BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The blue honeysuckle berry (Lonicera caerulea var. edulis L.) is a small deciduous shrub belonging to the Caprifoliaceae family that is native to Russia, China, Japan, and Korea. The berry of this shrub is edible, sweet and juicy and is commonly known as the blue honeyberry (BHB). This study examined the anti-diabetic potential of BHB on high-fat-diet-induced mild diabetic mice. The hypoglycemic, and nephroprotective effects of the 12-week oral administration of blue honeyberry extract were analyzed. MATERIALS/METHODS: The hypoglycemic effects were based on the observed changes in insulin, blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Furthermore, the changes in the weight of the pancreas, including its histopathology and immunohistochemical investigation were also performed. Moreover, the nephroprotective effects were analyzed by observing the changes in kidney weight, its histopathology, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine levels. RESULTS: The results showed that the high-fat diet (HFD)-induced control mice showed a noticeable increase in blood glucose, insulin, HbA1c, BUN, and creatinine levels. Furthermore, growth was observed in lipid droplet deposition related to the degenerative lesions in the vacuolated renal tubules with the evident enlargement and hyperplasia of the pancreatic islets. In addition, in the endocrine pancreas, there was an increase in the insulin-and glucagon-producing cells, as well as in the insulin/glucagon cell ratios. On the other hand, compared to the HFD-treated mice group, all these diabetic and related complications were ameliorated significantly in a dose-dependent manner after 84 days of the continuous oral administration of BHBe at 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg, and a dramatic resettlement in the hepatic glucose-regulating enzyme activities was observed. CONCLUSIONS: By assessing the key parameters for T2DM, the present study showed that the BHBe could act as a potential herbal agent to cure diabetes (type II) and associated ailments in HFD-induced mice.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Hyperglycemia-induced hepatic damage has been recognized as one of the major cause of complications in diabetes. Hepatic complications are associated with inflammation and oxidative stress in diabetes. In this study, we investigated the hypothesis that gamma-tocopherol (GT) supplementation ameliorates NLRP3 inflammasome associated hepatic inflammation in diabetes. MATERIALS/METHODS: Diabetes was induced by the intraperitoneal injection of alloxan (150 mg/kg. BW) in ICR mice. All mice were fed with a control diet (AIN-76A). After diabetes was induced (fasting glucose level ${\geq}250mg/dL$), the mice were treated with tocopherol-stripped corn oil or GT-supplemented (35 mg/kg) corn oil, respectively, by gavage for 2 weeks. RESULTS: GT supplementation reduced fasting blood glucose levels in diabetic mice relative to non-treated diabetic mice. Moreover, GT supplementation ameliorated hyperglycemia-induced hepatic damage by regulation of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3)-inflammasome associated inflammation represented by NLRP3, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-recruitment domain, caspase-1, nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ pathway as well as oxidative stress demonstrated by nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2, NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1, catalase and glutathione-dependent peroxidase in diabetic mice. CONCLUSION: The findings suggested that GT supplementation ameliorated hepatic damage by attenuating inflammation and oxidative stress in alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Taken together, GT could be a beneficial nutrient that can ameliorate inflammatory responses associated with NLRP3 inflammasome in hyperglycemia-induced hepatic damage.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Enteral nutrition formulas with immune-enhancing nutrients, such as n-3 fatty acids, may manage patients' nutritional status and pathophysiological processes. The aim of our study was to investigate natural killer (NK) cell activity alterations and related cytokine changes resulting from feeding with soybean oil-containing enteral nutrition formula (control group) and plant-derived n-3 fatty acid-enriched enteral nutrition formula. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Subjects participated for 14 consecutive days and consumed enteral formula containing canola and flaxseed oil (n3EN, test group) in nonsurgical patients hospitalized for rehabilitation. Blood samples were collected on the first day and 14 days after the consumption of each formula daily, and anthropometric parameters were collected. Hematology and biochemical values were analyzed, and NK cell activities and serum cytokine concentration were measured. A total of sixty subjects were included in the analysis, excluding dropouts. RESULTS: No significant differences were found in biochemical parameters. The n3EN group's NK cell activities at effector:tumor cell ratios of 10:1, 5:1, 2.5:1 and 0.625:1 were significantly higher than those of the control group after two weeks (P < 0.05). However, there were no statistically significant differences in serum cytokine interleukin (IL)-12, $interferon-{\gamma}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ values between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study elucidates the beneficial effects of plant-derived n-3 fatty acid supplementation in enteral formula on NK cell activity.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The association between tea consumption and risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) remains controversial. This study aimed to determine whether tea consumption has an effect on CHD risk in Chinese adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In this hospital-based case-control study, 267 cases of CHD and 235 non-CHD controls were enrolled. Blood samples from all cases were examined. Cardiac function indices (left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, lactate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase of the muscle or brain type), blood lipid index (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol), and blood coagulation function indices (fibrinogen and activated partial thromboplastin time) were recorded. Tea consumption of study participants was assessed by a specifically designed questionnaire. The baseline characteristics of the study populations were recorded, and CHD-related biomarkers were detected. Differences in baseline characteristics of the study participants were examined using t-tests for continuous variables and chi-squared tests for categorical variables. Unconditional logistic regression was used to measure the association between tea and CHD. RESULTS: There were significant differences in cardiac function indices, blood lipid index, and blood coagulation indices between CHD cases and controls (P < 0.05). We found tea consumption reduced CHD risk in female participants (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.484, 95% CI: 0.242-0.968, P = 0.0403). Regarding the type of tea consumed, the risk of CHD was reduced in women who drank partially fermented tea (adjusted OR = 0.210, 95% CI: 0.084-0.522, P = 0.0008). Analytic results for the amount of tea consumed per unit time showed CHD risk was reduced in women who consumed 1-2 cups of tea per day (adjusted OR = 0.291, 95% CI: 0.131-0.643, P = 0.0023). A tea-drinking frequency of > 6 days/week was beneficial for CHD prevention (adjusted OR = 0.183, 95% CI: 0.049-0.679, P = 0.0112). When analyzed according to the duration of tea consumption, the risk of CHD was reduced in participants who had been drinking tea for 10-20 years (adjusted OR = 0.360, 95% CI: 0.137-0.946, P = 0.0382). CONCLUSIONS: Tea consumption is associated with a reduced risk of CHD in female but not male populations in Guangzhou.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to provide scientific evidence on the effectiveness of worksite-based dietary intervention to reduce obesity among overweight/obese employees. MATERIALS/METHODS: Electronic search was performed using Ovid Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL databases. The keywords used were "obesity," "nutrition therapy," and "worksite." The internal validity of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was assessed using the Cochrane's Risk of Bias. Meta-analysis of selected studies was performed using Review Manager 5.3. RESULTS: A total of seven RCTs with 2,854 participants were identified. The effectiveness of dietary interventions was analyzed in terms of changes in weight, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, and blood pressure. The results showed that weight decreased with weighted mean difference (WMD) of -4.37 (95% confidence interval (CI): -6.54 to -2.20), but the effectiveness was statistically significant only in short-term programs < 6 months (P = 0.001). BMI also decreased with WMD of -1.26 (95% CI: -1.98 to -0.55), but the effectiveness was statistically significant only in short-term programs < 6 months (P = 0.001). Total cholesterol decreased with WMD of -5.57 (95% CI: -9.07 to -2.07) mg/dL, demonstrating significant effectiveness (P = 0.002). Both systolic (WMD: -4.90 mmHg) and diastolic (WMD: -2.88 mmHg) blood pressure decreased, demonstrating effectiveness, but with no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: The worksite-based dietary interventions for overweight/obese employees showed modest short-term effects. These interventions can be considered successful because weight loss was below approximately 5-10 kg of the initial body weight, which is the threshold for the management of obesity recommended by the Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network (SIGN).

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Several nutritional screening tools were recently developed to screen the risk of malnutrition in hospitalized children, but have not been validated in Asia. We compared four nutritional screening tools for pediatric patients in evaluating nutritional risks in newly hospitalized children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Medical records of newly admitted pediatric patients between June 2016 and May 2017 at two tertiary hospitals were reviewed. Initial information by nurses and hospital records by doctors on baseline demographic, clinical, and anthropometric data at admission were collected in all subjects. Nutritional risks were evaluated using four nutritional screening tools including the pediatric nutritional risk score (PNRS), the screening tool for the assessment of malnutrition in pediatrics (STAMP), the paediatric Yorkhill malnutrition score (PYMS), and the screening tools for risk of nutritional status and growth (STRONGkids). RESULTS: A total of 559 patients (310 boys and 249 girls, mean age $6.3{\pm}5.5years$) were recruited. Patients in medical and surgical departments were 469 (83.9%) and 90 (16.1%), respectively. The prevalence of patients at risk of malnutrition were 31.1% for low risk, 52.2% for medium risk, and 16.6% for high risk by PNRS; 11.4%, 39.7%, and 48.8% by STAMP; 26.5%, 25.4%, and 48.1% by PYMS; and 35.6%, 58.9%, and 5.5% by STRONGkids. PNRS versus STRONGkids and STAMP versus PYMS showed moderate agreement (kappa = 0.566 and kappa = 0.495, respectively). PYMS and STAMP revealed a relatively high sensitivity of 87.8% and 77.6% for wasting. CONCLUSION: Different nutritional screening tools revealed considerably different results in evaluating nutritional risks in newly hospitalized children. Since pediatric patients are at risk of malnutrition at admission and during hospitalization, screening tools should be applied properly according to the situation of each hospital.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Existing evidence on lifestyle modification programs for weight loss is limited by the high attrition rate of such programs. Identifying predictors of adherence to a lifestyle modification program could result in program improvement. However, little is known about behavior-specific adherence and its psychological predictors. This study aimed to examine the psychological predictors of adherence after one-month participation in a community-based lifestyle modification program among Chinese overweight and obese adults in Hong Kong. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 205 Chinese overweight and obese adults aged $38.9{\pm}10.5years$ completed the study. Data were collected at baseline and after one month using self-reported questionnaires, which assessed knowledge (self-developed scale), motivation (Treatment Self-Regulation Questionnaire), stage of change (Stage of Exercise Scale) and self-efficacy (Self-Rated Abilities for Health Practices Scale). At one month, a 4-day dietary recall and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form were used to assess dietary and physical activity (PA) adherence. Food and PA diaries were examined to indicate self-monitoring. Program attendance was tracked between baseline and one-month follow-up. RESULTS: After one month, participants reported high dietary adherence, attendance, and adherence to self-monitoring but low PA adherence. Multiple regression analyses suggested that diet self-efficacy (baseline) and nutrition knowledge (one-month change) were independent predictors of dietary adherence score at one month, whereas autonomous PA motivation (baseline) and PA self-efficacy (both baseline and one-month change) were independent predictors of PA adherence score at one month. No significant psychological predictor was identified for attendance or self-monitoring. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the effect of psychological factors on adherence differs between diet and PA adherence outcomes. To promote adherence, practitioners should assess self-efficacy, knowledge, and motivation at the beginning of a weight-loss program and explore behavior-specific strategies to improve knowledge and self-efficacy. The results of this study have direct implications for program improvements.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The International Agency for Research on Cancer defined alcohol beverages and acetaldehyde derived from alcoholic beverages as a Group 1 carcinogen to humans. However, the association between alcohol consumption and gastric cancer risk has been controversial in Korean. We assessed the relationship between alcohol consumption and gastric cancer risk in Korea through a case-control study. SUBJECTS/METHODS: From 2 hospitals, a total of 316 cases with gastric cancer (208 men, 108 women) were selected and matched to 316 controls by sex and age (${\pm}5years$) during the same duration. The current status, frequency, and amount of alcohol consumption for a year three years ago were assessed by trained interviewers. RESULTS: Alcohol consumption status and frequency did not show any significant association with gastric cancer risk. However, high alcohol consumption (${\geq}20g/day$ for women or ${\geq}40g/day$ for men) significantly increased the risk of gastric cancer (odds ratio (OR) 1.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-2.85). Gastric cancer risk was strongly positively associated with alcohol consumption of ${\geq}20g/day$, especially in women (OR 5.62; 95% CI 1.32-23.81). CONCLUSION: The results from this study suggest that excessive alcohol consumption rather than the current status or frequency of alcohol consumption contributes to the increased risk of gastric cancer, especially in women.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The intake of sugar has increased worldwide, and it is well established that childhood experiences and food preferences affect lifelong eating habits. To discourage sugar intake, nutrition education was imparted, and the effectiveness of the nutrition education program was investigated by considering the nutrient density and major dietary sources of sugar intake. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Twenty four-hour dietary recall and sugar intake frequency of 96 pre-school children (educated n = 47; non-educated n = 49) were collected on 3 consecutive days (1 weekend day, 2 weekdays) after 11 weeks of imparting nutrition education. Dietary intake of nutrients and total sugar were analyzed, and the intake frequency of sugar source foods were identified. All nutrition education programs were focused on a hands-on education program, and consisted of cooking lab, play, activity, animation, and visual materials. The difference between the two groups was verified by the Chi-square test or t-test. All statistical analysis was performed with significance level at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Compared to the non-educated group, the intakes of protein (P < 0.001), fiber (P < 0.01), potassium (P < 0.05), iron (P < 0.05), zinc (P < 0.05), and iodine (P < 0.001) were significantly higher, and the intakes of carbohydrate (P < 0.01) and total sugar (P < 0.05) were significantly lower in the educated group. The cumulative percent of sugar intake of top 20 sugar source foods in the educated group (82.80%) was lower than that of the non-educated group (85.75%). The contribution of beverages on total sugar intake was lower in the educated group. The average frequency of consuming sugary foods was significantly lower in the educated group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that nutrition education on discouraging sugar intake is effective in reducing the amount of total sugar consumed, resulting higher nutrient density in the diets of pre-school children.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed health-related factors for metabolic syndrome (Mets) among workers in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This analysis included 4,666 adults aged 19-64 years to analyzed health-related risk factors for Mets from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016). The sociodemographic, working, health-related, and biochemical characteristics were presented as percentages (%) by chi-square tests. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and associations between health-related factors characteristic of workers and the odds ratios of Mets. RESULTS: An increased prevalence of Mets was associated with male day workers compared to male shift workers (1.726-fold increase, 95% CI: 1.077-2.765), and with ${\geq}8hrs/day$ sleep duration compared to < 6 hrs/day sleep duration in female workers (2.133-fold, 95% CI: 1.041-4.368). In addition, reduced odds of high Mets were associated with male workers consumed of breakfast 5-7 times/wk compared to those consumed < 1 time/wk (0.593-fold decrease, 95% CI: 0.372-0.944). CONCLUSIONS: Health-related factors (sleep duration, frequency of breakfast) and working type in Korean workers may affect the prevalence of Mets.