• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2009

We investigated the nutritional state of B vitamins and the neuropsychological functions in 25 subjects, aged $63.1{\pm}6.3$ years, residing in rural areas of Korea. Nutritional states of thiamin, riboflavin, and pyridoxine were assessed enzymatically in the erythrocytes, and folate concentrations were measured microbiologically in the plasma and erythrocytes. A battery of composite neuropsychological test was administered to the subjects. Plasma folate was correlated with the total intelligence score (p=0.049). Folate levels in the erythrocytes were correlated with the performance intelligence scores such as block design (p=0.017) and picture arrangement (p=0.016). The red cell folate was correlated with memory scores such as general memory (p=0.009) and delayed recall (p=0.000). Although it did not reach statistical significance, verbal memory (p=0.053) was highly correlated with the red cell folate. The red cell folate was also correlated positively with the percent of conceptual level response number score (p=0.029), and negatively with the grooved pegboard test score for the non-dominant hand (p=0.010). Fine motor coordination was also influenced by folate nutrition, as finger tapping scores in both hands were significantly correlated with red cell folate (dominant hand; p=0.026, non-dominant hand; p=0.004). Other B vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin $B_6$ were not as strongly correlated with neuropsychological function test scores as folate was. These results suggest that folate nutrition influences neuropsychological function test scores significantly in humans. Further studies are needed to explore the relationship between folate or other vitamin B nutrition and neuropsychological functions and the implications thereof.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.573-581
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• 2008

Although it is well known that cancer patients suffer from malnutrition, there are few published studies on malnutrition in outpatients receiving chemotherapy in Korea. This study aimed to evaluate nutritional risk in oncology outpatients receiving chemotherapy and to show the baseline data to set up nutritional management programs for cancer patients. This is a retrospective observational analysis on 1,962 patients referred for nutritional education before or during chemotherapy at Seoul National University Hospital Cancer Center from January 2006 to May 2007. According to a malnutrition screening tool, the proportion of patients having malnutrition risk was 23.0%. In the case of upper gastrointestinal cancer, more than 50% of patients were assessed as being at the risk of malnutrition. They showed more than 7% weight loss compared to their usual body weight and poor oral intake; energy intake was less than 100% of Basal Energy Expenditure(BEE) and protein intake was less than or equal to 0.77 g/kg/d. However, only 6.3% of breast cancer patients had risk of malnutrition and their oral intake was better; energy intake was 121% of BEE, and protein intake was 0.90 g/kg/d. Outpatients receiving chemotherapy had different nutritional risk depending on their cancer site. Nutritional management program should be conducted differently, depending on the cancer site and upper gastrointestinal cancer patients at high risk of malnutrition should basically have nutritional assessment and intervention.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.301-305
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• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate changes in pH, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), $a^*$ (redness), shearing force, and microbial content (total plate count; TPC) in beef during freezing storage at -1, -5, and $-20^{\circ}C$ for 21 days. TPC as an effective quality indicator was used to identify the decay point by regression analysis. The pH, TBA values, and TPC significantly increased with storage at all tested temperatures (p<0.05). VBN significantly increased and shearing force significantly decreased with storage at -1 and $-5^{\circ}C$ (p<0.05). TPC showed significant correlation with temperature at $-1^{\circ}C\;(R^2=0.891)$, $-5^{\circ}C\;(R^2=0.856)$, and $-20^{\circ}C\;(R^2=0.444)$. The decay points at -1, -5, and $-20^{\circ}C$, were 27, 52, and 84 days, respectively. The results suggest that a freezing temperature of $-5^{\circ}C$ is effective for short-term storage of beef.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.650-657
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• 2002

In order to provide basic data for the means to improve food situation and nutritional status of those supported by the National Basic Livelihood Security System (NBLSS), we examined household food insecurity and nutritional status of children under the support of NBLSS. This study included 209 children aged 3-12 years (99 boys and 110 girls) and their caretakers. We measured house food insecurity using Radimer/cornell Scale, children's body sizes and nutrient intake by semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and caretakers' nutritional management skills. Only 9.6％ of the households were in food secured (FS) while 8.1％ were in household food insecured, but without hunger (HFI), 42.1％ were in adult food insecured with hunger (AFI), and 40.2％ were in child hungry (CH). Important predictors of food security were nutritional management skills of the caretakers as well as their education, but neither income nor food expenditure of the households. Mean energy intake of the children was 86.0％ of the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA). Intakes of protein, phosphorous, vitamin A and B$_1$ were relatively high ranging from 112.3％ to 124.4％ of the RDAs while those of calcium, iron, niacin, vitamin C were low showing 74.8-83.3％ of the RDAs. Height, weight and weight/height ratio were close to the reference levels. Lower nutrient intakes of children were observed as the households were more food insecured. However, nutrient intakes and body sizes of children did not differ as a function of household socioeconomic status representing by income, food expenditure and caretakers' education. Results of this study suggest the importance of food security and nutritional management skills for the children's nutrient intakes. Concerning this matter, a need for nutrition education in the program for NBLSS was discussed.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 2015

Chronic low-grade inflammation is associated with obesity. This study investigated effect of high hydrostatic pressure extract of red ginseng (HRG) on inflammation in rats with high-fat (HF) diet induced obesity. Male, Sprague-Dawley rats (80~110 g) were randomly divided into two groups, and fed a 45% HF diet (HF) and a 45% HF diet containing 1.5% HRG (HF+HRG) for 14 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the serum leptin level was reduced by the HRG supplementation. The mRNA expression of genes related to adipogenesis including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and adipocyte protein 2 was down-regulated in the white adipose tissue (WAT). The mRNA levels of major inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1, and interleukin-6 were remarkably down-regulated by the HRG in WAT. These results suggest that HRG might be beneficial in ameliorating the inflammation-associated health complications by suppressing adipogenic and pro-inflammatory gene expression.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1055-1062
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate whether dietary chlorella intake could have an effect on antioxidative capacity in rats oxidatively stressed with cadmium (Cd). Sprague-Dawley rats fed dietary chlorella (0, 5, and 10%) for 4 weeks after induction of oxidative stress by exposing to Cd (200 ppm) for 8 weeks. After the oxidative stress applied, plasma and liver malondialdehyde concentrations and xanthine oxidase activities were decreased in 5% chlorella fed group compared to chlorella free group. Although liver heme oxygenase-1 protein expression was not affected by chlorella, the enzyme activity was improved in 5% chlorella fed group. Erythrocyte superoxide dismutase activity and hepatic metallothionein concentration were increased in 5% chlorella fed group. However, 10% chlorella intake had no effect on the improvement of oxidative stress-related enzymes and proteins. These findings suggest that, after induction of oxidative stress with Cd, 5% chlorella intake might improve antioxidative capacity against oxidative stress.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the effect of chlorella on cadmium (Cd) toxicity in Cd-administered rats. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats (14 week-old) were blocked into 6 groups. Cadmium chloride was given at levels of 0 or 325 mg (Cd: 0, 160 ppm), and chlorella powder at levels of 0, 3 and 5%. Cadmium was accumulated in blood and tissues (liver, kidney and small intestine) in the Cd-exposed groups, while the accumulation of Cd was decreased in the Cd-exposed chlorella groups. Fecal and urinary Cd excretions were remarkably increased in Cd-exposed chlorella groups. Thus, cadmium retention ratio and absorption rate were decreased in the Cd exposed chlorella groups. Urinary and serum creatinine, and creatinine clearance were not changed in experimental animals. In addition, metallothionein (MT) synthesis in tissues was increased by Cd administration. The Cd-exposed chlorella groups indicated lower MT concentration compared to the Cd-exposed groups. Moreover, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was not changed by dietary chI orella and Cd administration. According to the results above, this study could suggest that Cd toxicity can be alleviated by increasing Cd excretion through feces. Therefore, when exposed to Cd, chlorella is an appropriate source which counteracts heavy metal poisoning, to decrease the damage of tissues by decreasing cadmium absorption.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1338-1350
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• 2012

This review focuses on the nutritional effects from birth until age at first calving on growth, mammary developmental changes, and first-lactation milk yield in heifer calves. The advancement in the genetic potential and the nutritional requirements of the animals has hastened the growth rate. Genetic selection for high milk yield has suggested higher growth capacity and hence increasing nutritional inputs are required. Rapid rearing by feeding high energy or high concentrate diets not only reduces the age of sexual maturity but also lowers the time period of attaining the age of first calving. However, high energy diets may cause undesirable fat deposition thereby affecting future milk yield potential. Discrepancies exist whether overfed or overweight heifers at puberty can influence the mammary development and future milk yield potential and performance. The data on post-pubertal nutritional management suggested that body weight at calving and post-pubertal growth rate is important in first lactation milk yield. There is a continuous research need for strategic feeding that accelerates growth of dairy heifers without reduction in subsequent production. Nutritional management from birth, across puberty and during pregnancy is critical for mammary growth and for producing a successful cow. This review will mostly highlight studies carried out on dairy breeds and possible available opportunities to manipulate nutritional status from birth until age at first calving.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.9-13
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• 2016

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of beverages containing fermented Akebia quinata extracts on alcoholic hangover. For this study, 25 healthy young men were recruited. All participants consumed 100 mL of water (placebo), commercial hangover beverage A or B, fermented A. quinata leaf (AQL) or fruit (AQF) extract before alcohol consumption. After 1 h, all participants consumed a bottle of Soju, Korean distilled liquor (360 mL), containing 20% alcohol. Blood was collected at 0 h, 1 h, 3 h, and 5 h after alcohol consumption. The plasma alanine transaminase (ALT) activity was highest in the placebo group. Compared with the control group, the AQL and AQF groups showed decreased ALT activity at 5 h after alcohol consumption. Plasma ethanol concentration was increased after alcohol intake and peaked at 3 h after alcohol consumption. Compared with the control group, the A group showed a higher plasma ethanol concentration at 1 h (P<0.05). At 3 h after alcohol consumption, the AQF group showed the lowest mean plasma ethanol concentration compared to the other groups; however, there were no statistical differences. After 5 h of alcohol consumption, the AQL and AQF groups showed lower plasma ethanol concentrations compared with the B group. The sensory evaluation score for the fermented A. quinata fruit extract was lower than for the commercial hangover beverages. In conclusion, the present intervention study results suggest that fermented A. quinata extracts alleviate alcoholic hangover and reduce plasma ethanol concentrations.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, involves chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Previously, Sasa quelpaertensis leaves have been shown to mediate anti-inflammation and anti-cancer effects, although it remains unclear whether Sasa leaves are able to attenuate inflammation-related intestinal diseases. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Sasa quelpaertensis leaf extract (SQE) using an in vitro co-culture model of the intestinal epithelial environment. MATERIALS/METHODS: An in vitro co-culture system was established that consisted of intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages. Treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce inflammation. RESULTS: Treatment with SQE significantly suppressed the secretion of LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), IL-6, and IL-$1{\beta}$ in co-cultured RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition, expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ were down-regulated in response to inhibition of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation by SQE. Compared with two bioactive compounds that have previously been identified in SQE, tricin and P-coumaric acid, SQE exhibited the most effective anti-inflammatory properties. CONCLUSIONS: SQE exhibited intestinal anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting various inflammatory mediators mediated through nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-kB) activation. Thus, SQE has the potential to ameliorate inflammation-related diseases, including IBD, by limiting excessive production of pro-inflammatory mediators.