and the intake of tuna salad.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.512-522
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• 2018

n this study, the BMI characteristics and food preference were examined according to the Sasang constitution typology. The constitution type of the subjects was judged by SCAT2 (SC) and Sasang specialists (SP), and the data were compared with the group (SS) in which the two results coincided. The results of SC and SP were consistent with 55 (38.2%) out of 144 subjects. Among the 55 subjects, there were 36 (65.5%), 15 (27.2%), and 4 (7.3%) Soeumin, Taeeumin, and Soyangin, respectively. The BMI of Taeeumin was significantly higher than that of Soeumin (p< .001) in all analytical methods. On the other hand, there was a difference in determining the body shape of Soyangin between the SCAT2 and specialists. The Taeeum-Soeum Food Preference Index was applied to compare the food preference to 41 types of food. In SS analysis, 13 kinds of foods preferred by Taeeumin or Soeumin were found, of which 8 (19.5%) were consistent with the existing food data. Taeeumin preferred 6 kinds of food, such as cold soybean-soup noodles, wild sesame seaweed soup, pan-fried tofu, Yeongun-jorim, Doraji-namul, and soy milk. In contrast, the favorite foods of Soeumin were black rice and Dak-galbi.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the correlation between Sasang constitution and dyslipidemia and the possibility that Sasang constitution can be a risk factor of dyslipidemia. Methods: This study was a retrospective cross-sectional study based on chart review. Seventeen thousand sixty-nine charts which were collected from May 2007 to June 2010 in International Healthcare Service Center, Kyung Hee University Medical Center, were reviewed for the study. Fifteen thousand two hundred fifty charts including Sasang constitutional diagnosis and lipid profiling were selected and we examined the correlation between Sasang constitution and dyslipidemia. Results: After adjusted for body mass index, the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride were highest in Taeeum group, and lowest in Soeum group. High-density lipoprotein was highest in Soeum group, and lowest in Taeeum group. After adjusted for age, sex, and body mass index, the odds ratios for 'high triglyceride' were 1.716 (1.411~2.087) in Soyang group and 2.021 (1.650~2.475) in Taeeum group compared to Soeum group. The odds ratio for 'high low-density lipoprotein' was 1.229 (1.006~1.501) in Soyang group compared to Soeum group. The odds ratios for 'low high-density lipoprotein' were 1.195 (1.033~1.381) in Soyang group and 1.414 (1.212~1.649) in Taeeum group compared to Soeum group. Conclusions: The lipid profiles and dyslipidemic risk differed across constitutional types, showing constitution type-specific patterns, so that we could infer the possibility that Sasang constitutional types can be a risk factor of dyslipidemia.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.119-135
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• 1999

The object of this study is 196 patients who had been treated in the Oriental Medical Hospital at Dong Eui Medical Center during 33 months from January 1996,3 to June 1998,11. We proceeded the judgment of Sasang Constitution by 'Questionnaire of Sasang Constitution Classification(I)' and 'Questionnaire of Sasang Constitution Classification II(QSCCII)'. The following conclusion were made in comparison with Sasang Constitution and Questionnaire about disease and style of symptoms. 1. The subject of "increase of the weight of a body(gain weight), sweatier, the body swelled out, a lame pain, more like fat food, more like salty food", has significant differences in sasang constitution classification. The frequency of Taeeum group is more than that of Soeum group and Soyang group. 2. The subject of "the complextion is bas, uncomfortable feeling in the throat, insomnia, loss of appetite, apt to be fatigued easily, gastralgia what is not connected with food, diarrhea, headache, menorrhalgia, less like fat food, more like fresh food", has significant differences in sasang constitution classification. The frequency of Soeum group is more than that of Taeeum group and Soyang group. 3. It has not significant differences, but the frequency of Soyang group is more than that of Taeeum group and Soeum group in the subject of "the cough in the disease of the respiratory organs, hypomotility of the joint in the disease of the musculo-skeletal systems, menoxenia like menorrhagia and menostaxia and itching sensation of genitals in the disease of the gynecological organs, itching or boil in the dermatological disease", and fewer in the cardio-vascular disease, urinary disease and hematic disease. The frequency of Soeum group is more than that of Taeeum group and Soyang group in the subject of "the general disease of the digestive organs, uncomfortable feeling or pain of the throat in the disease of the respiratory organs, the general hematic disease, numbness or pain of the musculo-skeletal disease, psychical disease in the psychoneurotical disease, menorrhalgia, a lump of the breasts, leukorrhea in the gynecological disease, eruption or urticaria in the dermatological disease, the general visual and auditory disease". The frequency of Taeeum group is more than that of Soyang group and Soeum group in the subject of "a hoarseness in the disease of the respiratory organs, A lame pain of the musculo-skeletal disease, neurotical disease in the psychoneurotical disease, eruption or urticaria in the dermatological disease", and fewer in the the gynecological disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1600-1605
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• 2008

The objectives of this study were to survey the adverse reactions by Taeeumjowi-tang and to compare the tendency of symptoms by Sasang constitutional type. The clinical data for this study were based on the medical records of 78 cases collected from an oriental clinic. The major results of this survey are following: The 5.8% of Taeeum-in who took Taeeumjowi-tang showed side effects. And the 52.4% of Soeum-in and 41.6% of Soyang-in also showed side effects against Taeeumjowi-tang. They complained of excitation, irritability, restlessness, hypersensitivity, tinnitus, insomnia, upper abdominal discomfort, poor appetite, thirst, perspiration, dizziness, chest pain, tremor and evacuation troubles in common. And these adverse symptoms were similar to that by Ma-hwang. Therefore if we make a suitable medication guide for Ma-hwang based on Sasang constitutional type, it will be able to maximize the efficacy and minimize the adverse effect.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.32-42
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• 2012

1. Objectives : This investigation compares the subjective appetite ratings across male groups of different Sasang constitutional types. 2. Methods : We recruited 36 male participants aged 20-36 with BMI 18.5-30. The subjective appetite ratings was assessed using VAS before and after standard meal.(6 time points : 30 Minutes Pre-prandial, Immediately before Meal, 15, 30, 60, 120 Minutes Post-prandial) 3. Results : In comparison of subjective appetite ratings between Sasang constitutional types, Soyang-type showed a pattern like high appetite, high hunger, low satiety, high 'how much I can eat', Soeum-type showed a pattern like low appetite, low hunger, high satiety, low 'how much I can eat', and Taeeum-type showed a pattern like low appetite, low hunger. 4. Conclusions : The results of this study suggest that the subjective appetite ratings could be different across different Sasang constitutional types.