• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.465-476
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• 2022

The importance of beneficial microorganisms, particularly probiotics, that coexist in the human body, is being increasingly recognized. Probiotics are representative health functional foods that provide health benefits to humans through the production of various metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids. However, the health benefits are strain-specific, and the use of each probiotic strain should follow guidelines that assure its safety. Accurate identification of the strain should be managed through genetic and phenotypic analyses of the strain. Besides, the functionality of probiotics should be disclosed in vitro and in vivo so that they can be used as legal functional ingredients (i.e., individual standards). In this review, we deal with the guidelines, including the technical factors related to probiotic strains. The common health effects of probiotic strains include proliferation of beneficial bacteria, control of harmful bacteria, and facilitation of bowel activities. Probiotics with various functionalities (e.g., body fat and cholesterol reduction, vaginal health, and improvement of skin's immune system) have been investigated as "individual standards of raw materials for health functional foods" provided by MFDS. In the future, various biotechnologies including synthetic biology can be applied to produce customized probiotics to improve human health.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.841-846
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• 2015

This study was investigated to determine the effect of microbial transglutaminase (MTG) with or without red bean protein isolate (RBPI) on the porcine myofibrillar protein (MP) gel functionality at different pH values (pH 5.75-6.5). Cooking yield (CY, %), gel strength (GS, gf), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were determined to measure gel characteristics. Since no differences were observed the interaction between 1% RBPI and pH, data were pooled. CY increased with the addition of 1% RBPI, while it was not affected by pH values. GS increased with increased pH and increased when 1% RBPI was added, regardless of pH. There were distinctive endothermic protein peaks, at 56.55 and 75.02℃ at pH 5.75, and 56.47 and 72.43℃ at pH 6.5 in DSC results, which revealed decreased temperature of the first peak with the addition of 1% RBPI and increased pH. In SEM, a more compact structure with fewer voids was shown with the addition of 1% RBPI and increased pH from 5.75 to 6.5. In addition, the three-dimensional structure was highly dense and hard at pH 6.5 when RBPI was added. These results indicated that the addition of 1% RBPI at pH 6.5 in MTG-mediated MP represent the optimum condition to attain maximum gel-formation and protein gel functionality.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.48
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• pp.58-64
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• 2003

To enjoy a healthy life, it is important to have a well-balanced diet. However, in today's society, there is an increase in the consumption of preprocessed foods and frequency of eating out. Also the western diet, which is becoming move popular worldwide, contains relatively high levels of protein and fat, and a low amount of fiber, Furthermore, the increased availability of favorite foods has created a condition were the individual diet is less variable. With these conditions, it is difficult to maintain a diet that is nutritionally balanced. With these unbalanced diets, which are difficult to change, there has been an increase in adult disease and health problems, such as colon and breast cancer, It is speculated that metabolites for carcinogens are produced from diet components and that intestinal bacteria contribute to the production of these metabolites. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the relationships between health, diet, and intestinal microflora. Soybean oligosaccharide is composed of water-soluble saccharides that have been extracted from soybean whey, a by-product from the production of soy protein. This is mainly a mixture of mono-, di-, tri-, and tetrasac-charides, with the principle components being the oligosaccharide raffinose and stachyose. When consumed by humans, the oligosaccharides cannot be digested in the human duodenal and small intestinal mucosa, and these are selectively utilized by beneficial bifidobacteria in intestines. The results of acute and subacute toxicity tests, soy-bean oligosaccharides were nonpoisonous. Soybean oligosaccharides promote the growth of indigenous bifido-bacteria in the colon which by their antagonistic effects, suppress the activity of putrefactive bacteria. Also, they reduce toxic metabolites, detrimental enzymes and plasma lipid, and increase in the frequency of bowel evacuation and fecal quantities. Consequently, soybean oligosaccharides as functional foods components have potential roles in the prevention and medical treatment of chronic adult diseases. The study of processing property and physiological function of soybean oligosacchavides and development of high oligosaccharide variety allow the creation of new and exciting foodstuffs that aye functional healthy.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2011

The elderly is a target group for health functional foods (HFFs). We surveyed 825 Korean elderly (71.4- years-of-age) for HFF use and significant variables for HFF use including demographic characteristics, health related variables, and nutritional beliefs. The prevalence of HFF use was 48.7%, and among all types of HFF, red ginseng products were eaten most frequently, followed by ginseng products, nutritional supplements, and mushroom products. The mean age of users of HFFs was lower than nonusers (p<.01). HFFs were eaten more frequently by subjects from families living with a spouse or unmarried children (p<.01) and those with higher levels of monthly pocket money (p<.001). HFFs were also eaten more frequently by subjects or their spouses with a higher education level (p<.001). The social activity participation ratio (p<.01) of subjects and the HFF usage ratio by the spouse (p<.001) were higher in users of HFF than in nonusers. Dietary assessment scores were not different between the two groups, and users had a more positive view concerning the potential health benefits of HFFs than did nonusers (p<.001). Most users of HFF ate HFFs "when they were healthy" (52.2%) and experienced some effect through HFF use (45.8%). Most users of HFFs received information on HFFs through their families or relatives (38.1%) and most purchased HFFs at the pharmacy or oriental medicine clinic (44.8%). HFF users preferred multivitamin- and Ca-supplements most among the vitamin and mineral supplements belonged to HFFs. The above results show that HFF use is widely spread among subjects, and that use of HFF is influenced by various factors. Thus, practical guidelines for HFF use should be provided for the elderly through elderly focused-nutrition education based upon significant variables and consumption behaviors for their HFF use of present study.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.1071-1076
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• 1999

This study was carried out to isolate the colonies of dominant fermented bacteria from Kimchi (Korean native fermented foodstuffs) and investigate their inhibitory potentials on mutagenesis and carcinogenesis induced by N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) as direct carcinogen. For this purpose, single cell gel electrophoresis technique (SCGE assay, or comet assay) which is a sensitive and rapid technique for detecting the presence of DNA strand breaks in individual cells was used. DNA damages of Kimchi isolates were compared with that of the positive control, MNNG. Among 3 isolates from Tongbaechu Kimchi, two isolates B-1 and B-2 showed antigenotoxicities (p<0.01). All 4 isolates from Yulmu Kimchi had antigenotoxicities (p<0.05). Also, 3 of 5 isolates from Chonggak Kimchi and 2 of 9 isolates from Kaktugi were antigenotoxic (p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively).

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.149-153
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• 2005

Lactic acid bacteria had been widely utilized in fermented foods such as fermented dairy products, traditional sauces, kimchi, fermented sausages, medicines or probiotic feed additives for a long time. LAB are also widely distributed in the mammalian gastrointestinal tracts, oral cavity, vagina, and various foods or soils. The most familiar examples of using LAB would be the fermented milk products, and those had become one of the favorite foods in Korea f3r more than 34 years of history. The main benefits of the fermented milk products were originally the improvement of the balance of intestinal flora to control diarrhea and congestion disorders, and gradually, they were chosen by the consumer preference of the taste. The very beginning of the fermented milk products in Korea was the Yakult type products in 1971, and it was the commencement of the solid foundation of the dairy industry and the understanding beneficial effect of probiotic yogurt. After middle of 80's, stirred type fermented milk products had been firstly produced, and it was the time that the domestic dairy industry took root in Korea. From 90's, functional fermented milk products were produced, and drink type yogurt sales a mount increased drastically, and these products began to be chosen not only with the values of nutrition but also with physiological functions. The health claims are classified into intestinal health, gastric health and hepatic health. The prospects for the Korean market are as follows; The majority of leading products would be the premium functional yogurt products as it was last year. It is because the sales of lower cost products shows slow-down, and industries tend to increase the commercial advertisements of premium functional yogurt products through mass media. These tendencies would make the market situation become more competitive.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2010

We surveyed 837 students attending elementary schoolchildren in Korea for health functional foods (HFF) consumption and significant variables for their HFF consumption including demographic characteristics, parental health concern on offsprings, food eating frequency of subjects and beliefs on potential efficacy of HFF by subjects. The consumption prevalence of HFF was 45.9%, and among all types of HFF, nutritional supplements were taken most frequently, followed by apricot extract-fermented products > lactic acid bacteria containing products > EPA/DHA containing products > red ginseng products. HFF consumption was higher in subjects had parents of high education level (p < .05) and those from families with a high socioeconomic status (p < .01) in comparison to each corresponding group. Health concern on offsprings by parents (p < .001) and consumption ratio of HFF by family (p < .001) was higher in consumers than in nonconsumers of HFF. Total score of dietary assessment was higher in consumers than in nonconsumers of HFF (p < .01), and consumers had a more positive view concerning the potential efficacy of HFF than did nonconsumers (p < .001). Most consumers of HFF took HFF when they were healthy (42.5%), and they did not feel special effects through HFF consumption (47.7%). Most consumers of HFF got the information on HFF from family and relatives (24.8%), and most of them purchased HFF at pharmacy or oriental medicine clinics (53.9%). HFF consumers preferred multi-vitamins and Ca-supplements most among the vitamin mineral supplements belonged to HFF. Given the widespread consumption of HFF by elementary schoolchildren, the reasonable consumption of these products for the contribution to their overall health and well-being should be emphasized through nutrition education for them and their family.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.864-872
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• 2005

Various types of functional foods for health (FFH) are popularly used among adolescents. We surveyed 858 students, $15.0 \pm$ 1.6 (14-18) years of age, attending general junior or senior high schools in Korea for FFH use and significant variables for their FFH use including demographic characteristics, food consumption frequency and nutritional beliefs. The use prevalence of FFH was $47.8\%$, and among all types of FFH, nutritional supplements were taken most frequently, followed by red ginseng products > enzyme containing products > plant extract-fermented products. FFH use was higher in older aged-group, subjects lived in small or middle city, and those from families with a high socioeconomic status in comparison to each corresponding group. Health concern on offsprings by parents and usage ratio of FFH by family was higher in users than in nonusers of FFH. Total score of dietary assessment was higher in users than in nonusers of FFH, and users had a more positive view concerning the potential health benefit of FFH than did nonusers. Most users of FFH took FFH when they were healthy ($50.7\%$) , and they did not feel special effects through the FFH use ($57.1\%$) . Most users of FFH got the information on FFH through family and relatives ($61.5\%$) , and most of them purchased FFH at pharmacy or oriental medicine clinics ($55.1\%$) . FFH users preferred vitamin C-and Ca-supplements most among the vitamin mineral supplements belonged to FFH. Given the widespread use of FFH by adolescents, the reasonable use of these products for the contribution to their overall health and well-being is a subject that is emphasized in nutrition education for them. (Korean J Nutrition 38(10) : 864$\sim$872,2005)

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.733-741
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• 2021

Jeju island is the largest island of South Korea, and has a relatively warm climate due to its geographical characteristics. These features have fostered development of various fermented foods distinct to Jeju island. Therefore, the functional activity of the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from the Jeju region's traditional fermented foods, including Kimchi and Jeotgal was characterized in this study. Fifteen strains were isolated from 6 types of fermented food. These strains include Enterococcus spp., Lactoplantibacillus spp., and Weisella spp. Several experiments were carried out to assess functional characteristics including acid resistance, bile resistance, hemolysis, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity, and cholesterol-lowering activity. Three isolated strains (J-4, J-6 and J-10) exhibited high acid resistance, while the other 3 isolates (J-1, J-4 and J-6) showed high bile salt resistance. The strains displayed varied DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity: 71.14-86.42% among the first 3 strains, and 50.11-75.11% among the remaining 3 strains. Cholesterol-lowering activities were in the range 15.74-82.90% for all isolated strains. In conclusion, these studies suggest that isolated LAB strains from Jeju island traditional fermented foods possess the potential for broader application in the food industry.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.150-159
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• 2010

We surveyed 848 university students, $21.4{\pm}2.5$ years of age, attending university in Seoul, Kongju, Chongyang-Gun in the Chungnam province of Korea, for their use of health functional foods (HFF) and for significant variables in this use, namely demographic characteristics, health related variables, dietary variables and nutritional beliefs. The prevalence of the use of HFF was 33.6%. Among all types of HFF, nutritional supplements were taken most frequently, followed by (in order) red ginseng products, apricot extract products and ginseng products. HFF use was higher in females (p<.05), in subjects living in a dormitory (p<.05) and those from families with a relative high socioeconomic status (p<.001). Self-health concern (p<.05) and usage ratio of HFF by family (p<.001) was higher in users than in nonusers of HFF. The total score of dietary assessment was higher in users than in nonusers of HFF (p<.001), and users had a more positive point of view concerning the potential health benefits of HFF than did nonusers (p<.001). Most users took HFF when they were healthy (37.2%) or when they were sick (27.4%). They did not feel special effects through the HFF use (49.8%). Most users got the information about the specifics of HFF from family and/or relatives (55.8%). Most of users confirmed nutrition facts when they purchased the HFF (70.9%), but a considerable number of users could not understand these nutrition facts (48.1%). Users preferred vitamin C- and Ca-supplements most among vitamin mineral supplements belonged to HFF. These results show that the use of HFF is common among university students. As well, the use of HFF by students is affected by various variables. Supplementary nutritional education should be undertaken among university students, in order to give them a reasonable guideline for the use of HFF, based upon influencing factors and usage behaviors that we learned from this survey.