• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2008

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of red-yeast-rice supplementation on cholesterol-lowering and glucose control in subjects with impaired fasting glucose (IFT) or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). We conducted a doubleblind, placebo-controlled study with 3 groups; placebo, low dose group (red yeast rice 210.0mg/capsule, 2.52g/day) and high dose group (red yeast rice 420.0mg/capsule, 5.04g/day), which were randomly assigned to subjects with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance. We measured fasting serum concentrations of total-, LDL-, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA) and 2 h oral glucose tolerence test (OGTT) before and after the supplementation. Both low dose and high dose groups had significant decrease in LDL cholesterol and atherogenic index (AI) compared with placebo group (p<0.05). Additionally, total and HDL cholesterol improved significantly in high dose group compared with placebo group (p<0.05). Fasting serum glucose decreased in test groups and increased in placebo group after intervention. However, it was not significant differences. In subjects which fasting blood glucose is more than 110mg/dL, fasting glucose had a tendency to decrease in high dose group (p<0.1) and Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) had significant decrease in low dose group (p<0.05), while insulin and HOMA-IR had a tendency to increase in placebo group after intervention. Mean changes of glucose related parameters (fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR) compared with placebo group did not show significant differences. In conclusion, subjects with impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance were significantly improved in serum lipid profile by red yeast rice supplementation without serious side effects. These are more effective in the case of a high dose. The effects of red yeast rice supplementation on glucose control were insignificant.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.8
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• pp.1139-1147
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• 2014

We investigated whether or not Schisandra chinensis (SC), a traditional herbal medicine, has protective effects against alcohol-induced fatty liver and blood alcohol clearance. Two tests focused on acute intoxication and chronic ethanol treatment were carried out. For the chronic ethanol treatment test, rats were fed ethanol by intragastric administration everyday for 8 weeks to induce alcoholic fatty liver. Ethanol treatment significantly increased blood alcohol concentration at 90 min after acute ethanol intoxication. Compared with the two ethanol-treated groups, rats administered ethanol along with SC extracts showed an approximately 13% increased blood alcohol clearance rate at 360 min. Chronic ethanol treatment significantly increased serum and hepatic triglyceride (TG) levels, and caused fatty degeneration of liver. Ethanol treatment also elevated the serum total-cholesterol (TC) level. However, after feeding of ethanol plus SC extracts, ethanol-induced elevation of hepatic TG levels reversed, whereas elevation of serum TG and TC levels was not observed after treatment with SC extracts. Ethanol treatment significantly increased ${\gamma}$-GT, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities after 8 weeks. Compared with the ethanol-fed group, rats administered ethanol plus SC extracts for 4 weeks showed attenuated fatty degeneration as well as decreased hepatic function test values. SC administration also significantly increased intracellular lipid accumulation in hepatocytes and reduced steatosis score and hepatic TG levels, as measured by biochemical and histolopathological analyses. Our results indicate that the protective effects of SC are accompanied by a significant decrease in hepatic TG levels, thereby suggesting SC has the ability to prevent ethanol-induced fatty liver, by reducing hepatic TG and enzyme levels in alcoholic rats.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.125-141
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• 1998

The purpose of this research is to analyze the effects of aerobic exercise on body composition, cardiopulmonary function, serum lipid level and antioxidants of obese and normal college female students. The subject group was made up of 13 normal students (below 30% body fat ratio) and 12 obese students (above 30% body fat ratio). After a pretest, the subjects were given an 8-week aerobic program. Then the subjects were given a posttest and analyzed of body composition, serum lipid level, antioxidants and cardiopulmonary function after the 6th and the 8th week of the program. The program schedule was made up of 4 days per week, 60 minutes per day. Test includes B.W., subscapular and triceps subcutaneous fat thickness, change of respiratory gas, and two blood sampling before treadmill exercise and post all out state, which analyzed serum lipid and antioxidants. The subjects performed treadmill exercise starting with 4km/hr of walking and then gradually increase the speed of 1km/hr per minute until all out state. The obtained data were analyzed using SAS program. The statistical methods employed here were one-way ANOVA with repeated measure, Duncan Multiple range test, paired-t test and t-test. The test results and conclusion of this research were as follows. 1. The effects of aerobic exercise on body composition were as follows ; Percent body fat was significantly reduced 6 weeks after the program and lean body mass was significantly increased 8 weeks after the program in both groups(obese group: F=3.44 P=.044, normal group: F=3.30 P=.048). subscapular skinfold of the obese group showed a remarkable decrease after the 6th week(F=4.33 P=.021) triceps skinfold of the normal group showed a remarkable decrease after the 6th and the 8th week(F=4.55 P=.017) compared with readings before the aerobic program, the aerobic program made a bigger difference concerning body fat, lean body mass, subscapular skinfold in the obese group than in the normal group(t=2.41 P=.024, t=2.40 p=.025, t=2.43 p=.028). 2. The effects of aerobic exercise on cardiopulmonary function were as follows ; Maximal $O_2$ uptake/kg was significantly increased 6 weeks after the program in the obese group(F=3.20 P=.054), but not much difference was observed in the normal group. Maximal pulse rate was significantly reduced in both groups after 6 weeks of the program(obese group: F=2.77 P=.087, normal group: F=7.17 P=.001). 3. The effects of aerobic exercise on serum lipid level were as follows ; In a resting period, total cholesterol, Triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol were slightly higher in the obese group than in the normal group, but HDL-cholesterol was higher in the normal group. But, with the aerobic program, total-cholesterol, Triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol were reduced gradually and HDL-choleterol got increased in both groups, but not much change was noticed in the normal group. However, in the obese group, serum HDL-cholesterol level got increased significantly(F=5.12 P=.012). 4. The effects of aerobic exercise in serum antioxidants were as follows ; In a resting period, the obese group's serum Free Radical and GSSG content were higher than the normal group's and the normal group's serum GSH content was higher than the obese group's. After 6 weeks of the aerobic program, Free Radical was reduced significantly in both groups(obese group: F=13.87 P=.000, normal group: F=18.60 P=.000) In the obese group, 8 weeks after the program, GSH was increased significantly(F=13.78, P=.000). In the normal group, 6 weeks after the program, GSH was reduced but increased again after 8 weeks(F=6.07 P=.005). Plasma GSSG was significantly increased after 8 weeks of exercise in both groups(obese group: F=19.75 P=.000, normal group: F=22.42 P=.000,) Compared with readings before the aerobic program, the aerobic program made a bigger difference serum GSH in the normal group than in the obese group(t=3.37 p=.003). As this result shows, it is known that the regular aerobic exercise improves cardiopulmonary function, body composition, serum lipid effectively and through the serum Free Radical reduction and antioxidant system activation, oxidant stress was suppressed. This effect was higher in the obese group than in the normal one. At least 6weeks exercise period need for improvement of body composition, cardiopulmonary function and activation of antioxidant system. This result suggest that improvement of serum lipid profile was needed longer than 8weeks exercise period.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.1177-1183
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• 2001

This study was done to investigate the effects of ethanol extract of Cassia semen (Cassia tora L.) on the activities of hepatic oxygen free radicals metabolizing enzymes and blood lipid profile in rats of hepatotoxicity induced by ethanol. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 100~160 g were divides into 5 groups; control grouts (CON), Cassia semen ethanol extracts (200 mg/kg) treated group (CEL), ethanol (10 mL/kg, 35%) treated group (ETH), Cassia semen ethanol extracts (200 mg/kg) and ethanol treated group (CE1 ) and Cassia semen ethanol extracts (400 mg/kg ) and ethanol treated group (CE2), respectively. Compared with ETH, the growth rate of CE1 and CE2 were to be increased tendency, and in blood levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and the activities of alanine aminotranferase and asparate aminotranferase elevated by ethanol were significantly decreased (p<0.05). It was observed that the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, xanthine oxidase and glutathione peroxidase of rat liver increased by ethanol, were more decreased by the treatment of Cassia semen ethanol extract than the only ethanol-treated group. The content of glutathione depleted by ethanol treatment was increased in CE1 and CE2. TBA-reactants of liver increased by ethanol were decreased in CE1 and CE2, compared with ethanol-treated group. These results suggested that ethanol extract of Cassia semen may influence upon the ability of oxygen free radical detoxication and lowering of blood lipid level on ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in rat.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5317-5325
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and determine the distribution of the clustering of the metabolic risk factors, and we wanted to evaluated the related factors in urban areas. 1,388 adults of 30 years and over, not recognized as taking medicines for or having cardiovascular diseases, who underwent health package check-up at the health promotion center of a university hospital. All subjects were measured by height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure and blood chemistry(lipid profile). As a results, the prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome of study subjects were 21.7%, and the rates of metabolic risk factors were HDL-C, blood pressure, TG, abdominal obesity and FBS in that order. And the factors such influencing on metabolic syndrome as age, BMI, smoking habits, vegetable consumption and family history of the diabetes. Consequently, it is suggested that the evaluation and intervention for lifestyle factors may be needed in order to the risk management of metabolic syndrome.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.71-85
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of tongue color and the correlation of the tongue colors with clinical laboratory parameters. Methods : Statistical analysis on the frequency of each tongue color and the results of the clinical laboratory parameters in each tongue color group. Results : Tongue colors that appeared most frequently were 702c, 695c, 493c, 694c, 701c, 500c, 7432c, 7431c, 7634c, 7419c in that order. Following them, 494c and 507c were rarer colors, and 501c, 673c, 687c, 693c, 696c, 703c, 7418c were equally rarest colors. Among each tongue color group, a significant difference was found in the result of complete blood cell count (CBC). The level of red blood cell (RBC) of 7432c group was significantly higher than that of the other groups except 694c group. The level of hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct) of 7432c group were significantly higher than those of all the other groups. The level of RBC of 7431c group was lowest and significantly different from 694c, 7432c group. In results of the other tests were not significantly different. However the level of total cholesterol was higher in 695c, 694c, 500c group, and the level of triglyceride was higher in 500c, 7431c, 694c group. Those four colors have a low chroma and 7431c, 695c take blue violet color. Conclusions : The tongue color is distributed throughout following colors by order of frequency: 702c, 695c, 493c, 694c, 701c, 500c, 7432c, 7431c, 7634c, 7419c, 708c, 494c, 507c, 501c, 673c, 687c, 693c, 696c, 703c, 7418c. Some parameters of CBC has a significant correlation with some tongue colors. Other results including lipid profile, renal function test, and liver function test had no significant difference according to tongue color. However, the colors which have low chroma or take blue violet color tented to be higher in the levels of total cholesterol and triglyceride.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2 s.70
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• pp.93-113
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• 2007

Objective : To research Trends of studies about anti-inflammation and pain relief, obesity, and safety of herbal acupuncture therapy by analyzing domestic theses, published since 2001, about herbal acupuncture therapy. Methods : Domestic theses, published since 2001, mentioning anti-inflammation or pain relief, obesity, or safety of herbal acupuncture therapy were reviewed and analyzed. These theses were then classified by university, year, and subject. Results : The following results were obtained in this study. 1. Among published theses related to anti-inflammation effects of herbal-acupuncture, studies about arthritis comprised the most part, 52. In theses relating to causes of arthritis, 16 were about adjuvant, which was the most, followed by Type II collagen, LPS and carrageenan. Blood test, reactions of inflammation and revelation of cytokine and immune cellswere methods for evaluating anti-inflammation effect. The tendency of experimental methods was to focus on molecular biologic method. 2. In theses related to pain relief, many clinical attempts with herbal injection were carried out, and Carthami Flos and Scolopendrawere used most. Observing reduction of pain inducing factor and checking behavioral change were methods for evaluating pain relief. 3. In theses related to obesity, research focused on effects in association with spots on the body suitable for acupuncture. There were also attempts comparing effectiveness between single injections and complex injections. Astraball Radix, Angelica Gigantis Radix, Coicis Semen and Taeumjowetang were used. Evaluation of anti-obesity effects were by weight loss, food efficiency, blood lipid profile and evaluation of liver function. 4. In theses related to safety of herbal-acupuncture, Herba Chelidonii Chaenonelis Fructus, Clematis Florida Thunb, Corydalidis Tuber, Paeoniae Radix, and Carthami Flos which marked 2 theses each were most studied. Methods of evaluating safety were mostly by observing liver and kidney functions based on blood test, and by applying herbal injections to clinical treatment. Conclusion : Herbal acupuncture is being used in various ways associating with its anti-inflammation, pain relief and anti-obesity effect. Studies on efficacy and mechanism of herbal acupuncture are being conducted even at the molecular biology level.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.313-320
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to compare the overall changes in dietary intake and metabolic syndrome risk parameters in Vietnamese marriage-based female immigrants over time. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects of this study were 581 Vietnamese marriage-based female immigrants, who were recruited from local clinical centers in Korea. Baseline data were collected from 2006-2011 and the follow-up data were collected from 2012-2014. Dietary food intake was assessed by a 1-day 24-hour recall method. RESULTS: Compared to the baseline, the mean body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure increased while the fasting blood sugar, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol decreased at follow-up. The total consumption of foods such as vegetables/fruits/seaweeds/mushrooms, oil and fat, and eggs decreased during the follow-up period, whereas the consumption of sugars, beverages and meats increased. Partial correlation between the rate of change [(Follow-up - Baseline) / Baseline ${\times}100$] in metabolic syndrome risk parameters and food intake after controlling for confounding factors showed that the waist circumference was positively correlated with either the total plant food intake (r = 0.1042, P = 0.0129) or the total food intake (r = 0.0880, P = 0.0359). The plasma levels of total cholesterol (r = -0.1918, P = 0.0289) and HDL-cholesterol (r = -0.1424, P = 0.0007) were negatively correlated with the percentage of total intake from plant food, and HDL-cholesterol levels were positively correlated with the intake of total animal food (r = 0.0980, P = 0.0217). The serum C-reactive protein levels were positively correlated with the total intake of animal food (r = 0.2374, P < 0.0001) or the percentage of total intake from animal food (r = 0.1346, P = 0.0016). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the change rate of dietary intake such as total plant food or animal food is associated with the change rates of metabolic syndrome risk parameters.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.303-314
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary fat intake, anthropometric data, blood lipids, C-reactive protein, and adiponectin in Korean male college students. Forty-eight subjects were divided into 2 groups based on dietary fat intake: UERF (under 30% of energy ratio for fat source), AERF (above 30% of energy ratio for fat souce). We collected dietary intake data using 24-hour dietary recall for 3 days. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured by using standard methods. Segmental body composition analysis was carried out using an 8-electrode multifrequency bioelectrical impedance method of body fat estimation. There was no significant difference in anthropometric data and serum lipid profile between UERF and AERF group. Serum C-reactive protein level was significantly higher in the AERF group compared to the UERF group. Although there was no significant difference in serum adiponectin level between UERF and AERF groups, subjects had lower adiponectin levels. Correlation data show that serum adiponectin level was positively correlated with vegetable intake (p < 0.05). In addition, dietary fat intake had a positive correlation with meat (p < 0.01), whereas a negative correlation with grain (p < 0.01), vegetables (p < 0.05), and fish (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the increased fat intake of non-obese Korean male college students is associated with their increased serum C-reactive protein concentration. Therefore, proper guidelines on fat intake and nutrition education are necessary for the prevention and management of metabolic syndromes.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.251-258
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the utility of acanthosis nigricans (AN) severity as an index for predicting insulin resistance in obese children. Methods: The subjects comprised 74 obese pediatric patients who attended the Department of Pediatrics at Chosun University Hospital between January 2013 and March 2016. Waist circumference; body mass index; blood pressure; fasting glucose and fasting insulin levels; lipid profile; aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, glycated hemoglobin, C-peptide, and uric acid levels; and homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin check sensitivity index (QUICKI) scores were compared between subjects with AN and those without AN. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to investigate the utility of the AN score in predicting insulin resistance. HOMA-IR and QUICKI were compared according to AN severity. Results: The With AN group had higher fasting insulin levels ($24.1{\pm}21.0\;mU/L$ vs. $9.8{\pm}3.6\;mU/L$, p<0.001) and HOMA-IR score ($5.74{\pm}4.71$ vs. $2.14{\pm}0.86$, p<0.001) than the Without AN group. The AN score used to predict insulin resistance was 3 points or more (sensitivity 56.8%, specificity 83.9%). HOMA-IR scores increased with AN severity, from the Without AN group (mean, 2.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.72-2.57) to the Mild AN (mean, 4.15; 95% CI, 3.04-5.25) and Severe AN groups (mean, 7.22; 95% CI, 5.08-9.35; p<0.001). Conclusion: Insulin resistance worsens with increasing AN severity, and patients with Severe AN (AN score ${\geq}3$) are at increased risk of insulin resistance.