Effects of Long-Term Intake of Korean Medicine on Gynecology Patients’ Livers and Kidneys; Panel Study - Focus on Before Intake, After 3, 6 Months -

Junmo Yang; Dongmin Sung; Eu Gene Kim; Sundong Lee; Yang, Junmo; Sung, Dongmin; Kim, Eu Gene; Lee, Sundong

doi:10.13048/jkm.20006

JKM > Volume 41(1); 2020 > Article

Yang, Sung, Kim, and Lee: Effects of Long-Term Intake of Korean Medicine on Gynecology Patients’ Livers and Kidneys; Panel Study

Original Article

The Journal of Korean Medicine 2020; 41(1): 84-92.

Published online: March 9, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.20006

Effects of Long-Term Intake of Korean Medicine on Gynecology Patients’ Livers and Kidneys; Panel Study:

- Focus on Before Intake, After 3, 6 Months -

Junmo Yang¹

, Dongmin Sung²

, Eu Gene Kim³

, Sundong Lee⁴^{, *}

¹Jayoon Korean medical clinic

²Development of Korean Medicine Policy, National Institute for Korean Medicine

³Seoul Health Foundation

⁴Dept. of Preventive Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Sangji University

Correspondence to: 이선동 강원도 원주시 우산동 상지대길 83 상지대학교 한의과대학 예방의학교실, Tel: +82-33-730-0665, Fax: +82-33-738-7825, E-mail: sdlee@sangji.ac.kr

Received February 13, 2020 Revised February 27, 2020 Accepted February 28, 2020

Abstract

Objectives

To observe the effects on liver and kidney of gynecology patients’ during long term Korean Medicine.

Methods

This research was conducted as a panel study on 29 female gynecology patients at Korean medicine clinic and compares their conditions before, 3 months after, and 6 months after Intake of Korean medicine. This analysis was conducted to frequency(%), repeated measure ANOVA and significantly statistics was p<0.05, confidence interval.

Results

The most common conditions among the subjects were polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and uterine myoma. Except in a few instances, liver functions (AST, ALT, γ-GTP) were within the normal range before and after the intake of Korean medicine. Further, while there was a slight change in liver functions when three months and six months after the intake, but there was no statistical significance (p>0.05). As for the kidney functions (BUN, Creatinine, BUN/Creatinine), they were within the normal range before and after the intake of Korean medicine. Further, while there was a slight change in kidney functions three months and six months after the intake, there was no statistical significance(p>0.05) either.

Conclusions

Based on these results, it can be concluded that Korean medicine does not have a negative impact on the gynecology patients’ liver and kidney.

Keywords: Korean medicine, long term intake, LFT, RFT, panel study

Table 1

Sociodemography Characteristics (N=29)

Characteristics		Frequency n(%)
Sex	Male	0(0.0)
	Female	29(100.0)

Age	10’s	3(10.3)
	20’s	7(24.1)
	30’s	8(27.6)
	40’s	10(34.5)
	50’s	1(3.4)

Body mass index	<18.5	3(10.3)
	18.5–22.9	16(55.2)
	23.0–24.9	4(13.8)
	25<	6(20.7)

Drinking	No	22(75.9)
	Yes	7(24.1)

Smoking	No	29(100)
	Yes	0(0)

Marital status	Unmarried	16(55.2)
	Married	13(44.8)

Occupation	Profession	4(13.8)
	Service, manufacturing workers	2(6.9)
	Office workers	10(34.5)
	House wife	9(31.0)
	Student	4(13.8)

Gynecological diseases	Cystic tumor	1(3.4)
	Polycystic ovary syndrome	8(27.6)
	Amenorrhea	1(3.4)
	Cystitis	2(6.9)
	Infertility	2(6.9)
	Adenoma	4(13.8)
	Uterine myoma	4(13.8)
	Endometriosis	5(17.2)
	Premature ovarian failure	1(3.4)
	Vaginitis	1(3.4)

Table 2

Liver Function on Before, After 3, 6 Months Korean Medicine Intake (N=29)

LFT	Normative	Before intervention	After 3 months	After 6 months
AST	Normal	26(89.7)	28(96.6)	26(89.7)
AST	Abnormal	3(10.3)	1(3.4)	3(10.3)

ALT	Normal	28(96.6)	27(93.1)	26(89.7)
ALT	Abnormal	1(3.4)	2(6.9)	3(10.3)

γ-GTP	Normal	28(96.6)	27(93.1)	26(89.7)
γ-GTP	Abnormal	1(3.4)	2(6.9)	3(10.3)

unit : n(%)

LFT= Liver function tests; AST=Aspartate transaminase; ALT= Alanine transaminase; γ-GTP=glutamyltransferase

Table 3

Kidney Function on Before, After 3, 6 Months Korean Medicine Intake (N=29)

RFT	Normative	Before intervention	After 3 months	After 6 months
BUN	Normal	27(93.1)	25(86.2)	28(96.6)
BUN	Abnormal	2(6.9)	4(13.8)	1(3.4)

Creatinine	Normal	28(96.6)	28(96.6)	29(100.0)
Creatinine	Abnormal	1(3.4)	1(3.4)	0(0)

BUN/Creatinine	Normal	13(44.8)	16(55.2)	23(79.3)
BUN/Creatinine	Abnormal	16(55.2)	13(44.8)	6(20.7)

unit : n(%)

RFT=Renal function test; BUN=Blood urea nitrogen

Table 4

Comparison of liver Function on Before, After 3, 6 Months Korean Medicine Intake (N=29)

Liver Function			Mean(SD)	95% confidence interval	p-value
AST	Before intervention		20.21(5.73)	18.02–22.39
	After intervention	3 month	21.28(4.91)	19.41–23.14	1.00
	After intervention	6 month	23.07(10.54)	19.06–27.08	0.44

ALT	Before intervention		14.76(6.71)	12.21–17.31
	After intervention	3 month	13.93(5.56)	11.82–16.05	1.00
	After intervention	6 month	13.38(8.06)	10.31–16.45	0.48

γ-GTP	Before intervention		17.46(21.55)	9.11–25.82
	After intervention	3 month	15.36(16.01)	9.15–21.57	0.51
	After intervention	6 month	15.04(12.73)	10.10–19.98	0.78

unit : IU/L

Table 5

Comparison of Kidney Function on Before, After 3, 6 Months Korean Medicine Intake

Kidney Function			Mean(SD)	95% confidence interval	p-value
BUN	Before intervention		11.58(3.99)	10.04–13.13
	After intervention	3 month	10.94(3.75)	9.48–12.39	1.00
	After intervention	6 month	11.11(3.18)	9.88–12.34	1.00

Creatinine	Before intervention		0.64(0.12)	0.59–0.68
	After intervention	3 month	0.65(0.11)	0.59–0.68	1.00
	After intervention	6 month	0.66(0.09)	0.62–0.70	1.00

BUN/Creatinine	Before intervention		18.46(6.09)	16.14–20.77
	After intervention	3 month	17.10(7.04)	14.50–19.71	1.00
	After intervention	6 month	16.44(4.10)	14.88–18.00	0.94

unit; mg/dL

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