International Journal of Clinical Case Reports, 2025, Vol.15, No.1, 1-11 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/ijccr 1 Research Insights Open Access Study on the Relationship Between Dietary Adjustments Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine’s ‘Five Elements Theory’ and Metabolic Health Weiping Cai 1, Jing Zhang2, Liye Huang3 1 Department of Geriatric Medicine, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100048, Beijing, China 2 Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100048, Beijing, China 3 Department of Nursing, The Sixth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100048, Beijing, China Corresponding author: huangyeli88@163.com International Journal of Clinical Case Reports 2025, Vol.15, No.1 doi: 10.5376/ijccr.2025.15.0001 Received: 04 Nov., 2024 Accepted: 20 Dec., 2024 Published: 05 Jan., 2025 Copyright © 2025 Cai et al., This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Cai W.P., Zhang J., and Huang L.Y., 2025, Study on the relationship between dietary adjustments based on traditional chinese medicine’s 'five elements theory' and metabolic health, International Journal of Clinical Case Reports, 15(1): 1-11 (doi: 10.5376/ijccr.2025.15.0001) Abstract This study explores the impact of dietary adjustments based on the Five Elements Theory of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on metabolic health, analyzing the potential benefits of Five Elements dietary practices in improving chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The Five Elements Theory associates foods with the five elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water) and adjusts the diet to balance the flow of Qi within the body, thereby promoting organ function and overall health. This study also examines the regulatory effects of sour, bitter, sweet, salty, and pungent foods on the liver, heart, spleen, lungs, and kidneys, respectively, highlighting how the Five Elements diet can aid in the prevention and management of metabolic diseases by regulating glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, and weight management. Furthermore, the study discusses the potential integration of the Five Elements dietary approach with modern nutrition science and its application prospects in chronic disease management, emphasizing the necessity of further research to address the challenges of personalized dietary adjustments. Keywords TCM constitution identification; Personalized dietary therapy; Precision health management; Nutrition science; Interdisciplinary integration 1 Introduction Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a holistic medical system that has been practiced for thousands of years in China and other Asian countries. One of the foundational theories in TCM is the Five Elements Theory, which posits that the universe and the human body are composed of five fundamental elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. These elements are believed to interact with each other in a dynamic balance, influencing various physiological and pathological processes within the body. The Five Elements Theory is used to understand the relationships between different organs, tissues, and functions, and it guides the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in TCM (Zhao et al., 2020; Jiang et al., 2022). In TCM, dietary adjustments are considered a crucial aspect of maintaining health and treating diseases. The concept of "Yao-Shan," or medicated diet, integrates food and medicine, emphasizing the use of specific foods to achieve balance and harmony within the body. TCM nutrition is based on the principles of syndrome differentiation and the idea that the spleen and stomach are central to postnatal health. Dietary recommendations are tailored to an individual's constitution and specific health conditions, aiming to enhance the body's natural healing processes and prevent disease (Zhao et al., 2020; Yang et al., 2023). For instance, certain foods are believed to nourish specific elements and organs, thereby correcting imbalances and promoting overall well-being (Xu et al., 2018; Yang et al., 2023). Modern society faces a growing epidemic of metabolic health issues, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome. These conditions are often linked to lifestyle factors such as poor diet, lack of physical activity, and chronic stress. Metabolic diseases not only reduce the quality of life but also impose a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide (Wu et al., 2020; Chen et al., 2023; Chen and Yu, 2024). Traditional Chinese Medicine offers a unique perspective on managing these conditions through its holistic
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