• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was undertaken to verify the effects of Wolbigachul-tang1(WBCEx1) on obesity using high fat diet-induced male mice and to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved. Methods : 8-week old C57BL/6 mice were divided into 5 groups; lean control, obese control, WBCEx1, 2, 3. After mice were treated with WBCEx1(water extract), 2(30% ethanol extract), 3(water extract; Ephedra sinica Stapf., Gypsum fibrosum) for 12 weeks, body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio, plasma lipid and glucose metabolism, the messenger RNA(mRNA) expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor(PPAR)$\alpha$ target genes were measured. In addition, $PPAR{\alpha}$ target gene expression was examined in liver, white adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Results : 1. WBCEx1-treated mice had significantly lower body weight gain and feeding efficiency ratio. 2. Consistent with the effects on body weight gain, WBCEx1 decreased the weights of epididymal and retroperitoneal white adipose tissue, inguinal subcutaneous adipose tissue, and brown adipose tissue. 3. WBCEx1 significantly decreased plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels. 4. The size of adipocytes were significantly decreased by WBCEx1, whereas the adipocyte number per unit area was increased. Hepatic lipid accumulation was decreased by WBCEx1. 5. WBCEx1 did not affect the mRNA expression of $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes in liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle. 6. Plasma asparate aminotransferase(AST), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), blood urea nitrogen(BUN) and creatine concentrations were in the physiological range. Liver and kidney weights were significantly lower following WBCEx treatment compared with obese controls, indicating that WBCEx does not show any toxic effects on liver and kidney. Conclusions : These results suggest that WBCEx1-induced body weight reduction is associated with appetite control and mediated by a mechanism other than the activation of $PPAR{\alpha}$.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.67-80
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• 2012

Objectives : We investigated the effects of Ingecheonggeumdan(ICD) on body weight and examined whether blood lipid levels and visceral fat are inhibited by it in high fat diet-fed obese male mice. Methods : 8 weeks old, high fat diet-fed obese male mice were divided into 6 groups: C57BL/6N normal, control, ICD-1(150mg/kg), ICD-2(300mg/kg), ICD-3(600mg/kg) and orlistat(10mg/kg). After mice were treated with ICD and orlistat for 8 weeks, we measured body weight gain, food intake, feeding efficiency ratio, fat weight, plasma leptin and lipid levels. We also performed histological analysis for liver and fat on the mice. Results : Compared with controls, ICD and orlistat-treated mice had lower body weight gain and adipose tissue weight, the magnitudes of which were prominent in ICD-3. Compared with controls, ICD and orlistat-treated mice had lower blood leptin levels, the magnitude of which was prominent in ICD-3. Compared with controls, ICD and orlistat-treated mice had higher blood HDL-cholesterol and lower blood plasma LDL-cholesterol, free fatty acid and triglyceride levels, the magnitudes of which were prominent in ICD-3. Blood plasma AST and ALT concentrations were not changed by ICD and orlistat, indicating ICD and orlistat do not show any toxic effects. Consistent with their effects on body weight gain, the size of adipocytes and hepatic lipid accumulation were significantly decreased by ICD and orlistat. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that ICD and orlistat effectively reduce body weight gain, blood plasma LDL-cholesterol, free fatty acid and triglyceride levels and improves abdominal fat, the magnitudes of which were prominent in ICD-3.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.666-672
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of long-term endurance exercise and salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar on body composition and insulin resistance of high-fat diet (30% carbohydrate, 50% fat and 20% protein) induced obese rats. After 8 weeks of high fat diet (50% of total calories), rats were divided into 4 groups (sedentary group, n=10; exercise group, n=10; Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar group, n=10; exercise+Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar group, n=10) for 8 weeks. Body weight, body composition, diet intake volume, oral glucose tolerance test, plasma total cholesterol were measured. The results showed that Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar plus endurance exercise training for 8 weeks significantly improved body weight control, visceral fat weight, and insulin resistance. However, only Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar treatment did not significantly improve body composition and insulin resistance. In addition, there was no additive by the combination of Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar and endurance exercise in insulin, body fat, and total cholesterol. The reduction of body fat, glucose, insulin and cholesterol by combination was resulted from the exercise. These results suggest that Salvia miltiorrhiza vinegar has slight effect on anti-hyperglycemia and anti-obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.1140-1147
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• 2007

A recipe for diet kimchi containing 20% of sea tangle to Korean cabbage kimchi (SK) was developed for weight reduction purpose. The fermentation process of SK showed typical Lactobacillus sp. growth pattern like other kimchis. The effects of SK on weight reduction was studied in high fat diet (HFD) fed rats (n=40). Diet groups used for the animal study were HFD, HFD supplemented either with Korean cabbage kimchi used as experimental control (HCK), or with SK (HSK), or with J-kimchi (JK) which was purchased at market (FJK). The effect of kimchi on preventing obesity in rat fed HFD was found to be obvious by means of reducing visceral fat contents and improving serum lipid profiles through enhancing the lipid excretion in the feces (p<0.05). Leptin concentration of rat was significantly decreased by kimchi consumption (p<0.05). This result can be interpreted that adipocytes in these animals were fewer than that of HFD group. The plasma bililubin concentration was lower in kimchi group than HFD, meaning that returning bile from ileum to the liver was reduced. When the observe beneficial effects of kimchi on preventing obesity were compared among kimchi groups, SK only reduced the relative visceral fat contents significantly than other kimchi groups (p<0.05). Besides this, other parameters such as plasma lipid profiles, feces lipids, leptin, and bililubin concentration were not significantly different, even though the most beneficial effect on these parameters was observed from SK. In conclusion, long term consumption of SK seems to have a beneficial effect on the prevention of obesity through enhancing the excretion of lipids in the feces. The dietary fiber content of SK was increased by 7% compared to CK when 20% of sea tangle was added.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.671-680
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• 2012

Three kinds of dietary composites-R+T, R+F, and R+TF-were combined in green tea (T), dietary fiber (F), and green tea dietary fiber mixture (TF) to red garlic extract (RG), respectively. The effects of their diets on anti-obesity were investigated $in$ $vitro$ and $in$ $vitro$ in obese rats induced high fat-cholesterol. In $in$ $vivo$ rats, the total phenolic content of the R+T and R+TF was 1.9~2.0 times higher, and their total cholesterol adsorption was 9.5~11.5 times higher than that of RG. $In$ $vivo$, male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups (Normal, HFC, HRG, HR+T, HR+F and HR+TF). Afterwards, the diets of the HRG, HR+T, HR+F, and HR+TF groups were supplemented with 1% of RG and its dietary composites (R+T, R+F, and R+TF) for 4 weeks, respectively. The final body weight of the HRG, HR+T, HR+F, and HR+TF groups decreased significantly compared to the group fed high fat-cholesterol (HFC), but the food efficiency ratio was not significantly different from the HFC group. The liver weight of the HFC group doubled compared to the normal group, whereas that of HR+T and HR+TF groups decreased significantly. The weight of visceral and epididymal fat decreased significantly in the groups fed the composites compared to the HFC group. The obesity index of HR+TF group decreased significantly only when compared to the HFC group. The serum lipid profile such as total lipids, cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL- and VLDL-cholesterol, as well as the atherogenic index and cardiac risk factors decreased drastically in all experimental groups compared to the HFC group, and the levels of HR+T, HR+F and HR+TF groups were a similar trend. GPT activity was not significantly different among the groups fed the composites, and it decreased significantly in the HRG group. The content of the lipid peroxide level decreased significantly in the HRG group and in the groups fed the composites, compared to the HFC group. Serum antioxidant activity was the highest in the HR+T group. We suggest that the hypolipidemic and anti-obesity effect of the RG composites, achieved by mixing green tea extract and/or dietary fiber, was due to their total phenolic content and total cholesterol adsorption effect.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.474-483
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• 2016

Enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ) is a mixture of quercetin glycodsides consisting of isoquercitrin and its ${\alpha}-glucosylated$ derivatives containing one to seven additional linear glucose moieties. The aim of this study was to assess whether or not EMIQ attenuates high-fat diet (HFD)-induced body weight gain and changes in plasma indices of obesity in mice. Male C57BL/6N mice were fed chow diet, HFD, and HFD containing 1.2% EMIQ for 10 weeks. EMIQ significantly (P<0.05) reduced body weight gain (-21%), total visceral fat-pad weights (-31%), and plasma levels of triglycerides (-17%), total cholesterol (-19%), and free fatty acids (-26%) in HFD-fed mice. EMIQ significantly increased protein kinase A (PKA) expression in the epididymal adipose tissue of HFD-fed mice. Expression of adipogenesis-related genes significantly decreased, whereas expression of fatty acid oxidation-related and thermogenesis-related genes increased in epididymal adipose tissue of EMIQ-fed mice compared with HFD-fed mice. These results suggest that the protective effects of EMIQ against HFD-induced adiposity in mice appear to be associated with PKA-mediated signaling cascades involved in adipogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, and thermogenesis in adipose tissue.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.318-332
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the behavioral modification of obese adults who underwent nutritional and physical activity education. Twenty obese females, aged 20-60 years old, with BMIs (Body Mass Index) >30 or body fat (%) >40 were subjected to this study. Methods: The physical activity education program consisted of doing exercise in a gymnasium together or home exercise. Dietary attitudes and dietary intakes were assessed using weight control, physical activity, and eating habits. The nutrition-exercise educational period was 12 weeks. Results: After the study period, there was significant improvement in physical activity and eating habits score. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the dietary intakes of fiber, iron, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin $B_6$, and niacin. Blood pressure, blood glucose, and total cholesterol levels showed a tendency to decrease, but there was no significant difference. BMI, fat mass, abdominal circumference, and visceral fat levels were significantly reduced while muscle mass significantly increased. Conclusions: This study suggests that behavioral modification by nutrition and physical activity education with feedback has positive effects on dietary intake and anthropometric biomarkers in obese adults. Therefore, lifestyle interventions of this kind could be recommended as a method for obesity management.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.4067-4073
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• 2012

Obesity is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer. Pioglitazone is a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor$receptor{\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) agonist that induces differentiation in adipocytes and induces growth arrest and/or apoptosis in vitro in several cancer cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the effect of pioglitazone on the development of azoxymethane-induced colon aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in KK-$A^{\mathcal{Y}}$ obesity and diabetes model mice, and tried to clarify mechanisms by which the $PPAR{\gamma}$ ligand inhibits ACF development. Administration of 800 ppm pioglitazone reduced the number of colon ACF/mouse to 30% of those in untreated mice and improved hypertrophic changes of adipocytes in KK-$A^{\mathcal{Y}}$ mice with significant reduction of serum triglyceride and insulin levels. Moreover, mRNA levels of adipocytokines, such as leptin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, in the visceral fat were decreased. PCNA immunohistochemistry revealed that pioglitazone treatment suppressed cell proliferation in the colorectal epithelium with elevation of p27 and p53 gene expression. These results suggest that pioglitazone prevented obesity-associated colon carcinogenesis through improvement of dysregulated adipocytokine levels and high serum levels of triglyceride and insulin, and increase of p27 and p53 mRNA levels in the colorectal mucosa. These data indicate that pioglitazone warrants attention as a potential chemopreventive agent against obesity-associated colorectal cancer.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.199-207
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• 2021

Objectives: Physical inactivity is the fourth leading global risk factor for mortality, followed by obesity. The combination of these risk factors is associated with non-communicable diseases, impaired physical function, and declining mental function. The World Health Organization recommends physical activity to reduce the mortality rate. Thus, this study examined the effects on anthropometric measurements of a 12-week walking program for elderly people in Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia with a 7000-step goal and weekly group walking activities. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted involving 109 elderly people with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25.0 kg/m². BMI, body composition, and average daily steps were measured at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0, and repeated-measures analysis of variance with the paired t-test for post-hoc analysis was conducted. Results: In total, 48 participants in the intervention group and 61 participants in the control group completed the study. A significant interaction was found between time and group. The post-hoc analysis showed a significant difference between pre-intervention and post-intervention (within the intervention group). The post-intervention analysis revealed an increase in the mean number of daily steps by 3571.59, with decreases in body weight (-2.20 kg), BMI (-0.94 kg/m²), body fat percentage (-3.52%), visceral fat percentage (-1.29%) and waist circumference (-2.91 cm). Skeletal muscle percentage also showed a significant increase (1.67%). Conclusions: A 12-week walking program combining a 7000-step goals with weekly group walking activities had a significant effect on the anthropometric measurements of previously inactive and overweight/obese elderly people.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of Sargassum confusum extracts on the reduction of body fat for eight weeks in overweight women ($BMI{\geq_-}23kg/m^2$). Methods: Subjects were classified by double-blind randomized trial as the control group (C group, n = 14) and the Sargassum confusum extract supplementation group (SC group, n = 16), which consumed 12 tablets per day. Questionnaires related to their health status were assessed twice (week 0 and week 8). Their dietary intake status was evaluated by 24-recall method and body compositions were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. In addition, we assessed the anti-obesity effect and the occurrence possibility of health risk factors during the supplementation periods by hematological and clinical analysis of blood. Results: Waist circumference and body fat (%) were significantly decreased in the SC group. Serum leptin level was also significantly decreased in the SC group. Defecation frequency was significantly increased in the SC group. The above results indicate that Sargassum confusum extract supplementation improves overweight on visceral fat and blood leptin level by increasing bowel movement. These results imply a decrease of health risk factors in overweight women. Seven subjects withdrew from the study due to adverse events; however, no differences regarding adverse events were observed between the control and treatment group. Conclusion: Therefore, Sargassum confusum extract is a plausible effective agent for body fat reduction in humans.