• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.158-166
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• 2000

The effects of smoking and physical exercise on the plasma concentrations of lipid-soluble antioxidants were investigated in 62 healthy males, aged 34-65 years. Current smokers (n=21) and ex-smokers(n=16) had significantly lower plasma levels of carotenoids ($\alpha$-carotene, $\beta$-carotene, cryptoxanthin and lycopene), $\alpha$-tocopherol and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol than non-smokers (n=25). Plasma concentrations of retionl and ubiquinone (coenzyme Q10) were lower among ex-smokers and current smokers than among non-smokers, but the differences were not statistically significant. Regular physical exercise was associated with increased plasma levels of lipid-soluble antioxidants. Plasma concentrations of crytoxanthin, retinol and ubiquinone were significantly elevated in the group engaging in moderate amounts of exercise (more than 20 minutes per day) compared to the group engaging in small amounts of exercise (less than 10 minutes per day). Plasma $\alpha$-carotene, $\beta$-carotene, lycopene levels in the subjects were affected more by smoking than by exercise. However, plasma levels of cryptoxanthin, retinol and ubiquinone in the subjects were affected more by exercise than by smoking. These findings suggest than smoking may cause a decrease in plasma lipid-soluble antioxidants during neutralization of reactive oxygen species present in cigarette smoke and that poor exercise habits may accelerate this imbalance of oxidant/antioxidant homeostasis in middle-aged Korean men.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.151-160
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intake of antioxidant vitamins and plasma concentrations of those in 60 maternal-infant pairs (30 in normal term delivery group, NT; 30 in preform delivery group, PT). We also investigated the relationship between vitamin levels of maternal-umbilical cord plasma and pregnancy outcome. Mean energy intakes of NT and PT pregnant women were 93.2% and 85.4%, and their protein intakes were 113.3% and 110.9% of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), respectively. While vitamin A intakes were only 51.2% and 39.6% of the RDA in NT and PT pregnant women. The vitamin E intake was about 50% of the RDA (NT 6.27 mg, PT 7.78 mg). The levels of retinol in maternal plasma of NT and PT were $1.51\mumol/\ell\;and\;1.43\mumol/\ell$, respectively. The retinol levels in umbilical cord plasma in NT and PT were $0.72\mumol/\ell\;and\;0.61\mumol/\ell$, respectively. The level of $\beta-carotene$in maternal plasma of NT was 0.49 $\mu$mol/$\ell$, significantly (p ＜ 0.01) higher than that of PT ($0.31\mumol/\ell$).The $\beta-carotene$ of umbilical cord plasma of NT and PT were $0.702\mumol/\ell\;and\;0.01\mumol/\ell$, respectively. The plasma $\alpha$-tocopherol of maternal of NT and PT were $0.72\mumol/\ell\;and\;0.01\mumol/\ell\;29.51 /mumol/\ell\; and 27.17\mumol/\ell,\;respectively.\; The $\alpha$-tocopherol of umbilical cord plasma of NT and PT were $4.16\mumol/\ell\;and\;3.80\mumol/\ell$, respectively. The antioxidant vitamin levels (retinol, $\beta-carotene,\;and\;\alpha$-tocopherol) in maternal plasma were significantly higher (p＜0.0001) than those in umbilical cord plasma. However, there was no correlation between the vitamin levels in maternal plasma and those in umbilical cord plasma. The maternal plasma $\beta$-carotene level showed a positive correlation to gestational age. Also Apgar score at 1 min produced a positive correlation to maternal plasma $\beta$-carotene level.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.401-408
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• 2001

The spontaneous frequency of genetic damage and the possible relationship of this damage to total radical-trapping antioxidant potential(TRAP) and antioxidant vitamins, including plasma levels of $\alpha$-carotene, $\beta$-carotene, cryptoxanthin, retinol, $\alpha$-tocopherol and ${\gamma}$-tocopherol in humans were investigated in 57 subjects using two indices of genetic damage, SCE & HFC frequency. The mean of SCE and HFC frequencies were weakly correlated with plasma TRAP(r=-0.305, p<0.1 for SCEs: r=-0.297, p<0.1 for HFCs, respectively), but those were strongly negatively correlated with plasma $\beta$-carotence(r=-0.385, p<0.01 for SCEs : r=-0.392, p<0.01 for HFCs) and cryptoxanthin(r=-0.312, p<0.05 for SCEs : r=0.335, p<0.05 for HFCs, respectively) levels in the subjects. However, those DNA damage markers including SCE and HFC did not correlate with either plasma $\alpha$-carotene, $\alpha$-tocopherol or retinol concentrations. The mean of SCE and HFC frequencies were positively correlated with plasma ${\gamma}$-tocopherol level(r=0.421, p<0.01 for SCEs : r=0.399, p<0.01 for HFCs, respectively). These findings indicate that increased cytogenetic DNA changes, as determined by SCE and HFC frequencies are possibly associated with generation of free radicals in lymphocytes and decreased plasma antioxidant vitamin($\beta$-carotene and cryptoxanthin) status in the subjects. (Korean J Nutrition 34(4) : 401~08, 2001)

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.492-500
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• 1999

The aim of this study was to assess the association between total vitamin A, retinol and carotene intakes and serum concentration of total carotenoids in Korean male smokers and nonsmokers. Food frequency and nutrient intakes of 64 healthy college students were estimated by the 24 hour recall method and food frequency questionnaire and analyzed by smoking status. Serum total cartenoids and lipid profiles were measured in 28 smokers and 36 nonsmokers. The mean total vitamin A, retinol and carotene intakes of smokers were not significantly different from nonsmokers. However, carotene intakes of the smokers who have smoked more than 5 packyears were significantly lower than those of nonsmokers. Smokers consumed green yellow leafy vegetables more often(P=0.005) and fresh fruits less often(P=0.017) than nonsmokers. The serum total carotenoids of smokers consuming the same amount of retinol and carotene as nonsmokers, 1.79 g/ml, were 17% lower than nonsmokers, 2.15 g/ml(P<0.05). The lipid profiles including total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol and triglycerides of smokers were not significantly different from nonsmokers, however, the concentration of HDL cholesterol of smokers were significantly higher than that of nonsmokers. The serum carotenoids concentration was positively associated with fruit consumption frequency in smokers, and also was positively associated with green yellow leafy vegetable consumption frequency in non smokers. There were no correlations between dietary and serum carotenoids for smokers as well as nonsmokers. It was concluded that smoking could be inversely related to the serum concentration of carotenoids at constant carotene intakes and smokers might require more carotene to reach the same concentration comparable to nonsmokers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8183-8189
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• 2014

Background: A comparative cross-sectional study involving oral cancer patients and healthy individuals was designed to investigate associations between retinol, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol and ${\beta}$-carotene with the risk of oral cancer. Materials and Methods: This study included a total of 240 matched cases and controls where subjects were selected from the Malaysian Oral Cancer Database and Tissue Bank System (MOCDTBS). Retinol, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol and ${\beta}$-carotene levels and intake were examined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) respectively. Results: It was found that results from the two methods applied did not correlate, so that further analysis was done using the HPLC method utilising blood serum. Serum levels of retinol and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol among cases ($0.177{\pm}0.081$, $1.649{\pm}1.670{\mu}g/ml$) were significantly lower than in controls ($0.264{\pm}0.137$, $3.225{\pm}2.054{\mu}g/ml$) (p<0.005). Although serum level of ${\beta}$-carotene among cases ($0.106{\pm}0.159{\mu}g/ml$) were lower compared to controls ($0.134{\pm}0.131{\mu}g/ml$), statistical significance was not observed. Logistic regression analysis showed that high serum level of retinol (OR=0.501, 95% CI=0.254-0.992, p<0.05) and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol (OR=0.184, 95% CI=0.091-0.370, p<0.05) was significantly related to lower risk of oral cancer, whereas no relationship was observed between ${\beta}$-carotene and oral cancer risk. Conclusions: High serum levels of retinol and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol confer protection against oral cancer risk.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 1999

It has been postulated that oxidative stress may be increased and antioxidant defenses reduced in diabetes patients. Twenty-four patients with type 1 diabetes melitus (DM) (12.8$\pm$1.7 years) and 24 nondiabetics (12.5$\pm$2.1 years) were included in this study. Serum total cholesterol and LDL -cholesterol levels were significantly higher in diabetic than in nondiabetic control subjects, but serum levels of triglyceride , retinol , tocopherol, and $\beta$-carotene were significantly lower. Both $\beta$carotene and tocopherol levels inversely correlated with HbAlc, suggesting perhaps that low serum antioxidant level enhance theglycosylation of hemoglobin. Subjects with type 1 DM had lipid peroxide levels similar to those of nondiabetics control subjects, suggesting that per-oxdation of circulating lipid is not increased in uncomplicated diabeteics. The correlation between antioxidants and serum lipids were as follows ; retinol and LDL (r--0.36, p=0.019) ; retinol and total cholesterol(r=-0.35, p=0.020), tocopherol and LDL(r=-0.47, p=0.002) ; tocopherol and cholesterol (r=-0.49, p=0.001) ; $\beta$-carotene and LDL (r=-0.51, p=0.001). Overall , the results of this study were that serum lipid peroxide in patients with type 1 DM was similar to those of control subjects and antioxidants such as retinol, tocopherol and $\beta$-carotene were lower than those of nondiabetic cotnrol subjects, and negatively correlated with serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.7
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• pp.743-748
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• 2003

This study was longitudinally conducted to evaluate vitamin A intake of exclusively breast-fed infants compared with the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for Korean infants. Twenty-seven Korean lactating women and their infants during the first 6 months of lactation in Cheongju and Anseong areas were participated. Retinol and $\beta$-carotene contents in the milk were determined using HPLC and also the milk consumption of the infants was measured by the test-weighing methods. Vitamin A (retinol and $\beta$-carotene) contents of the milk were 65.7, 57.2, 48.1, 43.9, 38.2, 38.7 and 44.0 R.E./100 ml, and vitamin A intakes of the breast-fed infants were 361, 402, 348, 331, 304, 305 and 322 R.E./day at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 month of lactation, respectively. The average intake of vitamin A was 339.1 R.E./day and the percentage to RDA was 96.9% during 6 months. Vitamin A intakes per body weight of the breast-fed infants were 96.7, 88.3, 62.1, 50.0, 41.8, 39.3 and 39.6 R.E./kg/day at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 month. The body weight increased normally from 3.4 $\pm$ 0.5 kg at birth during lactation. It is suggested that the breast-fed infants in Cheongju and Anseong areas consumed adequately vitamin A from the milk compared with RDA for Korean infants.

• Proceedings of the Optical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1990.02a
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• pp.154-156
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• 1990

긴 사슬로 된 유기분자인 $\beta$-Carotene, Retinal, Retinol 의 제 3차 비선형 광학감수율을 자기유도 타원편광축회전 방법으로 측정하였다. $\beta$-Carotene의 X1221(3)(-w, w, w, -w)값이 32.4X10-14(㎤/erg)였다.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.357-366
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• 2009

The principal objective of this study was to evaluate the association between plasma antioxidant levels and metabolic syndrome in male workers, and to provide basic information regarding the control and prevention of metabolic syndrome. We analyzed 163 male workers who had participated in annual medical examinations from January to December 2007. The subjects were classified into normal and metabolic syndrome groups according to the NCEP-ATP III criteria and the Asia-Pacific criteria for waist circumference. Anthropometric parameters, lifestyles, blood lipid profiles, and antioxidant levels were evaluated. As compared to the normal group, the metabolic syndrome group evidenced significantly higher plasma levels of $\alpha$- tocopherol(p<0.05) and retinol(p<0.05), but significantly lower plasma levels of lycopene(p<0.05) and $\beta$-carotene(p<0.05). This tendency was found to be predominantly attributable to increases in the number of metabolic syndrome components. In our simple regression analysis, higher plasma levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol($\beta$=0.001, p<0.01) and retinol($\beta$=0.021, p<0.001) were associated with significantly higher risks of metabolic syndrome, but lycopene($\beta$=-1.499, p<0.01) and $\beta$-carotene($\beta$=-0.048, p<0.01) were associated with significantly lower risks of metabolic syndrome. Retinol($\beta$=0.013, p<0.05) and $\beta$-carotene($beta$=-0.044, p<0.01) were associated significantly with metabolic syndrome, when adjusted for age and BMI. These data indicate that the plasma levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol, retinol, lycopene, and $\beta$-carotene are associated with metabolic syndrome. Specifically, low lycopene and $\beta$-carotene levels in the plasma appear to increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, proper nutritional education programs for male workers are required to increase dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins. Further studies will be necessary to determine whether antioxidant levels can be utilized as a predictive or a preventive factor.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.731-738
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• 1998

The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of $\beta$-carotene on vitamin A metabolism in ethanol-fed rats. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 190~210g were fed a liquid diet containing 36% of total calories as ethanol for 6 weeks. The pair-fed control rats(1BP group, 2BP group) were given an isocaloric amount of diet containing sucrose instead of ethanol on the following day. Additionally, the liquid diet, contained different levels of $\beta$-carotene(1BE group: 2.1, 2BE group: 21mg/L liquid diet). Body weight gains and food efficiency ratios of ethanol groups were lower than those of pair-fed groups. This effect did not change with dietary supplementation of $\beta$-carotene. The levels of plasma and hepatic retionl were decreased after chronic ethanol feeding, but the values in 2BE group were higher than in 1BE group. The content of hepatic retinoic acid tended to increase in proportion to $\beta$-carotene supplementation. There results suggest that ethanol consumption may affect the vatamin A methabolism and reduce the conversion of $\beta$-carotene to retinol in rats.