Gamitaeeumjowee-tang for Overweight and Obese Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms: A Retrospective Chart Review

Ji-Min Kim; Min-Jeong Kim; Seo-Young Kim; Ka-Hye Choi; Kim, Ji-Min; Kim, Min-Jeong; Kim, Seo-Young; Choi, Ka-Hye

doi:10.13048/jkm.26047

JKM > Volume 47(3); 2026 > Article

Kim, Kim, Kim, and Choi: Gamitaeeumjowee-tang for Overweight and Obese Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms: A Retrospective Chart Review

Original Article

The Journal of Korean Medicine 2026; 47(3): 249-263.

Published online: September 1, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.13048/jkm.26047

Gamitaeeumjowee-tang for Overweight and Obese Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms: A Retrospective Chart Review

Ji-Min Kim¹

, Min-Jeong Kim¹

, Seo-Young Kim²

, Ka-Hye Choi¹^{, *}

¹Korean Medicine Doctor, Nubebe Korean Medical Clinic Hongdae Center

²Director, Nubebe Obesity Research Institute

^*Correspondence to: Ka-Hye Choi, Nubebe Korean Medical Clinic Hongdae Center, 125, Yanghwa-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea, Tel: +82-2-338-0036, Fax: +82-2-336-3701, E-mail: nbbch@naver.com

Received July 6, 2026 Revised July 25, 2026 Accepted August 7, 2026

Abstract

Objectives

This study evaluated the weight loss outcomes and gastrointestinal safety profile of Gamitaeeumjowee-tang in overweight and obese patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and examined the association between adverse events (AEs) and both medication adherence and treatment outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted on 58 patients (mean age, 40.47±11.60 years) with a body mass index (BMI) ≥ 23kg/m² and self-reported gastroesophageal reflux symptoms who completed a 12-week weight loss program. Participants received Gamitaeeumjowee-tang tablets (containing 16–24 g of Ephedra sinica/day, three times daily). Changes in body weight, BMI, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and visceral fat area (VFA) were assessed.

Results

The mean weight loss was 5.81±2.40 kg, with a significant reduction in BMI, WHR, and VFA (P < 0.001). A total of 86.2% of patients achieved ≥ 5% weight loss. AEs occurred in 67.0% of participants, mostly during the first six weeks; most were mild (92.7%) and considered unlikely related to medication (70.9%). Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most common AEs, but typical gastroesophageal reflux symptoms (heartburn and regurgitation) were rare (1.8%–5.7%). There were no significant differences in weight loss or medication adherence based on the presence or type of AEs, including upper gastrointestinal or gastroesophageal reflux symptoms.

Conclusions

Gamitaeeumjowee-tang was associated with weight reduction in overweight and obese patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Despite concerns regarding the gastrointestinal adverse effects of weight-loss medications, typical gastroesophageal reflux related AEs were infrequent and mostly mild, without reducing medication adherence or treatment outcomes.

Keywords: Obesity, Gastroesophageal Reflux, Gamitaeeumjowee-tang, Herbal Medicine, Weight Loss

Fig. 1

Flow chart of a retrospective chart review

Table 1

Composition of Gamitaeeumjowee-Tang

Ingredient		Dose(g)/day
麻黃	Ephedrae Herba	16.0~24.0
熟地黃	Rehmanniae Radix Preparat	8.0
薏苡仁	Coicis Semen	8.0
生薑	Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens	4.0
石菖蒲	Acori Gramineri Rhizoma	3.3
酸棗仁	Zizyphi Semen	3.3
澤瀉	Alismatis Rhizoma	2.6
黃芩	Scutellariae Radix	1.3
五味子	Schizandrae Fructus	1.3
葛根	Puerariae Radix	1.3
天門冬	Asparagi Tuber	1.3
藁本	Angelicae Tenuissimae Radix	1.3
龍眼肉	Longanae Arillus	1.3
乾栗	Castanea Mollissima	1.3
麥門冬	Liriopis Tuber	1.3
	Total Amount	55.6~63.6

Table 2

Baseline Characteristics

Characteristics	N (%)	Mean ± standard deviation
Total	58
Female	55 (94.8)
Male	3 (5.2)
Age (year)		40.47±11.60
20’s	11 (19.0)
30’s	21 (36.2)
40’s	12 (20.7)
50’s	10 (17.2)
60’s	4 (6.9)
Weight (kg)		75.05±13.38
BMI (kg/m²)		29.19±4.21
23–24.9	10 (17.2)
25–29.9	26 (44.8)
30–34.9	18 (31.0)
≥35	4 (6.9)
WHR		0.926±0.065
VFA (cm²)		149.26±44.34
GERD medication, yes	9 (15.5)

BMI: body mass index, WHR: waist-to-hip ratio, VFA: visceral fat area, GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease

Table 3

Changes in Body Weight and Body Composition after Treatment

	Baseline	Final	Change	P-value
Weight (kg)	75.05±13.38	69.24±12.26	5.81±2.40	<.001
Weight loss rate (%)			7.67±2.76
BMI (kg/m²)	29.19±4.21	26.70±4.06	2.49±1.67	<.001
WHR	0.93±0.07	0.90±0.06	0.02±0.03	<.001
VFA (cm²)	149.26±44.73	123.12±43.86	26.14±12.06	<.001

			n (%)

≥5% weight loss			50 (86.2)
≥10% weight loss			9 (15.5)

WHR: waist-to-hip Ratio, VFA: visceral fat area.

Data are presented as mean ± SD.

P-values were calculated using a paired t-test.

Table 4

Adverse Events Reported from 58 Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Symptoms

	1–6 weeks	6–10 weeks	10–14 weeks
Patients with adverse events	40 (67.0)	28 (48.3)	29 (50)
Number of adverse events	110	53	41
Causality (WHO-UMC)
Possible	32 (29.1)	4 (7.5)	4 (9.8)
Unlikely	78 (70.9)	49 (92.5)	37 (90.2)
Conditional/Unclassified	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
Total	110 (100.0)	53 (100.0)	41 (100.0)
Severity (CTCAE v6.0)
Mild (Grade 1)	102 (92.7)	48 (90.6)	38 (92.7)
Moderate (Grade 2)	8 (7.3)	5 (9.4)	3 (7.3)
Severe (Grade 3)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)	0 (0.0)
Total	110 (100.0)	53 (100.0)	41 (100.0)

WHO-UMC: World Health Organization Uppsala Monitoring Centre, CTCAE: Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events.

Data are expressed number (%).

Table 5

Adverse Events according to System-Organ Classes

System-organ classes	Symptom	1–6 weeks	6–10 weeks	10–14 weeks
Gastro-intestinal system disorders	Constipation	11	5	7
	Mouth dry	6	2	4
	Nausea	6	1	4
	Abdominal pain	3	2	0
	Diarrhoea	3	0	0
	Dyspepsia	2	5	0
	Heartburn	2	3	1
	Epigastric discomfort	2	0	0
	Abdominal discomfort	1	0	0
	Bloating	1	0	0
	Eructation	1	0	0
	Retching	1	0	0
	Stomatitis	1	0	0
	Stools loose	1	0	0
	Tenesmus	1	0	0
	Gastroesophageal reflux	0	1	0
	Vomiting	0	0	1
	Subtotal	42	19	17
Central & peripheral nervous system disorders	Dizziness	7	4	2
	Tremor	6	3	0
	Headache	3	4	0
	Paraesthesia	1	0	1
	Drunkenness feeling of	1	0	0
	Subtotal	18	11	3
Psychiatric disorders	Insomnia	12	5	5
	Globus hystericus	3	1	0
	Anxiety	1	0	0
	Subtotal	16	6	5
Autonomic nervous system disorders	Palpitation	7	1	1
Autonomic nervous system disorders	Subtotal	7	1	1
Skin and appendages disorders	Sweating increased	4	2	2
	Hyperhidrosis	1	0	0
	Pruritus	1	0	0
	Skin greasy	1	0	0
	Hair loss	0	1	1
	Subtotal	7	3	3
Respiratory system disorders	Common cold	4	1	0
	Tonsillitis	1	0	0
	Subtotal	5	1	0
Musculo-skeletal system disorders	Neck pain	2	1	0
	Myalgia	1	1	0
	Arthralgia	1	0	1
	Body aching	1	0	0
	Muscle cramp	0	0	2
	Subtotal	5	2	3
Metabolic and nutritional disorders	Thirst	3	2	1
Metabolic and nutritional disorders	Subtotal	3	2	1
Body as a whole – general disorders	Fatigue	1	2	2
	Oedema	1	1	1
	Feeling of warmth	1	1	0
	Malaise	0	0	1
	Subtotal	3	4	4
Urinary system disorders	Dysuria	1	0	0
	Urinary frequency	1	0	0
	Subtotal	2	0	0
Special senses other, disorders	Dysgeusia	1	1	0
Special senses other, disorders	Subtotal	1	1	0
Reproductive disorders, female	Intermenstrual bleeding	1	0	1
	Dysmenorrhoea	0	1	0
	Menses onset delayed	0	0	1
	Subtotal	1	1	2
Reproductive disorders, male	Male sexual dysfunction	0	0	1
Reproductive disorders, male	Subtotal	0	0	1
Hearing and vestibular disorders	Motion sickness	0	2	0
	Tinnitus	0	0	1
	Subtotal	0	2	1
	Total	110	53	41

Table 6

Comparison of Weight Loss Rate and Adverse Events by Body Mass Index (kg/m²)

	23≤BMI<25 (n=10)	25≤BMI<30 (n=26)	BMI≥30 (n=22)	P-value
Weight loss rate (%)	7.76 (3.17)	6.53 (3.59)	8.29 (2.94)	.100

AE_GERD(+)*	2 (20.0%)	2 (7.7%)	2 (9.1%)	.544†
AE_UpperGI(+)*	3 (30.0%)	11 (42.3%)	10 (45.5%)	.730†
AE_Other(+)*	7 (70.0%)	22 (84.6%)	18 (81.8%)	.607†
AE_None(+)*	3 (30.0%)	3 (11.5%)	4 (18.2%)	.425†

BMI: body mass index, AE: adverse event, GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease, GI: gastro-intestinal tract.

Weight loss rate is presented as median (IQR); adverse events are presented as n (%).

P-values were calculated using a Kruskal-Wallis test(weight loss rate) and Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test (AEs).

* Post-hoc power analysis indicated statistical power <25%.

† Bonferroni correction was applied to adjust for multiple comparisons (α=0.05/4=0.0125).

Table 7

Comparison of Weight Loss Rate and Medication Adherence by Adverse Event Type

	AE(+)	AE(−)	P-value
AE_GERD	n=6*	n=52
Weight loss rate (%)	6.82 (5.10)	7.52 (2.84)	.718
Medication Adherence (%)	95.08 (7.80)	95.24 (12.02)	.948
AE_UpperGI	n=24*	n=34
Weight loss rate (%)	6.85 (3.70)	7.52 (2.70)	.336
Medication Adherence (%)	93.60 (13.92)	95.56 (11.23)	.847
AE_Other	n=47	n=11*
Weight loss rate (%)	7.50 (2.87)	6.71 (2.86)	.804
Medication Adherence (%)	95.24 (11.76)	95.24 (9.48)	.100
AE_None	n=10*	n=48
Weight loss rate (%)	6.66 (2.31)	7.53 (3.00)	.410
Medication Adherence (%)	95.56 (10.70)	94.49 (11.76)	.942

AE: adverse event, GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease, GI: gastro-intestinal tract.

Data are presented as median (IQR).

P-values were calculated using Mann-Whitney U test.

Bonferroni correction was applied to adjust for multiple comparisons (α=0.05/4=0.0125).

* Post-hoc power analysis indicated statistical power <25%.

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