The Association Between Body Constitution and Meridian Energy in Prediabetes

Completed

• Conditions: Prediabetes
• Interventions: Other: Routine care

• Registration Number: NCT05475587
• Lead Sponsor: Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation

Brief Summary

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories assert that body constitution and meridian energy are the foundations for disease prevention. However, few studies have incorporated TCM concepts into risk factors. This study aimed to examine the association between body constitution and meridian energy in individuals with prediabetes. We conducted a matched case-control study that included 60 individuals with prediabetes. Finally, the reseachers have found that body constitution may be a risk factor fpr progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus in individuals with prediabetes.

Detailed Description

Objective: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories assert that body constitution and meridian energy are the foundations for disease prevention. However, few studies have incorporated TCM concepts into risk factors. This study aimed to examine the association between body constitution and meridian energy in patients with prediabetes.

Methods: The researchers conducted a matched case-control study from January to December 2019 that included 30 adults with prediabetes and 30 healthy controls, matched for age and sex, recruited from the outpatient clinic and health examination center at a teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. Body constitution was measured using the Body Constitution Questionnaire, which classifies the constitution as yang-deficiency, ying-deficiency, and phlegm-stasis, while meridian energy was measured using an Aetoscan meridian energy device (Aeto Technology Co. Ltd., Taiwan). The associations between body constitution, meridian energy, and prediabetes were examined using binary logistic regression analyses.

Conclusion: Body constitution may be a risk factor for progression to type 2 diabetes mellitus in patients with prediabetes and warrants further study.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2019-01-01
• Primary Completion: 2019-12-31
• Study Completion: 2019-12-31
• Status Verified: 2022-07
• Study First Submitted: 2022-07-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2022-07-24
• Last Update Submitted: 2022-07-24
• Study First Posted: 2022-07-27
• Last Update Posted: 2022-07-27

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Previously diagnosed prediabetes with a hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 5.7-6.4% and a f asting plasma glucose (FPG) of 100-125 mg/dL
• Aged ≥20
• provided informed consent
• The controls were healthy individuals whose FPG level was 100 mg/dL in at least two blood tests in the past 6 months.

Exclusion Criteria

• Use of a hypoglycemic agent within the past 3 months
• Self-reported catastrophic illness in the last 6 months
• Pregnant and/or lactating
• Presence of pacemaker.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Healthy controls	Routine care	-
Prediabetes cases	Routine care	-

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Body constitution of body constitution questionnaire (BCQ)	One year	The scale range from 44 to 220, with higher scores indicating larger deficiencies.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital; 🇨🇳 New Taipei City, Taiwan