• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.135-146
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• 2022

Obesity is closely associated with profound dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and fatty liver disease. Recent reports have suggested that alterations in gut microbiota can be linked to diet-induced obesity. In this study, the anti-obesity effects of Weissella confusa WIKIM51 isolated from kimchi were investigated, as evidenced by: i) reduced lipid accumulation and downregulated adipogenesis-related genes in 3T3-L1 adipocytes; ii) suppressed gains in body weight and epididymal fat mass; iii) reduced serum lipid levels, for example, triglyceride and total cholesterol; iv) increased serum adiponectin levels and reduced serum leptin levels; v) downregulated lipogenesis and upregulated β-oxidation-related genes in the epididymal fat; and vi) altered microbial communities. The collective evidence indicate the potential value of W. confusa WIKIM51 as a functional food supplement for the prevention and amelioration of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.217-223
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• 2022

Among various health functional foods, probiotics constitute the largest market. The interest in probiotics is increasing continuously according to the research results that gut health can control the immune function of the body, prevent diseases, and assist in treatment. In this study, dairy products and dressing sauces were developed using Ficus carica vinegar (FV), and their effects on colon cells were analyzed. When 5% FV was added to regular milk, the satisfaction with the resulting yogurt and ricotta cheese was high. The dairy product was Leuconostoc lactis, and the number of bacteria was more than 1.0×10⁷~1.0×10⁸ CFU/mL. The product satisfied the health food standards as probiotics. An examination of the cell viability of Caco-2 cells, which proliferate similarly to human intestinal epithelial cells, revealed an approximately 19% increase in the proliferation rate when treated with whey at 10%. An antioxidant activity of up to 58% was recorded when the cells were treated with whey at various concentrations. In addition, excellent adhesion was observed for L.latis isolated from whey. This study confirmed that dairy products made using traditionally fermented FV assist intestinal health effectively as the microbiome.

• ANNALS OF ANIMAL RESOURCE SCIENCES
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.97-107
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• 2017

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and gut health of broiler chickens when a dietary supplementation of multienzymes was added to diets, containing different energy levels. A total of 480 broiler chickens of similar body weight (Ross 308, 1-day-old) were randomly subjected to four treatments. The dietary treatments included a corn-soybean meal-based diet supplemented with: multienzyme (amylase+protease+ mannanase+xylanase+phytase), 0.05% enzyme, and different energy levels (3010 and 3060 kcal/kg). The experimental diets were fed to the chicks in a mash form for 35 days in two phases (1-21 d, phase I; and 22-35 d, phase II). During the overall period, chicks fed with diets supplemented with multienzymes had a better weight gain (p<0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than those fed with diets without enzymes. There was no difference in the growth rate and FCR among the chicks fed with diets supplemented with enzymes, even though the dietary energy levels were different. The apparent fecal and ileal digestibility of dry matter, gross, crude protein, calcium, and phosphorus were significantly enhanced (p<0.05). The population of cecal and ileal Lactobacillus spp. was significantly increased (p<0.05), and Clostridium spp. and coliforms were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in diets supplemented with enzymes. Villus height and villus height to crypt depth ratio in the small intestine was also significantly enhanced (p<0.05) in diets supplemented with enzymes. In conclusion, multienzyme supplementation had positive effects on the weight gain of broilers, FCR, digestibility of nutrients, and on the growth of intestinal microbiota.