• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2008

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of red-yeast-rice supplementation on cholesterol-lowering and glucose control in subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFT) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). We conducted a doubleblind, placebo-controlled study with 3 groups; placebo, low dose group (red yeast rice 210.0mg/capsule, 2.52g/day) and high dose group (red yeast rice 420.0mg/capsule, 5.04g/day), which were randomly assigned to subjects with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. We measured fasting serum concentrations of total-, LDL-, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA) and 2 h oral glucose tolerence test (OGTT) before and after the supplementation. Both low dose and high dose groups had significant decrease in LDL cholesterol and atherogenic index (AI) compared with placebo group (p<0.05). Additionally, total and HDL cholesterol improved significantly in high dose group compared with placebo group (p<0.05). Fasting serum glucose decreased in test groups and increased in placebo group after intervention. However, it was not significant differences. In subjects which fasting blood glucose is more than 110mg/dL, fasting glucose had a tendency to decrease in high dose group (p<0.1) and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) had significant decrease in low dose group (p<0.05), while insulin and HOMA-IR had a tendency to increase in placebo group after intervention. Mean changes of glucose related parameters (fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR) compared with placebo group did not show significant differences. In conclusion, subjects with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance were significantly improved in serum lipid profile by red yeast rice supplementation without serious side effects. These are more effective in the case of a high dose. The effects of red yeast rice supplementation on glucose control were insignificant.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.710-716
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• 2001

This study was conducted to examine the effects of dietary oligosaccharide on the blood glucose and serum lipid composition in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 150$\pm$10g were randomly assigned to one normal and four STZ-induced diabetic groups. Diabetic groups were classified to basal diet(DM group) 10% xylooligosaccharide diet(DM-XO group) 10% isomaltooligosaccharide(DM-IMO group) and 10% fructooligosaccharide (DM-FO). Diabetes was experimentally induced by intravenous injection of 50 mg/kg of body weight of STZ in citrate buffer (pH 4.3) after feeding of experimental diets for 4 weeks. The rats were fed with experimental diet for further 4 weeks in diabetic state. The oligosaccharide diets were not effected on the body weight food intakes and food efficiency ratio. The oligosaccharide diets were also not effected on the body weight food intakes and food efficiency ratio. The oligosaccharide diets were also not effected on the weights of liver kidney and small intestine but the weight of cecum was significantly increased on the groups of xylooligosaccharide and isomaltooligosaccharide diet. The levels of oral glucose tolerance test was more effectively improved by DM-XO group. The levels of blood glucose were markedly lower in oligosaccharide supplemented groups than that of DM group. The levels of blood glucose were markedly lower in oligosaccharide supplemented groups than that of DM group. Activities of two intestinal enzymes such as lactase and sucrase in DM-XO and DM-FO groups were lower than that of DM group while activity of maltase was lower only in DM-XO in DM-FO groups than that of DM-group respectively. The levels of serum triglyceride in DM-XO group were lower than that of DM-group respectively. The levels of serum triglyceride in DM-XO groups were lower than that of DM group however was no significant differences among the oligosaccharide groups. These results suggest that dietary oligosaccharide may act as functional food to be capable of improving carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in diabetic rats.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2002

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of taurine supplementation on lipid metabolism in laying hens. In experiment 1, 19-wk-old laying hens were given one of four taurine supplemented diets (0 (control), 0.4, 0.8, and 1.2% taurine) fur 10 weeks. Abdominal fat weight was lower in the 1.2% diet by 29.2% compared to the control. Serum concentrations of triacylglycerol and HDL-cholesterol were not different among the treatments. However, seam concentration of total cholesterol was higher by 22.4% in the 1.2% diet compared to the control. Concentration of triacylglycerol or total cholesterol in the liver were decreased by 26.1% or 26.4% and 28.2% or 26.4%, respectively in the 0.8% and 1.2% diets compared to the control. The concentration of HDL-cholesterol in liver was also lower by 33.9% in the 1.2% diet compared to the control. In experiment 2, 81-wk-old laying hens were allocated to one of three taurine supplemented diets (0 (control), 1 and 2% taurine) fur 6 weeks. Abdominal fat weight was lower by 25% in 1% taurine supplementation compared to the control. Serum concentrations of triacylglycerol, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol of hens fed with 1% diet were not different from those of control group. However, sew concentrations of triacylglycerol and total cholesterol were lower by 44.0% and 19.8%, respectively in the 2% diet compared to the control. Furthermore, serum concentration of HDL -cholesterol in the 2% diet was higher by 75% compared to the control. Concentrations of triacylglycerol and total cholesterol in the liver in the 2% diet were decreased in the 1% diet by 36.8 and 23%, respectively, but increased by 78.4% and 70%, respectively, compared to the control. The concentration of HDL-cholesterol in the liver was not different between the 1% diet and the control, but higher by 62.8% in the 2% diet compared to the control. These results indicated that taurine supplementation decreased the fat storage in abdominal cavity, which was accompanied by the changes in triacylglycerol and cholesterol metabolisms of laying hens.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.208-213
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• 2004

In this study, we examined the effects of dietary 1,3-diacylglycerol (DG) compared to conventional triacylglycerol (TG) oil on the postprandial response of total and chylomicron TG, glucose, insulin, and free fatty acid (FFA). This study was conducted using a cross-over design. Ninety subjects participated in the high-fat meal tolerance test where they were randomly assigned to consume two experimental sandwiches containing mayonnaise with TG or DG oil with a seven-day interval. Blood samples were collected before ingestion and at 2, 3, 4 and 6 hr time point after ingestion and analyzed for total and chylomicron TG, glucose, insulin, FFA and phospholipid fatty acid composition. Both TG and DG ingestion had similar effects on postprandial TG response, but a different response from chylomicron TG. Compared with the TG group, TG levels were significantly lower only at 6 hr time point in the DG group. On the other hand, chylomicron TG rose steeply at 2 hr time point and decreased faster in this group. Also, the adjusted value to fasting levels was the same as the unadjusted level. Fasting levels and net differences in insulin were significantly lower at 3 hr time point where chylomicron TG levels were significantly lower in the DG group. But those of glucose and FFA in the TG and DG groups did not differ significantly. Fasting and postprandial levels of fatty acid composition in serum phospholipids in the two groups did not differ significantly. In conclusion, this study indicated that one could reduce the magnitude of postprandial lipemia without influencing glucose metabolism by consumning DG oil as a substitute for TG oil. Based on the correlation of coronary artery disease and postprandial lipemia, dietary DG ingestion might have a beneficial effect in treating such a disease. Further studies are required to clarify the long-tenn effects of dietary DG on blood lipid levels in humans.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1190-1197
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• 2017

Objective: Adipose tissue is no longer considered as an inert storage organ for lipid, but instead is thought to play an active role in regulating insulin effects via secretion adipokines. However, conflicting reports have emerged regarding the effects of adipokines. In this study, we investigated the role of adipokines in glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity in obese Bama mini-pigs. Methods: An obesity model was established in Bama mini-pigs, by feeding with high-fat and high-sucrose diet for 30 weeks. Plasma glucose and blood biochemistry levels were measured, and intravenous glucose tolerance test was performed. Adipokines, including adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), resistin and tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$), and glucose-induced insulin secretion were also examined by radioimmunoassay. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation in skeletal muscle, which is a useful insulin resistance marker, was examined by immunoblotting. Additionally, associations of AMPK phosphorylation with plasma adipokines and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index were assessed by Pearce's correlation analysis. Results: Obese pigs showed hyperglycemia, high triglycerides, and insulin resistance. Adiponectin levels were significantly decreased (p<0.05) and IL-6 amounts dramatically increased (p<0.05) in obese pigs both in serum and adipose tissue, corroborating data from obese mice and humans. However, circulating resistin and $TNF-{\alpha}$ showed no difference, while the values of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in adipose tissue were significantly higher in obese pigs, also in agreement with data from obese humans but not rodent models. Moreover, strong associations of skeletal muscle AMPK phosphorylation with plasma adiponectin and HOMA-IR index were obtained. Conclusion: AMPK impairment induced by adiponectin decrease mediates insulin resistance in high-fat and high-sucrose diet induction. In addition, Bama mini-pig has the possibility of a conformable model for human metabolic diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.91-96
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• 2013

Objectives : Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease caused by disorder of energy balance and lipid metabolism. This study was conducted by histopathology and histomorphometry to investigate the anti-obesity effects of mixed water extract of Plantaginis Semen & Poria (CJB) on liver, epididymal fat pads and pancreas zymogen granules in obese rats induced with high fat diet. Method : Male Sprague-Dawley rats to be divided four groups were fed into four different treatments: normal (NOR) diet, high-fat (HF) diet, HF diet+CJB (100 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg, P.O.) for 8 weeks. The weekly body weights were measured in four experimental groups, respectively. Also histopathological and histomorphometrical changes of liver, epididymal fat pads and pancreas zymogen granules were observed in normal control and obese rats, respectively. Results : Adminstration of CJB significantly reduced body weights compared to those of HF group for experimental period. After 8 weeks, liver weights in the CJB groups were lower than those of HF group. In addition, HF diet related steatohepatitis, adipocyte hypertrophy, exocrine disturbances (decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules) were also dose-dependently inhibited by treatment of test material, CJB 100 and CJB 300 as compared with HF group, respectively. Conclusion : Based on the results, it is considered that CJB will be showed hepatoprotective and anti-obese effects, may be directly and/or indirectly mediated by pancreatic zymogen granules because they dose-dependently inhibited steatohepatitis, hypertrophy of adipocytes and decreases of pancreatic zymogen granules induced by HF diet supply, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2016

The objective was to investigate the hypoglycemic action of catalpol in spontaneous diabetes db/db mice. 40 db/db mice were randomly divided into five groups: model control gourp; db/db plus catalpol 40, 80, 120 mg/kg body wt. groups and db/db plus metformin 250 mg/kg group. Age-matched db/m mice were selected as normal control group. The mice were administered with corresponding drugs or solvent by gavage for 4 weeks. The oral glucose tolerance test was carried out at the end of $3^{rd}$ week. After 4 weeks of treatment, the concentrations of fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated serum protein (GSP), insulin (INS), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and adiponection (APN) in serum were detected. The protein expressions of phosphorylation-$AMPK{\alpha}$1/2 in liver, phosphorylation-$AMPK{\alpha}$1/2 and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) in skeletal muscle and adipose tissues were detected by western blot. Real time RT-PCR was used to detect the mRNA expressions of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and Hydroxymethyl glutaric acid acyl CoA reductase (HMGCR) in liver. Our results showed that catalpol could significantly improve the insulin resistance, decrease the serum concentrations of INS, GSP, TG, and TC. The concentrations of APN in serum, the protein expression of phosphorylation-$AMPK{\alpha}$1/2 in liver, phosphorylation-$AMPK{\alpha}$1/2 and GLUT-4 in peripheral tissue were increased. Catalpol could also down regulate the mRNA expressions of ACC and HMGCR in liver. In conclusion, catalpol ameliorates diabetes in db/db mice. It has benefit effects against lipid/glucose metabolism disorder and insulin resistance. The mechanism may be related to up-regulating the expression of phosphorylation-$AMPK{\alpha}$1/2.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.184-199
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• 2012

Objectives: There is a steady increase in the prevalence of obesity worldwide and obesity is often accompanied by inflammation. Although much emphasis has been placed on the adipose tissue inflammation in obesity, a study with herbal medicine is few. This study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effect of a complex herbal medicine (CHM) composed of Cornus officinalis, Dioscorea rhizoma, Aurantii fructus, and Mori Foliumon on obese type 2 diabetes mice. Methods: Type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity were induced by Surwit's high fat, high sucrose diet for 8 weeks. Mice were divided into ND (normal diet, n=10), HFD (high fat and high sucrose diet, n=10), CHM (high fat and high sucrose diet with complex herbal medicine, n=10) and Met (high fat and high sucrose diet with metformin, n=10) groups. The body weight, fructosamine and OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) were measured. After 8 weeks the blood samples of all mice were taken from the heart, and lipid profiles were measured. Epididymal fat pad, histological size of the adipocyte tissue and liver weights were measured. Inflammatory markers such as leptin and adipocyte tissue macrophage were measured to evaluate the effect of CHM on adipocyte tissue inflammation. Results: Compared with the HFD group, there was an improvement in OGTT and epididymal fat decreased in the CHM group. White adipocyte size and adipocyte tissue macrophage decreased in CHM group. Conclusions: These results suggest that CHM has antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory effects in high fat, high sucrose diet induced obese mice.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.187-208
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• 2000

By the activation of ovary hormone, many morphological changes occur in the epithelial cell lines and muscle cells in rat uterus. These two cells in uterus are important to the implantation of embryo, maintaining pregnancy and starting parturition. One important change associated with the morphological change of these two cells in uterus is the change on prostaglandin(PG) metabolism. Its presence and synthesis in endometriurn and myometrium in uterus affects estrous cycle and the start of embryo implantation in uterus. It also performs as an important modulator in parturition. So the abnormally weak expression of PG causes difficulty during labor and over-expression causes pre-term labor. PG biosynthesis starts from either free or liberated arachidonic acids from membrane phospholipid by phospholipase. Such arachidonic acids are converted into PG catalyzed by Cyclooxygenase. Under normal physiological condition, Cyclooxygenase-1(COX-1) having 602 units of amino acids controls the synthesis of PG. It acts as a local hormone regulating vasomodulation of blood flow, flexible muscle movement, increasing the blood permeability and contributing the protective role in preserving integrity of the stomach lining and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is induced by the inflammation, pregnancy and increased its expression until parturition. Lipid metabolite like PG is located in uterine and expression of COX-2 increased with pregnancy. Increased expression of COX proteins in epithelial cells and myometrial cells are told to increase the muscle contractility in uterus but decreased right after the labor in rat. It is a good sign indicating that COX proteins are deeply related to the start of labor. Currently, Several studies report the use of PG and COX-2 inhibitor as medication for controlled abortion or to prevent pre-term labor but they entail various side-effects. Our study proposed to suggest use of acupuncture as an another mediator to control abortion or pre-term labor without causing unnecessary side-effects by those medicines. Two acupuncture sites, LI-4 & SP-6 were selected due to their known efficacy. From the immunohistochemical staining of COX-2, normal expression of COX-2 protein in nonpregnant SD rat's uterus revealed that COX-2 protein was primarily detected in the lumina epithelial lining and in the epithelial cell lining contacting the stromal cells. High resolution optical microscopic scanning revealed distinguishable staining in the myometrial mucosa. LI-4 acupuncture administered nonpregnant rat's uterus showed strong expression for COX-2 in endometrium contacted with lumina epithelial lining of rat uterus and in myometrial mucosa. Stromal cells showed more staining than untreated nonpregnant rat's uterus and stronger staining in stromal cells contacting myometrial layer compared to untreated nonpregnant rat's uterus. SP-6 acupuncture administered nonpregnant rat's uterus showed weak expression for COX-2 in myometrial layers and stromal cells but no staining was visible in lumina epitheliai and glandular epithelial cells. Few stromal cells and myometrial mucosa were positively stained for COX-2. Pregnant SD rat's uterus was also immunostained for COX-2 expression after 18 days of pregnancy. Unlike to untreated nonpregnant rat's uterus, luminal epithelial cells were not positively stained for COX-2 but stronger staining for COX-2 was revealed in stromal cells. LI-4 acupunctured SD rat's uterus had very strong expression of COX-2 in luminal epithelial lining. Few stromal cells showed stronger positive COX-2 staining and myometrial layers also showed more expression than untreated pregnant rat. SP-6 acupuncture administered pregnant SD rat's uterus showed positive expression of COX-2 in epithelial cells of luminal mucosa layer but weaker than that of LI-4 acupuncture treatment's case. However, strong positive staining was revealed in stromal mucosa and myometrial layers. Virgin SD rat's uterus motility index during LI-4 acupuncture was 66.52 % (Prob〉T = 0.0197) compared to its motility before the acupuncture treatment but the motility index was slighdy elevated up to 79.58 % (Prob〉T = 0.1175) after the acupuncture. During the SP-6 acupuncture treatment for 30 minutes, uterus motility index was 90.52 % (Prob〉T = 0.1832) showing lesser decrement but consequently reached similar motility index decreasal to 79.95 % (Prob〉T = 0.0215) after the acupuncture treatment as LI-4 showed. LI-4 acupuncture tend to be a quick treatment to reducing the uterus motility in a virgin rat but eventually both two acupuncture administration created very similar reduction of uterus motility seeing the index after the both acupunctures. The uterus movement monitored during the LI-4 acupuncture administered for 30 minutes, Pregnant SD rat showed decreased motility down to 77.90 % (Prob〉 T = 0.0076) compared to uterus motility before the acupuncture and it continuously decreased down to 71.81 %(Prob〉T = 0.0214) after the removal of needle. The statistical analysis using paired t-test showed significance difference for both two motility indexs at =0.05. SP-6 acupuncture administered to pregnant SD rat also had similar pattern of decreasing uterus motility index down to 74.70 % (Prob〉T = 0.1730) during the initial 30 minutes acupuncture administration and it was continuously lowered to 71.52 % (Prob〉T = 0.0155) after the acupuncture. The paired t-test resuit for SP-6 suggest prompt response of uterus motility index to the SP-6 acupuncture treatment but consequently reached same level of inducing the motility reduction as LI-4 at =0.05 level.