Metabolic markers of tongue coating in healthy people with phlegm dampness constitution and damp-heat constitution - Abstract

Oct 12, 2026

Objective: Use tongue coating metabolomics to comprehensively analyze metabolic differences between individuals with Phlegm Dampness Constitution (PDC) and Dampness Heat Constitution (DHC). Methods: Tongue-coating samples were assigned to three groups—PDC, DHC, and Balanced Constitution (BC), 50 cases each—and metabolites were profiled by GC-TOF-MS and UHPLC-QE-MS. A differential pathway analysis and a recognition model distinguishing PDC from DHC were built. Results: The model achieved 98.4% accuracy, 96.0% specificity, and 98.0% sensitivity, using phenol, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, and triethanolamine. Conclusion: Dysregulated lipids, lipid-like molecules, and organic heterocycles provide promising non-invasive markers for PDC and DHC.

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Abstract

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Research Metabolic markers of tongue coating in healthy people with phlegm dampness constitution and damp‑heat constitution Zhiyuan You1 · Junhong Lu1 · Yifeng Xu1 · Yiqin Wang1 · Yiming Hao1 Received: 29 April 2024 / Accepted: 2 December 2024 © The Author(s) 2024 OPEN Abstract Objective Using tongue coating metabolomics, this study will comprehensively analyze metabolic differences between individuals with Phlegm Dampness Constitution (PDC) and Dampness Heat Constitution (DHC) . Methods The samples were categorized into three groups: the Phlegm Dampness Constitution group, the Dampness Heat Constitution group, and the Balanced Constitution (BC) group (each consisting of 50 cases). Metabolites present in the tongue coating of the three groups were identified using GC-TOF-MS and UHPLC-QE-MS. We scrutinized the characteristics of metabolites, identified differential metabolic pathways in the Phlegm Dampness and Dampness Heat groups, and constructed a recognition model for distinguishing between Phlegm Dampness and Dampness Heat. Results A total of 139 different metabolites (75 upregulated, 64 downregulated) were identified in the Phlegm Dampness Constitution group compared to the Balanced Constitution group. Similarly, 157 different metabolites (103 upregulated, 54 downregulated) were observed in the Dampness Heat Constitution group compared to the Balanced Constitution group. Notably, 100 metabolites were common in the differential metabolites obtained from the aforementioned two comparisons, comprising 14 types of substances (mainly lipids and lipid-like molecules) across 6 metabolic pathways. In the comparison between the Phlegm Dampness Constitution and Dampness Heat Constitution groups, 54 different metabolites (15 upregulated, 39 downregulated) were identified, mainly involving 10 types of compounds (primarily lipids and lipid-like molecules and organic heterocyclic compounds) across 10 metabolic pathways. The identification model for distinguishing Phlegm Dampness Constitution and Dampness Heat Constitution groups based on differential metabolites included phenol, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, and triethanolamine. The model exhibited high accuracy (98.4%), specificity (96.0%), and sensitivity (98.0%) . Triethanolamine was significantly upregulated in the Phlegm Dampness Constitution group compared to the Dampness Heat Constitution group, while N-nitrosopyrrolidine and phenol were significantly downregulated in the Phlegm Dampness Constitution group. Conclusion Lipids, lipid-like molecules, and organic heterocyclic compounds with abnormal expression play a crucial role in the formation of the Phlegm Dampness Constitution and the Dampness Heat Constitution. These identified differential metabolites hold promise as non-invasive markers for identifying individuals with Phlegm Dampness and Dampness Heat constitutions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at [https://doi.org/10.1007/s1](https://doi.org/10.1007/s1)1084-024- 09674-1. * Yiming Hao, [hymjj888@163.com |](hymjj888@163.com |1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Health Identification and Assessment/Laboratory of TCM Four)[1](hymjj888@163.com |1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Health Identification and Assessment/Laboratory of TCM Four)[Shanghai Key Laboratory of Health Identification and Assessment/Laboratory of TCM Four](hymjj888@163.com |1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Health Identification and Assessment/Laboratory of TCM Four)[ ](hymjj888@163.com |1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Health Identification and Assessment/Laboratory of TCM Four)[Diagnostic Information](Diagnostic Information), [Shanghai University of Traditional](Shanghai University of Traditional) Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China. Discover Life (2024) 54:28 | [https://doi.org/10.1007/s1](https://doi.org/10.1007/s1) 1084-024-09674-1 Abbreviations PDC Phlegm dampness constitution DHC Dampness heat constitution BC Balanced constitution TCM Traditio

FAQs

What is the objective of the study?

To use tongue coating metabolomics to comprehensively analyze metabolic differences between individuals with Phlegm Dampness Constitution (PDC) and Dampness Heat Constitution (DHC).

How were the samples grouped and how were metabolites measured?

Samples were categorized into PDC, DHC, and Balanced Constitution (BC) groups with 50 cases each. Metabolites in tongue coating were identified using GC-TOF-MS and UHPLC-QE-MS.

Which metabolites are used in the recognition model and how accurate is it?

The model uses phenol, N-nitrosopyrrolidine, and triethanolamine, achieving 98.4% accuracy, 96.0% specificity, and 98.0% sensitivity.

Oct 12, 2026

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