• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.527-538
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• 2002

Body antioxidant status is an important factor in the prevention of many chronic diseases caused by oxidative stress, especially in the elderly and is affected by health-related habits, such as smoking, drinking and regular physical activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between these health-related habits and plasma antioxidant status in the elderly. Plasma antioxidant status was examined by determining plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C, A, E, $\beta$ -carotene), total antioxidant status (TAS) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) . The subjects included 225 elderly persons aged over 60 yews (63 males, 162 females) living in the Ulsan area. They were interviewed to collect data on their general characteristics and health behaviors such as smoking, exercise and alcohol consumption by means of questionnaires. Their dietary intakes were obtained by means of semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) The study population was divided into two or three groups according to their smoking, drinking, and exercise status. The ratio of smoker, drinker and exerciser was 16.7%, 31.0% and 44.2% respectively. The dietary antioxidant vitamin intakes were not significantly different among groups of smoking and drinking status, but tended to be higher in non-smokers and non-drinkers than in smokers and drinkers. Plasma vitamin C and $\beta$ -carotene levels were significantly higher in non-smokers, but Plasma vitamin A and TBARS levels were significantly lower in non-smokers than in smokers. Plasma TAS was not significantly different among the smoking groups, but showed a tendency to decrease with an increase in the number of packyear. Plasma vitamin C and $\beta$ -carotene levels of the non-drinkers were higher than those of drinkers and past-drinkers, but plasma vitamin A, C, E, TAS and TBARS showed no difference among the groups of drinker. All vitamin intakes of the exercisers were slightly higher than those of the non-exercisers, but vitamin C intake was significantly higher in female exercisers than in non-exercisers. Plasma $\beta$ -carotene levels were significantly higher in male exercisers and plasma vitamin A, C, E, TAS and TBARS levels tended to be higher in exercisers than in non-exercisers. These results suggested that change to non-smoker, modulation of alcohol consumption and regular exercise could enhance antioxidant defences against reactive oxygen species and might increase the likelihood of a healthier life span.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.6
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• pp.861-870
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• 2006

This study was conducted to examine the effects of supplementing coated vitamin C+E with cottonseed on rumen fermentation and body weight gain, blood metabolites and hormone concentrations in Hanwoo steers fed fermented feedstuff. Experiments were done with two treatment groups, T1 without any supplements and T2 supplemented with coated vitamin C+E and cottonseed. Ruminal pH was lower in T2 than in T1 at 3h after morning feeding (p<0.05), but was higher in T2 than in T1 at 6 and 9h after morning feeding (p<0.05). Ruminal ammonia concentration was higher in T2 than in T1 for 12h after morning feeding (p<0.05). Concentrations of acetate, propionate, butyrate and total-VFA were higher in T2 than in T1 at 3h after morning feeding (p<0.05), but were lower in T2 than in T1 at 9 and 12h after morning feeding (p<0.05). Average daily gain and concentrations of blood metabolites and hormones between T1 and T2 were similar. Results indicate that supplementation of coated vitamin C+E and cottonseed to fermented feedstuff affects on ruminal pH, ammonia and VFA. But it has no influences on body weight gain and concentrations of blood metabolites and hormones in Hanwoo steers.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.213-218
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• 2000

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of dietary green tea catechin and vitamin E on the phospholipse {TEX}$A_{2}${/TEX} activity and th antioxidative defense system in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100$\pm$10 gm were randomly assigned to one normal and five STZ-induced diabetic groups. The diabetic groups were assigned either a catechin-free diet (DM group), 0.5% catechin diet (DM-0.5C group), 1% catechin diet (DM-1C group), vitamin E-free diet (DM-0E group), and 400 mg vitamin E per kg diet (DM-400E group) according to the levels of dietary catechin or vitamin E supplementation. The vitamin E levels of the normal, DM, DM-0.5C, and DM-1C groups were 40 mg per kg diet. Diabetes was experimentally induced by an intravenous injection of streptozotocin after 4 weeks of feeding the five experimental diets. The animals were sacrificed on the 6th day of he diabetic state. The body weight gains were lower in all five diabetic groups after the STZ injection. The platelet phospholipase {TEX}$A_{2}${/TEX}({TEX}$PLA_{2}${/TEX}) activity in the diabetic groups was higher than that in the normal group. However, the enzyme activity in the DM-0.5C, DM-1C, and DM-400E groups was lower than that in the DM and DM-0E groups. The cytochrome {TEX}$P_{450}${/TEX} and cytochrome {TEX}$b_{5}${/TEX} content and NADPH-cytochrome {TEX}$P_{450}${/TEX} reductase activity were about 50~110% higher in the DM and DM-0E groups than in the normal group, yet significantly reduced by either catechin or vitamin E supplementation. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) content in the liver did not differ significantly in any of the groups. However, the glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) activity was generally lower in the diabetic groups, compared with the normal group, whereas that of the DM-0.5C, DM-1C, and DM-400E groups was significantly higher compared with that of the DM and DM-0E groups. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver tissue were 148% and 201% higher in the DM and DM-0E groups, respectively, compared with the normal group, however, these levels were reduced by either catechin or vitamin E supplementation (DM-0.5, DM-1C and DM-400E). Accordingly, the present results indicate that STZ-induced diabetic rats exhibited an imbalance between free radical generation and scavenger systems in the liver which led to the acceleration of lipid peroxidation. However, these abnormalities were reduced and the antioxidative defense system was restored by either dietary catechin or vitamin E supplementation. In conclusion, the effects of dietary catechin or vitamin E in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats would appear to inhibit lipid peroxidation as an anti-oxidant by regulating the activity of {TEX}$PLA_{2}${/TEX}.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.815-826
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• 2021

The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of stocking density (SD) and dietary supplementation of vitamin C on growth performance, meat quality, intestinal permeability, and stress indicators in broiler chickens. The study was conducted using a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement consisting of 2 different SD and 2 supplemental levels of dietary vitamin C. A total of 1,368 Ross 308 broiler chickens of 21 days of age with similar body weights (BW) were randomly allotted to 1 of 4 treatments with 6 replicates each. Different numbers of birds per identical floor pen (2.0 m × 2.4 m) were used to create 2 different SD levels of low SD (9 birds/m²) and high SD (18 birds/m²). The basal diet was formulated with no supplemental vitamin C to meet or exceed nutrient recommendations of the Ross 308 manual. The other diet was prepared by supplementing 200 mg/kg vitamin C in the basal diet. The study lasted for 14 days. At the end of the study, 3 male birds per replicate were selected to analyze meat quality, intestinal permeability, and stress indicators such as blood heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) and feather corticosterone (CORT) concentrations. Results indicated that there were no interactions between different SD and dietary supplementation of vitamin C for all measurements. For the main effects of SD, birds raised at high SD had less (p < 0.01) BW, BW gain, and feed intake with increasing stress responses including greater blood H:L and feather CORT concentrations (p < 0.01) than those raised at low SD. Transepithelial electrical resistance in the jejunal mucosa was decreased (p < 0.05) at high SD, indicating an increase in intestinal permeability. However, the main effects of dietary supplementation of 200 mg/kg vitamin C were insignificant for all measurements. In conclusion, high SD of broiler chickens impairs growth performance and intestinal barrier function with increasing stress responses. However, dietary supplementation of vitamin C may have little beneficial effects on broiler chickens raised at the high SD condition used in the present study.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.133-142
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• 2006

Antioxidant vitamin supplementation focuses one's attention on the prevention of age-related diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant status and lipid profiles and to look into the antioxidant vitamin supplementation that affects lipid metabolism in 20 elderly non-smoking Korean women (placebo group: n = 6, vitC suppl: n = 7, vitE suppl: n = 7). Age, height, weight, muscle, percent of fat and WHR were not significantly different among the groups, however $\%$ of fat was above $33\%$ and WHR was above 0.9. And blood pressure of the placebo group was 131.7/81.7 (border line hypertension), that of vitamin C supplement was 141.4/87.1 (hypertension) and that of vitamin E supplement was 151.4/92.9 (hypertension). Although nutrient intakes of all groups were poor, antioxidant status (blood vitamins C, E, A, and beta-carotene) and lipid profile (TG, total-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol) were normal. For nutritional intervention, the vitamin C supplement group received L-ascorbic acid 1,000 mg, and vitamin E supplement group received d-alpha-tocopherol 400IU for 4 weeks, showing the effects of vitamin E supplementation. Response total cholesterol of HDL-cholesterol (T-Chol/HDL) in vitamin E supplement group was significantly decreased from 4.3 to 3.2. And response LDL-cholesterol of HDL-cholesterol (LDL/HDL) in the vitamin E supplement group was also significantly decreased from 2.6 to 1.7. In addition, after the adjustment for plasma lipids (TG, total cholesterol), plasma vitamin A levels in vitamin E supplement group were significantly increased from 7.89 mg/g to 14.91 mg/g. And systolic blood pressure in vitamin E supplement group was significantly reduced. These results suggested that vitamin E supplementation affects the lipid profiles and blood pressure in elderly non-smoking women. So various nutrition programs must be implemented against age-related diseases and further studies are needed regarding sorts and amounts of antioxidant nutrients and supplementation periods.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.1244-1257
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• 1997

The goals of the School Lunch Program(SLP) are to provide school children with approximately one -third of their daily nutrition requirements at a reasonable price, to foster good food habits, and to contribute to a better understanding of nutrition. In order to provide guidelines and appropriate nutritional information for SLP planning, and to identify inexpensive sources of each nutrient, representative SLP menus were analyzed for nutrient density using the Index of Nutritional Quality(INQ) and for nutrient cost. Recipes and prices of 776 meals were collected from 10 SLP primary schools in Seoul and Kyunggi province in Korea during 1995. From 4829 menu items in 776 meals, the 100 most frequently used menus were selected as representative SLP menus. From these 100 menus, eleven categories of menu were identified according to cooking methods and ingredients. Selected menus were placed into these 11 groups, with 3 to 5 menus in each except the milk group which contained only milk. The mean nutrient content, INQs, and nutrient-cost ratios were calculated for each menu and menu group. Among the 100 representative SLP menus, 'Jiajang-rice' contained the highest energy per serving portion. 'Grilled pollack ' was the highest in protein, 'Seasoned spinach ' in vitamin A, 'Spagehetti' in vitamin B1 , niacin and iron, 'Kongjorim'(hard-boiled bean with sauce) in vitamin B2 , strawberry in vitamin C, and 'fish stew ' and milk in calcium. Among the 11 menu groups, the 'One-dish' group was found to be the highest in energy , protein, vitamin A, B$_1$ and iron. The milk group was a good source of vitamin B$_2$ and calcium . The meat side dish group (panbroiled, fried or steamed )was the most suitable for providing niacin. The fruit group provided the highest level of vitamin c per portion. The nutrient densities(INQs) were found in the soup group (protein), Kimchi group(vitamin A), fruit group(vitamin B$_1$ and C), milk group(vitamin B$_2$ and calcium), stew group(niacin )and vegetable side dish group(energy, protein, vitamin B$_1$ and niacin) , vegetable side dish group(vitamin A), milk group(vitamin B$_2$ and calcium) , fruit and Kimchi groups(vitamin C), and stew group(iron). This information should be useful for school dietitians in planning most nutritious SLP menus with limited budgets. It could also be used for basic guidelines in nutrition education, and for future improvement of the SLP in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.218-223
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• 2000

The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of preservatives for extending storage life and maintaining the quality of minimally processed Chinese cabbage. Cut Chinese cabbage was treated with either 1% CaCl2, 1% NaCl, 3% sucrose, 1% Ca-lactate, 1% vitamin C, 0.05% chitosan＋1% vitamin C, 0.1% Sporix＋1% vitamin C or hot water(6$0^{\circ}C$) and then packed with polyethylene film(60${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$) and stored at either 2$0^{\circ}C$ or 4$^{\circ}C$. To evaluate biochemical changes and quality of minimally processed Chinese cabbage, the samples were tested to determine the amount of vitamen C, titratable acidity, organic acid and fiber contents. Changes in color were also examined. The quality of kimchi prepared form minimally processed cabbage was affected by the treatments. REsults indicate that the minimally processed Chinese cabbage treated with either 1% CaCl2 at 2$0^{\circ}C$ and 4$^{\circ}C$ or 1% NaCl at 2$0^{\circ}C$ minimized biochemical changes in plant tissue and those treatments were most effective in maintaining product quality. The cabbage treated with 1% vitamin C or 1% NaCl at 4$^{\circ}C$ resulted in kimchi with improved color, texture, flavor and the best overall acceptability, as determined by a sensory test.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.241-247
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• 2014

Purpose: Serum vitamin C is one of the indicators for antioxidant levels in the body and it is lower in cancer patients compared with the healthy population. However, there have been few studies on the levels of serum vitamin C in terminally ill cancer patients and related factors. Methods: We followed 65 terminal cancer patients who were hospitalized in two palliative care units. We collected data of age, sex, cancer type, functional status, clinical symptoms, history of cancer therapy, and various laboratory findings including serum vitamin C level. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the quartile of serum vitamin C level (Q1-3 vs. Q4), which were compared each other. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors related to serum vitamin C levels. Results: The mean serum vitamin C level was $0.44{\mu}g/mL$, and all patients fell into the category of vitamin C deficiency. Univariate analysis showed that The serum vitamin C level was lower in non-lung cancer patients (P=0.041) and febrile patients (P=0.034). Multivariate analysis adjusted for potential confounders such as lung cancer, fever, dysphagia, dyspnea, C reactive protein, and history of chemotherapy demonstrated that odds for low serum vitamin C level was 3.7 for patients receiving chemotherapy (P=0.046) and 7.22 for febrile patients (P=0.02). Conclusion: Vitamin C deficiency was very severe in terminally ill cancer patients, and it was associated with history of chemotherapy and fever.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.5
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• pp.396-403
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• 2011

Ceramides (Cer) comprise the major constituent of sphingolipids in the epidermis and are known to play diverse roles in the outermost layers of the skin including water retention and provision of a physical barrier. In addition, they can be hydrolyzed into free sphingoid bases such as $C_{18}$ sphingosine (SO) and $C_{18}$ sphinganine (SA) or can be further metabolized to $C_{18}$ So-1-phosphate (S1P) and $C_{18}$ Sa-1-phosphate (Sa1P) in keratinocytes. The significance of ceramide metabolites emerged from studies reporting altered levels of SO and SA in skin disorders and the role of S1P and Sa1P as signaling lipids. However, the overall metabolism of sphingoid bases and their phosphates during keratinocyte differentiation remains not fully understood. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed these Cer metabolites in the process of keratinocyte differentiation. Three distinct keratinocyte differentiation stages were prepared using 0.07 mM calcium (Ca$^{2+}$) (proliferation stage), 1.2 mM Ca$^{2+}$ (early differentiation stage) in serum-free medium, or serum-containing medium with vitamin C (50 ${\mu}L$/mL) (late differentiation stage). Serum-containing medium was also used to determine whether vitamin C increases the concentrations of sphingoid bases and their phosphates. The production of sphingoid bases and their phosphates after hydrolysis by alkaline phosphatase was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Compared to cells treated with 0.07 mM Ca$^{2+}$, levels of SO, SA, S1P, and SA1P were not altered after treatment with 1.2 mM Ca$^{2+}$. However, in keratinocytes cultured in serum-containing medium with vitamin C, levels of SO, SA, S1P, and SA1P were dramatically higher than those in 0.07- and l.2-mM Ca$^{2+}$-treated cells; however, compared to serum-containing medium alone, vitamin C did not significantly enhance their production. Taken together, we demonstrate that late differentiation induced by vitamin C and serum was accompanied by dramatic increases in the concentration of sphingoid bases and their phosphates, although vitamin C alone had no effect on their production.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.263-275
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• 2008

Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) is one of significant risk factors of developing diabetes. The persons with IFG are, thus, an important target group for primary prevention of diabetes. It is well known that plasma homocysteine concentration may be increased in poor folate nutritional status. Elevated level of plasma homocysteine is considered as a marker of enhanced oxidative stress. In addition, the protective effect against oxidative stress may be diminished in poor antioxidative nutrient status as vitamin C. It is, therefore, important to maintain adequate nutritional status of folate and vitamin C in the patients with type 2 diabetes or IFG. This study was performed to determine the effects of supplementation of folic acid or vitamin C on plasma concentrations of homocysteine, oxidized LDL, and lipids and on the activity of plasma anti-oxidative enzyme in patients with IFG. A total of 97 patients with IFG were participated voluntarily with written consents. They were divided into one of the four experimental groups; Control (C), Folatesupplemented (F), Ascorbate-supplemented (A), and Folate plus ascorbate-supplemented (FA). The subjects in C were taken placebo, those in F were supplemented 1 mg of folate, those in A were received 1,000 mg of vitamin C, and those in FA were given 1 mg of folate plus 1,000 mg of vitamin C daily for 4 weeks. No change in plasma concentrations of vitamin C, lipids, and oxidized LDL and the activity of GSH-Px were observed in vitamin C-supplemented group (A + FA) and folate-supplemented group (F + FA) compared to the placebo group (C + A). Only the folate-supplemented group (F + FA) had significantly increased average serum folate concentration and lowered plasma homocysteine concentration compared to the placebo group (C + A). Thus, it should be recommended the patients with IFG to increase folate intake through diets and, if it is not sufficient, to take folic acid supplements to prevent the development of complications induced by hyperhomocysteinemia as well as oxidative stress.