Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the monthly variation patterns of bioelectrical impedance (BEI) along 24 meridian pathways in healthy individuals. METHODS: A cohort of 684 healthy middle-aged participants from North China was enrolled between July 1, 2017, and September 5, 2020. BEI measurements were consistently recorded along the 24 meridian pathways over the study period. The collected BEI data were subjected to statistical analysis, and line charts were constructed to depict the temporal variation patterns. RESULTS: Analysis revealed that BEI values along the 24 meridian pathways followed a normal distribution over a 12-month period. In the first group of meridians, which includes the lung, large intestine, heart, small intestine, pericardium, and triple-energizer meridians, significant monthly variations were observed. The second group, comprising the spleen, stomach, bladder, kidney, gallbladder, and liver meridians, exhibited marked differences primarily between March and April (P < 0.05), with a peak in April and relatively stable values thereafter. Synchronous BEI fluctuations were evident on the left and right sides of the body, and both groups of meridian pathways displayed similar variation patterns. These patterns largely corresponded to fluctuations observed in the spleen meridian. CONCLUSION: The consistent monthly variation patterns in BEI along the 24 meridian pathways among healthy middle-aged individuals align with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) concepts of meridians and collaterals. The spleen meridian, in particular, appears to play a crucial role in influencing these bioelectrical fluctuations, as posited in TCM theory. From a bioelectrical standpoint, this study provides empirical support for the potential existence and functionality of meridians and collaterals, offering a scientific perspective that complements ancient TCM principles.