• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제40권2호
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• pp.130-137
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• 2007

Myelin basic protein (MBP), a major structural protein of the myelin, is thought to be important for the maintenance of myelin in the central nervous system (CNS). We investigated the effect of maternal folic acid nutritional status on the folate level and the synthesis of MBP in the offspring. In order to test this hypothesis, female Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either folic acid sufficient (8 mg/kg diet) or deficient (0 mg/kg diet) diet from 2 wks prior to the mating throughout the entire pregnancy, lactation and weaning period. We examined plasma folate level by the radioimmunoassay and homocysteine level by HPLC, respectively. The MBP expression was measured by the western blot analysis. The maternal folic acid deficiency decreased plasma folate level with a concomitant increase in plasma homocysteine level in their offspring. The maternal folic acid deficiency decreased hepatic levels of SAM and SAM/SAH ratio with a concomitant increase in hepatic levels of SAH and the MBP expression of spinal cord in their offspring at 7 wks of age. These results suggest that maternal folic acid nutritional status affect plasma folate and homocysteine level in their offspring. Moreover, the maternal folic acid deficiency mi호t inhibit the MBP expression of the spinal cord and disrupt many other vital CNS reactions in their offspring.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.260-267
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• 2009

Recent studies have shown that Panax ginseng has a variety of beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. Homocysteine (Hcy), which is derived from methionine, has been closely associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, whether the in-vivo long-term co-administration of ginseng total saponins (GTS), active ingredients of Panax ginseng, with L-methionine (Met) inhibits methionine-induced hyperhomocysteine (HHcy) and H-Hcy-induced cardiovascular dysfunctions was investigated, and it was found that the plasma Hcy level, which was measured after 30 and 60 days, in the GTS+Met co-administration group was more significantly reduced than in the Metalone-treatment group. The left-ventricle (LV) wall thickness of the heart was likewise examined in each treatment group, and it was found that the co-administration of GTS with Met significantly reduced the Met-induced LV wall thickness. The results of the study indicate that the in-vivo long-term co-administration of GTS with Met not only inhibited H-Hcy induced by long-term Met-alone administration but also attenuated the H-Hcy-induced cardiovascular dysfunctions in rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.167-174
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• 2018

Alterations in sulfur amino acid metabolism are associated with an increased risk of a number of common late-life diseases, which raises the possibility that metabolism of sulfur amino acids may change with age. The present study was conducted to understand the age-related changes in hepatic metabolism of sulfur amino acids in 2-, 6-, 18- and 30-month-old male C57BL/6 mice. For this purpose, metabolite profiling of sulfur amino acids from methionine to taurine or glutathione (GSH) was performed. The levels of sulfur amino acids and their metabolites were not significantly different among 2-, 6- and 18-month-old mice, except for plasma GSH and hepatic homocysteine. Plasma total GSH and hepatic total homocysteine levels were significantly higher in 2-month-old mice than those in the other age groups. In contrast, 30-month-old mice exhibited increased hepatic methionine and cysteine, compared with all other groups, but decreased hepatic S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine and homocysteine, relative to 2-month-old mice. No differences in hepatic reduced GSH, GSH disulfide, or taurine were observed. The hepatic changes in homocysteine and cysteine may be attributed to upregulation of cystathionine ${\beta}-synthase$ and down-regulation of ${\gamma}-glutamylcysteine$ ligase in the aged mice. The elevation of hepatic cysteine levels may be involved in the maintenance of hepatic GSH levels. The opposite changes of methionine and SAM suggest that the regulatory role of SAM in hepatic sulfur amino acid metabolism may be impaired in 30-month-old mice.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.331-338
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• 2004

임신초기 모체의 엽산영양은 태아의 신경관 손상을 예방하는 측면에서는 물론이고 엽산 필요량이 증가하는 임신후기를 대비한다는 점에서도 중요하다. 그러므로 본 연구에서는 임신초기에 있는 151명의 임신부들을 대상으로, 이들이 식사를 통해 얼마의 엽산을 섭취하는지를 조사하고, 혈청과 적혈구의 엽산 농도와 혈장 호모시스테인 농도를 분석하여 엽산영양상태를 평가하고, 이들의 엽산영양상태에 영향을 미치는 인자들이 무엇인지 분석하고자 하였다. 본 연구대상자의 조사당시 임신기간은 9.1$\pm$2.3주이었으며, 초산부가 46%이었고 나머지는 경산부이었다. 에너지 및 엽산 섭취량은 각각 1559$\pm$589 ㎉/day 및 230.8$\pm$145.2 $\mu$g/day로 각 권장량의 72.5%및 46.2%로 낮았다 혈청과 적혈구의 엽산 농도는 각각 5.5$\pm$1.9 ng/mL 및 266.6$\pm$75.0 ng/mL으로, 연구 대상자의 7.8%가 혈청 엽산 수준이 3 ng/mL미만인 결핍상태에 해당하였고 60.3%는 경계역(3∼5.9 ng/mL)에 속하였으며, 적혈구 엽산 농도가 l57 ng/mL미만인 결핍상태에는 4.3%가 해 당하였다. 그러나 혈청 호모시스테인 농도는 정상범위이었다. 따라서 본 연구대상자의 엽산영양상태는 비교적 양호하다고 판정되었다. 혈청 엽산 농도에 영향을 끼칠 수 있는 유의한 인자는 건강상태점 수(+), 혈장 호모시스테인 농도(-), 연령 (-), 임신기간(-) 및 엽산 섭취량(+) 순으로 그 영향력이 높았고, 적혈구 엽산 농도의 영향인자는 교육수준(-), 혈장 호모시스테인 농도(-), 지난번 출산 영아의 출생시 신장(+),연령(-)및 에너지 섭취량(+)이었고, 혈장 호모시스테인 농도의 영향인자는 지난번 출산 영아의 출생시 신장(-), 경제수준(+),혈청 엽산 농도(-)와 임신전 체중(+)이었다. 이러한 결과는, 혈장이나 적혈구의 엽산 농도나 혈장 호모시스테인 농도를 분석하지 않고도, 임신초기에 있는 모체의 엽산영양상태를 개략적으로 판정하는데 있어 주관적으로 평가한 불량한 건강상태, 높은 교육수준 또는 경제수준, 지난번 출산에서 작은 체위의 영아를 출산한 경력, 고연령 또는 엽산이나 에너지섭취량 부족을 위험 인자로 활용할 수 있음을 시사한다. 아울러 임신기간이 진행되었을수록 엽산영양상태가 저하되었을 가능성이 있음도 나타내준다. 앞으로 임신초기 임신부의 엽산영양상태를 어떤 위험인자를 몇 가지나 가졌느냐에 따라 평가하는 연구결과가 나와야 이들 위험 인자의 실용성 을 확인할 수 있을 것이다. 그러나 우선 이들 위험 인자를 많이 지닌 임신부라면 임신초기부터 엽산 섭취량을 늘리거나 엽산보충제 섭취를 일찍 시작하는 등의 방법으로 엽산영양상태를 양호하게 유지하도록 하는 것이 바람직할 것이다.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제44권4호
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• pp.483-490
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• 2015

본 연구는 본태성 고혈압 쥐인 SHR을 이용하여 복분자 완숙과 에탄올 50% 추출물의 혈압 강하 효과 및 그와 관련된 인자들[endothelial nitric oxide synthase(eNOS), homocysteine, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1), albumin, creatinine, blood lipid 등]에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. 본태성 고혈압 쥐에게 복분자 완숙과 에탄올 50% 추출물을 12주간 투여한 결과 수축기 혈압이 고혈압대조군에 비하여 약 12% 억제되었다. 또한 eNOS 유전자 발현을 유의하게 증가하였으며 혈청 homocysteine 및 PAI-1의 활성이 눈에 띄게 감소됨을 확인하였다. 또한 심근 호산성 세포수를 감소시켜 심장의 손상 및 병변을 경감시키는 효과가 있음을 확인하였다. 그러나 혈중 지질 및 혈청 albumin, creatinine의 농도에는 각 군 간의 변화가 뚜렷하게 나타나지 않았다. 본 연구 결과 복분자 완숙과 에탄올 50% 추출물은 혈관의 손상을 야기할 수 있는 homocysteine이나 PAI-1과 같은 염증성 인자로부터 혈관을 보호하고 이를 통해 eNOS의 유전자 발현을 개선시킴으로써 혈압의 조절에 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났으며, 향후 심혈관계 질환의 개선에 도움이 되는 식품소재로서의 가능성이 있음을 확인하였다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.163-168
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• 2014

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are known to play an important role in the repair of damaged blood vessels. We used an endothelial progenitor cell colony-forming assay (EPC-CFA) to determine whether EPC numbers could be increased in healthy individuals through regular exercise training. The number of functional EPCs obtained from human peripheral blood-derived AC133 stem cells was measured after a 28-day regular exercise training program. The number of total endothelial progenitor cell colony-forming units (EPC-CFU) was significantly increased compared to that in the control group (p=0.02, n=5). In addition, we observed a significant decrease in homocysteine levels followed by an increase in the number of EPC-CFUs (p=0.04, n=5), indicating that the 28-day regular exercise training could increase the number of EPC colonies and decrease homocysteine levels. Moreover, an inverse correlation was observed between small-endothelial progenitor cell colony-forming units (small-EPC-CFUs) and plasma homocysteine levels in healthy men (r=-0.8125, p=0.047). We found that regular exercise training could increase the number of EPC-CFUs and decrease homocysteine levels, thus decreasing the cardiovascular disease risk in men.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.303-311
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• 2007

As obesity is known to be related to hyperlipidemia, diabetes and coronary heart disease, and other chronic diseases, many researches have focused on functional food materials showing anti-obesity activity. The adipokines secreted by adipose tissue, resistin and adiponectin are known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases directly. C-reactive protein and homocysteine are molecules regulated by adipose tissue indirectly also relate to the chronic diseases. This study was performed to study of the anti-obesity effects of Sasa borealis in diet-induced obese mice (C57/BL6J). The mice were divided into four group: NFD (Normal fat diet), HFD (High fat diet), BSE (High fat diet containing 5% of 70% ethanol extract of Sasa borealis leaves), BLW (High fat diet containing 5% of water extract of Sasa borealis leaves). The experimental diets were fed for 11 weeks. The final body weight of the mice in the groups of BSE and BLW groups were significantly lower than the HFD group. The effects of weight reduction were due to reduced body fat accumulation. The adiponectin levels are significantly decreased in HFD group compared than NFD group and increased taken by Sasa borealis containing diet. The resistin levels are not significantly different between experimental groups. The CRP and homocyteine levels are significantly higher in HFD group than NFD group and significantly decreased by Sasa borealis containing diet, especially BLW group. These results indicate that orally administered Sasa borealis not only has the effect of reducing the body weight and total fat weight, but preferable effect in adiponectin levels and related molecules as CRP and homocysteine. Therefore we expect the Sasa borealis may have an anti-obesity function and anti-metabolic syndrome effect in diet-induced obese mice.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.518-529
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• 2008

Lactating women have an increased need of folate in the breastfeeding period and, as a consequence, may be in risk of folate deficiency. Folate content of breast milk, furthermore, is important for infants to support exponential growth. However, little is known about the folate content of breast milk from Korean lactating women and their folate nutritional status. In this study, therefore, we investigated the folate status of Korean lactating women and the folate content of their breast milk during extended lactation. A total of 10 subjects who delivered full-term infants participated this study voluntarily. Dietary folate intakes were measured and blood and breast milk were collected at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months postpartum. The women who did not take folic acid supplements failed to meet the recommended intake(RI) of folate for lactating women during all the study periods but those who did met the RI. The unsupplemented women showed lower plasma folate concentrations compared to the supplemented women and all the women were in suboptimal folate status determined by plasma folate concentration throughout the study periods. But the supplemented women showed lower prevalence of suboptimal folate status only at 3 or 6 months postpartum. Plasma folate concentrations of both groups decreased with the progression of lactation. Erythrocyte folate concentrations were not different between the two groups, however, that of the unsupplemented reduced further as time progressed. Plasma homocysteine levels were not different between the two groups. Concentrations of erythrocyte folate and plasma homocysteine were not changed throughout the study periods. Folate contents of their breast milk through the study periods were not different between the two groups and it decreased as lactation progressed in both groups. The results of this study suggest that the folate nutritional status of Korean lactating women might be deteriorated with the progression of lactation without folic acid supplements.

• 대한유전성대사질환학회지
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 2005

Homocystinuria is a metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency of cystathionine ${\beta}$-synthase (CBS). Patients with homocystinuria show clinical symptoms such as mental retardation, lens dislocation, vascular disease with life-threatening thromboembolisms and skeletal deformities. Generally, the major treatments for CBS deficiency include pharmacologic doses of pyridoxine or dietary restriction of methionine. However, there is no effective treatment for this disease up till today and gene therapy can be an attractive novel approach to treatment of the disease. We investigated whether a recombinant adeno-associated virus could be used as a CBS gene transfer vector to reduce the excessive homocysteine level in the homocystinuria mouse model. Recombinant adeno-associated virus vector encoding the human CBS gene (rAAV-hCBS), driven by EF1-a promoter, was infused into CBS-deficient mice ($CBS^{-/-}$) via intramuscular (IM) and intraperitoneal (IP) injection. IP injection was more efficient than IM injection for prolongation of lives and reduction of plasma homocysteine levels. After 2 weeks of gene transfer by IP injection, serum homocysteine level was significantly decreased in treated mice compared with the age-matched controls and the life span was extended about 1.5 times. Also, increased expression of CBS gene was observed by immunohistochemical staining in livers of treated $CBS^{-/-}$ mice and microvesicular lipid droplets was decreased in cytoplasm of liver. These results demonstrate the possibility and efficacy of gene therapy by AAV gene transfer in homocystinuria mice.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회지
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.157-163
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• 2002

The role of the kidney in initiating hypertension has been much debated. The SA gene is expressed in the kidney and is association with hypertension in man and in experimental animal models. Also, increased plasma concentrations of homocysteine have been found in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension. The genetic variation of methlene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is related to its enzyme activity and to the plasma homocysteine concentration. In view of the effect of SA and MTHFR as risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, we investigated the Pst I RFLP of the SA gene and C667T mutation of the MTHFR gene in the Korean patients with hypertension. There were no significant differences in the allele and genotype frequencies of these polymorphisms between normotensive and hypertensive subjects. Therefore, our results do not support a possible role of these genes on hypertension in Korean population.