• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.464-473
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• 2009

The serum levels of antioxidant materials (${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, ${\gamma}$-tocopherol, retinol) of the healthy Korean middle-aged adults (n = 373) were measured and their relationships with the serum lipids and anthropometric indices were analyzed. The serum levels of ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin, ${\beta}$-carotene, lutein were higher than those of lycopene and ${\alpha}$-carotene. The levels of all measured carotenoids except lutein were significantly higher in females than in males, but retinol level was vice versa. There was a tendency of increase in serum levels of antioxidant vitamins with increasing age. The serum carotenoid levels had a positive correlation with serum cholesterol and a negative correlation with serum triglyceride. The serum levels of tocopherols or retinol showed a significantly positive relationship with blood cholesterol or triglyceride. In overall, anthropometric indices showed negative relations with serum carotenoids levels, but vice versa with serum tocopherol or retinol levels. Particularly, ${\beta}$-carotene and lutein levels showed a significantly negative relation with blood pressure in male subjects. The serum levels of ${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene and ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin had significantly negative relations with body fat-related indices in female subjects. The results demonstrated that blood antioxidants levels differed by sex and age, and had significant relations with blood lipid levels and anthropometric indices. Therefore, the rationale and significance of the relationships need to be elucidated in the future study related to dietary intakes and life style.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.646-653
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• 1999

This study was done to investigate the effect of ${\gamma}$ irradiated beef feeding on antioxidant vitamin levels and defense enzyme activities in diethylnitrosamine(DEN) initiated rats. Weaning Sprague Dawley male rats were fed the diet containing ${\gamma}$ irradiated ground beef at the dose 0, 3, 5 kGy as a 20% of protein source for 8 weeks. One week after feeding, rats were intraperitoneally injected twice with a dose of DEN(50mg/kg BW). As a promoter, 0.05% phenobarbital was fed in drinking water from one week after DEN treatment until the end of experiment. At the end of 8th week, serum level of vitamin C, serum and hepatic levels of retinol and tocopherol were determined. In addition, activities of cytosolic glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S transferase, catalase and hepatic superoxide dismutase(SOD) were measured. By ${\gamma}$ irradiation, there was no significant effect on serum and hepatic levels of vitamin C and tocopherol except a significant decreasing effect on hepatic retinol level. There was also no significant effect on the activities of enzymes involved in antioxidative defense system, However, DEN treatment led to a significant increase in activities of glutathione reductase and glutathione S transferase while the activity of glutathione peroxidase was decreased. The activities of hepatic SOD and catalase were not changed by DEN treatment. Overall results indicate that the consumption of low dose of ${\gamma}$ irradiated beef does not affect antioxidative defense system.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.293-295
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• 2008

The aim of this study was to investigate the difference in the serum malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), and nitric oxide (NO) levels between normal and T. gondii-infected patients. To this end, MDA, GSH, and NO levels in the sera of 37 seropositive patients and 40 participants in the control group were evaluated. In Toxoplasma ELISA, IgG results of the patient group were $1,013.0{\pm}543.8$ in optical density (mean ${\pm}$ SD). A statistically significant difference was found between patients and the control group in terms of MDA, GSH, and NO levels. A decrease in GSH activity was detected, while MDA and NO levels increased significantly. Consequently, it is suggested that the use of antioxidant vitamins in addition to a parasite treatment shall prove useful. The high infection vs control ratio of MDA and NO levels probably suggests the occurrence as a mechanism of tissue damage in cases of chronic toxoplasmosis. Moreover, it is recommended that the patient levels of MDA, GSH, and NO should be evaluated in toxoplasmosis.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.25-33
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• 2023

The liver, a multifunctional organ, plays a vital role in maintaining overall health and well-being by regulating metabolism, detoxification, nutrient storage, hormone balance, and immune function. Liver diseases, such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer, have significant clinical implications and remain a global health concern. This article reviews the therapeutic potential of silkworm larvae (Bombyx mori) and explores their underlying molecular mechanisms in protecting against liver diseases. Silkworm larvae are rich in proteins, vitamins, minerals, and n-3 fatty acids, making them a promising candidate for therapeutic applications. The anti-inflammatory mechanisms of silkworm larvae involve modulating the production of cytokine such as TNF-α and interleukins, inflammatory enzymes including cyclooxygenase-2 and macrophage polarization, thereby attenuating liver inflammation. Silkworm larvae also exhibit anti-oxidative effects by scavenging free radicals, reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species and enhancing the liver's antioxidant defense system. Moreover, silkworms have been reported to decrease the serum alcohol concentration and lipid accumulation. Understanding the therapeutic properties of silkworm larvae contributes to the development of innovative strategies for liver injury prevention and treatment. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise signaling pathways involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative effects of silkworm larvae, paving the way for potential therapeutic interventions in liver diseases.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.94-98
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• 2007

This study was to investigate the effects of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol on the attenuation of renal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury in pigs. Ten pigs were subjected to 60 minutes of warm unilateral renal ischemia followed by removal of contralateral kidney and then divided into two groups. Treatment group was performed ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol pretreatment 2 days before operation and ascorbic acid with heparin-saline solution irrigation-aspiration. Otherwise, control group used only irrigation-aspiration of heparin-saline solution. Blood samples were collected from these pigs for measurement of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine values, antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD) at pre, day 1, day 3, day 7 and day 14. The kidneys were taken for histopathologic evaluation after euthanasia on postoperative day 14. The levels of BUN were significantly increased in the control group on day 1, day 3 and day 7 (P<0.05). And the level of creatinine was significantly increased in the control group on day 3 (p<0.05). Activity of antioxidant enzymes in plasma revealed significant difference (p<0.05) between control and treatment group at day 14. In histopathologic findings, treatment group was showed less damage than that of control group on the basis of renal tubular damage. It was concluded that ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol attenuated renal I/R injury in the pigs.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.295-300
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• 2008

Spirulina is a microscopic and filamentous cyanobacterium that contains essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidative components. The purpose of this study was to examine effects of spirulina intervention in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. The subjects were 37 type 2 diabetic patients who visited a diabetic clinic in Seoul and randomly assigned into spirulina (8 g/day) or control group. During the intervention period of 12 weeks, subjects were asked to keep usual diet and prohibited to take any functional foods or dietary supplements. Spirulina supplementation for 12 weeks did not affect anthropometric parameters, however, lowered plasma triglycerides level significantly (p<0.05). Spirulina supplementation also resulted in a significant reduction in plasma malondialdehyde level (p<0.05) and an increase in plasma adiponectin level (p<0.1). The lipid lowering effect of spirulina supplementation was different according to serum lipid levels of the subjects before entering the intervention. The subjects with higher initial triglyceride level showed higher reduction in plasma triglyceride and blood pressure. The subjects with higher initial total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level showed higher reduction in plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, IL-6, and blood pressure. It seems that spirulina supplementation is more effective in subjects with dyslipidemia. This study provides the evidence for beneficial effects of spirulina supplementation on blood lipid profiles, inflammatory variables, and antioxidant capacity in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. The results suggest that spirulina is a promising agent as a functional food for diabetes management.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.669-675
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• 2001

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of antioxidant vitamins on the formation of $AFB_{1}-DNA$ adduct and $AFB_{1}-inducing$ cellular oxidative damage. Intraperitoneal(i.p.)injections of 10 mg/kg vitamin C(VC) and 63.8 mg/kg vitamin E(VE) were repeatedly administrated 4 times with 2 days interval to 6 week old male ICR mice. After one hour of vitamin treatments, 0.4 mg/kg $AFB_1$ was injected in $AFB_1$ plus vitamin treated groups by same way. On the other hands, $AFB_1$ treated group was only injected with $AFB_1$ by the same method described above without vitamins. According to quantitative analysis of the $AFB_1$ in mice serum by indirect competitive ELISA, 12.28 and 18.78 ng/mL were detected in $AFB_1-treated$ groups, but 7.60 and 4.85 ng/mL in $AFB_1$ plus VC and VE treated groups, respectively. 23.78, 25.48 ng/mL of $AFB_1-DNA$ adduct were detected in mice liver of $AFB_1$treated groups, while 5.26, 7.81 ng/mL in $AFB_1$ plus VC and VE treated groups, respectively. Consequently, the differences in the concentrations of $AFB_1$ related materials between vitamin treated and non-treated groups were significant. Immunohistochemistry revealed brownish infiltration of $AFB_1$ around central vein and sinusoid in $AFB_1-treated$ group. This manifestation was distinctly reduced in $AFB_1$ plus VC and VE treated groups.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2009

This study was to determine the effects of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol on the attenuation of an ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) after renal auto-transplantation in a pig model. In the treatment group, three pigs were subjected to a renal auto-transplantation followed by the administration of ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol and the flushing of ascorbic acid plus hepa-saline solution. Otherwise, the control group used only flushing of hepa-saline solution. Blood samples were collected from these pigs for measurement of serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine values on the day before surgery and day 1, 3, 5 and 7 after surgery. The kidneys were taken for histopathological evaluation following euthanasia on day 14 after surgery. Serum creatinine and BUN values showed a significantly difference between control and treatment group on day 1, 3 and 5 (P<0.05). In histopathologic findings, treatment group showed less damage than that of the control group on the basis of renal tubular damage. As a result, this study suggests that the exogenous ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol pretreatment therapy with ascorbic acid irrigation-aspiration has a role of attenuation of renal I/R injury and recovery of renal function in a pig transplantation model.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.659-667
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• 2014

Fruits are good sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and phytochemicals, which are known to reduce serum lipids, oxidative damage, and blood pressure as well as improve blood glucose control. The purpose of this study was to estimate nutrient quality indices of fruits by carrying out a critical analysis of pre-existing methods according to their nutritional compositions. Four methods were used to assess the nutrient indices of 26 fruits, which are frequently consumed by Koreans based on the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009). Naturally nutrient rich score (NNR), nutrient rich food (NRF), nutrient adequacy score (NAS), and nutrient density score (NDS) were used to calculate nutrient quality indices. The Korean Nutrition Society Food Composition database of fruits based on 100 g edible portions was used. The algorithm of each method included the mean percentage of daily values (Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans, 2010) for particular nutrients based on consumption of 1,900 kcal/day. The relative score indicated that strawberries, kumquat, and lemon had high nutrient quality indices. In addition, mango, lemon, persimmon, strawberry, apricot, and tangerine fruits are rich in antioxidant nutrients such as ${\beta}$-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium. However, scores of nutrient quality indices did not imply that higher scores of particular fruits are superior. We suggest moderate seasonable consumption a variety of fruits. Our results can be used as a reference for consumers when they choose fruits.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.224-232
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• 2013

The objective of this study is to identify the dietary patterns associated with the risk of hypertensions among Korean adults using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2008-2010). This study analyzes data from 11,883 subjects who participated in the health and nutrition survey, aging from 20 to 64 years. We performed factor analysis based on the weekly mean intake frequencies of 36 food groups to identify major dietary patterns. We identified three major dietary patterns in both sexes, namely "traditional", "western" and "dairy and carbohydrate" patterns. Participants in the highest quartile of western pattern scores had significantly higher blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels than those in the lowest quartile. Although not statistically significant, a trend (P for trend = 0.0732) toward a positive association between the western dietary pattern and hypertension risk was observed after adjustments for age, sex, education, income, body mass index (BMI), smoking, physical activity, and energy intake. The dairy and carbohydrate pattern was inversely related with BMI and blood pressures and positively associated with serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol. After adjusting the age, sex, education, income, BMI, smoking, physical activity and energy intake, the dairy and carbohydrate pattern showed inverse associations with hypertension prevalence (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.55-0.75; P for trend < 0.0001). Intakes of fiber, sodium, and antioxidant vitamins were significantly higher in the top quartile for the traditional pattern than in the lowest quartile for the traditional pattern (P for trend < 0.0001). Intakes of fiber (P for trend < 0.0001), calcium (P for trend < 0.0001), retinol (P for trend = 0.0164), vitamin $B_1$ (P for trend = 0.001), vitamin $B_2$ (P for trend < 0.0001), niacin (P for trend = 0.0025), and vitamin C (P for trend < 0.0001) were significantly increased across quartiles for the dairy and carbohydrate pattern whereas sodium (P for trend < 0.0001) intake was decreased for this pattern. In conclusion, the dairy and carbohydrate pattern may be associated with a reduced risk of hypertension whereas the western pattern may be associated with an increased risk of hypertension among Korean adults.