Background.Korean medicine (KM) patterns such as cold, heat, deficiency, and excess patterns have been associatedwith alterations
of resting metabolic rate (RMR). However, the association of KM patterns with accurately measured body metabolic rate has not
been investigated. Methods.Data on cold (CP), heat (HP), spleen-qi deficiency (SQDP), and kidney deficiency (KDP) patterns were
extracted by a factor analysis of symptoms experienced by 954 participants. A multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine
the association between KM patterns and RMR measured by an indirect calorimeter. Results.The CP and SQDP scores were
higher and the HP score was lower in women.TheHP and SQDP scores decreased with age, while KDP scores increased with age. A
multiple regression analysis revealed that CP and SQDP scores were negatively associated with RMR independently of gender and
age, and the CP remained significantly and negatively associated withRMReven after adjustment for fat-freemass. Conclusions.The
underlying pathology of CP and SQDP might be associated with the body’smetabolic rate. Further studies are needed to investigate
the usefulness of RMR measurement in pattern identification and the association of CP and SQDP with metabolic disorders. |
