• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2011

Eotaxin is an important inflammatory chemokine in eosinophil chemotaxis and activation and, thus, is implicated in asthma. Recently, obesity was associated with an increased prevalence of asthma, but the relationship between obesity and eotaxin expression has only been partially understood in obese mice and human studies. Therefore, we studied the expression patterns of eotaxin in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes/adipocytes to determine whether eotaxin levels are influenced by body weight gain and/or reduction in diet-induced obese mice. First, we investigated eotaxin expression during differentiation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Then, we treated 3T3-L1 preadipoeytes/adipoeytes with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$), eotaxin, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, or leptin. To examine the effects of weight loss in high-fat diet induced obese mice, we fed C57BL/6 mice a high-fat diet or a normal diet for 26 weeks. Then, half of the high-fat diet group were fed a normal diet until 30 weeks to reduce weight. Epididymal adipose tissue, visceral adipose tissue, serum, and bronchoalveolar fluid of mice were examined for eotaxin expression. The results showed that eotaxin expression levels increased with adipocyte differentiation and that more eotaxin was expressed when the cells were stimulated with TNF-${\alpha}$, eotaxin, IL-4, IL-5, or leptin. An in vivo study showed that eotaxin levels were reduced in visceral adipose tissues when high-fat diet fed mice underwent weight loss. Taken together, these results indicate a close relationship between eotaxin expression and obesity as well as weight loss, thus, they indirectly show a relation to asthma.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.796-804
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• 2004

We found previously that dietary high fat caused obesity, and levan supplementation to the regular diet reduced adiposity and serum lipids. In the present study, we examined the effects of levan [high-molecular-mass $\beta$-(2,6)-linked fructose polymer] supplement on the development of obesity and lipid metabolism in rats fed with high-fat diet. Thus, to determine whether the dietary levan may have the anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects, 4-wk-old Sprague Dawley male rats were fed with high-fat diet for 6 wk to induce obesity, and subsequently fed with 0, 1, 5, or 10% levan supplemented high-fat diets (w/w) for another 4 wk. For the comparison, a normal control group was fed with AIN-76A diet. Supplementation with levan resulted in a significant reduction of high-fat-induced body weight gain, white fat (i.e., epididymal, visceral, and peritoneal fat) development, adipocyte hypertrophy, and the development of hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia in a dose-dependent manner. Serum triglyceride and free fatty acid levels were greatly reduced by levan supplementation. Serum total cholesterol level was reduced, whereas the HDL cholesterol level was increased by dietary levan. The expression of uncoupling protein (UCP) was increased by dietary high fat, and was further induced by levan supplementation. The mRNA level of UCP1, 2, and 3 in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and UCP3 in skeletal muscle was upregulated in rats fed with dietary levan. In conclusion, upregulated UCP mRNA expression may contribute to suppression of development of obesity through increased energy expenditure. The present results suggest that levan supplementation to the diet is beneficial in suppressing diet-induced obesity and hyperlipidemia.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.205-217
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• 2008

Objectives : We investigated the effects of Herba Ephedrae and Rhizoma Amorphophalli on high fat diet induced obese male mice. Methods : 8 weeks old, high fat diet induced obese male mice were divided into 5 groups: C57BL/6 normal control, obese vehicle control, GGEx55 (Herba Ephedrae), GGEx61 (Rhizoma Amorphophalli), GGEx62 (Herba Ephedrae + Rhizoma Amorphophalli). After mice were treated with GGEx for 8 weeks, we measured body weight gain, food intake, feeding efficiency ratio, rectal temperature, fat weight, plasma leptin and lipid levels. We also took micro-computerized axial tomography (micro-CT) on the mice. Results : 1. GGEx55 and GGEx62 groups significantly decreased body weight gain and feeding efficiency ratio compared with vehicle control. But they significantly increased rectal temperature. 2. Plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were significantly increased by GGEx55 groups, whereas were significantly decreased by GGEx62 groups compared with vehicle control. 3. GGEx55 and GGEx62 groups significantly decreased total, subcutaneous and visceral fat as well as fat areas in micro-CT analysis of abdomen compared with vehicle control. 4. Plasma GOT and GPT concentrations were significantly increased by GGEx55 groups compared with vehicle control. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that GGEx55 and GGEx62 effectively reduces body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio in high fat diet induced obese mice, leading to the modulation of obesity. In addition, GGEx55 and GGEx62 decreases visceral adipose tissue mass and improves plasma lipids, suggesting that GGEx55 and GGEx62 may act as a therapeutic agent for obesity.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.59-67
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• 2009

Houttuynia Cordata Thunb, well known as "E-Sung Cho" in Korea, has been used for the treatment of herpes simplex, chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps. Recently, some studies reported the antileukemic activity, anticancer activity, adjuvanticity, and antioxidant action of Houttuynia Cordata Thunb. In the present study, the anti-obesity activity of Houttuynia Cordata Thunb was investigated. Middle-aged women were examined over a period of 8 weeks (n=30). Participants were divided into four group: Houttuynia Cordata Thunb Exercise (HCE, n=7), Placebo Exercise (PE, n=8), Houttuynia Cordata Thunb Non Exercise (HCNE, n=8), and Placebo Non Exercise (PNE, n=7). Participants in Houttuynia Cordata Thunb groups were received 4.5 g Houttuynia Cordata Thunb and in placebo groups were received same dose of placebo thrice daily with meals. The result after 8 weeks demonstrated that HCE significant decreased visceral fat than PNE. Our present study provides the evidence that Houttuynia Cordata Thunb intake and exercise performance may reduce visceral fat and further studies with larger numbers of subjects are warranted to conclusively demonstrate effectiveness.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.85-100
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• 2001

In Oriental medicine, there has been a theory that the deficiency of the Qi(氣) and the Phlegm(濕)-Damp(痰) bring Obesity. And so a clinically representative herb-medicine of the obesity treatments is Chegameyiin-tang . We observed the effects of Chegameyiin-tang on the fat tissues and what the function of Chegameyiin-tang is. These experimental studies were designed to investigate the effects of Chegameyiin-tang on the weight and lipid metabolism of obesity rats induced by high fat diet. And what is changed in the blood and how the leptin and uncoupled protein is affected. The measurement has been performed on (1) the weight of obese rats fed high fat diet, (2) the average size and number of epididymal fat cells, (3) the total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose. and free fatty acids in the blood. and (4) the leptin and uncoupled protein in the blood are observed. The results are as follows; 1. In the sample group, the weight decrease occured significantly throughout the whole research period than that of control group. 2. In the sample group, epididymal fat weight showed significantly decrease in the 8th and 14th weeks than that of control group.3. In the sample group, epididymal fat cell size was decreased significantly in the 8th and 14th weeks than that of control group. 4. In the sample group, total cholesterol. triglyceride and glucose increased rather than control group in 8 weeks, those decreased significantly in 14 weeks. 5. In the sample group, free fatty acids and insulin increased rather than control group in 8 weeks. those showed some decrease in 14 weeks . 6. In the sample group, leptin decreased significantly than control group in 8, 14 weeks. Uncoupled protein showed some decrease in 8 weeks. that decreased significantly in 14 weeks.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.257-264
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• 2003

Carnitine, hydroxycitric acid, and soy peptide have been known to be anti-obesity agents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of carnitine, hydroxycitric acid, and soy peptide mixture as a potential anti-obesity supplement in overweight women. Overweight premenopausal women (n=33; PIBW>110; 20 to 39 years) were randomized into two groups: the placebo group and the functional beverage group (the test group). Functional beverage was composed of 2000 mg soy peptide, 20 mg L-carnitine and 300 mg garcinia(40% hydroxycitric acid). Body weight and 3 day food dimes, biochemical measurements and computerized tomography were measured at baseline and 8-week. After 8-week consumption of functional beverage with usual diet and exercise, body weight fell an average of 1.4 kg (2.1%). Visceral fat area reduced an average of 7.8% at L1($69.6{\pm}8.7\;vs\;64.2{\pm}7.5\;\textrm{cm}^2$) and 5.1% ($60.7{\pm}4.9\;vs\;57.6{\pm}4.8\;\textrm{cm}^2$, p<0.05) at L4level after weight loss in the test group. Calf fat area in the test group showed about 10% reduction ($31.0{\pm}2.7\;vs=\;27.7{\pm}1.7\;\textrm{cm}^2$, p<0.05) after weight loss. These reductions in fat areas were not shown in the placebo group. There were tendencies of increase in serum levels of $\beta-hydroxybutyrate$, acetoacetate, and total ketones in the test group. There were 7% and 17% insignificant increase in fasting free fatty acid (FFA) and response area of FFA during oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT), respectively, in this group. ill addition, little weight loss in the test group showed 8% but not significant reduction in insulin response area during OGTT. In conclusion, this study shows that taking a mixture of carnitine, hydroxycitric acid, and soy peptide as a potential anti-obesity supplement for 8-week produced advantageous changes in the weight and visceral fat accumulation of overweight women.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.91-97
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• 2000

The purpose of the present study was to determine the preventive effects of combined interventional trial of fish oil treatment and exercise training on insulin resistance of skeletal muscle in high-fat fed rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into chow diet (CD), high-fat diet (HF), high-fat diet with fish oil (FO), high-fat diet with exercise training (EX), and FO+EX groups. The rats in control group were fed chow diet containing, as percents of calories, 58.9% carbohydrate, 12.4% fat, and 28.7% protein. High-fat diet provided 32% energy as lard, 18% as corn oil, 27% as carbohydrate and 23% as casein. The fish oil diet had the same composition as the high fat diet except that 100 g menhaden oil was substituted for corn oil. Insulin sensitivity was assessed by in vitro glucose transport in the soleus muscle after diet treatment and treadmill running for 4 weeks. While the FO or EX only partially prevented insulin resistance on glucose transport and visceral obesity induced by high-fat diet, these interventions completely corrected hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia from the high-fat diet. The rats in the FO+EX showed normalized insulin action on glucose transport, plasma chemicals and visceral fat mass. Insulin-mediated glucose transport was negatively associated with total visceral fat mass (r=－0.734; p＜0.000), plasma triglyceride (r=－0.403; p＜0.05) and lepin (r=－0.583; p＜0.001) concentrations with significance. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that only total visceral fat mass was independently associated with insulin-mediated glucose transport (r=－0.668; p＜0.000). In conclusion, combined interventional trial of FO+EX recovered insulin resistance on glucose transport of skeletal muscle induced by high-fat diet. Visceral fat mass might be more important factor than plasma TG and leptin to induce insulin resistance on glucose transport of skeletal muscle in high-fat fed rats.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.446-451
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wax gourd on weight, triglyceride, leptin and fat cell size in rats fed a high-fat diet. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed an experimental diet containing total dietary fat at 40% of calories with wax gourd 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% (w/w) for 4 weeks. Weight gain and triglyceride level fell significantly in the 15% wax gourd group compared to the control group. Epididymal fat pad, abdominal fat and perirenal fat tended to decrease in the 15% wax gourd group. Leptin and free fatty acid level were not significantly different among the groups. Fat cell size significantly decreased in the 10% and 15% wax gourd groups compared to the control group. Weight gain correlated positively with visceral fat masses and the levels of leptin and triglyceride. Fat cell size significantly correlated with visceral fat and leptin level. Therefore, the 15% wax gourd diet substantially reduced weight, triglyceride and fat cell size. (Korean J Nutrition 36(5): 446∼451, 2003)

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.169-183
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• 2008

In this study, we measured body mass index, visceral fat ratio and 6 parts of body, neck circumference, circumference of upper arm, chest circumference, abdomen circumference, hip circumference, and thigh circumference by bioimpedence analysis system, after taking Gyeongshingangjeehwan16 (GGEx16) in five months except the first period before taking GGEx16 on 49 women who are obesity or high-level obesity. In order to examine the significance test for the effect of obesity improvement of GGEx16, we practices repeated measure ANOVA with values of measurement variables in 6 monthly times. As a result of all measurement variables, there were significant difference (P-value=0.001). Therefore, we can say that GGEx16 is effective about obesity improvement. As it dramatically decreased between second measure period and first measure period for all measure variables, we can see that there were the most effect of GGEx16 in the first time after taking GGEx16. It is known that a important measurement variable to have a effect for obesity improvement about two variable which are body mass index and visceral fat ratio is waist circumference through correlation analysis. The result of whether there are differences to effect of obesity improvement for GGEx16 around the climacteric, there were significant difference for the effect of obesity improvement for GGEx16 around the climacteric about all parts of body (P-value=0.001). There were also powerfully difference in effect of obesity improvement for GGEx16 around the climacteric about all parts of body (P-value=0.001). Especially, the climacteric before is more effective than the climacteric after in the aspect of the effect of GGEx16.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.539-546
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sleep duration on dietary habits and body composition of university students. Sleep duration has recently been added to the list of risk factors for obesity. However, studies on this topic are fairly limited particularly in Korea. We studied the relationship between the duration of sleep and obesity principally based on body mass index and %body fat in university students. For this purpose, a survey was conducted on a total of 312 university students. The subjects enrolled for this study were divided into two groups: (1) those with sleep duration of <7 hours (148 students) and (2) those with sleep duration of >7 hours (164 students). Based on a self-reporting method, the participants filled up the questionnaires for more than 20 minutes. Based on the overall data obtained, we observed that most students (52.88%) skipped breakfast. This was mainly due to shortage of time (60.58%). We also observed that self-reporting dietary preferences included eating irregular meals (49.04%), overeating (19.55%), imbalanced diet (16.35%), and skipping meals (9.94%). It was found that cookies were the favorite snacks in the majority of the participants (50%). Our data reveal that the body mass index, fat mass, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat, respectively of the shorter sleep duration group (<7 h/day) were 23.78 $kg/m^2$, 19.13 kg, 2.23 kg, and 11.15 kg. In contrast, in those of the control group (7 h/day), these values were found to be 21.84 $kg/m^2$, 13.88 kg, 1.56 kg, and 12.11 kg. We also observed that there were significant correlations of sleep duration with body mass index (p<0.05), fat mass (p<0.01), visceral fat (p<0.01), and beck depression score (p<0.01). Our data suggest that the body mass index in the shorter sleep duration group was higher than that of the control group; however, %fat, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat in the shorter sleep duration group were found to be higher than those of the control group. The data obtained through our study suggest that short sleep duration is clearly associated with a modest increase in general and abdominal obesity particularly in university students.