• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.81-94
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• 2018

This review discusses the characteristics of major lignans and related studies and provides a basis for future studies. Lignans are present in various food products consumed daily, such as flaxseed and other seeds, vegetables, fruits, and beverages including coffee, tea, and wine. Lignans are natural phytoestrogens with a structure similar to that of secoisolariciresinol (Seco), mataireinol (Mat), pinoresinol (Pin), medioresinol (Med), lariciresinol (Lari), and syringaresinol, which is then converted to enterodiol (END) and enterolactone (ENL), which are mammalian lignans and the primary biologically active enterolignans, by the intestinal microflora. The associations between lignans and a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease are promising; however, they are not yet well-established, probably owing to low lignan intake in habitual Western diets. Nonetheless, these associations were more prominent at the higher doses in interventional studies. Many studies on humans and animals have reported the benefits of lignan consumption in protecting against CVD and metabolic syndrome by reducing lipid and glucose concentrations. END and ENL reportedly exert protective effects including phytoestrogenic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects through various mechanisms. Moreover, lignans reportedly exert beneficial effects in breast, colon, and prostate cancer and osteoporosis have reported that. However, future studies are required to confirm the association between lignan and disease.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.231-235
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• 2014

Elevated serum uric acid levels are associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes, including gout, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases. Several genome-wide association studies on uric acid levels have implicated the ATP-binding cassette, subfamily G, member 2 (ABCG2) gene as being possibly causal. We investigated an association between the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2725220 in the ABCG2 gene and uric acid levels in the Korean population. A total of 991 subjects in Seoul City were used for a replication study with ABCG2 SNP rs2725220. The rs2725220 SNP in the ABCG2 gene was associated with mean uric acid levels (effect per allele 0.25 mg/dL, p < 0.0001). Subjects with the GC/CC genotype had a 1.78-fold (range, 1.22- to 2.62-fold) higher risk of having abnormal uric acid levels (${\geq}7.0mg/dL$) than subjects with the GG genotype. When analyzed by gender, the association with ABCG2 was stronger in men than in women. The association with ABCG2 was much stronger in male subjects with body mass index (BMI) ${\geq}26.4$ (odds ratio, 5.09; 95% confidence interval, 2.41 to 10.8) than in male subjects with BMI < 26.4. This study clearly demonstrates that genetic variations in ABCG2 influence uric acid levels in Korean adults.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.431-443
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• 2018

Objectives: Normal weight obesity (NWO) is defined as excessive body fat in the context of a normal body mass index (BMI). This condition carries a greater risk of developing noncommunicable chronic disease and has been associated with early inflammation. This study was conducted to compare the anthropometric measurements, eating behaviors, and blood clinical indices among four groups: underweight, normal, normal weight obesity and obesity. Methods: The subjects included 215 female college students. A questionnaire was administered regarding general characteristics, dietary behaviors, food consumption frequency. Anthropometric measurements and blood clinical indices were also investigated. Results: The average BMI, body fat percentage, waist circumference, fat-free mass, and muscle mass were highest in the obesity group (p<0.05). Most subjects had tried to lose weight and perceived that their health was worse than before they became college students. The ratio of students in the NWO group who thought their health was very poor was significantly higher than in the other three groups (p<0.05). The obesity and NWO groups seemed to eat more and their eating speed was significantly faster than the other groups (p<0.001). The consumption frequency of caffeinated beverages was significantly higher in the NWO group than in the other three groups (p<0.01). WBC was significantly higher in the obesity group (p<0.05). Serum levels of TG and total cholesterol were also significantly higher in the obesity group (p<0.05). Serum GPT was significantly higher in the obesity group (p<0.05) while BUN level was highest in the NWO group (p<0.05). Conclusions: The obesity group showed the most health problems while the NWO group seemed relatively healthy. However, NWO can lead to problems such as metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in later life if poor dietary habits are maintained. Therefore, education in appropriate eating habits is needed for these subjects.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.68-78
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this review is to analyse the trend in papers related to obese people with disabilities. Methods: We reviewed Korean Medicine papers by searching 4 Korean web databases and classified the papers by the year of publishment, the title of journals, the type of study, main treatment, assessment for outcomes. Results: There were 18 studies about the intellectually disabled, which accounted for most of the study. It is expected that intensive research on obesity for the intellectually disabled will be conducted in the future. Also, study on obesity for the disabled will require special attention. Disabled person tend to have a higher obesity rate and secondary diseases due to disabilities can be easily developed. Their health care capabilities are more likely lower than those of the general population. Given these considerations, it would be necessary to study metabolic syndrome in parallel in the study of obesity for the disabled. Disabled person are exposed to obesity more easily than ordinary people, and there is a higher risk of health degradation due to complications from obesity, which requires more attention and research. However, since there is not research in the oriental medical and medical circles on obesity in the disabled, medical approaches and studies on obesity in the disabled are necessary. Conclusions: We expect that more interest and research will be carried out on obesity for the disabled in the Korean medicine to achieve clinical application and to develop treatment protocols for the disabled obesity disease.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.78-82
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• 2022

Liraglutide (Saxenda^R) is prescribed to induce and sustain weight loss in obese patients. The starting dose of liraglutide is 0.6 mg/day for 1 week, which is increased by 0.6 mg/day every week until the full maintenance dose of 3 mg/day is achieved. Such dose titration is needed to prevent side effects, which primarily include gastrointestinal problems such as nausea, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, dyspepsia, and abdominal pain. A 35-year-old, reportedly healthy obese man receiving liraglutide treatment for obesity visited the emergency room complaining of generalized weakness and dizziness accompanied by repeated diarrhea and vomiting. He reported over 20 episodes of diarrhea starting the day after liraglutide dose escalation from 1.2 mg/day to 1.8 mg/day. Laboratory findings suggested pre-renal acute kidney injury, including serum creatinine 4.77 mg/dl, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) 37 mg/dl, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 15 ml/min/1.73 m², and Fractional excretion of sodium 0.08. After volume repletion therapy, his renal function recovered to a normal range with laboratory values of creatinine 1.08 mg/dl, BUN 14 mg/dl, and eGFR 88 ml/min/1.73 m². This case emphasizes the need for caution when prescribing glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, including liraglutide, given the risk of serious renal impairments induced by volume depletion and dehydration through severe-grade diarrhea and vomiting.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.187-202
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The exposure to sucrose in rats has mimic abnormalities attributed to metabolic syndrome (MetS). The effects of honey bee and "free" glucose and fructose, have not been explored in this context. The aim was to expose Wistar rodents to sucrose solution (SS), honey solution (HS) and fructose/glucose solution (GFS) at 30% to assess their effects. SUBJECTS/METHODS: HS (n = 10), SS (n = 10) and GFS (n = 10) groups were formed. Solutions were ad libitum along 14-weeks. RESULTS: Between solutions consumptions, honey was significantly 42% higher (P = 0.000), while similar consumption was observed among GFS and SS. The feeding pattern of HS consumption was irregular along experiment; while the food intake pattern showed the similar trend among groups along time. Non statistical differences were obtained in any biochemical and anthropometric measure, however, a higher concentration of leptin (721 ± 507 pg/mL), lower concentration of total cholesterol (TC; 48.87 ± 2.41 mg/100 mL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL; 16.47 ± 6.55 mg/100 mL) and triglycerides (82.37 ± 32.77 mg/100 mL) was obtained in SS group. For anthropometric values, HS showed less total adipose tissue (AT; average 26 vs. 31-33 g) and adiposity index (average 6.11 vs. 7.6). Due to sugar-sweetened beverages consumption increases the risk for the development of chronic diseases; correlations between fluid intake and anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed. A moderate correlation was obtained in groups with the weight of total AT and solution intake; for the weight gain in GFS group and for triglycerides in HS and GFS. The highest hepatic tissue damage was observed in SS group with multiple intracytoplasmic vacuoles, atypia changes, moderate pleomorphism and hepatocellular necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the significantly higher consumption of HS, biochemical, anthropometrical and histological effects were not remarkably different in comparision to other sweeteners.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.617-622
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• 2006

Purpose : High-Sensitivity C-reactive protein(hs-CRP) has been recognized as a very useful and sensitive predictor of the future risk of myocardial infarction. But the clinical significance of hs-CRP in children remains uncertain. To confirm the existence of obesity-induced vascular inflammation and the association between metabolic syndromes and elevation of CRP in children, we investigated the relationship among CRP, obesity, blood pressure(BP), and serum lipids in schoolboys. Methods : Twenty-eight obese(BMI $29.61{\pm}3.29kg/m^2$) and 93 non-obese(BMI $18.99{\pm}2.21kg/m^2$) boys aged 14 years were examined. Serum CRP levels was measured by the high sensitive latex turbidimetric immunoassay and subjects with CRP levels below 0.3 mg/dL were adopted to avoid the influence of acute infection. Results : Obese children had significantly higher hs-CRP levels than their non-obese group($0.104{\pm}0.075$ vs. $0.054{\pm}0.005mg/dL$). In the obese group, BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, apolipoprotein B, atherogenic index, and triglyceride were significantly higher than in nonobese. The BMI, diastolic blood pressure, apolipoprotein E, atherognic index, and triglyceride showed positive correlation with log CRP by simple regression. Multiple regression analysis indicated that BMI and apolipoprotein E were strongly related to CRP. Conclusion : This study revealed that obese children tended to have higher levels of serum hsCRP, BP elevation and dyslipidemia than the control group and that BMI and apolipoprotein E were strongly related to CRP. These results indicate that obesity related metabolic syndrome can be developed in children.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.699-709
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• 2021

Muscle mass improvement through lifestyle modification has been shown to reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome. This study examined the capacity of ethanol extracts of Scytosiphon lomentaria (SLE) to suppress the bioactivity of myostatin, a potent negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass, as well as the effect of SLE treatment on metabolic homeostasis in obese zebrafish induced by high feeding. A total of 10 ㎍/ml SLE completely blocked myostatin (1 nM/ml) signaling in the pGL3-(CAGA)₁₂ luciferase assay and suppressed myostatin-induced Smad2 phosphorylation in the Western blot analysis. In the zebrafish larvae analysis, the whole body glucose concentration of the high feeding control (HFC) group was significantly higher than that of the normal feeding control (NFC) group. However, the glucose levels of the high feeding group treated with 12.5 ug SLE and of the high feeding group treated with 18.75 ug SLE were similar to those of the NFC group. The mRNA expression level of the GLUT2 gene of the HFC group was significantly lower than that of the NFC group. SLE treatment restored the expression of the GLUT2 gene to a level that was close to that of the NFC group, indicating that SLE is capable of regulating glucose levels in zebrafish larvae. The current results highlight the potential of SLE as a natural MSTN inhibitor and supplement that can be used to facilitate the treatment of metabolic syndrome.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.97-104
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• 2015

Sleep is not only an essential physiological function, but also serves important roles in promoting growth, maturation, and overall health of humans. There is increasing interest regarding the impact of sleep and its disorders on the regulation of inflammatory processes and end-organ morbidities, particularly in the context of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and their complications. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an increasingly common health problem in children. In the last decade, the emergence of increasing obesity rates has further led to remarkable increases in the prevalence of OSAS, along with more prominent neurocognitive, behavioral, cardiovascular and metabolic morbidities. Although the underlying mechanisms leading to OSAS-induced morbidities are likely multifactorial and remain to be fully elucidated, activation of inflammatory pathways by OSAS has emerged as an important pathophysiological component of the end-organ injury associated with this disorder. To this effect, it would appear that OSAS could be viewed as a chronic, low-grade inflammatory disorder. Furthermore, the concurrent presence of obesity and OSAS poses a theoretically increased risk of OSAS-related complications. In this study, we will critically review the current state of research regarding the impact of insufficient and disrupted sleep and OSAS on the immune processes and inflammatory pathways that underlie childhood OSAS as a distinctive systemic inflammatory condition in children, and will explore potential interactions between OSAS and obesity.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.218-230
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• 2010

This study was conducted to survey isoflavone intake among adult women in menopause with diseases such as metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis and to analyze the relationship between each of these chronic diseases followed by isoflavone intake and the related health risk index. The average age of the subjects was 49.97 years old, while that of the pre-menopausal subjects was 45.14 years, and the post-menopausal subjects was 55.99 years. The average body mass index (BMI), waist-hip circumference, body fat percentage, blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipid content of the post-menopausal subjects were higher in significant difference than those of the pre-menopausal subjects. The bone density of the hip and spine in post-menopausal subjects was lower in significant difference than that of the pre-menopausal subjects. After menopause, the subjects had a lower ratio of individuals at risk of anemia when compared with the subjects before menopause, but had higher health risk ratio related to each type of chronic disease, including obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol and osteoporosis than the subjects before menopause. The intake frequency of each soybean food was similar among subjects before/after menopause. The most common soybean based foods consumed by the subjects were soybean, soybean curd and soybean paste. The average daily intake level of isoflavone among subjects before menopause was 25.48 mg, while that of subjects after menopause was 32.25 mg. Evaluation of the distribution of the isoflavone level revealed that the pre-menopausal subjects consumed 3.29~78.36 mg and the post-menopausal subjects consumed 3.18~116.59 mg. The intake level by each individual varied greatly. The pre-menopausal subjects had a low BMI index and systolic blood pressure as much as their isoflavone intake level was high. Additionally, the post-menopausal subjects had a low menarche age and high menopause age when their isoflavone intake level was high, the BMI index and waist-hip circumference ratio was highest among individuals with lowest isoflavone intake level. This study showed that there was a possible relationship between soybean isoflavone intake and health problems such as obesity, high cholesterol, and osteoporosis in women after menopause with diseases such as metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis, even if this relationship was not great.