• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.196-205
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• 2010

This study evaluated the effects of carnitine and/or GABA supplementation on immune function, lipid profiles and some vitamins in mice chronically administered alcohol. BALB/c mice were fed with either AIN-76 diet (N), control diet plus alcohol (4 g/kg bw, E), E plus 0.5 g/kg bw carnitine (EC), E plus 0.5 g/kg bw GABA (EG), or E plus 0.5 g/kg bw carnitine plus 0.5 g/kg bw GABA (ECG) for 6 weeks. Administrations of the carnitine and/or GABA prevented alcohol-induced increases in triglyceride concentrations in serum and liver. However, there was no difference among the supplemented groups. Serum vitamin E concentration was higher in mice supplemented with EC and EG, but not in mice given ECG. Phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages was increased in EG group compared with E group. The subpopulations of murine splenocyte's TH cells were increased significantly in EC and ECG groups. These data suggest that immune function, lipid profiles and some immune-related lipid soluble vitamins were positively changed by supplementation of carnitine or GABA, but do not show any synergistic effect of mixed supplementation.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.218-226
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• 2008

The present study evaluated the effects of various dosages of soybean isoflavone extract on lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant activities in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The one normal control group was fed an AIN-76-based experimental diet and four diabetic groups were fed the same diet, supplemented with four different levels of soybean isoflavone extract for seven weeks. The daily dosages of pure isoflavone for four diabetic groups were set to be 0 mg (diabetic control), 0.5 mg (ISO-I), 3.0 mg (ISO-II) and 30.0 mg (ISO-III) per kilogram of body weight, respectively. The plasma total cholesterol levels and the TBA-reactive substances contents in the liver and kidney were significantly lowered in ISO-II and ISO-III groups compared to those in the diabetic control group. The levels of plasma HDL-cholesterol, plasma vitamin A and hepatic superoxide dismutase were significantly increased in those two groups compared with the diabetic control group. The present study demonstrated the possibility that the diets supplemented with 3.0 mg and 30.0 mg of soybean isoflavone extract may have beneficial effects on the plasma lipids, tissue lipid peroxidation and partly on antioxidant system in diabetic animals and there were no significant differences between the ISO-II and ISO-III groups. The results suggest that the effective daily dosage level of isoflavone for improving lipid metabolism in diabetic rats may be above 3.0 mg per kilogram body weight.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.788-795
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• 2002

This study described the effect of levan (9-2,6-linked fructose polymer) feeding on serum lipids, adiposity and uncoupling protein (UCP) expression in growing rats. Levan was synthesized from sucrose using bacterial levansucrase. UCP is a mitochondrial protein that uncouples the respiratory chain from oxidative Phosphorylation and generates heat instead of ATP, thereby increase energy expenditure. We observed that 3% or 5% levan containing diet reduced serum triglyceride levels, visceral and peritoneal fat mass and induced the UCP expression in rats fed high fat diet in previous study. To determine whether the intake of low level of levan may have the hypolipidemic and anti-obesity effect, 4 wk old Sprague Dawley male rats were fed AIN-76A diet for 6 wk, and sub-sequently fed 1% or 2% levan solution for further 5 wk. Intake of 1% levan in liquid form reduced serum triglyceride and serum total cholesterol levels to 50% and 66% of control group, respectively. Although epididymal and peritoneal fat masses were not affected by levan feeding, visceral fat mass was lower in 1% levan group compared to control group. The expression of UCP2 mRNA in brown adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and hypothalamus and UCP3 mRNA in skeletal muscle were not changed by levan feeding, while the UCP2 mRNA in white adipose tissue was up-regulated by levan feeding. In conclusions, intake of low level of levan solution reduced serum triglyceride and total cholesterol, restrained the visceral fat accumulation and increased UCP expression in white adipose tissue in rats. This study suggests that hypolipidemic and anti-obesity effect of levan attributed to anti-lipogenesis and inefficeint energy utilization by up-regulation of UCPs.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Food Science of Animal Resources Conference
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• 1999.06a
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• pp.97-117
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• 1999

This study was performed to investigate the effect of pork on the cadmium detoxification in rats. Ninety male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing $125.3{\pm}1.4g$ were divided into five groups based on cadmium treatment(0, 25, 50, 100, 250ppm) and five levels of Cd in AIN-76 purified diet had been fed for 8 weeks. Cadmium was supplemented with a form of $CdCl_2$.. During following 8 weeks of intoxication, casein was replaced by pork and the effect of pork on cadmium- detoxification was compared with casein. After 8 weeks of Cd intake had resulted in apparent cadmium intoxication; reduced growth rate, enlarged kidney and testis, decreased hematocrit value and hemoglobin content in response to the supplemented Cd levels in the diets. Discontinuing cadmium feeding, the body weights were relieved. Pork-fed groups seemed to have higher body weight than casein-fed groups. Hemoglobin content and hematocrit value became normal range at detoxification stage. The weights of liver, kidney, and testis were decreased along with cadmium intake. However, organ weight ratio was not affected by cadmium. Cadmium accumulation in liver and kidney showed a tendency to increase in the cadmium-exposed groups. The levels of metallothionein were also significantly elevated in the tissues of liver in response to the levels of Cd supplemented(p<0.05). Cadmium concentration in kidney was two times higher than that in liver. Cadmium removal rate of liver was higher than that of kidney. Cadmium accumulation of the pork-fed group was lower than that of casein. Especially, the factors which affected the cadmium contents in kidney were $Cd^{***}$ and $Cd{\times}pork^{***}$. Metallothionein(MT) was increased with cadmium, and MT was not likely to be affected by pork. Based on the findings from gross lesion, rats fed 250ppm of Cd were externally emaciated, had exposed penis and observed atrophies of kidney and testis. Histopathological observation seemed that the liver of groups feeding Cd supplemented diets showed cellular degeneration and accumulation of eosinophilic materials in the capillaries. In kidney, rats fed Cd diets had shown tubular epithelium degeneration and lesions of basophilic materials, while testis were weakened in numbers of spermatid and sporadically enlarged of giant cells. But the rats administered cadmium-detoxified diet supplemented pork for 7 weeks were shown individually decreased lesions compared with the rats supplied with casein diet.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.117-123
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• 2002

This study was Performed to investigate the effect of kimchi intake on antiaging characteristics in the brain of senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM) in terms of free radical production and anti-oxidative enzymes. Two hundreds twenty SAM (20 mice) were divided into four groups and fed kimchi diet for 12 months. Experimental groups were kimchi free AIN-76 diet (control) group, Korean cabbage kimchi diet (KCK)group, 30% mustard leaf added Korean cabbage kimchi diet (MKCK) group, and mustard leaf kimchi diet (MLK) group. Concentrations of total free radical, OH radical and $H_2O_2$ of control group increased up to 123%, 262% and 174% of initial value (p<0.05) after one year. Increase in free radical production in kimchi groups due to aging was decreased by kimchi feeding. Among kimchi groups. MKCK and MLK groups showed greater inhibiting effect against free radical production than KCK. The concentration of TBARS in the bruin of control group also significantly increased up to 362% of initial value as aged (p<0.05) and production of TBARS in kimchi groups were decreased. When the activities of Cu, Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, GSH-px and catalase of kimchi groups were compared to those of control at the same experimental period, anti-oxidative enzyme activities of kimchi groups were lower than those of control (p<0.05). But GSH/GSSG in kimchi groups were higher compared to control. In conclusion, decrease in free radical production and increase in anti-oxidative enzyme activities were observed from kimchi groups suggesting that kimchi might have important role on retarding aging. Among kimchi variety tested in this experiment, MKCK and MLK seem to have greater effect on inhibiting free radical production and increasing anti-oxidative enzyme activities than KCK.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.7
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• pp.846-851
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Puerariae Flos extracts on antioxidative potential, free radical generation and the lipid levels in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 2 diet groups: AIN-76 diet (control group) and modified AIN-76 diet (cholesterol 0.5%) with 0.5% Puerariae Flos extracts for 4 weeks. Body weight and feed efficiency ratios from both groups were not significantly different. Antioxidative potentials significantly increased in the group fed Puerariae Flos extracts compared to control group (p<0.05). However, there was no difference in free radical generation. The weight of organs, such as heart, kidney, liver, and spleen, in rats were not different in both groups. The ratio HDL cholesterol to total cholesterol in the Puerariae Flos group was significantly higher than in the control group, while the other serum lipid parameters (total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, and phospholipids) were not different between the two groups. These results imply that supplementation of Puerariae Flos extracts may beneficially contribute to improve antioxidant potential and to decrease the lipid levels in the blood.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.706-709
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• 2003

Chromium (Cr) plays an important role in body composition. Several human and animal studies of Cr supplementation have reported increases in lean body mass, often with concurrent decreases in body fat. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effects of supplemental Cr as chromium methionine (CrMet) on obesity index, body fat and serum lipids in rats. Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of nine rats. Rats received a AIN-76 semipetrified basal diet or high fat diet supplemented with 300 ppb CrCl$_3$and CrMet as well as no added dietary Cr (referred to as Control, HF, HFCr, and HFCrMet). After 6 weeks on the respective diets, animals were killed and analyzed for differences in serum lipid concentrations. Rats supplemented with CrMet had a slightly higher naso-anal length and final body weight was decreased. The lowest obesity index and body fat content were found in CrMet supplemented animals (p〈0,05). Supplemental CrMet decreased the total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol. The significant differences observed were total cholesterol concentration for CrMet supplementation. These indicate that supplemental Cr, as chromium methionine, resulted in a significant decrease of obesity index and body fat and influence serum lipid concentrations, possibly by decreasing the body fat.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.365-372
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Owing to health concerns related to the consumption of traditional snacks high in sugars and fats, much effort has been made to develop functional snacks with low calorie content. In this study, a new recipe for Korean rice cookie, dasik, was developed and its antioxidative, lipid-lowering, and anti-inflammatory effects and related mechanisms were elucidated. The effects were compared with those of traditional rice cake dasik (RCD), the lipid-lowering effect of which is greater than that of traditional western-style cookies. MATERIALS/METHODS: Ginseng-added brown rice dasik (GBRD) was prepared with brown rice flour, fructooligosaccharide, red ginseng extract, and propolis. Mice were grouped (n = 7 per group) into those fed a normal AIN-76 diet, a high-fat diet (HFD), and HFD supplemented with RCD or GBRD. Dasik in the HFD accounted for 7% of the total calories. The lipid, reactive oxygen species, and peroxynitrite levels, and degree of lipid peroxidation in the plasma or liver were determined. The expression levels of proteins involved in lipid metabolism and inflammation, and those of antioxidant enzymes were determined by western blot analysis. RESULTS: The plasma and hepatic total cholesterol concentrations in the GBRD group were significantly decreased via downregulation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2 and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (P < 0.05). The hepatic peroxynitrite level was significantly lower, whereas glutathione was higher, in the GBRD group than in the RCD group. Among the antioxidant enzymes, catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were significantly upregulated in the GBRD group (P < 0.05). In addition, nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-${\kappa}B$) expression in the GBRD group was significantly lower than that in the RCD group. CONCLUSIONS: GBRD decreases the plasma and hepatic cholesterol levels by downregulating cholesterol synthesis. This new dasik recipe also improves the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory status in HFD-fed mice via CAT and GPx upregulation and NF-${\kappa}B$ downregulation. These effects were significantly higher than those of RCD.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 2006

Although garlic has been reported to have impressive effects in lowering serum lipids, there have been controversial evaluations on these effects. To find the potential fator causing the inconsistency in the previous studies, we examined the effects of two types of garlic according to the producing-area (hangihyung garlic, nangihyung garlic) on serum lipid profiles and leptin level. Thirthy six of 4 wk old Sprague Dawley male rats fed high fat diet (40% of calories as fat) for 6 wks to induce obesity, and subsequently fed 5% garlic powder supplemented (HF+H: hangihyung garlic powder, HF+N: nangihyung garlic powder) high fat diets (w/w) for further 5 wk. For the comparison, normal control group fed AIN-76A diet (11.7% of calories as fat). Supplementation with hangihyung and nangihyung garlic resulted in a significant reduction of high fat induced body weight gain, white fat (i.e., epididymal, visceral and peritoneal fat) development, adipocyte hypertrophy and the development of hyperinsulinemia and hyperliptinemia. Serum triglyceride and total cholesterol level was greatly reduced by hangihyung garlic supplementation (p<0.05). The HDL-cholesterol level was increased by dietary hangihyung and nangihyung garlic. There were slight non-significant decreases in triglyceride and total cholesterol of HF+N group as compared to those of HF group. Leptin level of HF+H group was found to be significantly lower than HF group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference among N group and HF+N group. These results suggest that hangihyung garlic may lead to the higher activity in improving lipid profiles than nangihyung garlic. Whether the hypolipidemic effect of garlic increases in a species-dependent has yet to be determined and awaits further research.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.861-868
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• 2013

This study investigated the effects of Opuntia ficus-indica and other natural resources (OF) in db/db and C57 mice. Plasma triglycerides, cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, fecal bile acid excretion, the histopathological appearance of the liver, and cholesterol-related mRNA expression were determined. Mice (12 db/db mice and 12 C57 mice) were assigned to diabetic-control (db-C), diabetic-OF treatment (db-OF), normal-control (C57-C), and normal-OF treatment (C57-OF) groups. Animals in the control group were fed an AIN-76 recommended diet and animals in the OF group were fed an experimental diet containing 5% of OF for 4 weeks. Concentrations of total plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-cholesterol decreased with the administration of OF. In contrast, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels were minimally affected by the experimental diet. Plasma AST and ALT showed lower activities in the db-OF group, and the fecal excretion of bile acid was reduced in the db-OF group. Histopathological analysis of the liver showed that fatty liver conditions in the db-OF group were more improved than db-C. Low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) and cholesterol 7${\alpha}$-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) mRNA expression were increased in the db-OF group as well. However, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA-R) mRNA expression was lower in the db-OF group. These results provide experimental evidence about improved lipid metabolism of the OF feeding in the db/db mice.