• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• 제6권2호
• /
• pp.155-161
• /
• 2012

Excessive oxidative stress and abnormal blood lipids may cause chronic diseases. This risk can be reduced by consuming an antioxidant- and fiber-rich vegetarian diet. We compared biomarkers of oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, and lipid profiles of sex- and age-matched long-term vegetarians and omnivores in Korea. Forty-five vegetarians (23 men and 22 women; mean age, $49.5{\pm}5.3$ years), who had maintained a vegetarian diet for a minimum of 15 years, and 30 omnivores (15 men and 15 women; mean age, $48.9{\pm}3.6$ years) participated in this study. Their 1-day, 24-h recall, and 2-day dietary records were analyzed. Oxidative stress was measured by the levels of diacron reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM). Antioxidant status was determined by the biological antioxidant potential (BAP) and levels of endogenous antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. We observed that vegetarians had a significantly lower body fat percentage ($21.6{\pm}6.4%$) than that of omnivores ($25.4{\pm}4.6%$; $P$ < 0.004). d-ROM levels were significantly lower in vegetarians than those in omnivores ($331.82{\pm}77.96$ and $375.80{\pm}67.26$ Carratelli units; $P$ < 0.011). Additionally, total cholesterol levels in the vegetarians and omnivores were $173.73{\pm}31.42$ mg/dL and $193.17{\pm}37.89$ mg/dL, respectively ($P$ < 0.018). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was $101.36{\pm}23.57$ mg/dL and $120.60{\pm}34.62$ mg/dL ($P$ < 0.005) in the vegetarians and omnivores, respectively, indicating that vegetarians had significantly lower lipid levels. Thus, oxidative stress, body fat, and cholesterol levels were lower in long-term vegetarians than those in omnivores.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• 제28권9호
• /
• pp.862-871
• /
• 1995

This study was designed to investigate the effectiveness of ginseng intakes in modifying serum lipid profiles and plasma clotting factors. The participants in this study were 47 normal healthy volunteers(men 24, women 23) with an age range of 35-49 years and a mean age of 41 years residing in Taejon. Based on the diet intakes, subjects were classed into one of three groups : control, vegetarian, and ginseng consumed over 3-4 years. There was no significant difference in their physical characteristics. Dietary calorie intakes were not significantly different in subjects. The ratio of energy intake in the control and ginseng consumed group was 63-64% : 20-21% : 15-16%(Cho : Fat : Pro), but 70-73% : 13-14% :14-15%(Cho : Fat : Pro) in the vegetarians. The intakes of animal food in the vegetarian was significantly lower than the control and ginseng consumed group in men. The ratio of P/S(1.27) was the highest in the vegetarians. Venous blood samples were taken for serum lipid profiling, plasma clotting assay and platelet function. The concentration of serum triglyceride in the men ginseng group is significantly lower than those of the men control group. Serum lipid profiles values of the men ginseng group, such as total cholesterol and phospholipid were lower those of the men control group, but higher those of the men vegetarian group. the serum lipid profile in the women were not significant, but total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels in the ginseng groups were low. The concentration of HDL cholesterol was not significantly different. Platelet cell count and platelet aggregation were low in the ginseng groups. APTT(Activated Partial thromboplastin time) was significantly elongated in ginseng groups in the normal range. In seems that the major beneficial effects of ginseng intakes in especially men were on the blood concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol and elongation of plasma clotting time.