• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.578-584
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• 2017

Purpose: Excess intake of sodium is a major diet-related risk factor for human diseases including hypertension and cancer as well as obesity and inflammation. However, findings are still controversial, and evidence is lacking in Koreans. Therefore, for better understanding of the role of dietary sodium intake in disease etiology, this study investigated the effects of dietary sodium intake on adiposity, inflammation, and hormones in Koreans. Methods: A total of 80 males and females joined the study. The general characteristics and dietary intake data were investigated by trained interviewers using a questionnaire and 24-h dietary recall, respectively. For the markers of adiposity, body weight, body mass index, percent of body fat, visceral fat area, and waist and hip circumference were measured. For the inflammation and hormone markers, leptin, adiponectin, insulin, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, and interleukin-6 were also analyzed. Results: Multivariate linear regression analyses suggested that dietary sodium intake was not associated with adiposity. However, dietary sodium showed a significant association with insulin level: Plasma insulin concentration increased with sodium intake independent of other dietary intake or percent of body fat (${\beta}=0.296$, adjusted $r^2=0.276$, p < 0.01). Other markers for inflammation and hormonal responses were not associated with dietary sodium intake. Conclusion: Findings suggested that dietary sodium intake may be a critical modifying factor in the level of plasma insulin. However, it showed a limited effect on obesity and other inflammation markers and hormone levels. These findings should be confirmed in larger, well-designed investigations.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.371-379
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• 2009

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a key role in the regulation of appetite, body weight and metabolism. We undertook the present study to further clarify the regulation of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1, CNR1) in human adipose tissue in obesity. CB1 receptor mRNA expression was ~1.6-fold (p<0.004) and 1.9-fold higher (P<0.05) in subcutaneous adipocytes from obese compared to non-obese subjects in microarray and quantitative real-time PCR studies, respectively. Higher CB1 receptor mRNA expression levels in both adipose tissue (~1.2 fold, P<0.05) and adipocytes (~2 fold, P<0.01) were observed in samples from visceral compared to subcutaneous depots collected from 22 obese individuals. Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy demonstrated the presence of CB1 receptor on adipocytes and also adipose tissue macrophages. These data indicate that adipocyte CB1 receptor is up-regulated in human obesity and visceral adipose tissue and also suggest a potential role for the ECS in modulating immune/inflammation as well as fat metabolism in adipose tissue.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 2005

The effects of pectin on obesity was studied using 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes and rats fed 20% high fat diets. The concentration of leptin released from 3T3-L1 adipocytes in the presence of pectin was significantly decreased by 85% compared to that of the control (p<0.05), however, glycerol concentration was not changed. These data indicate that pectin seems to inhibit lipids accumulation in the adipocytes rather than enhance the lipolytic activity. Forty Sprague Dawley rats were fed 20% high fat diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity and then divided equally into four groups. Experimental groups were normal diet group (ND), high fat diet group (HFD), HDF with 10% pectin group (HFP10), and HDF with 20% pectin group (HFP20). Diet for the each group was prepared to be iso-caloric following AIN-76 guideline. After obesity was induced, rats were placed on an restricted diet for 9 weeks. The body weight of HFD increased 50% (p<0.05) compared to the ND, while it was decreased by 12% and 16% for HFP10 and HFP20, respectively (p<0.05). The relative amount of visceral fats for HFDl0 and HFD20 were decreased by 45% and 59% compared to that of HDF (130%), respectively (p<0.05). Pectin seems to have a greater effect on reducing visceral fats accumulation than weight reduction. Significantly increased level of triglyceride, total cholesterol or LDL-cholesterol in the plasma of HFD was returned to the normal or even below the normal by pectin diet, while the level of HDL-cholesterol increased. Lipid lowering effect was also observed in the liver and heart. These effects of pectin were dosedependent. In conclusion, the beneficial effect of pectin on the obesity was observed from cell culture experiment and animal study in terms of inhibiting the accumulation of lipids in the adipocytes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.211-220
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• 2011

This study tested the anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects of red garlic extract in obese rats induced by a high fat diet over a period of 4 weeks. Red garlic extract of 15 brix was added in 1, 3, 5 and 7% ratios in diets. The obesity index and body fat content significantly decreased in rats fed a diet with over 3% red garlic extract compared to the control group. There was no significant difference in weight of visceral and epididymal fat in rats fed red garlic extract. Total lipid and triglyceride levels in serum were significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner, and AI and CRF also fell. ALT and AST activities in groups fed red garlic extract were decreased compared to the control group. Total lipid level in liver tissue of the groups fed 5-7% red garlic extract exhibited a significant decrease compared to the control group. Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in feces were significantly increased in rats fed a diet with over 5% red garlic extract. Lipid peroxide levels were significantly decreased in the groups fed diets with 5-7% red garlic and antioxidant activity in serum was significantly increased in the group fed a diet with 7% red garlic extract compared to the control group. Our results suggest that red garlic extract could have anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects for suppressing obesity index and decreasing lipid profiles.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2018

Abdominal obesity is considered as one of the most risky factors governing the development of metabolic diseases. Here we identify that human chitinase 3-like 1 (CHI3L1, also called YKL-40 in human) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs883125, is associated with abdominal obesity in Korean women. Korean women subjects with the rs883125 G/G or C/G genotype present higher waist-hip ratio than subjects with C/C genotype suggesting that human subjects who G nucleotide substitution at the rs883125 tended to more accumulate intra-abdominal fat at the abdominal cavity. In addition, Chi3l1 gene expression is increased in adipose tissue from obese mice and pro-inflammatory cytokine enhances Chi3l1 expression in adipocytes, indicating that Chi3l1 is greatly related with obesity and obesity-induced pro-inflammatory responses. Taken together, the minor allele of rs883125 is associated with a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity in Korean women. These findings suggest that genotype of rs883125 can be a biomarker of incident abdominal obesity and abdominal obesity-related metabolic diseases.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.43-57
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• 2010

Objectives : To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture on parameters related to obesity in adults with abdominal obesity. Methods : A three arm randomized single blind pilot study was conducted from Jan 4 to March 25, 2010 in Kyung Hee Oriental Medical Hospital. The subjects were 39 adults with abdominal obesity and were randomly divided by computer generated random table into 3 groups; EA(electroacupuncture), sham EA(sham electroacupuncture) and waitlist groups. Acupuncture points located at abdomen($CV_{12}$, $CV_6$, $ST_{25}$, $SP_{15}$, $SP_{14}$) and extremities($LI_4$, $LI_{11}$, $ST_{36}$, $ST_{44}$) were inserted by disposable stainless steel needles and were stimulated 30 minutes with 24Hz, 0.27~1.3mA(tolerable strength), asymmetric biphasic continuous pulse wave form by STN-111 Stratek device in EA group. Two treatment sessions per week for 5 weeks(10 sessions in total) were done in EA and sham EA groups. The primary outcome measurement was WC(waist circumference), and the secondary outcome measurements included WHR(waist hip ratio), ASF(thickness of abdominal subcutaneous fat), and inbody measurements of BW(body weight), BMI(body mass index), BFR(body fat ratio) and VFA(visceral fat area), and also scores of BULIT-R(bulimia test revised), KoQoL(Korean obesity of QoL) and BSQ(body shape questionnaire). Results : All of 39 subjects were included in ITT(intention-to-treat) analysis. There were significant reductions in WC, WHR and ASF after 5-week electroacupuncture treatments and the percentage reductions were significantly greater than sham EA or waitlist group. There were no significant differences between groups in percentage reductions of other parameters(BW, BMI, BFR, VFA, BULIT-R, KoQoL and BSQ). But, there were continuous reductions in BW, BMI, BFR and VFA at 3 weeks after the end of treatment and there was significant reduction in BW compared with the baseline value in EA group. No seriously adverse effects were reported during the period. Conclusions : Electroacupuncture was more effective than sham electroacupuncture or no intervention on the reduction of WC, WHR and ASF in adults with abdominal obesity.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.3973-3981
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• 2015

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of dietary ${\beta}$-glucan obtained from bacterial fermentation on the adiposity and serum lipids level in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats fed high fat diet for 6 weeks to induce obesity, and subsequently fed with 0% (high fat control group), 0.1% or 0.5% ${\beta}$-glucan supplemented high-fat diets (w/w) for another 5 weeks. For comparison, normal control groups fed AIN-76A diet. Supplemented with 0.1% ${\beta}$-glucan resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat induced peritoneal fat and visceral fat development by 16%, 19%, and 28%, respectively(P<0.05). Serum free fatty acid levels were reduced(by 19%), whereas the HDL cholesterol level was increased(by 50%) by 0.1% dietary ${\beta}$-glucan(P<0.05). In conclusion, dietary ${\beta}$-glucan reduced adiposity and improved serum lipids in obese rats fed high fat diet. The present study suggest that ${\beta}$-glucan supplementation to the diet is beneficial in suppressing diet-induced obesity and dyslipidemia.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 2007

Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical effect of oriental medical obesity therapy on obese patient with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. We supposed to treat patient 21 years old that had non-alcoholic fatty liver with oriental medical obesity therapy. Methods The patient was treated from the 19th of July to the 22th of August for obesity treatment. And the patient had intensive care through admission treatment from the 19th of July to the 30th of July. Herbal medicine, low calorie and low cholesterol diet, electrolipolysis, auricular acupuncture, aerobic exercise was done during the treatment period. Results His body weight decreased from 107.10㎏ to 98.85㎏. The BMI decreased from 36.2㎏/$m^2$ to 34.5㎏/$m^2$. Abdominal visceral fat tissue decreased from 190.80$cm^2$ to 145.05$cm^2$. AST was decreased from 113 to 45. ALT was decreased from 145 to 40. r-GT was decreased from 123 to 51. Oriental obesity therapy could be effective to treat obese patient with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusions The obese patient with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease had improved liver function after oriental obesity treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.58-67
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• 2018

This study aimed to identify the effects of extracts of fermented Angelica gigas Nakai (A. gigas) with a Monascus purpureus strain on anti-obesity in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity rat model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into seven dietary groups (n=8 per group), as follows: a normal diet group (N) and six HFD groups (C: control, HFD and no treatment; AG: HFD +10% A. gigas extracts; FAG2.5: HFD +2.5% fermented A. gigas extracts; FAG5: HFD +5% fermented A. gigas extracts; FAG10: HFD +10% fermented A. gigas extracts; GC: HFD + Garcinia cambogia extracts). FAG-fed rats exhibited effectively lowered rates of increasing body weight and visceral fat accumulation in the HFD-induced obesity model. The activities of several hepatic marker enzymes, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), were increased with HFD-induced obesity, but levels of these marker enzymes were significantly decreased in FAG-fed rats. The consumption of FAG reduced triglyceride concentrations in serum to normal levels. FAG-fed rats showed effectively increased leptin concentrations in the HFD-induced obesity model. HFD ingestion induced a significant increase in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels, which was decreased in FAG-fed rats. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Oil Red O staining of the liver showed that the lipid deposits were decreased via FAG feeding. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin staining of epididymal adipose adipose tissue showed that the adipocyte were decreased by feeding FAG.

• BMB Reports
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.91-95
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• 2009

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor $\alpha$ and estrogen are believed to be involved in metabolic changes leading to obesity. To test this relationship, we divided female wildtype and PPAR$\alpha$-deficient mice fed on a high fat diet into the following groups: mock-operated, ovariectomized (OVX), and $E_2$-treated. The visceral white adipose tissue and plasma cholesterol levels were increased significantly in wild type OVX and decreased in the $E_2$-treated group, but interestingly not in PPAR$\alpha$-deficient mice. The mRNA levels of lipoprotein lipase in adipose tissue were also increased in only wild type OVX and decreased significantly in $E_2$-treated mice. These novel results suggest the possibility of signaling crosstalk between PPAR$\alpha$ and $E_2$, causing obesity in vivo.