• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.326-330
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• 2008

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) were identified in 1980's, since then it has been intensively studied due to its various beneficial health effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, anti-carcinogenic and anti-diabetic/obesity effects. Isomer specificity of a number of CLA isomers, especially predominant isomer 9Z,11E- and 10E,12Z-CLA, is now recognized. However, the less prevalent CLA isomers have not been well characterized. Recently, studies have reported the distinctively different effects of 9E, 11E-CLA in colon cancer cells, endothelial cells, and macrophage cells compared to the rest of CLA isomers. In this review, various effects of CLAs, especially anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic effects, will be discussed with focusing on the isomer-specific effects and potential mechanism of action of CLA. At last, recent studies about 9E,11E-CLA in in vitro and animal models will be discussed.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.143-151
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• 2017

The intestinal microbiota has been shown to have a vital role in various aspects of human health, and accumulating evidence has shown the beneficial effects of supplementation with bifidobacteria for the improvement of human health, ranging from protection against infection to various positive effects. However, maintaining bacterial cell viability during storage and gastrointestinal transit remains a challenge. Microencapsulation of probiotic bacterial cells provides protection against adverse conditions during processing, storage, and gastrointestinal passage. In this paper, we review the current knowledge, future prospects, and challenges of microencapsulation of probiotic Bifidobacterium spp.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.207-210
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• 2016

The efficacy of extracts of oat (Avena sativa L.) bran in loperamide-induced constipation in SD rats was evaluated. The rats were divided into six groups of five rats each. The animals in Group 1 (control) and Group 2 (constipated control) were administered with distilled water orally. Groups 3, 4 and 5 comprised of constipated rats administered 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight per day of extract of oat (Avena sativa L.) bran respectively while Group 6 were constipated rats administered bisacodyl (0.25 mg/kg body weight). Constipation was induced by oral administration of loperamide. The feeding characteristics, body weight, fecal properties were monitored. The results show that oats (Avena sativa L.) bran possesses laxative effects in loperamide-induced constipated rats.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1555-1558
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• 2015

Administration of dietary fibers has various health benefits, mainly by increasing numbers of beneficial bacteria and enhancing production of short-chain fatty acids in the colon. There has been growing interest in the addition of dietary fiber to human diet, due to its prebiotic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the prebiotic activity of inulin using an in vitro batch fermentation system with human fecal microbiota. Fermentation of inulin resulted in a significantly greater ratio of Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria to Enterobacteria strains as an index of healthy human intestine and elevated butyrate concentration, which are related to improvement of gut health.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.58-64
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the health effects of the general components of acorns in animals. In Korea, acorns have been used as food material in the form of acorn starch. Acorns contain tannin, gallic acid, digallic acid, and gallotannin. Therefore, the health effects of acorns as functional food are actively being studied. The chemical composition of acorns may vary according to the harvest time, region, and breed. Acorns have excellent antioxidant properties and might be beneficial in controlling hyperlipidemia, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and dementia, as well as strengthening immune competence. Further study is necessary to better understand the benefits of acorns, as it is expected to represent a large part of the food industry.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.334-342
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• 2018

People in Korea, a peninsular, have acquired a variety of marine food resources including seaweeds. Ecklonia stolonifera, a brown algae, is commonly dwelling in Korean coasts and their cultivation methods were developed for a mass-production. Recently, studies have revealed that Ecklonia stolonifera is a promising material for the development of health functional foods. In an effort to carefully review the current understating in the effects and mechanisms of Ecklonia stolonifera on liver functions by deduction from relevant literatures, the effective components were identified as phlorotannins, including dieckol, eckstolonol, eckol, phlorofucofuroeckol A, and phlorosterol. Their aiding action on the hepatic functions is categorized as follows. A) Regulation of oxidative stress by anti-oxidant capacity, B) Protection of hepatocytes from toxins, C) Prevention of alcoholic fatty liver and fibrogenesis, D) Regulation of chronic disease by improvement of inflammatory responses and lipid metabolisms, and E) indirect benefit conferred by a personal total wellness.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.3-10
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• 2010

As indoor air quality directly affects health and comforts of the residents, researchers from different countries have continued to explore criteria by which indoor air quality can be indicated in a scientific and quantitative manner over the past several decades. However, there are many possibilities that can deteriorate indoor air quality. Due to the uncertainty of influence factors, it is quite difficult to develop a correct evaluation model and quantitative method. Furthermore, the effects from the indoor air pollutants have different levels, leading to the difficulties to apply the regular standard. This study aims to propose evaluation criteria by using the FD-AHP analysis. Obtained findings will be beneficial to construct apartment buildings, commercial buildings and others health performance evaluation framework.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.157-164
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• 2016

Osteoporosis is a systemic skeletal disease characterized by decreased bone mass, which results in a markedly increased risk of traumatic fractures. This disease is a worldwide health problem with a high prevalence. Recently, various dietary components have been found to minimize the risk of developing osteoporosis through their ability to stimulate bone formation and optimize bone health. Among them, probiotics and fermented milk can have beneficial effects to human health. Bioactive compounds derived from probiotics in fermented milk can especially modulate physiological functions related to bone health. Here, we review the evidence to support these insights into newly found functionality of dairy foods for osteoporosis prevention.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 2008

This study investigated the effect of Rehmanniae Radix preparata extract on the antioxidant enzymes of kidney and renal function in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups including normal control (NC), diabetic control (DC), and diabetic treatment with Rehmanniae Radix preparata (DRR). Over a 4-week study period, Rehmanniae Radix preparata aqueous extract was administered orally at 1124 mg/kg BW/day. The serum glucose level in the DRR group was significantly lower (P<0.05) than the DC group. The serum blood urea nitrogen in diabetic groups was significantly higher (P<0.001) than the NC group. The urinary total protein level in the DRR group was significantly lower (P<0.05) than the DC group. The renal xanthine oxidase activity in the DRR group was significantly lower (P<0.01) than the DC group. The renal catalase activity in the DC group was significantly lower (P<0.05) compared to the NC group and that was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the DRR group than the DC group. In conclusion, these results indicated that Rehmanniae Radix preparata can prevent or retard the development of diabetic nephropathy via its beneficial effects for correcting the hyperglycemia and favorable effects on antioxidant enzyme system.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.231-235
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• 2015

The beneficial effects of probiotics on human health have been extensively studied. Strains of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have gained considerable attention, as they are major groups of probiotic bacteria that improve gastrointestinal health. Recently, probiotics have been found to have positive effects on obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) that go beyond the improvement of gut health. Probiotics can alter the secretion of substances such as leptin and adiponectin from white adipose tissue via certain mechanisms. Additionally, probiotics can modulate the adaptive immune system against low-grade inflammation caused by obesity. The potential role of probiotics in the treatment of T2D has garnered interest because of increasing evidence of the anti-diabetic effect of probiotics. In this review, we discuss the results of in vivo studies that have examined the use of probiotics to prevent obesity and T2D, while primarily focusing on the studies that explore the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the activity of promising probiotic strains. The conclusions of this review could be of help to researchers who are investigating the effects of probiotics on obesity or T2D, and to patients with these diseases.