• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.242-249
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• 2005

It is well established that zinc plays an important role in bone metabolism and mineralization. The role of zinc in bone formation is well documented in animal models, but not much reported in cell models. In the present study, we evaluated zinc deficiency effects on osteoblastic cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase activity and expression, and extracellular matrix bone nodule formation and bone-related gene expression in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. To deplete cellular zinc, chelexed-FBS and interpermeable zinc chelator TPEN were used. MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured in zinc concentration-dependent (0-15 ${\mu}M\;ZnCl_2$) and time-dependent (0-20 days) manners. MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation by MTT assay was increased as medium zinc level increased (p<0.05). Cellular Ca level and alkaline phosphatase activity were increased as medium zinc level increased (p<0.05). Alkaline phosphatase expression, a marker of commitment to the osteoblast lineage, measured by alkaline phosphatase staining was increased as medium zinc level increased. Extracellular calcium deposits measured by von Kossa staining for nodule formation also appeared higher in Zn+(15 ${\mu}M\;ZnCl_2$) than in Zn-(0 ${\mu}M\;ZnCl_2$). Bone formation marker genes, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, were also expressed higher in Zn+ than in Zn-. The current work supports the beneficial effect of zinc on bone mineralization and bone-related gene expression. The results also promote further study as to the molecular mechanism of zinc deficiency for bone formation and thus facilitate to design preventive strategies for zinc-deficient bone diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.309-317
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• 2009

As far as we know, there were no studies of the effect of L-arginine on bone metabolism in post-menopausal women or ovariectomized rats. The primary objective of the current study was to determine whether arginine supplementation was associated with alterations in femoral and spinal bone mineral density (BMD) and bone markers in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats. Forty female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups, Ovx and sham groups, which were each randomly divided into two subgroups that were fed control and arginine supplemented diet. All rats were fed on experimental diet and deionized water ad libitum for 9 weeks. Bone formation was measured by serum osteocalcin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) concentrations. Bone resorption was measured by deoxypyridinoline (DPD) crosslinks immunoassay and corrected for creatinine. Serum osteocalcin, growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin were analyzed using radioimmunoassay kits. Bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were measured using PIXImus (GE Lunar Co, Wisconsin, USA) in spine and femur. The serum and urine concentrations of Ca and P were determined. The plasma was analyzed for arginine. Diet did not affect weight gain, mean food intake, and plasma arginine concentration. Urinary Ca excretion was decreased by arginine supplementation in Ovx rats, but statistically not significant. The Ovx rats fed arginine-supplemented diet were not significantly different in ALP, osteocalcin, crosslinks value, PTH, calcitonin and IGF-1 compared to those fed control diet. The arginine-supplemented group had significantly higher serum Ca and growth hormone than control group. Spine and femur BMD were significantly increased by arginine supplementation on 5th and 9th weeks after feeding. Our findings indicate that dietary L-arginine supplementation decreased bone mineral density loss in Ovx rats. Therefore, dietary arginine supplementation may represent a potentially useful strategy for the management of osteoporosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1394-1403
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• 1998

The study was designed to observe the effect of dietary calcium and fats on plasma cholesterol level, hepatic microsomal fluidity and HMG-CoA reductase activity as well as the excretion of fecal bile acids and neutral sterols in 1, 2-dimethylhydrazine(DMH)-treated rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats, at 7 weeks of age, were divided into 2 groups, 0.3% and 1.0% Ca levels and each group again subdivided into 2 groups of corn oil and perilla oil. Each rat was intramuscularly infused with DMH for 6 weeks to give total dose of 180mg/kg body weight and also fed experimental diet containing 15%(w/w) different fit and Ca(0.3% or 1.0%) for 20 weeks. High dietary calcium(1.0%) did not significantly influence on plasma cholesterol as well as hepatic microsomal fluidity and HMG CoA reductase activity, but significantly reduced the excretion of total bile acid per gram of faces and increased the excretion of total neutral sterol. However, high dietary Ca reduced the excretion of secondary bile acid(deoxycholic and lithocholic acids) which was known as promoter for colon cancer. Perilla oil rich in n-3 ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid significantly decreased plasma cholesterol by increasing hepatic microsomal fluidity compared with corn oil, but did not influence on HMG CoA reductase activity. Perilla oil did not influence on fecal excretion of total and primary bile acids, but reduced the excretion of secondary bile acids. Therefore, it could be recommended to consume more fish product and food rich in calcium and use more perilla oil in meal preparation to prevent from coronary hear disease and colon cancer especially when high fit diet has been practiced. (Korean Nutrition 31(9) : 1394-1403, 1998)

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to identify food sources for major minerals such as calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na) and potassium (K), and to evaluate the relationship between dietary intake of these minerals and serum lipids in healthy Korean adults. A total of 132 healthy men and women completed a physical examination and dietary record and provided blood samples for lipid profile analysis. Results showed the following daily average mineral intakes: 373.4 mg of calcium, 806.0 mg of phosphorous, 3685.8 mg of sodium, and 1938.3 mg of potassium. The calcium-to-phosphorus and sodium-to-potassium ratio was about 0.5 and 2.0, respectively. The primary sources for each mineral were: vegetables (24.9%) and fishes (19.0%) for calcium, grains (31.4%) for phosphorus, seasonings (41.6%) and vegetables (27.0%) for sodium, and vegetables (30.6%) and grains (18.5%) for potassium. The correlation analysis, which has been adjusted for age, gender, total food consumption, and energy intake, showed significantly positive correlations between Ca/P and serum HDL cholesterol levels, between Na intake and the level of serum total cholesterol, and between Na/K and the level of serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Our data indicates that the level of mineral consumption partially contributes to serum lipid profiles and that a diet consisting of a low Ca/P ratio and a high Na/K ratio may have negative impacts on lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.1049-1056
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• 1998

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Korean safflower(Carthamus. tinctorious L.) seed powder supplementation on bone metabolism during the recovery of rib-fracture induced by surgical operation in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats of 10 weeks old, weighing 370$\pm$5g, were divided into two groups after arrival : the control group(C group, AIN-76 semifurified diet) and safflower seed group(S group, AIN-76 semifurified diet+10% safflower seed powder). They were fed experimental diets for 12 days before the rib fracture operation and for 30 more days after the operation. A number 9 rib was fractured surgically and sham-operation was also performed. After the rib-fracture operation, rats were sacrificed on the 8th, 11th, 16th, 21st, and 30th day, respectively. The body weights were decreased on the 8th day after operation in both groups but recovered gradually thereafter. The fractured sections of the S group were more strongly adhered and more rapidly repaired than those of C group. Effects of safflower seed powder supplementation on indices of bone metabolism during the repairing of rib-fracture can be summarized as following. There were no differences between C and S group. In the levels of PTH and calcitonin, which regulate the concentration of plasma calcium. However, PTH level on the 8th day was significantly higher than that on the 16th day in control group. There were also no differences between groups or within groups in the levels of calcitonin. Osteocalcin levels, one of the bone-formation indices, were similar in two groups. Activities of total-ALP in plasma were highest at the 8th day in both groups and decreased thereafter, except on the 30th day in control group. The activities of bone-specific ALP that is directly related to bone calcification, showed higher levels in the S group than in the C group throughout the experimental period. They were significantly increased in the S group on the 11th, 16th, and 21st days. In comparisons of plasma calcium and phosphate levels, Ca levels were tended to be lower in the S group than in the C group and P levels showed the opposite trend. It seems that the fractured ribs were more rapidly repaired in rats supplemented with safflower seed powder than in control rats, possibly due to stimulation of bone calcification from increased activity of bone-specific ALP. (Korean J Nutrition 31(6) : 1049-1056, 1998)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.446-453
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• 2002

Effects of the two oriental medicinal prescriptions, Jahyulyangeuntang (JH) and Yanghyuljangeunkeonbohwan (YH), on intestinal calcium absorption were examined in the human colon carcinoma tell line, Caco-2 cells. Intestinal calcium absorption was evaluated at the level of Ca uptake into the cells across the brush border membranes, as well as at the level of net Ca transport (implying the amount of intestinal Ca transported into the blood stream). When the Caco-2 cells were incubated for 4, 8, 16 and 24 days post seeding, the cells were differentiated continuously, and showed progressively increased activities of Ca uptake (1.13 $\pm$ 0.04, 1.19 $\pm$ 0.02, 1.94 $\pm$ 0.03, and 2.40 $\pm$ 0.12 nmole.mg protein$^{-1}$ .30 min$^{-1}$ , respectively). Pretreatment of confluent Caco-2 cells with 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of YH for 24 hours resulted in a 30% increase in Ca uptake (p < 0.07), while pretreatment of the cells with the same concentration of JH for 6 hours resulted in a 24% increase (p < 0.05) in Ca uptake, compared to the value for the control cells (2.34 $\pm$ 0.10 nmole.mg protein$^{-1}$ .30 min$^{-1}$ ). When the cells were pretreated with varied concentrations (5-100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) of the test samples for 6 hours, maximal increases in Ca uptake were observed in the cells pretreated with 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of YH (a 23% increase), and 50 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of JH (a 28% increase), respectively : however, no influence was seen on the net Ca transport activity. These results show that pretreatment with JH or YH, the two oriental medicinal prescriptions commonly used for improvement of bone metabolism, could possibly increase Ca accumulation inside the cells. but not the intestinal Ca net transport in vitro.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 1990

The distribution of Spirodela polyrhiza and Lemna aequinoctialis was investigated and the limiting factors on the distribution were analyzed. At 66 sites in Korea, the presense or absense of duckweed were recorded and the water was sampled. The temperature, hardness, pH and contents of N, , , Na, K, Ca, Cu, Mg, Zn, Fe, Ni, Mn and Cd of water sampled were analyzed. The results were as follows; It seemed that the limiting factors influencing on the distribution was water temperature and concentration of . The critical temperature of the distribution of Spirodela and Lemna was presented 19.5$^{\circ}C$ and concentration of was limiting factor only in the distribution of S. polyrhiza. L. aequinoctialis was distributed in lower temperature than S. polyrhiza and it seemed that the distribution of L. aequinoctialis was not be influenced by the concentration of .

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.289-290
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• 2008

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.294.2-295
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• 2002

Methylmercury (MeHg: CH3HgCl) is a ubiquitous environmental toxicant that readily bioaccumulates in aquatic foodchains. This toxicant is most highly exposed to humans through the ingestion of contaminated food. and thus is an ongoing health concern. Thus far. MeHg has been suggested to exert its toxicity through its high reactivity to thiols of bioactive proteins. elevation in intracellular Ca2＋ concentration. and generation of reactive oxygen species. but its mechanism remains poorly understood. (omitted)

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 1993

The application of fertilizer P to Desmodium intortum at 40, 60 and 100 kg/ha resulted in the P content of the legume regrowth being 0.10, 0.13 and 0.16% on a dry matter basis. When the forages were fed alone to sheep in metabolism pens the corresponding voluntary intakes by sheep of the three forages were 27.3, 42.7 and $54.3g/W_{kg}{^{0.75}}$, respectively. Provision of additional P by rapid infusion into the rumen each morning before any fresh food was offered depressed the voluntary intake of all three feeds. It is suggested that the adverse effect of supplementary P was probably caused by an induced deficiency of either Ca or Mg and led to a reduction in microbial activity in the rumen.