• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.272-277
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the antioxidant activities and hepatoprotective effects of Schisandra chinensis Baillon extract (SCE) against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative hepatic damage in rats. MATERIALS/METHODS: Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were pretreated with SCE (300, 600, and 1,200 mg/kg BW) or saline once daily for 14 consecutive days. On day 14, each animal, except those belonging to the normal control group, were injected with t-BHP (0.8 mmol/kg BW/i.p.), and all of the rats were sacrificed 16 h after t-BHP injection. RESULTS: Although no significant differences in AST and ALT levels were observed among the TC and SCE groups, the high-dose SCE group showed a decreasing tendency compared to the TC group. However, erythrocyte SOD activity showed a significant increase in the low-dose SCE group compared with the TC group. On the other hand, no significant differences in hepatic total glutathione (GSH) level, glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were observed among the TC and SCE groups. Hepatic histopathological evaluation revealed that pretreatment with SCE resulted in reduced t-BHP-induced incidence of lesions, such as neutrophil infiltration, swelling of liver cells, and necrosis. In particular, treatment with a high dose of SCE resulted in induction of phase II antioxidant/detoxifying enzyme expression, such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we conclude that SCE exerts protective effects against t-BHP induced oxidative hepatic damage through the reduction of neutrophil infiltration, swelling of liver cells, and necrosis. In addition, SCE regulates the gene expression of phase II antioxidant/detoxifying enzymes independent of hepatic antioxidant enzyme activity.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.139-145
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• 2008

We located a group of healthy young males (aged $20{\sim}30$) who had been taking a high dose (more than 5 g) of vitamin C daily for more than one year. We observed that this vitamin C group had plasma levels of vitamin C that were more than three times that of the control group. The control group had not taken any additional vitamin C except for that included in their diets. But the vitamin C group showed significantly lower amounts of Cu/ZnSOD, catalase and glutathione-s-transferase and lower activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in erythrocyte lysates than the control group. However, there was no difference in the plasma levels of lipid peroxides between the two groups. These results suggest that vitamin C offsets its own contribution to anti-oxidant activity by repressing the expression of anti-oxidant enzymes and also excludes the possibility that vitamin C acts as a pro-oxidant in vivo.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.1244-1252
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• 1998

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the nutritional status of vitamin and minerals in the patients with alcoholic liver disease and to obtain the materials for nutritional education for alcoholics. The subjects consist of 80 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis(ALC) and 12 patients with alcoholic fatty liver(AFL). The control group included 57 alcoholics without liver disease(A), 32 patients with viral liver cirrhosis(VLC) and 194 normal men(NL). Biochemical evaluation of nutritional status was investigated by the analysis of blood samples. The frequency of vitamin B1 deficiency in the ALC, AFL and A groups as indicated by the erythrocyte transketolase activity coefficient were 46.0%, 66.7% and 57.9% respectively. The frequency of vitamin B2 deficiency in the ALC, AFL and A groups as indicated by the erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient were 9.8%, 8.3% and 38.6% respectively. Vitamin A deficiency was not detected in the alcoholic subjects. The frequency of vi tamin E deficiency in ALC, AFL and A were 96.3%, 66.7% and 86.0% respectively. The levels of plasma lipid peroxidation products were significantly higher in the alcoholic subjects than in the normal subjects. The frequency of subjects below normal range of hemoglobin were 85.0% in ALC, 50.0% in AFL and 31.6% in A. The frequency of copper deficiency in the ALC, AFL and A groups were 48.4%, 16.7% and 17.5% respectively. The frequency of zinc deficiency in the ALC, AFL and A groups were 83.8%, 41.7% and 66.7% respectively. Overall, the vitamin and minerals status of the alcoholic subjects in this study was evaluated to be very poor on the basis of biochemical assessments. The results suggest that alcohol abuse and poor dietary intake could cause malnutrition and may be important risk factors in causing alcoholic liver disease in alcoholics. In addition, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, Cu, Fe and antioxidant supplementation may be effective in nutritional therapy for chronic alcoholics.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.9
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• pp.1003-1012
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• 1996

We examined the relationship among riboflavin intake, work activity, erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient(EGR AC)and urinary riboflavin excretion. We also attempted to determine factors affecting seasonal riboflavin status of rural women. All information about nutrient intake, work activity and riboflavin biochemical status was repeatly collected in three seasons ; farming season(June), harvest season(October), nonfarming season(February). EGR AC was negatively correlated with riboflavin intake(P<0.005) and positively correlated with the duration(min) of farming activity(P<0.005) and the percentage of lean body mass(LBM) (%) representing long term physical activity(P<0.05) in harvestseason. Urinary riboflavin excretion was positively correlated with the ratio of riboflavin intake to 1,000kcal of energy expenditure (P<0.05) in farming season and negatively correlated with the duration(min) of farming activity (P<0.05) and crude nitrogen balance(P<0.005) in harvest season. It appeared that EGR AC seems to increase and urinary riboflavin excretion seems to decrease as work activity increase. Therefore work activity would be expected to deteriorate riboflavin status. Multiple regression analysis of variables showed that in general EGR AC was affected by riboflavin and energy intakes, energy expenditure, energy balance, the duration(min) of farming activity, LBM (%). Urinary riboflavin excretion was affected by riboflavin and protein intakes, LBM(kg) and crude nitrogen balance. Crude nitrogen balance affected urinary riboflavin excretion in all seasons. The result indicated that work activity as well as nutrient intake seemed to affect riboflavin status, especially EGR AC was affected preferentially be work activity in all seasons.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.701-710
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• 1997

this study was undertaken to compare the riboflavin status of rural women with different physical activity intensity and to determine factors influencing biochemical fiboflavin status. The study was carried out over three different farming seasons : planting (June), harvest(October) and interim(February) in two rural regions of Korea. One was a traditional farming region, the other a commercial farming region with heavier work intensity. Twenty women in the traditional region and eighteen women in the commercial region were involved. The intensity of physical activity was determined by a daily activity record. Body composition was assessed by bioelectrical impedence. Dietary riboflavin intake was measured by the food frequency method. Riboflavin biochemical status was assessed by erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGR AC) and ruinary riboflavin excretion. The results from the EGR AC and urinary riboflavin excretion during the period showed the overall riboflavin status of the commercial farming women was significantly worse than that of the traditional farming women(EGR AC p<0.0001, urinary riboflavin excretion p<0.05). The traditional farming group had about 40% with risk of riboflavin deficiency, whereas the commercial farming group had about 70%. Overall mean nutrient intake was not significantly different between the two groups, however, overall mean percent lean body mass representing long term physical activity was significantly higher in the commercial farming group ( <0.005). It appears that the biochemical riboflavin status of traditional farming women was significantly influenced by riboflavin intake and crude nitrogen balance while the biochemical riboflavin status of the commercial farming women was significantly influenced by riboflavin intake and percent of lean body mass over the three seasons. (Korean J Community Nutrition 2(5) : 701∼710, 1997)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.272-282
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• 1985

A dietary survey by 3-day food record, clinical examination, urinary riboflavin excretion, and erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient ( EGRAC ) were measured on forty -eight female college students residing in Seoul. Thirty -one students were on normal diet and seventeen were lacto - ovo vegetarians. The results are as following : (1) Students had lower intakes of energy, similar intakes of protein and higher intake of riboflavin compared to Korean RDA for their age group. Vegetarians were lower in energy and protein intakes but were similar in RF compared to omnivores. (2) Mean EGRAC values were $1.24{\pm}0.03$ for all subjects, $1.19{\pm}0.04$ for omnivores, and $1.32{\pm}0.06$ for vegetarians. Percentages of subjects with EGRAC values above 1.2 were 65% in all subjects, 55% in omnivores, and 82% in vegetarians. Therefore, it was concluded that vegetarians were more severe in biochemical lesions than omnivores despite the fact that their RF intakes were similar to omnivores. (3) Eighteen students who had EGRAC values above 1.2 were given daily supplementation of 5mg RF for one week and EGRAC determination was repeated. They all returned to normal range. (4) Correlation analyses showed that there was no significant correlation between the EGRAC values and dietary intakes of nutrients. Possible explanations for this were given. From these results, it was concluded that even though dietary RF intakes of the subjects were higher than Korean RDA levels, biochemical deficiency among the subjects was remarkably high if the criteria of EGRAC > 1.2 were used. More investigations are necessary to establish a criteria for biochemical deficiency and RDA levels of riboflavin for Koreans.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 1991

This study was conducted to determine riboflavin status of young healthy Korean women. Eight subjects consumed general Korean diet for 3 weeks. Riboflavin intake was measured during the period and Erythrocyte Glutathione Reductase Activity coefficient (EGRAC) was analyzed at the end of experimental period. The subjects who showed EGRAC value above 1.20 were supplemented 6 mg riboflavin per day for 1 week. The average age of subjects was 22.1 years old, height was 154.4cm, weight was 49.2kg, chest circumference was 81.2cm, the sum of skinfold thickness of 3 parts was 79.5mm and Body Mass Index(BMI) was 20.6. Hemoglobin concentration was 13.0g/100ml, hematocrit value was 44.0% A/G ratio was 1.4, and the activity of sGOT, sGPT, alkaline phosphatase was 14.3, 11.0 and 6.5, respectively. The average daily intake of energy, protein and riboflavin was 1745kcal, 56.1g and 1.14mg, respectively. The mjor source of riboflavin were milk, egg, Korean cabbage, rice, beef and so on. The average EGRAC value was 1.2748. percentages of subjects who showed EGRAC value above 1.20 was 65.2%. After oral administration of 6mg riboflavin, the EGRAC value of all these subjects was returned to normal range. Riboflavin intake was correlated positively with energy as well as protein intake, and correlated negatively with EGRAC value. However, riboflavin intake per 1,000kcal was not correlated with EGRAC value.