• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.658-663
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• 1993

This study was designed to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin E levels on lipid metabolism in caffeine-fed rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on diet containing one of three levels of vitamin E(37.5, 750, or 1,500mg/kg diet0 which was with or without 0.3% caffeine. The rats were sacrificed after 5 and 10 weeks of the feed periods. Results obtained from this study were as follows ; Net weight gain, feed intake and FER in the caffeine added groups were significantly decreased as compared to those of only vitamin E fed group. Liver and kidney weights tended to increase in the caffeine added groups, but spleen and heart weights were not affected. Total lipid contents in serum and liver tended to decrease as dietary vitamin E became increasing and caffeine diet adding. Serum total cholesterol content tended to increase in the caffeine added group. But, liver cholesterol content were decreased. And the higher the dietary vitamin E level became, the lower serum and liver cholesterol contents were. Serum and liver triglyceride contents were significantly lower in the caffeine added groups than in the only vitamin E fed groups. The degree of decrease was more evident as dietary vitamin E level became more increasing. Serum aminotransferase activity was not affected in all experimental groups.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.511-516
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• 1993

This study was conducted to investigate the biochemical efforts of old antler extracts on the enzyme activities in serum of galactosamine (GaIN)-induced rats. Male rats of Sprague-Dawley strain weighing the average of 110$\pm$10g were divided into four groups and each group was fed either AIN-76 diet or modified AIN-76 diet with old antler extracts (water extract, neutral extract, ether extract) for four weeks. CaIN (400mg/ kg of body weight) was injected to CaIN treatment groups intraperitoneally on the same day every week. CaIN treatment decreased growth performance of rats. But dietary supplementation of old antler extracts prevented this decrement. Serum aminotransferase activities were increased by CaIN treatment, but this increment was reduced by feeding the old antler extracts, and the effect of water extract was the most prominent of the old antler extracts. Activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in serum of CaIN treatment groups were higher than those of control groups and were decreased by old antler extracts supplementation.

• Annals of Laboratory Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.518-523
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• 2018

Background: Lipemia, a significant source of analytical errors in clinical laboratory settings, should be removed prior to measuring biochemical parameters. We investigated whether lipemia in serum/plasma samples can be removed using a method that is easier and more practicable than ultracentrifugation, the current reference method. Methods: Seven hospital laboratories in Spain participated in this study. We first compared the effectiveness of ultracentrifugation ($108,200{\times}g$) and high-speed centrifugation ($10,000{\times}g$ for 15 minutes) in removing lipemia. Second, we compared high-speed centrifugation with two liquid-liquid extraction methods-LipoClear (StatSpin, Norwood, USA), and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane (Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). We assessed 14 biochemical parameters: serum/plasma concentrations of sodium ion, potassium ion, chloride ion, glucose, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate-aminotransferase, calcium, and bilirubin. We analyzed whether the differences between lipemia removal methods exceeded the limit for clinically significant interference (LCSI). Results: When ultracentrifugation and high-speed centrifugation were compared, no parameter had a difference that exceeded the LCSI. When high-speed centrifugation was compared with the two liquid-liquid extraction methods, we found differences exceeding the LCSI in protein, calcium, and aspartate aminotransferase in the comparison with 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane, and in protein, albumin, and calcium in the comparison with LipoClear. Differences in other parameters did not exceed the LCSI. Conclusions: High-speed centrifugation ($10,000{\times}g$ for 15 minutes) can be used instead of ultracentrifugation to remove lipemia in serum/plasma samples. LipoClear and 1,1,2-trichlorotrifluoroethane are unsuitable as they interfere with the measurement of certain parameters.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.48-54
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• 2019

Purpose: Liver metabolism plays a pivotal role in the development of metabolic disorders. We aimed to investigate the clinical and laboratory risk factors associated with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in young adolescents from an urban population in Korea. Methods: A population of 120 apparently healthy adolescents aged 12-13 years was included in the cross-sectional design study; 58 were overweight or obese and 62 were of normal weight. We estimated anthropometric and laboratory measurements, including waist-to-height ratio, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, aspartate aminotransferases (AST), ALT, and lipid profiles. Results: The mean ages of the overweight or obese and normal weight participants were $12.9{\pm}0.3$ and $13.0{\pm}0.3years$, respectively. Height, weight, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, AST, ALT, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglyceride, insulin, and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score were significantly higher and the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and quantitative insulin-sensitivity check index were significantly lower in the overweight/obese participants in comparison to the normal-weight participants (all P<0.05). In multivariate linear regression analysis, waist-to-height ratio, systolic blood pressure, and HOMA-IR score were independently and positively associated with serum ALT levels. Conclusion: Screening for ALT levels in adolescents may help to differentiate those at risk of metabolic abnormalities and thus prevent disease progression at an early age.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.276-283
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• 2005

Purpose : Visceral fat accumulation plays a major role in metabolic complications of obesity. It is known that nonalcoholic fatty liver in obese adults is associated with visceral fat accumulation. Body mass index(BMI) is used as the index of obesity in children. The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation of BMI and visceral adipose tissue(VAT), and the correlation of BMI, body fat distribution, aminotransferases, and severity of fatty liver. Methods : Twenty three obese children with fatty liver diagnosed by non-contrast abdominal computed tomography(CT) were included in this study. Data on BMI, aminotransferase levels were collected from clinical records. Visceral adipose area was evaluated with CT. Results : BMI had a singnificant correlation with VAT(r=0.51719, P=0.0115). The severity of fatty liver had no significant correlations with BMI(r=-0.11938, P=0.5876), VAT(r=-0.31234, P=0.1468), aspartate aminotransferase(AST)(r=0.12729, P=0.5628) or alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(r=-0.00179, P=0.9935). Conclusion : BMI in obese children was correlated with VAT. But the severity of fatty liver cannot be assessed by BMI, VAT or aminotransferase levels.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2003

Changes of plasma DNA contents and serum biochemical values were measured in rats administered with lead acetate to investigate the in vivo cytotoxic effects of lead and examine the usefulness of these in vivo cytotoxicity changes as indicators of lead exposure and diagnosis of lead poisoning. Rats were given once intraperitonealy with lead acetate (1.6, 8, 40 and 200 mg/kg b.w) and the changes of plasma DNA contents and serum biochemical values were measured at the time of 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the administration of lead acetate. Plasma DNA contents began to increase at 2 hours after the administration of lead acetate in the treatment groups of 8, 40 and 200 mg/kg b.w dose-dependently and significantly compared with control group. These DNA increases of each dosage group were continued until 24, 48 and 72 hours and the maximum levels of DNA (4.02, 10.67 and 14.10 times of control) were arrived at 8, 8 and 4 hours after the each treatment, respectively. Among 10 serum biochemical indicators, the activities of creatine kinase were increased to maximum level (6.55 times of control) at 2 hours after the administration and remained to be significantly higher than that of control by 8 hours in the treatment group of 200 mg, however, after 48 hours, the levels in the treatment groups of 40 mg above were lower than that of control. The values of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase were higher than that of control from 2 to 24 hours in the treatment group of 200 mg. Maximum levels of these enzymes were 3.34, 3.00 and 3.19 times of control, respectively. Both of alkaline phosphatase and triglyceride values in the treatment groups were decreased compared with control. In the case of alka-line phosphatse, the values were significanly decreased from 24 hours and more severely decreased until 72 hours in the treatment groups of 40 mg above (p<0.01). The minimum value was 0.36 times of control in the 200 mg group. The values of triglyceride were significantly decreased in the tratment groups of 40 mg above (p<0.01), but the values were not different significantly among the treatment groups. This study demonstrates that plasma DNA content and serum biochemical values such as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and triglyceride are valuable as biomarkers for exposure assessment and diagnosis of lead poisoning.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.176-182
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• 2014

Haw (Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge) has been used in traditional medicine for treating various ailments such as obesity and digestive trouble in Far East countries, including Korea. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of feral haw on hepatic functional enzymes in dyslipidemic rats. Four groups of male rats (Sprague Dawley strain) were fed different diets for 5 weeks: NND (normal-nondyslipidemic diet) group, NNDH (normal-nondyslipidemic diet + haw extract) group, CDD (control-dyslipidemic diet) group and DDH (dyslipidemic diet + haw extract) group. ALP (alkaline phosphatase), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) activities were significantly higher in the CDD group than the NND group. However, haw extract supplement significantly reduced hepatic functional enzyme activities compared to the CDD group. Lipid deposition of the DDH group decreased compared to the CDD group. The size of adipose tissue decreased significantly in the DDH group compared to the CDD group. These results suggest that feral haw could be used as a food resource and functional food material.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.132-141
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• 2017

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of dietary metabolic energy (ME) on blood parameters in duck under heat stress. A total of 240 meat ducks Cherry valley (Anas platyrhynchos) were assigned into four treatment groups with a randomized block design for 42 days. The four treatments were: ME 2900 kcal/kg, ME 3000 kcal/kg, ME 3100 kcal/kg, and ME 3200 kcal/kg. Blood lipid profiles was higher in ME 2900 but lower in ME 3100 and ME 3200 than that of ME 3000 (p < 0.05). Blood aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were higher in ME 3100 and ME 3200 compared those in ME 3000 (p < 0.05). The blood red cell and platelet profiles were increased in ME 3100 and ME 3200, but reduced in ME 2900 compared to those in ME 3000 (p < 0.05). Among blood electrolytes, chloride ($Cl^-$) concentration was decreased in ME 2900 compared to that in ME 3000. Blood gas $PCO_2$ was reduced in ME 2900 compared to that in ME 3000 (p < 0.05). Blood immunoglobulin (IgG) level was reduced in ME 2900 compared to that in ME 3000 (p < 0.05). Level of stress hormone, corticosterone was increased in ME 2900, but decreased in ME 3100 and ME 3200 compared to that in ME 3000 (p < 0.05).

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.315-326
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• 2017

This study was investigated the biochemical mechanism on reducing blood lipids in second-generation rats fed diet with different omega 6 to omega 3 fatty acid ratio. The experiment treatment groups were classified into the groups with the omega 6 to omega 3 ratios of 0 (control group), 1:1, 8:1, and 19:1, respectively. The levels of the blood triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and glucose were lowest in the group with the omega 6 to omega 3 ration of 1:1. The levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and phospholipid were highest in the group with the omega 6 to omega 3 ration of 1:1. The HMG-CoA reductase activity was suppressed in the groups with the omega 6 to omega 3 ratio of 1:1 and 8:1 compared with that in the control group, but the excretion of sterol through feces was promoted. The blood omega 6 to omega 3 ratio decreased in a concentration-dependent manner depending on the increase in the omega 6 to omega 3 ratio within the ingested diet. The results of this study demonstrated a new finding that when the parent generation and second-generation rats ingested the diet with the omega 6 to omega 3 ratio of below 8:1, harmful lipids in the blood were reduced, the liver functions were maintained, and the growth was promoted due to the nutrient metabolism activation mechanism.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.213-218
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• 2007

Objectives : Effects of Fructus Foeniculi extract on liver function were investigated in carbon tetrachloride(CCl4) intoxicated rats. Methods : Thirty two male Sprague-Dawley rats with mean weight of $227.28{\pm}7.92g$ were used in these experiments and housed with food and water ad libitum. Fructus Foeniculi extract was administerd at dose 100mg/kg/day and 200mg/kg/day p.o. for 2 weeks after that CCl4 was treated 3 times at dose of 2.5ml/kg, p.o. in alternate day basis. Then serum AFP(${\alpha}$-Fetoprotein), Total protein, Albumin, Triglyceride, Total cholesterol concentrations and ALP (Alkaline phosphatase), AST(Aspartate Aminotransferase), ALT(Alanine Aminotransferase), ${\gamma}$-GT( ${\gamma}$-Glutamyl transferase), LDH(Lactate Dehydrogenase) activities were determined with commercial kit by autoanalyzer. Results : Plasma ${\alpha}$-fetoprotein and total protein concentration showed a tendency to decrease in Fructus Foeniculi extract-treated groups. However, plasma albumin concentration showed no significant differences in all treatment groups. Activity of plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in Fructus Foeniculi extract-treated groups showed a lower value than that of control group. Alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase activities showed a tendency to decrease in Fructus Foeniculi treated groups. However, ${\gamma}$-glutamyl transferase activity showed no significant difference in all treated groups. Concentration of plasma triglyceride and total cholesterol showed a high level in CCl4 intoxicated rats but not in Fructus Foeniculi treated groups. Conclusion : Reviewing these experimental results, it appears that Fructus Foeniculi extract have recovering effect against liver injury.