• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.254-259
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• 2017

Background: Those classified as Tae-Eum (TE)-type people in Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) are prone to obesity. Although extensive clinical observations have confirmed this tendency, the underlying physiological mechanisms are unknown. Here, we propose a novel hypothesis using integrative physiology to explain this phenomenon. Methods: Hypoactive lung function in the TE type indicates that respiration is attenuated at the cellular level - specifically, mitochondrial oxygen consumption. Because a functional reduction in cellular energy metabolism is suggestive of intrinsic hypoactivity in the consumption (or production) of metabolic energy, we reasoned that this tendency can readily cause weight gain via an increase in anabolism. Thus, this relationship can be derived from the graph of cellular metabolic power plotted against body weight. We analyzed the clinical data of 548 individuals to test this hypothesis. Results: The statistical analysis revealed that the cellular metabolic rate was lower in TEtype individuals and that their percentage of obesity (body mass index >25) was significantly higher compared to other constitutional groups. Conclusion: Lower cellular metabolic power can be an explanation for the obesity trend in TE type people.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1241-1246
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• 2009

It has been suggested that Tae-Eum peoples are prone to obesity. Although extensive clinical observations have shown this tendency in Sasang Constitutional Medicine (SCM), no scientific hypothesis has been proposed to delineate its mechanism. According to SCM theory, Tae-Eum peoples have a hypoactive lung system and a hyperactive liver system. In this paper we propose a new hypothesis explaining the tendency of obesity in Tae-Eum people in the viewpoint of cell physiology. The hypoactive lung system might imply an attenuated 'respiration' at the cell/subcell level, namely mitochondrial oxygen consumption. Because a functional weakness in mitochondria energy metabolism indicates intrinsic hypo-activity in the consumption (or production) of metabolic energy, we deduced that the tendency can easily induce body weight gain via an increase in anabolism. This relation is also introduced in the graph of cellular metabolic power against body weight. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed the clinical data with 863 subjects. Statistical analysis of the data showed that Tae-Eum peoples had relatively a lower cellular metabolic power, and that the percentage of peoples with BMI>25 was significantly higher than that of the other constitutional types.