• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.286-295
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• 1996

The present study was conducted to evaluate the usefulness of four kinds of seaweeds (mixture of purple laver & sea lettuce, sea tangle, sea mustard, agar agar) as a high- fiber supplment in the therapeutic deit for the diabetic patients. Seven groups of normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were fed dietary fiber-free control diet or one of experimental diets containing 7% of one of the four seaweeds for 6 weeks. The effect of seaweeds supplementation on the body weight change, gastrointestinal function, and the control of diabetic symptoms were examined and compared with the effect of fiber-free diet or pectin diet used as references. The body weight gains of all the diabetic groups were significantly suppressed compared to the normal group. Feed efficiency ratios and body weight gains of seaweed groups were relatively higher than those of the pectin group. Sea tangle appeared to have an effect of alleviating the typical diabetic symptoms such as polyphasia, polydipsia, polyuria, urinary glucose excretion and hyperglycemia indicating its beneficial acition of improving glucose metabolism even though the degree of effectiveness was less than that with pectin. All the supplemntations of seaweeds and pectin ressulted in the significant changes in gastronitestinal functins ; shortening of GI transit time, increase of fecal volume and the length of intestine. Based on their effects of the significant changes in GI function in may be suggested that seaweeds may influence the process of digestion and absorption of nutrients in diabetic animals.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2016

Using high-fat diet-induced obese (DIO) mice, the mechanism of anti-adiposity and anti-obesity actions produced by Inonotus obliquus water extract (IOE) was investigated. Significant reduction in body weight in DIO mice orally administrated with IOE for 8 weeks compared to IOE-non-treated control mice was observed, which was attributed to the reduction of epididymal and mesenteric adipose tissue, but not the liver and skeletal muscle. Adiponectin synthesis in epididymal adipose tissue (EAT) and AMPK phosphorylation in the liver were significantly increased in IOE-treated DIO mice. Gene expression analysis showed that IOE-treated DIO mice had higher expression levels of lipogenic genes in EAT and fatty-acid oxidative genes in the liver, but lower expression levels of hepatic pro-inflammatory cytokines compared to IOE-non-treated controls. Our findings confirm a therapeutic potential of Inonotus obliquus for reducing adiposity and ameliorating hyperlipidemia to treat metabolic disorders.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2015

Although it has recently been reported that Acanthopanax senticosus has a protective effect against the development of metabolic disorders such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia, its underlying molecular mechanisms have remained to be elucidated. In this study, we observed that treatment of an extract of A. senticosus (ASE) reduced body weight and adiposity and improved glucose tolerance in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. HFD-induced weight gain in white adipose tissues and liver was also significantly reduced in ASE-treated HFD-fed mice, which was found to be contributed by suppression of mRNA expression of genes involved in fatty-acid uptake and fat synthesis in white adipose tissue. ASE treatment also attenuated M1 macrophage activation, increased regulatory T ($T_{reg}$) cell population, and modulated leptin/adiponectin profile that might alleviate chronic inflammation to protect against HFD-induced insulin resistance. Our findings suggest a therapeutic potential of ASE for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes without adverse effects such as weight gain and dyslipidemia.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.97-114
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• 2000

Minority populations in the United States have a higher prevalence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and more persons die of the disease than white persons. This study was to review and compare risk factors and prevalence rates of NIDDM in African Americans, Hispanic s, Korean Americans and Native Americans in the United States. The risk factors of NIDDM, including family history of diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, diet and age, were reviewed in the minority populations. Risk factors such as obesity, physical inactivity and family history of diabetes occurred to a greater extent in some minority populations than in the white population. Diabetes should be treated as a public health problem for minority populations. Due to the increase of older populations and the increased prevalence of obesity and sedentariness, NIDDM in minorities is nearing epidemic proportions. Good diet and regular exercise can reduce the incidence of NIDDM but an understanding of the cultural aspects of diabetes is imperative in order to provide adequate community health education programs because those programs involve diet and behavior changes, characteristics that are often culturally determined. In summary, it is important to plan a community health education program targeted on NIDDM in a culturally adapted manner that will be received with both comprehension and acceptability. In particular, the program for high-risk populations should be stressed so to prevent diabetes. Preventive approaches to diabetes should be considered because they can be both therapeutic and cost effective.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.356-360
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• 2018

The fermentation of medicinal herbs facilitated by microbes is assumed to exert promising therapeutic efficacy on the absorption, bioavailability, and pharmacological effects by speeding up the making or conversion of active constituents into their metabolites. We examined the cardioprotective potential of fermented ginseng, GBCK25, against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic and functional illnesses as following the essential analysis such as electrocardiographic parameters, alterations of body and organ weights, and echocardiographic studies. The results exhibited that body weights were significantly reduced and the gain of different organ weights were partly eased by GBCK25 treatment. Echocardiography results proposed the amelioration of heart function through normalized levels of left ventricle systolic pressure, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening. These outcomes deliver straight confirmation that GBCK25 could be a potential nutraceutical source for the relief of HFD-induced obesity mediated cardiac dysfunctions.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.403-410
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• 2019

Curcumin, a hydrophobic polyphenol isolated from the Curcuma longa L. plant, has many pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and chemo-preventive activities. Curcumin has been shown to have potential in preventing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the low bioavailability of curcumin has proven to be a major limiting factor in its clinical adoption. Theracurmin, a highly bioavailable curcumin that utilizes micronized technology showed improved biological absorbability in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of theracurmin in modulating hepatic lipid metabolism in vivo. A fatty liver mouse model was produced by feeding mice a high fat diet (HFD; 60% fat) for 12 weeks. We found that treatment for 12 weeks with theracurmin significantly lowered plasma triacylglycerol (TG) levels and reduced HFD-induced liver fat accumulation. Theracurmin treatment lowered hepatic TG and total cholesterol (T-CHO) levels in HFD-fed mice compared to controls. In addition, theracurmin administration significantly reduced lipid peroxidation and cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species in HFD-fed mice. Overall, these results suggest that theracurmin has the ability to control lipid metabolism and can potentially serve as an effective therapeutic remedy for the prevention of fatty liver.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.65-75
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• 2022

Hypothalamus is a brain region that controls food intake and energy expenditure while sensing signals that convey information about energy status. Within the hypothalamus, molecularly and functionally distinct neurons work in concert under physiological conditions. However, under pathological conditions such as in diet-induced obesity (DIO) model, these neurons show dysfunctional firing patterns and distorted regulation by neurotransmitters and neurohormones. Concurrently, resident glial cells including astrocytes dramatically transform into reactive states. In particular, it has been reported that reactive astrogliosis is observed in the hypothalamus, along with various neuroinflammatory signals. However, how the reactive astrocytes control and modulate DIO by influencing neighboring neurons is not well understood. Recently, new lines of evidence have emerged indicating that these reactive astrocytes directly contribute to the pathology of obesity by synthesizing and tonically releasing the major inhibitory transmitter GABA. The released GABA strongly inhibits the neighboring neurons that control energy expenditure. These surprising findings shed light on the interplay between reactive astrocytes and neighboring neurons in the hypothalamus. This review summarizes recent discoveries related to the functions of hypothalamic reactive astrocytes in obesity and raises new potential therapeutic targets against obesity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.220-225
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• 2012

To develop a ginseng product possessing an efficacy for diabetes, ginseng radix ethanol extract was treated with pectinase and obtained the GINST. In the present study, we evaluate the beneficial effect of GINST on high fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia and action mechanism(s) in ICR mice. The mice were randomly divided into five groups: regular diet group (RD), high fat diet group (HFD), HFD plus GINST at 75 mg/kg (GINST75), 150 mg/kg (GINST150), and 300 mg/kg (GINST300). Oral glucose tolerance test reveals that GINST improves the glucose tolerance after glucose challenge. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin levels were decreased by 4.3% and 4.2% in GINST75, 10.9% and 20.0% in GINST150, and 19.6% and 20.9% in GINST300 compared to those in HFD control group. Insulin resistance indices were also markedly decreased by 8.2% in GINST75, 28.7% in GINST150, and 36.4% in GINST300, compared to the HFD control group. Plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol and non-esterified fatty acid levels in the GINST300 group were decreased by 13.5%, 22.7% and 24.1%, respectively, compared to those in HFD control group. Enlarged adipocytes of HFD control group were markedly decreased in GINST-treated groups, and shrunken islets of HFD control mice were brought back to near normal shape in GINST300 group. Furthermore, GINST enhanced phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). In summary, GINST prevents HFD-induced hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia through reducing insulin resistance via activating AMPK-GLUT4 pathways, and could be a potential therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.466-474
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• 2005

Four kinds of decoctions (Wolbi-tang, Wolbigachul-tang, Wolbigabanha-tang and Wolbi-tang with Psyllium Husk diet)was prescribed to examined the therapeutic effects on hyperlipidemia. Four decoctions prepared from the prescriptions were respectively administrated to the corpulent rats induced by a high cholesterol diet. Wolbi-tang mollified the increasing rate of the body weight, and decreased the amount of food eaten. It slightly increased the concentrations of blood Tc, blood TG, blood FFA, and lipids in feces, and decreased the contents of blood HDL-c. Wolbigachul-tang mollified the increasing rate of the body weight, and decreased the amount of food eaten. It decreased the amount of FFA and HDL-c lipids in the blood. Wolbigabanha-tang mollified the increasing rate of the body weight, and decreased the amount of food eaten. Also, it decreased the concentrations of blood glucose. However, it increased the content of blood HDL-c. Wolbi-tang with Psyllium Husk diet mollified the increasing rate of body weight, and decreased the amount of food eaten. Also, it slightly decreased the concentrations of blood TG and blood FFA, but increased the concentrations of blood Tc. Considering the above results, four kinds of decoctions(Wolbi-tang, Wolbigachul-tang, Wolbigabanha-tang and Wolbi-tang with Psyllium Husk diet) could be applied for the treatment of obesity, and Wolbigabanha-tang would be the most recommendable among them.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.72-79
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• 2019

Purpose: The efficacy of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) with a polymeric diet has not been confirmed in Korean pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD). This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of EEN with a specific polymeric diet ($Encover^{(R)}$) and corticosteroids (CSs) for the induction of remission in Korean pediatric CD patients. Methods: We retrospectively compared data from 51 pediatric CD patients who underwent induction therapy with EEN (n=19) or CSs (n=32) at Severance Children's Hospital or Incheon St. Mary's Hospital in Korea. The primary endpoint of this study was the rate of clinical remission, defined as a Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) score <10, after 8 weeks of induction treatment. Clinical, laboratory, and growth data at post-induction as well as their changes from baseline were also compared between groups. Results: After 8 weeks of induction therapy, clinical remission rates were 78.9% (15/19) and 65.6% (21/32) in the EEN and CS groups, respectively (p=0.313). No significant differences in PCDAI scores, laboratory variables, and growth parameters were noted between the two groups at post-induction. However, significant changes in albumin levels at post-induction were observed in the EEN group compared to the CS group (p=0.038). Conclusion: Our results suggest that the effectiveness of EEN with a polymeric diet and CSs for induction therapy did not differ in Korean pediatric CD patients. EEN with a polymeric diet is a good first-line treatment option for the induction of remission in these patients.