• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2005

Surface sediments (0$\~$4 cm) were sampled at 40 stations from Ulsan Bay and its adjacent areas of Korea, to evaluate the contamination by sewage-derived organic matters using fecal sterols. Some sterols were quantified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Total concentrations of eight sterols (co­prostanol, cholesterol, cholestanol, epicholestanol, epicoprostanol, ${\beta}-sitosterol,$ brassicasterol, and stigmasterol) in the sediments from Ulsan Bay and its vicinity varied from 929 to 23,444 ng/g dry weight. The most predom­inant sterols were cholesterol and coprostanol, accounting for $33\~72{\%}$ of total sterols. The concentration of coprostanol known as the indicator of human feces ranged from 141 to 8,257 ng/g dry weight. In particular, the coprostanol concentrations in the sediments from Jansaengpo Harbor and Taehwa River exceeded the value of 1,000 ng/g dry weight, suggesting that these areas could be considered as the hot-spot zones by municipal sewage contamination. Some molecular indices and multivariate data analysis were used to assess the origin of these sterols in the sediments. Results showed that the major routes of sewage contamination in Ulsan Bay and its vicinity were the input through Jansaengpo Harbor and Taehwa River.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.437-444
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• 2013

Eight fecal sterols were analyzed in surface sediments collected from shellfish farming areas in Yeoja Bay and Gangjin Bay, Korea, to evaluate sewage-derived fecal pollution. The concentrations of coprostanol, a good marker of sewage-derived organic contamination, in sediments were in the range of 10-530 ng/g-dry in Yeoja Bay, and 10-190 ng/g-dry in Gangjin Bay. Coprostanol levels were markedly higher in the inner bay than in the outer bay. These levels were lower than those reported in urbanized bays in Korea, however, they were comparable to levels in other shellfish farming areas including Gamak Bay. A multivariate analysis of the ratios of other sterols suggested that the sterols originated from sewage and plankton/benthos. Sewage was the dominant source at stations located close to the river mouth and wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) outfalls, and plankton/benthos was the primary source in the outer bay. These results suggest that management of point sources, e.g., WWTP as well as non-point sources, e.g., riverine inputs is important for improving the water quality in Yeoja Bay and Gangjin Bay.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2000

In this study, a potential mechanism through which the hesperidin might work on the effect was examined in vivo. Male rats were fed a high cholesterol synthetic diet (1%, wt/wt) with hesperidin (0.1%, wt/wt) for 42 days. Activity of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase was significantly lowered by the hesperidin supplement compared to the control. Hesperidin did not significantly alter plasma or hepatic lipids, but tended to lower those lipid levels. Hesperidin also subsequently reduced the fecal neutral sterols compared to the control(253.3mg/d vs.521.9 mg/d). The inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase resulting from the hesperidin supplementation could count for the reduction in fecal neutral sterols that appears to compensate for the decreased cholesterol biosynthesis. The dose of hesperidin in a high choles-terol diet should apparently be more than 0.1% to exhibit the hypocholesterolemic response in these rats. It remains to be determined whether the observed alterations in cholesterol metabolism are specific to the rat or also could be applied to the humans.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1197-1203
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• 2001

This study was conducted to examine the effects of dietary xylooligosaccharide on UDP-glucuronyl transferase (UDP-GTase) activity and excretion of fecal sterols in rat fed high cholesterol diet. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10 g were randomly divided into five groups, one with normal diet and four with high cholesterol diets containing 1% cholesterol (w/w). The high groups with cholesterol diet groups were classified into xylooligosaccharide free diet (C), 5% xylooligosaccharide diet (C5XO), 10% xylooligosaccharide diet (C10XO), and 15% xylooligosaccharide diet (C15XO) group according to the five groups of dietary xylooligosaccharide by weights. The experimental diets were fed ad libidum for 4 weeks. Fecal weights were increased 86% by xylooligosaccharide. Fecal total lipid contents including fecal neutral and acidic sterols in xylooligosaccharide groups were significantly higher than those of the normal and C groups, and especially that of C10XO group was the highest among all experimental groups. Activity of UDP-glucuronyl transferase (UDP-GTase) in liver in C group was 35% higher than that of normal group and the activities in C5XO, C10XO and C15XO groups were 15%, 41%, and 21% higher than in C group, respectively. Fecal bile acid excretions per day were increased 3.1, 3.6 and, 2.8 folds in C5XO, C10XO, and C15XO groups, respectively, compared with that of C group. Contents of neutral sterol, coprostanol, and coprostanone were higher in xylooligosaccharide groups than in C group. These results suggest that dietary xylooligosaccharide may act as potential substitute for a dietary fiber capable of improving a gastrointestinal function and lipid metabolism.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.481-490
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• 2005

Surface sediments and seawater were sampled at Masan and Haengam Bays of Korea, to evaluate contamination by sewage-derived organic matter using fecal sterols, Six stream-water samples into Masan and Haengam Bays were also sampled. Total concentrations of eight sterols (coprostanol, epichloestanol, epicoprostanol, cholesterol, cholestanol, brassicasterol, stigmasterol and $\beta-sitosterol$) were in the range of $1,274\~4,768{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in suspended particulate from the stream-water, $292\~2,244{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in suspended particulate from the seawater and $4.5\~27.2{\mu}g/g$ dry weight in the sediments. Although sterol compositions in sediments, seawater and stream-water were different, cholesterol was the predominant sterol in all samples. The proportion and concentration of coprostanol, a sewage tracer, in stream-water was much higher than those in sediment and seawater. The sterol levels including coprostanol in the sediments and seawater were higher at inner basin than at the outer bay. Some molecular indices and multivariate statistical analysis were used to assess the origin of these sterols and sewage contamination in the study area. The sterol composition patterns in stream-water were mainly associated with contamination by sewage-derived organic matters and those of seawater were associated with the activities of marine-originated organisms. Sterol levels in the sediments were both from the sewage input through stream-water and the marine- originated organisms. This survey suggests that the main source/route of sewage-derived organic matters in Masan Bay is the input of stream-water into the bay.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.236-243
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• 2010

Fecal sterols, nonylphenolic compounds (NPs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in surface water from Masan Bay and its adjacent rivers in February 2005. Concentrations of coporstanol (Cop), an indicator of fecal pollution, in surface water ranged from <10 to 13,853 ng/L, and concentrations of nonylphenol, the most toxic of the NPs, ranged from 10.2 to 481 ng/L, and concentrations of PAHs ranged from 8.61 to 223 ng/L. The concentrations of the compounds measured in this study were lower than or comparable to those at other locations in Korea and other countries. The contamination of Cop and PAHs in surface water was associated with the discharge from rivers passing through cities and/or industrial complexes. The NP contamination was associated with wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents through outfalls as well as riverine discharge. Compared to ecotoxicological values, the concentrations of NPs from rivers, the mouths of rivers, and WWTP outfall areas exceeded guidelines, suggesting that hot spot areas may pose a potential risk to sensitive species.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.1006-1013
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• 2014

Wastewater organic compounds, that is, nonylphenolic compounds (NPs) and fecal sterols, were measured in surface sediments from Busan Suyeong Estuary, where two wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are located, to assess contamination from municipal effluents. The NPs analyzed were nonylphenol, and nonylphenol mono- and di-ethoxylates, all synthetic endocrine disruptors. The fecal sterols analyzed were coprostanol (COP), cholestanol, and epicoprostanol. Concentrations of NPs in the sediments ranged from 146 to 3,723 ng/g, and those of COP ranged from 366 to 13,018 ng/g. Their detection in all of the sediments analyzed indicates widespread pollution by municipal effluents. The highest concentrations of NPs and COP were detected at stations close to outfalls of WWTPs. Their levels in sediments are categorized in the higher range of those previously reported in Korean coastal areas. Moreover, in comparison with screening values of NPs in the Netherlands, Norway, and Canada, more than 50% of the sampling stations exceeded the guidelines. This indicates that the estuary may be adversely influenced by municipal effluents.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.118-128
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• 2005

Surface sediment samples from 31 stations in Jinhae Bay were analyzed to evaluate the pollution by sewage from the spatial distribution of the fecal sterol, coprostanol. The sums of eight sterols (coprostanol, epicholestanol, epicoprostanol, cholesterol, cholestanol, brassicasterol, stigmasterol and $\beta$-sitosterol) were in the range of $2,703-27,154{\cal}ng/{\cal}g$ dry weight. The concentrations of the coprostanol in the sediments, which is a good tracer of sewage-derived organic contamination, were in the range of $76-3,964{\cal}ng/{\cal}g$ dry weight. The levels of coprostanol were much higher (almost one order of magnitude) at stations close to the big cities such as Masan and Jinhae. However, those levels were comparable to or lower than those previously reported in other foreign locations. Some ratios of coprostanol to other sterols and multivariate analysis could provide us with the information on the origin of the sterols being from sewage, plankton, and/or benthos. Those showed sewage dominance at the stations near the cities Masan and Jinhae, plankton dominance at the center of Jinhae Bay and mainly marine fauna origin at the mouth of Jinhae Bay. These results suggest that the contents of sterols and some ratios of these components are quite powerful tracer for the detection of the origin of the organic contaminants in the coastal environments.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 1996

Bacterial transformation of bile acids is possibly involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. n several epidemiological studies, the fecal bile acid dietary fiber are related to the indicence of colonic cancer. This study investigated the influence of age, dietary fiber intake on fecal bile acid profiles in healthy subject. The dietary fiber were assessed by mean of 24 hour dietary recall method, the subjects consist of 238 members aged 20 to 64 years old and feces are collected from the subjects. Fecal bile acids and neutral sterols were analyzed by gas chromatography. Mean dily crude fiber intake level was 7.7$\pm$1.4g(dietary fiber : 16.7$\pm$3.5g), dietary fiber intake range being 6.5-36.8g. The dietary fiber intake in elederly subject was significantly lower than in the other younger groups. Dietary fiber intakes was negatively correlated with the total bil acid concentation in feces. Probably, a decrease in dietary fiber intake results in higher fecal bile acid concentrations. The secondary bile acid concentration is related to the colon cancer, deoxycholic acid and lithocholic acid were significantly higher in elderly subjects. Concentration of fecal total bile acid, deoxycholic acid, coprostanol, coprostanone were higher in low dietary fiber intake group. These results suggest that the risk factor for colon cancer might be reduced, when dietary fibers are consummed more.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.477-483
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• 1999

The effects of chitin and chitosan on the contents of plasma and liver lipids and the fecal excretion of neutral and acidic steroids were investigated in rats fed with atherogenic diet. Dietary chitin did not affect plasma total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol, while chitosan diet de creased total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. Plasma content of triglyceride was reduced signif icantly by chitin diet but not by chitosan. Increases in fecal weight were observed in rats fed with either chitin or chitosan, and the increase was greater with chitosan than with chitin. Dietary chitosan resulted in an increase of fecal excretion of neutral steroids without any changes in the excretion of acidic sterols. Putting the results together, dietary chitosan reduces plasma cholesterol probably due to the reduction of cholesterol absorption. The decrease in plasma triglyceride level by dietary chitin requires further research to understand the mechinism.