• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.187-196
• /
• 2021

Purpose: The rising prevalence of childhood obesity in the past decades has caused non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to become the most common cause of pediatric chronic liver disease worldwide. This study was aimed at determining the effect of vitamin D (Vit D) on ultrasonography and laboratory indices of NAFLD and some blood biochemical indicators in children. Methods: In this interventional study liver ultrasonography was performed in 200 children with overweight and obesity. A 108 had fatty liver among which 101 were randomly divided into two groups of study (n=51) and control (n=50). The study group was treated with Vit D, 50000 U once a week whereas the control group received placebo with the same dose and package, both for 12 weeks. At the end of the intervention lab tests and ultrasound study was performed once again to evaluate the response to treatment. Results: It was found out that Vit D supplementation improved the fatty liver grade in the study group. The mean changes in hemoglobin (Hb), uric acid, highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), insulin, albumin and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was significantly higher in the study group compared to controls (p<0.05). After the intervention and means adjustment, a significant difference was obtained in HDL-C, insulin, LDL-C and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) between the two groups. Conclusion: Vit D supplementation in addition to improving the fatty liver grade in ultrasonography and increasing the blood Vit D level, increases the HDL and Hb level besides decreasing uric acid, LDL, HOMA-IR, insulin and ALT levels.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.181-188
• /
• 2007

This study examined the effects of green tea extract supplementation (500 or 1,000 mg/kg b.w. per day) in conjunction with an atherogenic diet (10% coconut oil (w/w), 0.1% cholesterol) on plasma lipid composition, regression of pre-existing foam cells, and on the mRNA levels of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase and LDL receptor. Compared to groups fed only with the atherogenic diet, the addition of green tea extract to atherogenic diet-fed groups significantly down-regulated plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol levels, dose-dependently. Supplementation of 1,000 mg/kg b.w. of green tea extract with the atherogenic diet induced significant up-regulation of both HMG-CoA reductase and LDL receptor messenger RNA levels in liver as compared to the group receiving green tea extract supplementation at 500 mg/kg b.w. The F1B hamsters fed the atherogenic diet had greater foam cell accumulation compared to those fed a normal diet, or the atherogenic diet supplemented with green tea extract. Regression of fatty streak lesions was achieved by atherosclerosis in fat- and cholesterol-fed hamsters and this effect was associated with down-regulation of plasma cholesterol and up-regulation of hepatic LDL receptor expression.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.10
• /
• pp.1663-1665
• /
• 2008

Acyl-coenzyme A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) catalyzes cholesterol esterification and plays an important role in the intestinal absorption of cholesterol, hepatic production of lipoproteins, and accumulation of cholesteryl ester within cells. During the course of screening to find ACAT inhibitors from microbial sources, the present authors isolated pyripyropene A from Penicillium griseofulvum F1959. Pyripyropene A, an ACAT2-specific inhibitor, has already been produced from Aspergillus fumigatus. Yet, Aspergillus fumigatus is a pathogen and only produces a limited amount of pyripyropene A, making the isolation of pyripyropene A troublesome. In contrast, Penicillium griseofulvum F1959 was found to produce approximately 28 times more pyripyropene A than Aspergillus fumigatus, plus this report also describes the ideal conditions for the production of pyripyropene A by Penicillium griseofulvum F1959 and its subsequent purification.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.237-243
• /
• 2014

Triglyceride (TG) can cause death of macrophages and formation of foam cells thereby increasing inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques. Accumulation of cholesterol in macrophages is another critical event that promotes development of inflammatory cardiovascular diseases. Several proteins are known to transport intracellular cholesterol outside of the cell and these proteins are thought to be protective against atherosclerosis pathogenesis. It is unknown whether TG can affect cholesterol efflux in macrophages. In the current study, we examined mRNA expression levels of genes that promote efflux of cholesterol (ABCA1, ABCG1 and SR-B1). We found that TG treated THP-1 macrophages exhibited an increase in ABCG1 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In contrast, the expression of ABCA1 and SR-B1 remained unchanged. To identify cell signaling pathways that participate in up-regulation of ABCG1, THP-1 macrophages were treated with various cell signaling inhibitors. We found that inhibition of the JNK and p38 MAPK pathway completely abrogated up-regulation of ABCG1 whereas inhibition of MEK1 further enhanced ABCG1 expression in TG treated THP-1 macrophages. Also, TG induced phosphorylation of JNK and p38 MAPK in THP-1 macrophages. These results suggest that TG may potentially influence cholesterol efflux in macrophages.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.195-201
• /
• 2011

Opuntia humifusa contains high levels of antioxidants including vitamin C, flavonoids and polyphenols, which may provide beneficial effects such as hypolipidemic activity and the reduction of atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women. This study was conducted to determine if the intake of O. humifusa seeds powder (OHS) regulates lipid concentrations, glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) in the serum of ovariectomized rats. Sprague-Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to either a sham-operated group (Sham) or one of the following four ovariectomy (OVX) subgroups: OVX with vehicle (OVX), OVX with 100, 200, and 500 mg/kg/day OHS (OHS100, OHS200, OHS500). Daily oral administration of OHS was initiated one week after ovariectomy and continued for seven weeks. Upon completion of treatments, organs were weighed and GOT, GPT, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were determined enzymatically. No significant differences in feed intake and organ index were observed among the groups. Significant decreases in GPT, TC and LDL-C (p<0.05) were observed in all of the OHS groups (OHS100, 200 and 500), while no significant changes in HDL-C were observed. In addition, the OHS200 and OHS500 treatment groups exhibited a lower level of serum GOT compared to the OVX group. These results indicate that supplementation with O. humifusa seeds could induce favorable changes in serum lipoprotein and lipid profiles, which frequently worsen with inadequate estrogen availability.

• The Journal of the Society of Stroke on Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.55-66
• /
• 2016

Dyslipidemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular accidents (CVA) and heart disease, especially the ischemic type. Lowering of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels is a primary measure for preventing atherosclerosis. Many medications are available for the treatment of dyslipidemia; however, these drugs have some side effects. Therefore, we treated dyslipidemia patients with Chunghyul-plus. Before treatment, patients' levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and LDL-C were measured on an empty stomach. Thereafter, patients were administered 1000 mg (2 capsules) of Chunghyul-plus two or three times a day for 2 weeks. After treatment with Chunghyul-plus, patients' serum triglyceride, LDL-C, and total cholesterol levels decreased. The results of this study suggest that Chunghyul-plus might be useful in the treatment of dyslipidemia.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.31 no.8
• /
• pp.1235-1243
• /
• 1998

Although an elevated plasma level of high density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as a protective component against the development of atherosclerosis and ensuing coronary heart diseases, the related mechanisms are still not established . It has been clearly demonstrated in the early stages of atherogenesis that adhesion of monocytes and lymphocytes to the vascular endothelium is enhanced via adhesion molecules, and that monocytes and macrophages accumulate in the subendothelial space. The present study has investigated whether isolated plasma HDL plays a role in protection against atherogenesis by inhibiting the expression of vascular cell adhesioin molecule-1(VCAM-1) on the endothelial cells. Effects of plasma native low density lipoprotein (LDL) and ac ethylated LDL(AcLDL) on VCAM-1 expression were also examined by using an immunocytochemical technique. While plasma HDL did not alter the basal expression of VCAM-1 , lipopolysaccharide(LPS) induction of this adhesion modlecule was markedly inhibited at a phyaiological concentration of HDL. In contrast, 30$\mu\textrm{g}$ protein/ml AcLDL increased sifnificantly both basal VCAM-1 expression and its LPD induction , suggesting that this modified LDL enhances leukocyte adhesiion to endothelial cells. Unlike AcLDL , plasma native LDL inhibited significantly VCAM-1 expression. This indicates that LDL did not undergo oxidative modificantion while incubated with endothelial cells. These results suggest that plasam HDL may inhibit atherogenesis by reducing the expression of adhesion molecules, which is a protective mechanism independent of tis reverse cholesterol transport function . Modified LDL is a potent iducer for adhesion molecules in vascular endothelical cells and could play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by adhering to blood cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
• /
• 2004.11a
• /
• pp.265-270
• /
• 2004

Coronary heart disease (CHD) has been the number one killer in western society for a long time, and CHD in most instances is due to atherosclerosis. One of the earliest events in atherogenesis is the intracellular accumulation of lipids, particularly cholesterol esters, in the aortic intima. The lipids presumably came from the uptake of plasma lipoproteins, particularly from LDL. These foam cells were identified as being predominantly as macrophages. Currently, it is believed that oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) might contribute to the generation of foam cells. An outcome of the oxidation hypothesis is that the consumption of antioxidants would be beneficial. In this study, Boldine, an alkaloid of Peumus boldus was tested for their antioxidant potency both in, in vitro oxidation system and in mouse models. Boldine decreased the ex-vivo oxidation of Low-density lipoprotein (LDL). In vivo studies were performed to study the effect of these compounds on the atherosclerotic lesion formation in LDL r-/- mice. Three groups of LDL r-/- mice (N=12 each) were fed an atherogenic diet. Group 1 was given vehicle and group 2 and 3 were given 1 and 5 mg of Boldine/day in addition to the atherogenic diet. The results indicated that there was a decrease in lesion formation reaching a 40% reduction due to Boldine compared to controls. The in vivo tolerance of Boldine in humans (has been used as an herbal medicine in other diseases) should make it an attractive alternative to vitamin E.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.64-73
• /
• 2013

Korean red ginseng water extract (KG-WE) has known beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system via inducting nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelium. Endothelial arginase inhibits the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by substrate depletion, thereby reducing NO bioavailability and contributing to vascular diseases including hypertension, aging, and atherosclerosis. In the present study, we demonstrate that KG-WE inhibits arginase activity and negatively regulates NO production and reactive oxygen species generation in endothelium. This is associated with increased dimerization of eNOS without affecting the protein expression levels of either arginase or eNOS. In a vascular tension assay, when aortas isolated from wild type mice were incubated with KG-WE, NO-dependent enhanced vasorelaxation was observed. Furthermore, KG-WE administered via by drinking water to atherogenic model mice being fed high cholesterol diet improved impaired vascular function. Taken together, these results suggest that KG-WE may exert vasoprotective effects through augmentation of NO signaling by inhibiting arginase. Therefore, KG-WE may be useful in the treatment of vascular diseases derived from endothelial dysfunction, such as atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.11-20
• /
• 2018

Objectives : Coronary and cerebrovascular disease with high mortality is a major factor in arteriosclerosis. Pro-inflammatory cytokines damage vascular endothelial cells, leading to vascular inflammation. These vascular inflammation can build up cholesterol and thrombus to cause atherosclerosis. Methods : In this study, we researched the effect of ChungHyul-Plus for vascular inflammation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated with tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$). Change in mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (CCL5, CXCL8, CX3CL1, and MCP-1), cell adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1), and anti-inflammation modulators (KLF2 and eNOS) were quantified by qRT-PCR. Results : ChungHyul-Plus decreased expression of inflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules and increased anti-inflammation modulators expression in $TNF-{\alpha}$ stimulated HUVECs. Conclusions : These results suggest that ChungHyul-Plus can be used in the treatment and prevention of vascular inflammation and arteriosclerosis.