• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.23-32
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to investigate the effect of Sargassum confusum extracts on the reduction of body fat for eight weeks in overweight women ($BMI{\geq_-}23kg/m^2$). Methods: Subjects were classified by double-blind randomized trial as the control group (C group, n = 14) and the Sargassum confusum extract supplementation group (SC group, n = 16), which consumed 12 tablets per day. Questionnaires related to their health status were assessed twice (week 0 and week 8). Their dietary intake status was evaluated by 24-recall method and body compositions were measured using a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. In addition, we assessed the anti-obesity effect and the occurrence possibility of health risk factors during the supplementation periods by hematological and clinical analysis of blood. Results: Waist circumference and body fat (%) were significantly decreased in the SC group. Serum leptin level was also significantly decreased in the SC group. Defecation frequency was significantly increased in the SC group. The above results indicate that Sargassum confusum extract supplementation improves overweight on visceral fat and blood leptin level by increasing bowel movement. These results imply a decrease of health risk factors in overweight women. Seven subjects withdrew from the study due to adverse events; however, no differences regarding adverse events were observed between the control and treatment group. Conclusion: Therefore, Sargassum confusum extract is a plausible effective agent for body fat reduction in humans.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.558-574
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• 2014

The number of fatty liver patients is sharply growing due to the rapid increase in the incidence of metabolic syndrome, which can lead to diseases such as abdominal obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Early diagnosis requires examinations using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), wherein quantitative analyses are implemented through a professional water-fat separation method in many cases, as the intensity values of the areas of interest and non-interest are considerably similar or the same. However, such separation method generates inaccurate results in high magnetic fields, where the inhomogeneity of the fields increases. To overcome the limits of such conventional fat quantification methods, this paper proposes a field map estimation method that is effective in high magnetic fields. This method generates field maps through echo images that are obtained using the existing IDEAL sequences, and considers the wrapping degree of the field maps. Then clustering is performed to separate calibration areas, the least square fits based on the region growing method schema of the separated calibration areas, and the histograms are adjusted to separate the water from the fats. In experiment results, our proposed method had a superior fat detection rate of an average of 86.4%, compared to the ideal method with an average of 61.5% and Yu's method with an average of 62.6%. In addition, it was confirmed that the proposed method had a more accurate water detection rate of 98.4% on the average than the 88.6% average of the fat saturation method.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.7
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• pp.3130-3137
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• 2011

The present study was to elucidate such a relationship by comparing the coronary risk factors with and without fatty liver adjusted for age and/or BMI. Study subjects were 665 women of 30 years and over, who underwent health package check-up at the health promotion center of an university hospital from July, 2009 to June, 2010. As a results, the prevalence rates of fatty liver of study subjects were 11.6%, and the rates were significantly higher in older age group, in the group of higher level of BMI. The group of subjects with fatty liver had significantly lower mean HDL-cholesterol and higher levels of body fat rate, TG, TC, LDL-cholesterol, FBS and ALT, then those parameters in subjects without fatty liver, even after adjustment for age and/or BMI. In age and BMI adjusted logistic regressions, The odds ratio of fatty liver was increased significantly as there is an increase in the abnormal group with TG, TC, LDL-C and ALT.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.322-327
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• 2011

The effects of green tea consumption and/or exercise for 12weeks on body weight and select biochemical markers in plasma were evaluated in obese adolescents with a fat ratio of greater than 25%. The subjects were randomly divided into a control group (n=9), green tea consumption group (n=9), exercise group (n=9) and green tea consumption with exercise group (n=9). Subjects in both green tea consumption group and green tea consumption with exercise group were given more than five cups of green tea extract in hot water ($90^{\circ}C$) daily, equivalent to 1.5-1.7 g dry green tea, for 12 weeks. Subjects in both the exercise group and green tea consumption with exercise group participated in a training program (HRmax 60-70%, 60 min/day) for 12 weeks. Control subjects were only given water equal to the quantity of green tea being given to the subjects of green tea consumption. No significant changes body weights were seen in any of these treatments, but the waist to hip ratio was reduced with treatments of both green tea and exercise. The control group showed no significant changes in TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and leptin levels. Green tea consumption reduced leptin (p<0.05), TNF-$\alpha$, and leptin levels. Exercise lowered TNF-$\alpha$ (p<0.05), IL-6 (p<0.01), and leptin (p<0.05) concentrations. Meanwhile, a combination of green tea consumption and exercise lowered TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 (p<0.05) and leptin (p<0.05) levels. These results indicate that green tea consumption and exercise both had a positive effect on the reduction of inflammatory cytokines, TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and leptin, in obese adolescents, but no synergistic effect on the reduction of these cytokines.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.715-722
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• 2003

This study is to investigate effects of green tea and capsulated components mixture on body fat and serum lipid composition and fat distribution in college women students in terms of supplemented periods. During 3 months of this research, 34 college women students (average age 20.3 yr) were selected as subjects. Nutrient intake was investigated by questionnaire and 24-hr recall method. Anthropolatric assessments of the subjects were investigated by SBIA method (Segmental Bioimpedance Assay, Inbody 3.0). The results were as follows: mean body height was 162.5cm and mean body weight and mean BMI (Body Mass Index, kg/$m^2$) were 57.9kg and 21.9, respectively. Status of carbohydrate intake decreased significantly (p<0.05) and dietary fiber intake increased significantly (p<0.001) after supplementation. WHR (waist-hip ratio) decreased significantly (p<0.05) and body fat and percent body fat decreased significantly after supplementation (p<0.05). Total cholesterol and triglyceride decreased significantly after supplementation (p<0.001). Above results of this study show that green tea, silk peptide and dietary fiber supplementation-added routine diet improves body fat distribution, total cholesterol, triglyceride. Especially, declination of abdominal fat and WHR was notable, since that means diminution of risk factors for obesity and chronic degenerative diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.254-263
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• 2008

This study was conducted to analyze the effect of isoflavone intake on prevention of chronic disease in middle and old aged man. In this study we used FFQ (Food frequency questionnaire) and the isoflavone intake level of the subjects was 25.10 mg per day. We divided the subjects into three group -high, medium, low isoflavone intake level- and investigated the relation among isoflavone intake level and clinical/anthropometric characteristics. The intake of isoflavone was inversely related with the body fat in male subjects. And we also divided the subjects into 2 groups with normal and abnormal clinical/anthropometric risk factor. The isoflavone intake level of the abnormal group with high TG, high WHR and high body fat was lower than the normal group. The main food source of isoflavone was soybean curd, bean sprout, soybean paste, soybean and soy milk, and we also investigated the relation between frequency of soybean food and anthropometric and clinical variables. The frequencies of soybean curd, soybean paste, soybean broth, soy milk, bean sprouts, peanuts, soybean and dambuk as well as intake of isoflavone were inversely correlated with some anthropometric and clinical variables such as blood pressure, TG, BMI, % body fat, and waist-hip ratio, whereas positively correlated with HDL cholesterol, muscle mass and bone density. We suggest that high consumption of soy products and isoflavone is associated with decreased blood lipid and body fat in middle and old aged man and might be useful for prevention cardiovascular diseases. From this study, we obtained valuable basic information on recommended isoflavone intake level and guidelines for the prevention of some chronic diseases/health problems.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.852-861
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• 2009

This study was performed to assess the risk factors associated with hypertension from Jan/2003 to Feb/2003. The subjects were 1,296 people (496 males, 800 females) aged 40 years and over living in Andong rural area. The hypertensive group was composed of 602 people (272 males, 330 females), who were diagnosed as hypertension ($SBP{\geq}140\;mmHg$ or $DBP{\geq}90\;mmHg$) for the first time at this health examination. The mean anthropometric values of body weight, body fat (%), body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were significantly higher in hypertensive group than those in normal group. However, the biochemical measurements such as total-cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL-C, LDL-C and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels did not show any difference between two groups except TG in female. The risk factors of interest in the development of hypertension were analyzed using the multiple logistic regression and expressed as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidential interval (CI). The results showed that age, sex, obesity, waist circumference, alcohol drinking and meat intakes were risk factors for hypertension. In contrast, cigarette smoking, exercise and the increased fish, fruit and vegetable (except Kimchi) consumption, blood lipid levels and FBG were not linked with the development of hypertension. Nutrient intakes were not associated with hypertension, either. In conclusion, we cannot assert that this study established the existence of the cause-and-effect relationship between nutrient intakes and risk of hypertension in the subjects, but it does suggest that this is a question worth investigating further using a larger scale of case-control study to determine how the past exposure to some nutrient or dietary component relates to the development of the disease.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.153-159
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• 1997

Pokeweed, a polycarpic plant, has been used as herbage medicine, vegetable or dye. It, however, is known as an aggressive plant in the vicinity of the industrial area evolving air pollutants. The experiment was done to determine the effect of priming using nitrates, germination temperature and light quality on germination of its seed to get information on the optimum germination process as well as its establishment. The daily percent germination was measured to 12 days after sowing since its seeds were treated by two different nitrates [KNO$_3$, Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$]. their different concentrations (0, 50, 150, 300mM), then treatment duration (1, 3, 6 days), different germination temperature (day /night; 30/30, 30/20, 20/30, 20/2$0^{\circ}C$) and light quality (red, white, dark) before or during germination. The percent germination was greater in the KNO$_3$ treatment than in the Ca(NO$_3$)$_2$ but in the priming treatment with KNO$_3$ in comparison with no-priming. In the priming treatment with KNO$_3$, the percent germination was increased with its increased concentration to 150mM although decreased with delayed duration to 6 days. Regardless of light quality, the greater percent germination was shown in the order of 2$0^{\circ}C$ constant and 20/3$0^{\circ}C$ alternative, 3$0^{\circ}C$ constant, 30/2$0^{\circ}C$ alternative temperature. The germination was less in the dark during germination than in the illumination in which the red light had greater percent germination compared to white light. The seeds primed with KNO$_3$ were germinated under the alternative temperature even in the dark condition.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.374-381
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• 2010

This study was performed to examine the diet effect of green coffee bean extract on body fat reduction. Overweight/obese women (body mass index > $23\;kg/m^2$ or body fat > 27%) who were not diagnosed any type of disease were included in this study and subjects were randomly assigned to green coffee bean extract group (n = 23) or placebo group (n = 20). We measured anthropometric parameters, abdominal fat distribution by computed tomography and blood components before and after the 8-weeks intervention period. After supplementation, green coffee bean extract group showed a significant reduction of body weight (p < 0.01), body fat percent (p < 0.01), total fat area at L1 vertebra (-4.8%, p < 0.05) and visceral fat area at L4 vertebra was(-4.7%, p < 0.05). In addition, total fat area and visceral fat area at L1 vertebra decreased significantly in green coffee bean extract group compared with placebo group (p < 0.05, p < 0.05 respectively). The result of present study demonstrated that the supplementation of green coffee bean extract for 8 weeks can give beneficial effects on body fat reduction and visceral fat accumulation.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.459-470
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of the present study is to identify the relationship between practicing healthy diet and metabolic syndrome indicators in Koreans. Methods: This research is a cross-sectional study based on the 2013~2014 Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey. This study investigated 6,748 adults aged 19 to 64 yr (19~49 yr: n = 4,230, 50~64 yr: n = 2,518) to examine practice of healthy diet and metabolic syndrome indicators. In this study, according to practicing healthy diet, we classified subjects into the "Practicing healthy diet (PHD)" group (19~49 yr: n = 1,782, 50~64 yr: n = 937) and "Non-practicing healthy diet (NPHD)" group (19~49 yr: n = 2,448, 50~64 yr: n = 1,581). PHD score was determined by adding the number of practicing factors: adequate fat intake, sodium intake ${\leq}2,000mg/day$, fruit & vegetable intake ${\geq}500g/day$, and using nutrition label information in food selection. Results: Female adults had a larger proportion of subjects who practiced a healthy diet compared to male adults (p < 0.001), and the percentages of 19~49 yr and 50~64 yr were 40.46% and 37.07%, respectively. The PHD group consumed significantly more calcium, vitamin $B_1$, $B_2$, and vitamin C density compared to the NPHD group. In 50~64 yr females, the subjects practicing healthy diet (PHD score ${\geq}2$) was inversely associated with risk of abdominal obesity (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54~0.93, p value = 0.0131) and metabolic syndrome (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.52~0.94, p value = 0.0166) after adjustments for multiple confounding factors, compared with the lower PHD score (PHD score ${\leq}1$). Conclusion: Good dietary practice such as adequate fat intake, sodium intake ${\leq}2,000mg/day$, sufficient fruit & vegetable intake, and using nutrition label information in food selection could be useful in decreasing metabolic syndrome risk of Korean adults.