• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.133-139
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• 2015

Purpose: There is a fair amount of evidence indicating that increased risk of obesity and insulin resistance is associated with postmenopausal state, but can be modulated by diet and exercise. In this study, we explored whether a Pueraria lobata root-based supplement containing Rehmannia glutinosa (PR) and/or aerobic treadmill exercise can modify the metabolic changes associated with estrogen deficiency. Methods: Seventy rats were randomly assigned to the following groups for 8 weeks (n=10 per group): SHAM, sham-operated; PR0, ovariectomized (OVX) control; PR200, OVX with PR200 mg/kg B.W; PR400, OVX with PR400 mg/kg B.W; EPR0, OVX with exercise; EPR200, OVX with exercise and PR200 mg/kg B.W; EPR400, OVX with exercise and PR400 mg/kg B.W. Results: OVX induced significant increases in body weight, food intake, fat mass, LDL-cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose, confirming induction of menopausal symptoms. PR supplementation or exercise significantly suppressed the above mentioned changes through different regulatory elements in adipose tissue: PR supplement upregulated adiponectin gene expression and aerobic exercise upregulated adiponectin and insulin receptor gene expression and a combination of PR supplement and aerobic exercise showed an additive effect on adiponectin gene expression. Conclusion: Taken together, the results of this study suggest that PR supplement has a potential to provide health benefits in OVX rats through leptin and adiponectin secretion. In addition, the data suggest that combination of exercise and PR would have additive effects on metabolic dysfunction associated with estrogen deficiency.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.652-659
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• 2015

The aim of this study was to provide nutrition information to consumers by analyzing crude fat, saturated and trans fatty acids in commercial retort foods (n=70). The following sauce products of curries (n=21) and black-bean-sauces (n=16), other sauces (n=17) and instant cooking foods (n=16) were collected. Crude fat contents were quantified with the Rose-Gottlieb method using acid digestion. While saturated and trans fatty acids were examined by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector (FID). Crude fat, saturated and trans fatty acid content ranges were $0.47{\pm}0.42{\sim}12.80{\pm}0.07g/100g$, $0.24{\pm}0.02{\sim}17.41{\pm}0.41g/100g$, $0.00{\pm}0.00{\sim}0.46{\pm}0.05g/100g$, respectively. Maximum recovery of analysis values was crude fat (119.7%), saturated fat (119%) and trans fatty acid (90%) compared the actual amounts based on the reference value indicated on the nutrition label. The analyzed samples were found to be compliant with nutrition label standard, because the contents of crude fat, saturated fatty acid, trans fatty acid were less than 120% of the reference value indicated on the nutrition label in retort foods. Therefore, the nutrition information on retort foods available to consumers was found to be trustworthy.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2005.05a
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• pp.137-137
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• 2005

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.11
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• pp.1666-1671
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to provide trustworthy nutritional information by analyzing sugar contents of commercial retort foods. A total of 70 retort food samples were collected, which included curry (n=21), blackbean- sauce (n=16), sauce (n=17), and meat (n=16) from markets in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. Contents of sugars such as glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose, and lactose were analyzed in retort foods by using a high performance liquid chromatography-refractive index detector and compared to their assigned values on nutritional information labels. Analyzed sugar contents of curries, black-bean-sauces, sauces, and meats ranged from 1.05~4.63 g/100 g, 1.76~5.16 g/100 g, 0.35~25.44 g/100 g, and 1.98~11.07 g/100 g, respectively. Sauces were found to contain the highest amounts of total sugar. These analysis values were equivalent to the reference values indicated on nutrition labels, which were 40~119.5% for curries, 29~118% for black-bean-sauces, 18~118% for sauces, and 70~119.8% for meats. Therefore, this study provides reliable analytical values for sugar contents in retort foods.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.630-638
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• 2007

This study was performed to examine the combined effects of L-carnitine and isoflavone supplementation on weight reduction and body fat distribution in overweight women. Overweight/obese women (body mass index > $23kg/m^2$) who were not diagnosed any type of diseases were included in this study and sixty subjects ($41.1{\pm}1.5$ years, $25.9{\pm}0.3kg/m^2)$ were randomly assigned to a placebo (n=30) or a supplement group (n=30, L-carnitine 300 mg+isoflavone 40 mg/day). We measured anthropometric parameters, abdominal fat distribution by computerizd tomography and blood components before and after the 12 week intervention period. After the 12 weeks of supplementation, subjects in L-carnitine and isoflavone supplement group showed a significant reduction of body weight (p < 0.001), body fat % (p < 0.05), and waist to hip ratio (p < 0.01) whereas placebo group did not show any changes. In a CT-scanned results, total fat area at L4 level was significantly reduced by 8.1% (p < 0.01) with the reduction of visceral fat area (-11.1%, p < 0.001) and subcutaneous fat area (-7.0%, p < 0.05) in the supplement group. The supplementation of L-carnitine and isoflavone showed the significant improvement of HDL-C (p < 0.01) and apoB (p < 0.05) concentrations, however, change values in those markers were not significant compared with those of the placebo group. In addition, a significant increase of adiponectin level (p<0.001) was observed in the supplement group after the intervention. The result of present study demonstrated that supplementation of 300 mg L-carnitine and 40 mg isoflavone per day fur 12 weeks can give beneficial effects on weight reduction and visceral fat accumulation. These potential antiobesity supplement can produce more favorable effects when combined with lifestyle modification.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.171-178
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• 2018

Recently, for successful lactation, many breastfeeding mothers seek various products, including herbal medicine, dietary supplements, and prescribed medicines, to improve milk production. As demand for galactogogues grows, it is highly possible that pharmaceutical galactogogues may be adulterated with illegal products to maximize their efficacy. For continuous control and supervision of illegal products, we developed and validated a simple and sensitive LC-MS/MS method capable of simultaneously determining five galactogogues. Chromatographic separation was conducted using an Agilent Poroshell $120SB-C_{18}$ column with a mobile phase consisting of 20 mM ammonium formate (pH 5.4) and 100 % acetonitrile. The total run time was 13 min per analyte. The proposed method was performed according to the guidelines of the International Conference of Harmonization and it produced reliable results. This method showed high sensitivity and specificity, with a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantitation (LOQ) of 0.01-0.82 ng/mL and 0.02-2.45 ng/mL, respectively, for the solid- and liquid-type samples. Specificity was evaluated by analyzing matrix-blank samples spiked with the target compounds at LOQ levels, which provided a good separation of all peaks without interference. Additionally, the repeatability and intermediate precision were typically <15 %, whereas the recovery was 80-120 % of the values obtained using blank samples. Thus, we concluded that this method could be used for the identification and quantification of galactogogues in food or herbal products.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2018

Environmental stimuli can lead to the excessive accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is one of the risk factors for premature skin aging. Here, we investigated the protective effects of $7-MEGA^{TM}$ 500 (50% palmitoleic acid, 7-MEGA) against oxidative stress-induced cellular damage and its underlying therapeutic mechanisms in the HaCaT human skin keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells). Our results showed that treatment with 7-MEGA prior to hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced damage significantly increased the viability of HaCaT cells. 7-MEGA effectively attenuated generation of $H_2O_2$-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS), and inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced inflammatory factors, such as prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), and $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$). In addition, cells treated with 7-MEGA exhibited significantly decreased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and increased expression of procollagen type 1 (PCOL1) and Elastin against oxidative stress by $H_2O_2$. Interestingly, these protective activities of 7-MEGA were similar in scope and of a higher magnitude than those seen with 98.5% palmitoleic acid (PA) obtained from Sigma when given at the same concentration (100 nL/mL). According to our data, 7-MEGA is able to protect HaCaT cells from $H_2O_2$-induced damage through inhibiting cellular oxidative stress and inflammation. Moreover, 7-MEGA may affect skin elasticity maintenance and improve skin wrinkles. These findings indicate that 7-MEGA may be useful as a food supplement for skin health.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.811-817
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• 2016

Purpose: People have long been interested about antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin A and E to stay in healthy states. This present study provides trustworthy nutritional information and evaluates vitamin A and E contents in emphasized food items. Methods: Vitamin A or vitamin E emphasized foods including beverage, cereal, snack, chocolate product, other cocoa products, and sugar products were analyzed. The contents of vitamin A, E in samples were examined by high performance liquid chromatography. Vitamin A and vitamin E contents were compared with the labeled value indicated on the nutrition label. Results: Vitamin A (n=18) value ranged from 90% to 248% and vitamin E (n=20) value ranged between 96-413% of labeled value. Analyzed samples ranged more than 80% of the labeled value, which complied with food labeling rules. Conclusion: Providing accurate information for nutrition label is essential to confirm nutrient contents in foods. It will help to decide the adequate level of nutrient intake. Therefore, the nutrition labeling system should be supervised continuously with regular monitoring analysis.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.133-142
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• 2009

Objective : Recently, obesity has increased at an alarming rate and is now a worldwide health problem. Natural dietary supplement, $CharmSlim^{(R)}$(C), is mixed pills, which consists of beans, black sesames, kelps, onions, adlay seeds, anchovies, pyogo mushrooms, green tea. Our study was performed to determine the weight-loss effects of natural dietary supplement, based on natural ingredients, in mice fed high-fat diet with an abundance of carbohydrates. Methods : Four groups of male ICR mice were fed different diets during 6 weeks: normal diet(NOR), high-fat (15%, w/w) diet(HF), high-fat supplemented with natural dietary supplement powdered 5%(C5) and 10%(C10) groups. We measured the changes of food intake, body weight and adipose tissues weights. Also we examined levels of lipid profiles in serum. Results : Body weight, liver weight and food efficiency ratio were significantly higher in the HF group than in NOR group. After 6 weeks of treatment, body weight, liver weight and adipose tissues weights (epididymal, perinephric, visceral and BAT) were significantly decreased in the C10 group when compared to the control HF group. The C10 group had markedly lower serum levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride when compared with HF group. Conclusion : These results demonstrate that this dietary supplement can suppress the increased lipid profiles, body weight and fat gains, thus could be considered as an effective adjunct in the treatment of obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.480-486
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• 2010

Taking vitamin and mineral supplements is increasingly common with the rapid economic growth. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin and mineral supplement use among adults aged 20 or older from the third Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey data and to explore the effect of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors as well as nutrient intake on taking supplements. People who had participated in both a health questionnaire and a nutritional survey were selected, and 2,871 men and 3,555 women were finally included in this analysis. Both men and women with a higher level of education, those residing in a metropolitan area, and those with higher income were more likely to take supplements. Health behaviors were not significantly associated with taking supplements. Mean nutrient intake of all nutrients except energy intake was not significantly different in men or women taking supplements after adjusting for age, education, marital status, resident area, smoking, and energy intake. Compared to Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) for Koreans, most vitamins and minerals, except vitamin $B_2$ and calcium, were consumed at higher than the Recommended Intake (RI) without supplements. In conclusion, taking supplements such as vitamin $B_2$ and calcium may promote health and prevent disease. However, the type and frequency of other vitamin and mineral supplements consumed should be considered with caution.