Association between ABO blood types and pain perception

Abstract

Aim of the study

Pain perception is associated with different phenotypic characteristics such as sex, eye, and hair color. Hence, it is assumed that ABO blood type can also affect pain perception.

Materials and methods

In order to investigate this hypothesis, an experimental study with healthy volunteers (18–40 years) was designed. The experimental procedure included a blood type test and two rounds of pressure pain threshold assessments separated by a cold pressor test. Pressure pain threshold was assessed bilaterally at the temporalis, masseter, and deltoid muscles, where the muscle sites were randomized. Cold pressor test was conducted by immersion of participants’ non-dominant hand into iced water of 1–4 °C for 2 min.

Results

Thirty-seven healthy volunteers, distributed in the four blood type groups, completed the study. Participants with blood type B scored the highest pressure pain thresholds at the examined craniofacial muscles, while participants with blood type AB tended to score the lowest. Furthermore, participants with blood type AB displayed the highest elevation in pressure pain thresholds after cold pressor test.

Conclusions

Participants with blood type B displayed the lowest mechanical pain sensitivity and the blood type AB group exhibited the strongest conditioned pain modulation effect. These findings emphasize the necessity of considering ABO blood types in future pain research.

Keywords:

• ABO blood types
• pain
• cold pressor test
• pain perception
• pain threshold
• sex

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to all test subjects who voluntarily took part in this experimental study. Amalie Højmose Simoni, Anne Jerwiarz, and Amalie Randers made equal contributions to the conduction of the study and preparation of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No conflicts of interest to declare.