Cold and Spleen-Qi Deficiency Patterns in Korean Medicine Are Associated with Low Resting Metabolic Rate

Background. Korean medicine (KM) patterns such as cold, heat, deficiency, and excess patterns have been associated with 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. The HP 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 with RMR even after adjustment for fat-free mass. Conclusions. The underlying pathology of CP and SQDP might be associated with the body's metabolic 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.