• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

This study was designed to investigate the relationships among blood lipid levels, nutrient intakes, oxidation and inflammation markers of overweight adults(23$\leq$BMI<25) and obese(BMI$\geq$25) in Korea. The subjects were classified as control, borderline hyperlipidemia. and hyperlipidemia groups based on The Korean Guidelines of Hyperlipidemia Treatment for the Prevention of Atherosclerosis. The study was conducted through questionnaires, anthropometric checkups, 2-days of 24 hr recalls, and blood biomarker analyses. Systolic blood pressure(SBP) was significantly increased in the hyperlipidemia group(p=0.0464). Intakes of nutrients were not significantly different among the three groups. Blood oxidized-LDL levels were significantly increased in the hyperlipidemia group(p<0.0001). Blood triglyceride(TG) levels were positively associated with BMI(p=0.0498), SBP(p=0.0158), and diastolic blood pressure(DBP; p=0.0076). Blood total cholesterol levels were positively associated with SBP(p=0.0005), and blood HDL-cholesterol levels were negatively associated with body fat (p=0.0408). Blood LDL-cholesterol levels were negatively associated with height(p=0.0207), and blood VLDL-cholesterol levels were positively associated with SBP(p=0.0011) and DBP(p=0.0490). Intakes of protein(p=0.0257) and dietary fiber (p=0.0094) were positively associated with blood HDL-cholesterol levels. Frap levels were positively associated with TG levels(p=0.0001) and VLDL-cholesterol levels(p=0.0077). Oxidized-LDL levels were positively associated with LDL-cholesterol levels(p=0.0135). These results suggest that oxidation and inflammation markers may be related to hypercholesterolemia progress, and dietary fiber intake may play a role in preventing hyperlipidemia in overweight and obese adults.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.113-119
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in blood homocysteine levels and blood d-dimer levels of cerebral infarction patients categorized by Pattern Identification. We studied hospitalized patients within 4 weeks after the onset of stroke who were admitted to the Oriental Internal Medical Department at Semyung University Chungju Oriental Medical Hospital from May 2008 to September 2009. We analyzed risk factors and blood homocysteine levels and blood d-dimer levels accordings to Pattern Identification in Cerebral infarction patients. A total of 49 patients were included in the trial. No statistical significance was noted for any characteristics except body weight and body mass index. Body weight and body mass index were significantly higher Dampness-Phlegm pattern. On past history of patients, prevalence of DM was significantly higher in Fire-Heat pattern than that of other patterns. There was no significant difference of blood homocysteine levels and blood d-dimer levels among Pattern Identification. This study investigated the differences in blood homocysteine levels and blood d-dimer levels of cerebral infarction patients categorized by Pattern Identification. The correlation in homocysteine and d-dimer levels and Pattern Identification was not clarified.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.223-229
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• 2003

The welding workers are frequently exposed to heavy metals such as manganese. Manganese is well evaporated into the air while welding. This study had been carried out to investigate the relationship of the blood manganese level to age, work duration, and smoking status among 128 welding workers in Gyeongnam and Jeonnam province from May to November, 2003. They showed high manganese level in the first health examination. Subjects were also classified for the investigation according to their smoking status as smokers and nonsmokers, work duration ($\leq$9, 10~9, 20$\leq$years), and ages ($\leq$29, 30~39, 40~49, 50$\leq$years). Blood manganese Jevels were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Mean blood manganese level was 1.62$\pm$0.56 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl. In the comparison of blood manganese levels by age and smoking status, mean blood manganese levels of smokers in age of 20's, 30's, and 50's were 2.09$\pm$0.44 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, 1.94$\pm$0.33 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, and 2.l5$\pm$0.33 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, respectively. Blood manganese levels of smokers were significantly higher than those of non-smokers, showing no significant difference in the 40's. In the comparison of blood manganese levels by work duration, the blood manganese levels of smokers were the highest in the case of 10 to 19 years work duration. This study showed that the blood manganese levels were related to the smoking status, work duration, and age. Mean manganese levels of smokers showed higher than those of nonsmokers. It also showed that the length of work duration was related to the elevation of blood manganese levels. Among the welding workers, blood manganese levels of smokers were the highest over their age of 50's. In conclusion, smoking was the most significant risk factor to increase blood manganese levels. The further study will need analysis of the other factors related to manganese level elevation.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.387-393
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• 2012

Objectives: Even though several epidemiological studies have observed positive associations between blood lead levels and homocysteine, no study has examined whether this association differs by the levels of micronutrients, such as folate, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12, which are involved in the metabolism of homocysteine. In this study, we examined the interactions between micronutrients and blood lead on homocysteine levels. Methods: This study was performed with 4089 adults aged ${\geq}20$ years old in the US general population using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2004. Results: There were significant or marginally significant interactions between micronutrients and blood lead levels on mean homocysteine levels. Positive associations between blood lead and homocysteine were clearly observed among subjects with low levels of folate or low vitamin B6 (p-trend <0.01, respectively). However, in the case of vitamin B12, there was a stronger positive association between blood lead and homocysteine among subjects with high levels of vitamin B12, compared to those with low levels of vitamin B12. In fact, the levels of homocysteine were already high among subjects low in vitamin B12, irrespective of blood lead levels. When we used hyperhomocysteinemia (homocysteine>15 ${\mu}mol/L$) as the outcome, there were similar patterns of interaction, though p-values for each interaction failed to reach statistical significance. Conclusions: In the current study, the association between blood lead and homocysteine differed based on the levels of folate, vitamin B6, or vitamin B12 present in the blood. It may be important to keep sufficient levels of these micronutrients to prevent the possible harmful effects of lead exposure on homocysteine levels.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.371-374
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• 2006

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship of the cadmium and lead levels in blood by age, gender and smoking status among 181 students in Gyeongnam province from June 2005 to July 2006. The cadmium and lead levels in blood was analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Subjects were classified for the investigation according to smoking status as smokers and nonsmokers, age and gender. Mean blood cadmium level in male and female was $1.65{\mu}g/dl,\;1.10{\mu}g/dl$ respectively. Male was significantly higher than that of female. Blood cadmium levels in heavy smokers ($11{\sim}20\;ea/day$) and light smokers ($1{\sim}10\;ea/day$) were $2.34{\mu}g/dl,\;1.10{\mu}g/dl$ respectively. Heavy smokers were significantly higher than those of light smokers. In the comparison of age, gender and smoking status in blood Lead levels were no significant differences. In conclusion, heavy smoking was the most significant risk factor to increase blood cadmium levels. The further study will need analysis of the other factors related to the elevation of the cadmium and lead levels.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.169-180
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• 1995

To determine the effects of guar suksolgi on blood glucose and lipids in type-ll diabetic subjects, a piece of guar suksolgi(36.3g, 54Kcal) was administered to eight patients for 3 weeks every meal. No significant differences occured indietary intakes and body weight before and after the treatment. Fasting blood glucose levels were decreased from 132.38mg/dI to 114.75mg/dI after the treatment, but not statistically significant. Blood TG levels were increased from 159.13mg/dI to 175.00mg/dI after the treatment, but not statistically significant. Excluding one patient who had extremely high TG level, blood TG levels tended to be decreased from 148.00mg/dI to 121.00mg/dI. TC LDL-c, HDL-c levels were decreased after the treatment, but not statistically significant. HbAIC concentrations were decreased from 8.54mg/kI to 7.80mg/dI after the treatment, but not statistically significant. In the case of three patients who had had normal fasting blood glucose levels, blood glucose levels tended to be decreased at postprandial 30, 60 minutes, and blood insulin levels tended to be decreased at postprandial 30, 60, 90, 120 minutes, although none of the levels were statistically significant. Therefore, if guar suksolgi is adinistered to type-ll diabetic subjects being more hyperglycemic than our patients, their blood glucose and lipids will be decreased significantly.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1263-1269
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• 1998

The maintenance of adequate folate levels in the umbilical cord blood is esential for supplying tissue requirements of fetal growth. However, there is data on folate levels in the cord blood of Korean infant. The present investigation was undertaken to determine folate levels in cord blood and aassess relationships between folate levels and pregnancy outcomes. Dietary and supplementary folate intake was obtained from thirty subjects who were in the third trimester fo pregancy . The umbilical cord blood was drawn at delivery and pregnancy outcomes for the subjects were collected from their medical records. Erythrocyte and plasma folate levels in the cord blood were analyzed. The subjects were divided into two groups ; high folate (HF, $\geq$654ng/ml) and low folate (LF, <654ng/ml) groups according to erythrocyte folate levels in cord blood. Dietary folate intake and the amount of supplemental folates were not significantly different between the two experimental groups. However, infant birth weight (3540$\pm$295g) and placental weight(910$\pm$85g) for the HF group were significantly higher(p=0.0041 and p=0.109, respectively) than those for the LF group, which were 3127 $\pm$419g and 823$\pm$80g , respectively. Although it was not significant, the gestational weight gain for the HF group was 2.8kg higher than that for the LF group. Thus, the erythrocyte folate level in the cord blood was significantly related to infant birth weight and placental weight. These results confirm that a high erythrocyte folate level in the umbilical cord blood promotes both fetal and placental growth and improves gestational weight gain as well.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.212-220
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, is highly consumed in South Asia. However, curry that contains turmeric as its main spice might be the major source of curcumin in most other countries. Although curcumin consumption is not as high in these countries as South Asia, the regular consumption of curcumin may provide a significant health-beneficial effect. This study evaluated whether the moderate consumption of curry can affect blood glucose and lipid levels that become dysregulated with age. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study used data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted from 2012 to 2013, to assess curry consumption frequency as well as blood glucose and blood lipid levels. The levels of blood glucose and lipids were subdivided by age, sex, and body mass index, and compared according to the curry consumption level. The estimates in each subgroup were further adjusted for potential confounding factors, including the diagnosis of diseases, physical activity, and smoking. RESULTS: After adjusting for the above confounding factors, the blood glucose and triglyceride levels were significantly lower in the moderate curry consumption group compared to the low curry consumption group, both in older (> 45) male and younger (30 to 44) female overweight individuals who have high blood glucose and triglyceride levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that curcumin consumption, in an ordinary diet, can have health-beneficial effects, including being helpful in maintaining blood glucose and triglyceride levels that become dysregulated with age. The results should be further confirmed in future studies.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.216-223
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• 2012

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the lead levels in blood samples from nielloware workers, to determine airborne lead levels, to describe the workers' hygiene behaviors, and to ascertain and describe any correlations between lead levels in blood samples and lead levels in airborne samples. Methods: Blood samples and airborne samples from 45 nielloware workers were collected from nielloware workplaces in Nakhon Sri Thammarat Province, Thailand. Lead levels were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), at a wavelength of 283.3 nm. FAAS was used especially adequate for metals at relatively high concentration levels. Results: The geometric mean of the 45 airborne lead levels was 81.14 ${\mu}g/m^3$ (range 9.0-677.2 ${\mu}g/m^3$). The geometric mean blood lead level of the 45 workers was 16.25 ${\mu}g/dL$ (range 4.59-39.33 ${\mu}g/dL$). No worker had a blood lead level > 60 ${\mu}g/dL$. A statistically significantly positive correlation was found between airborne lead level and blood lead levels (r = 0.747, p < 0.01). It was observed that personal hygiene was poor; workers smoked and did not wash their hands before drinking or eating. It was concluded that these behaviors had a significant correlation with blood lead levels (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Improvements in working conditions and occupational health education are required due to the correlation found between blood leads and airborne lead levels.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.201-208
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• 2003

This research was conducted to study the effects of the supplementation of multi-extracts of mori folium (MF) and of exercise on plasma insulin and glucose levels in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Eight male Sprague-Dawley rats, 4 weeks old, were assigned to each experimental group and were raised in the laboratory for 10 weeks. The animal groups consisted of a normal-control group, a STZ-control group, 3 STZ-induced diabetic groups supplemented ad libitum with various amounts of MF extracts (MF-720, MF-360, and MF-180 groups), and a STZ-induced diabetic group supplemented with MF-360 along with exercise. In the normal-control group, glucose tolerance tests resulted in the peak blood glucose level being achieved in 15 minutes and a fasting blood glucose level being achieved in 60 minutes. In the STZ-control group, the peak blood glucose level was reached after 60 minutes and, even after 90 minutes, blood glucose shown at a significantly higher level compared to the fasting levels. In the groups supplemented with MF extracts, the blood glucose level peaked after 30 minutes of glucose challenge, and returned to the fasting level after 90 minutes; the MF-360 and MF-360+exercise groups showed the best levels of glucose tolerance. Blood glucose levels in the STZ-induced diabetic groups were significantly higher compared to the normal-control group. However, after 7 weeks of supplementation with MF extracts, a significant lowering of blood glucose levels was observed in all groups supplemented with the MF extract. The best effect was observed in the group given MF extract combined with exercise. Compared to the normal-control group, blood insulin levels were significantly lower in all STZ-induced diabetic groups; however, a significantly higher level of insulin was observed in the groups given MF extracts compared to the STZ-control group. This study shows that the supplementation of MF extracts in STZ-induced diabetic rats resulted in increased blood insulin levels and lower blood glucose levels.