• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2008

In a previous study, a mulberry fruit extract(MFE) supplement exhibited anti-inflammatory activity and improved serum lipid profiles in arthritic rats. The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary MFE could ameliorate inflammatory parameters and serum lipid levels in humans. Twenty-six middle-aged subjects(mean body mass index=27 $kg/m^2$) consumed MFE(100 $m{\ell}/day)$ after lunch for 4 wks. Anthropometric measurements, serum oxidative stress markers and serum lipid profile analyses were performed at baseline and then at 4 wk following the study. There were no significant differences in anthropometric measurements, including BMI, WHR, and body fat composition. After the 4 wk-intervention, serum levels of C-reactive protein(CRP), ferric-reducing ability of plasma(FRAP), serum triglyceride(TG) and LDL-cholesterol had significantly decreased(p<0.05), whereas serum levels of HDL-cholesterol significantly(p<0.05) increased. These findings suggest the consumption of mulberry extract may be protective against inflammation and the atherosclerotic state in elderly obese men at high risk for cardiovascular disease(CVD).

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.553-560
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the lipid peroxidation, plasma antioxidant status and insulin resistance in childhood obesity. To this end, we measured blood lipid profiles, glucose, insulin concentrations, plasma antioxidant vitamins, baseline conjugated diene formation as a measure of LDL oxidation in vivo and TRAP (total radical trapping antioxidant potential) of 93 school children (58 nonobese, 35 overweight-obese). Insulin resistance was estimated by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The overweight-obese children showed significantly higher levels of leptin (p < 0.0001) and triglyceride (p < 0.05) and significantly lower level of plasma Iycopene (p < 0.001) and $\gamma$-tocopherol (p < 0.05) compared with the normal weight children. Furthermore, the levels of TRAP were significantly lower in overweight-obese children (p < 0.05). Significant positive relationships between plasma leptin and conjugated dienes formation (p < 0.005) and inverse relationship between plasma leptin and lipid corrected levels of $\beta$-carotene (p < 0.05), Iycopene (p < 0.05) were observed. Our results showed an increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant capacity in childhood obesity which could be involved in the atherosclerotic process.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.62-67
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• 2008

The present study was carried out to evaluate the physiological effects of seaweed supplementation on blood glucose levels, lipid profile, and antioxidant enzyme activities in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Subjects were randomized into either a control group or a seaweed supplementation group. Pills with equal parts of dry powdered sea tangle and sea mustard were provided to the seaweed supplementation group three times a day for 4 weeks. Total daily consumption of seaweed was 48 g. We found that total dietary fiber intake was 2.5 times higher in subjects receiving seaweed supplementation than in the control group. Accordingly, fasting blood glucose levels (p<0.01) and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose measurements (p<0.05) were decreased significantly in those ingesting seaweed. Furthermore, the serum concentrations of triglycerides were decreased and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased significantly in seaweed supplement group (p<0.05). However, the concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were not affected by seaweed supplementation. The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in erythrocytes was significantly lower with seaweed supplementation compared to controls (p<0.05). Catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities with seaweed supplementation were higher than the controls (p<0.05), but superoxide dismutase activity was not affected. We, therefore, conclude that ingestion of seaweed influences glycemic control, lowers blood lipids, and increases antioxidant enzyme activities.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.132-140
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• 2001

The effects of various dietary docosahexaenoix acid(DHA) levels on the brain phospholipids and serum and liver lipid compositions were studied in rats using DHA concentrated oil and corn oil as a control for 4 weeks. Serum total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels tended to be the lowest by adding 20% DHA to corn oil. Serum triglyceride levels significantly decreased by adding 30% DHA. Liver cholesterol and triglyceride levels were apparently decreased in the groups added above 20% DHA, especially, the lowest at adding 30% DHA. Brain weight and phospholipid content were not different among groups. The ratios of arachidonic to linoleic acids in serum and liver phosphatidylcholine(PC) were significantly decreased by adding dietary DHA and showed a flat form above 20% of dietary DHA. DHA levels of serum PC were gradually increased according to dietary DHA level. The fatty acid compositions of the brain PC and phosphatidylethanolamine(PE) did not appear any changes with accordance of the dietary DHA levels. However, compared with those of serum and liver in general, linoleic and arachidonic acid levels were very low. Oleic acids were apparently higher than those in the other tissues. DHA were higher than those in the other tissues rigardless of the dietary DHA, especially in brain PE. The ratios of arachidonic to linoleic acid were not apparent tendency in brain PC and PE. However, the ratios of brain PE were above 2 times higher than those of brain PC. As the results, the hypolipidemic effects of dietary DNA were remarkable in liver. Especially in regard to tendency of liver lipid levels and desaturation indices in serum and liver PC, the effects indicated significantly higher by adding 20-30% DHA to diet(n-6/n-3 ratio, about 4-7). Thus, in this study, these dietary DHA levels seemed to be appropriate, at least in these lipid paramenters.(Korean J Nutrition 34(2) : 132∼140, 2001)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.83-89
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• 1985

The present study was conducted to estimate the effects of dietary cholesterol on plasma cholesterol concentration, plasma lipoprotein pattern and cholesterol concentration of various tissues. Male and female, Sprague - Dawley rats were fed for 4weeks the diets providing various levels of cholesterol as 0.0, 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0%, respectively. Plasma total cholesterol concentration was little sensitive to dietary levels of cholesterol, while plasma lipoprotein pattern and cholesterol concentration of tissues were sensitive. That is, the higher the level of dietary cholesterol, the lower the propotion of HDL fraction, but the higher that of VLDL fraction. Cholesterol concentrations of liver and skeletal muscle were significantly increased by the dietary levels of cholesterol. However, no significant change was found in adipose tissue.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.773-785
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• 2006

Vitamin E in the body system plays an important role in preventing chronic diseases by decreasing the oxidative stress by free-radicals. However, there are not enough researches on analyzing the primary factors affecting vitamin E levels in the blood in Korean adults. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to examine blood tocopherol levels and the primary factors affecting the status. A complete lifestyle survey was performed on 314 Korean adult men and surveyed their smoking, drinking and exercising habits. The average plasma level of ${\alpha}-\;and\;{\gamma}-tocopherol$ showed similar mutual relations with plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), or low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (p<0.001). Plasma ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ level of the subjects did not show any difference as smoking, drinking and exercising habits changed. However, ${\gamma}-tocopherol$ per TG showed much lower figure in smokers than non smokers (p < 0.05). Amongst diet factors, plasma ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ level showed negative correlations with Vitamin E intake, while ${\gamma}-tocopherol$ level showed positive correlations with Vitamin E intake. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and plasma tocopherol showed negative correlations, and catalase activity and plasma ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ showed positive correlationship. The level of cell DNA damage of Iymphocyte and plasma ${\alpha}-\;or\;{\gamma}-tocopherol$ showed negative correlations. As a result of this research, the factors that affect Korean adult men's plasma ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ level are plasma TG, LDL-C and cell DNA damage in Iymphocyte, while the factors that affect ${\gamma}-tocopherol$ level are plasma TG, LDL-C and vitamin E intake based on multiple regression analysis. These findings implies that the level of different types of tocopherol depends on slightly different factors. A further research is needed on the factors involved in the differentiation of the types of tocopherol.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 1987

The effects of various levels of copper(Cu) intake on the concentrations of copper, iron (Fe) and 3inc(Zn) in rat tissues were studied in growing rats. For different groups the drinking water was supplemented with 0(control), 25, 50, 100 and 200ppm Cu(as copper sulphate) for 1 day respectively. All animal groups were fed with the control diet (Cu contents, 12.8%mg/kg diet) during the experiment. At the end of the 4 week experiment, body weight gain was slightly lower in the Cu supply groups than in control group. Liver and serum Cu were significantly higher in 50, 100 and 200ppm Cu of male and in 200ppm Cu of female than in control groups. Spleen Cu was significantly increased by the supplementation of Cu. Liver and heart Fe of male and heart Fe of female were increased by incresing supplementary Cu levels. In 50ppm Cu group, liver, spleen and kidney Fe of female increased but the others did not. Fe of tissues was different in male and female rats according to Cu levels supplied. Serum Zn of male and female was significantly lower in 50, 100 and 200ppm Cu groups than in control and 25ppm Cu groups. When supplemented with Cu levels there were no significant differences among groups for liver, kidney, spleen and heart Zn as well as heart and kidney Cu.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.361-373
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress levels and eating habits in adolescents. Methods: A total of 453 male and female high school students were surveyed to ascertain their stress levels, Nutrition Quotients for Korean Adolescents (NQ-A), and stress-related eating behavior. Results: The average age of the subjects was 18 and they were mostly from nuclear families. Their average daily conversation time with their parents was between 10 to 30 minutes. The average sleep time for female students was observed to be less than that of male students. The satisfaction level of academic achievement of female students was significantly lower than that of the male students (P < 0.001). The average stress level score for female students was 2.7 out of 5, which was significantly higher than the male student's score of 2.4 (P < 0.001). The eating speed of male students was related to stress levels. Both male and female students ate more and craved spicy food when under stress. All male and female students had significantly ascending NQ-A scores rising in the order of stress from 'low level' to 'medium level', to 'high level' (P < 0.001). There was a significant negative correlation between the stress score and the NQ-A score adjusted for general characteristics (r = -0.29, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Since stress and NQ-A were negatively correlated in high school students, higher stress levels can be associated with irregular eating habits and negative eating behavior. Therefore, stress management and nutrition education focusing on stress status are needed for adolescents.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.295-303
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• 2007

As a result of life-style changes, consumer's concerns of food have shifted from calories and nutrition to health and convenience. Fresh-cut products are one such new direction for fruit and vegetable consumption. In this study, the vitamin C, mineral, and pesticide contents of various fresh-cut products were analyzed. According to sensory evaluations, the key reason for a lower than expected overall acceptability of many fresh-cut products is that they are likely to have browning and can easily lose their freshness. Also, the sensory evaluation showed that shriveling, the degree of browning, softening around the cut edge, and off-flavors were the primary factors affecting the quality of fresh-cut products. As a nutritional factor of quality, vitamin C content was not practical with regard to fresh-cut lettuce because the level was very low. For product safety, residual pesticides were detected in the fresh-cut products, but the results showed that all items were under permitted levels and considered safe. In evaluation of the microbial levels of the fresh-cut market products, the levels of viable cells, mold, yeast, coliform bacteria, and enterobacteriaceae were not significantly different based on the summer and winter seasons. The levels of S. aureus and Listeria spp. in the products were higher during the summer season than the winter.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.273-280
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• 2013

Bamboo salt, a Korean folk medicine, is prepared with solar salt (sea salt) and baked several times at high temperatures in a bamboo case. In this study, we compared the preventive effects of bamboo salt and purified and solar salts on hepatic damage induced by carbon tetrachloride in Sprague-Dawley rats. Compared with purified and solar salts, bamboo salts prevented hepatic damage in rats, as evidenced by significantly reduced serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase (P < 0.05). Bamboo salt (baked $9{\times}$) triggered the greatest reduction in these enzyme levels. In addition, it also reduced the levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-${\gamma}$, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$. Histopathological sections of liver tissue demonstrated the protective effect of bamboo salt, whereas sections from animals treated with the other salt groups showed a greater degree of necrosis. We also performed reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses of the inflammation-related genes iNOS, COX-2, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$ in rat liver tissues. Bamboo salt induced a significant decrease (~80%) in mRNA and protein expression levels of COX-2, iNOS, TNF-${\alpha}$, and IL-$1{\beta}$, compared with the other salts. Thus, we found that baked bamboo salt preparations could prevent $CCl_4$-induced hepatic damage in vivo.