Association of Sasang Constitutional Type with Sarcopenia. (12th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Seung Ku; Yoon, Dae Wui; Choi, Kyung-Mee; Lee, Si Woo; Kim, Jong Yeol; Kim, Jin Kwan; Shin, Chol
• Other Names: Santafe Manel Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine. Volume 2015(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-11-12
• Subjects: Alternative medicine -- Periodicals; 615.505
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/651090
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-427X

Abstract

Abstract : Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) is a unique Korean traditional medicine that classifies human beings as four distinct types named Sasang constitutional types (SCTs), based on physiologic, physical, and psychological traits. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that specific constitutional types are associated with chronic diseases, but no study has investigated the relationship between SCTs and sarcopenia. The aim of this study was to examine the association in a large population-based study. Data from 1, 204 participants who completed questionnaires for life style, anthropometric evaluation, and biochemical analysis were analyzed. Classification of the SCTs was done using an integrated diagnostic method. Sarcopenia was defined as appendicular skeletal muscle mass/height 2 less than one standard deviation below the gender-specific normal mean of a younger group. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry was used to assess whole body composition. The prevalence of sarcopenia was8.6 % in the Tae-eum (TE) type, 44.7 % in the So-eum (SE) type, and20.7 % in the So-yang (SY) type. Multivariate analysis revealed that the SE and SY types had 9.22 (5.06–16.81;P < 0.0001 ) and 2.90 (1.76–4.76;P < 0.0001 ) greater odds of sarcopenia compared to the TE type, respectively. Our results show that the SE and SY types are significantly associated with increased prevalence of sarcopenia.