• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.291-298
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• 2021

In this study, we investigated whether the combined administration of berberine (BBR) and silibinin (SBN) was effective in improving hyperlipidemia and anti-obesity efficacy using a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mouse model. HFD-induced obese mice were supplemented with the BBR and SBN combination (BBR-SBN) along with the HFD administration for 8 weeks. During the experiment, body weight, food intake, and levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were analyzed. Consumption of HFD in the mice caused rapid increases in body weight and the levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides compared to the normal control (NC) group. However, supplementation of BBR-SBN in these obese mice significantly reduced body weight gain and suppressed the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride with the increment of HDL cholesterol level. In the HFD-fed group, abdominal fat weight was significantly increased and the adipocytes within the epididymal adipose tissue were found to have expanded sizes compared to the NC group. However, in the BBR-SBN group, the sizes of the adipocytes were comparable to those of the NC group and abdominal fat weight was significantly reduced. Moreover, the deposition of giant vesicular fat cells in liver tissues seen in the HFD-fed group was considerably reduced in the BBR-SBN group. These results suggest that the BBR-SBN combination tends to have synergic potential as an anti-obesity agent by significantly reducing body weight gain as well as lowering serum lipid levels and thus improving anti-obesity efficacy in HFD-induced obese mice.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 2021

The present study was conducted to assess the relationship between aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT) ratio and pulse pressure in Korean adults with hypertension. Data from 1,515 adults from the sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI-3, 2015) were analyzed. There were several key findings in the present study. First, aspartate aminotransferase (odds ratio [OR], 1.018; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.002 to 1.033), alanine aminotransferase (OR, 0.982; 95% CI, 0.969 to 0.996), and aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio (OR, 1.367; 95% CI, 1.027 to 1.819) were the independent factors determining high pulse pressure. Second, after adjusting for related variables [age, gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, regular exercise, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC)], the ORs of high pulse pressure with the 1st quartile as a reference were significantly higher in the 4th quartile of aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio [1.632 (95% CI, 1.113~2.393)]. The high pulse pressure was positively associated with aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase ratio in Korean adults with hypertension, but was inversely associated with alanine aminotransferase.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.389-399
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• 2010

This study was conducted in order to investigate and compare anthropometric measurements, bone density, nutrient intake, blood composition and food habits between non-smoking, non-alcohol drinking and smoking, alcohol drinking male university students in Seoul, South Korea. The data for food habits and health-related behaviors were obtained by selfadministered questionnaires. The BQIs of the subjects were measured by Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS). The subjects were divided into two groups: NSND (non-smoking and non-alcohol drinking, n=62) group and General (smoking and alcohol drinking, n=160) group. The results were analyzed using the SPSS program and were as follows: The average heights, weights, and BMIs of the two groups were 173.3 cm, 66.5 kg and 22.1 and 173.4 cm, 68.7 kg and 22.9, respectively. There were no differences between the groups regarding height, weight or BMI. SBP and DBP, however, were significantly higher in the general group than in the NSND group (p<0.01). The BQIs, Z-scores and T-scores of the two groups were 99.83, -0.23, and -0.31 and 98.24, -0.27 and -0.39, respectively, producing no significant differences between the two groups. The percentages for normal bone status, osteopenia and osteoporosis were 83.88%, 16.12% and 0.0% and 74.37%, 25.62% and 0.01%, respectively. Mean intakes of animal protein (p<0.05), animal fat (p<0.05), fiber (p<0.05), animal Ca(p<0.05), animal Fe (p<0.001), Zn(p<0.05), vitamin B1 (p<0.05) and niacin (p<0.05) were significantly different between the two groups, and mean serum levels of SGOT (p<0.01), SGPT (p<0.001), ${\gamma}$-GTP (p<0.001), triglycerides (p<0.01), total cholesterol (p<0.05) and hematocrit (p<0.05) were also significantly different between the two groups. Overall, there were no differences in meal regularity, frequency of snacking, reasons for overeating, exercise and defecation between the groups. However, favorite foods (p<0.05) and night-time meals (p<0.05) were significantly different. In conclusion, the health status of the NSND group was superior compared to the general group. Thus, students who smoke and alcohol drink should receive a practical and systematically-organized education regarding the increased health benefits of quitting smoking and alcohol drinking.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.178-186
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• 2016

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of whole wheat bread with added Lindera obtusiloba (LO) and Capsosiphon fulvescens (CF) ethanol extracts on serum glucose and lipid levels in Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were divided into five groups depending on the diet administered: normal bread (NC), whole wheat bread (W), whole wheat bread with LO leaves extract (WL), whole wheat bread with CF extract (WC), and whole wheat bread with freeze-drying CF (WDC). After 4 weeks of consuming the experimental diet, the blood glucose level and hemoglobin A1c contents were found to be significantly lower in the W, WL, WC, and WDC groups than in the NC group. The high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels increased in the WL group when compared to those in the NC group and triglycerides levels decreased in all wheat groups compared to those in the NC group. These results suggest that wheat breads containing LO and CF extracts are effective for preventing hypercholesterolemia and obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.1658-1664
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• 2014

Sprout vegetables containing various types of polyphenols and flavonoids, are known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cholesterol-lowering, and anti-obesity activities. However, there have been few reports on the anti-diabetic efficacy of sprout vegetables. Here, we investigated the anti-diabetic effects of sprout extract obtained from buckwheat, beet, rape, broccoli, kohlrabi, red young radish, and dachai, in high fat diet (HFD) and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type II diabetes mellitus mice. The mice were fed a HFD (60% calories as fat) for 8 weeks prior to intraperitoneal injection with STZ (75 mg/kg). The diabetic mice were divided into four groups: standard diet (STD, 10% calories fat), HFD, HFD with sprout extract (SPE) and HFD with metformin (MET). After 4 weeks, body weight gain was much lower in both SPE and MET groups than in HFD group. In contrast, there was no difference experiment groups regarding food intake ratio. The level of fasting blood glucose was significantly lower in the SPE and MET groups compared to the HFD group. Oral glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance in the SPE and MET groups were significantly ameliorated in comparison to the HFD group. The concentrations of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol in the SPE and MET groups were remarkably reduced in comparison to the HFD group, and HDL cholesterol concentration was higher in the SPE and MET groups than in the HFD group. Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase levels were between SPE and HFD groups. The serum insulin and leptin concentrations were significantly reduced in both the SPE and MET groups compared to the HFD group. Therefore, these results indicate that sprout extract could improve insulin resistance and attenuate blood glucose level in HFD/STZ-induced type II diabetes mellitus mice. We conclude that this study may provide positive insights into sprout extract as a functional food ingredient for treatment of type II diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.565-577
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• 2017

Purpose: There have been limited studies investigating the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), metabolic diseases, and dietary factors in Korean adults. Here, we examined the association between nutrient intake and serum hsCRP among Korean adults. Methods: Using data on 2,624 healthy Korean adults (1,537 women and 1,087 men) from the 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, demographic, anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary factors were analyzed once the subjects were grouped into either sex, age, or BMI. Nutrient intake was evaluated using the dietary data obtained by one-day 24-hour recall. Based on the guidelines of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association, hsCRP level was classified as HCRPG (High CRP Group, hsCRP > 1 mg/L) and LCRPG (Low CRP Group, hsCRP ${\leq}1mg/L$). Proc surveyreg procedure was performed to examine the associations between nutrient intake and hsCRP after adjustment for potential confounding variables. Results: The average hsCRP level of healthy Korean adults was $0.95{\pm}0.03mg/L$ ($0.97{\pm}0.04mg/L$ in men, $0.92{\pm}0.05mg/L$ in women). Obese subjects had significantly higher hsCRP than non-obese subjects in both sexes. The hsCRP level was positively associated with current smoking, physical inactivity, BMI, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and blood pressure and inversely associated with HDL-cholesterol. LCRPG had significantly higher intake of dietary fiber compared to HCRPG in women. High hsCRP level was associated with more dietary cholesterol intake but less omega-3 fatty acid intake among subjects aged ${\geq}50y$. HCRPG of obese subjects had higher intakes of fat and saturated fatty acid than LCRPG. Conclusion: The hsCRP level is closely associated with several lifestyle variables and nutrient intake in healthy Korean adults. Individuals with high hsCRP level show low intakes of dietary fiber and omega-3 fatty acids but high intakes of dietary fat and cholesterol. Our findings suggest that a potential anti-inflammatory role for nutrients and lifestyle in the Korean adult population.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.789-796
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• 2016

The anti-lipogenic effect of cereal samples on high sucrose diet (HSD)-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice was studied. We divided C57BL/6 mice into various groups based on 8 weeks of treatment with three types of cereal samples (HSD+WR, HSD diet containing 40% white rice; HSD+MCG, HSD diet containing 40% mixed cereal grain; HSD+AO-MCG, HSD diet containing 40% mixed antiobesity-cereal grain). After the experimental period, body weight changes, liver weights, serum lipid profiles, and hepatic fatty acid metabolism-related gene expression levels were determined. We found that HSD+WR, HSD+MCG, and HSD+AO-MCG treatments reduced body weight and liver weight, especially HSD+MCG and HSD+AO-MCG effectively reduced levels of serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. However, high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased compared to the control group. Furthermore, expression of hepatic lipogenic genes such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase-1, cluster of differentiation, and $PPAR-{\gamma}$ (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}$) decreased, whereas expression of ${\beta}-oxidation$ genes such as $PPAR-{\alpha}$ and carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1 increased following HSD+MCG and HSD+AO-MCG treatment compared with levels in HSD+WR and control groups. These results suggest that the functional cereal samples, especially HSD+AO-MCG treatment, improved hepatic steatosis triggered by an HSD-induced imbalance in hepatic lipid metabolism.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.939-948
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• 2008

The effects of goat's beard (Aruncus dioicus var ramtschaticus Hara) ethanol extracts (AD) on the streptozotocin-induced diabetic symptoms and oxidative stress in rats were assessed. Experimental plots were divided into normal controls (NC), diabetes controls (DM), diet with 0.3% AD after diabetes induction (SA), and diet with 0.6% AD after diabetes induction (SB), then fed for 5 weeks. In the SA and SB groups as compared with the DM group, diabetic symptoms including weight loss, increase in feed and water intake, and enlargement of the liver and kidney were improved. The levels of blood glucose and serum fructosamine were reduced by $17.9{\sim}27.2%$ and $25.6{\sim}32.6%$, respectively. The activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol in the serum were reduced by $25.6{\sim}30.3$, $42.37{\sim}55.51$, $26.85{\sim}30.44$ and $37.29{\sim}39.11%$, respectively, whereas the level of HDL-cholesterol was increased by $37.29{\sim}39.11%$. Hepatic total (T) and O type (O) activities of xanthine oxidoreductase, O/T ratio(%) and level of lipid peroxide were significantly decreased, while the level of glutathione was increased, and also the activities of superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase were increased by $56.84{\sim}94.90%$ and $57.14{\sim}68.92%$, respectively. In the above results, it was noted that AD has an antidiabetic effect which alleviated hyperglycemia and the AD reduced and/or prevented the tissue damage caused by diabetes yia the inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating systems concurrent with an increase in ROS scavenging.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2016

Obesity is a pro-inflammatory state that contributes to the development of metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice by Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg L. water extract (PJT). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that PJT markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR results demonstrated that the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly down-regulated by PJT treatment. Oral administration of PJT (100, 300, and 500 ㎎/㎏, b.w/daily for 4 weeks) was conducted in high-fat diet induced obese mice and C57BL/6 mice. The PJT-administered group of HFD-induced mice had a lower body weight gain, along with decreased serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol compared with the control mice, however, the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was increased. Furthermore, the elevated mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis related genes in the white adipose tissue of obese mice were significantly suppressed by PJT. These results indicate that PJT exhibits anti-obesity effects in obese mice by decreasing in serum lipid levels and lipogenesis related gene.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.471-479
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of various levels of chitosan oligomer (CO) molecular weight on the disorders of lipid metabolism and immune-related factors induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), that is a endocrine disrupter, using adult male rats (SD) for 3 weeks. These 40 animals were divided into five groups. Three kinds of CO were used by molecular weight (MW) (less than 1000, 1000~3000, and 5000~10000) and added 4% to basal diets respectively. TCDD (40 ${\mu}g$/kg B.W) was intraperitoneally injected into rats at the beginning of the experiment. The relative weights of the livers were increased in all rats treated with TCDD, and the brain and testis weights were increased in all CO diet groups, compared to the control and TCDD groups. The levels of white blood cells (WBC) and red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrits (HCT), and platelets were significantly lowered by treating TCDD. By the way, RBC and HCT tended to recover by CO diets. The elevation of serum total and HDL cholesterol levels induced by TCDD treatment was significantly reduced by CO (5000~10000 MW) diets. The apparent increasing of the total lipid, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels of rat livers induced by TCDD was tended to be suppressed in those fed CO diets. Especially, diets with less than 1000 MW significantly diminished liver triglycerides. The levels of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A, IgG1 and IgM were significantly high in rats fed CO (5000~10000 MW) diets. The decreasing levels of IgE by treatment with TCDD tended to recover all the CO diet groups to the level of control group. In histochemical observation, the fat droplets and apoptosis of liver due to TCDD treatment were markedly alleviated in all CO diet groups. These results indicated that CO, though not regular according to molecular weight, can exert improving effects on lipid accumulation, hepatocytic disorders, abnormal blood cells, and some immunoglobulins induced by TCDD.