• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.856-867
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• 2017

Supplement of dietary fibers (DF) is regarded as one of the most effective way to prevent and relieve chronic diseases caused by long-term intake of a high-fat diet in the current society. The health benefits of soluble dietary fibers (SDF) have been widely researched and applied, whereas the insoluble dietary fibers (IDF), which represent a higher proportion in plant food, were mistakenly thought to have effects only in fecal bulking. In this article, we proved the anti-obesity and glucose homeostasis improvement effects of IDF from pear pomace at first, and then the mechanisms responsible for these effects were analyzed. The preliminary study by real-time PCR and ELISA showed that this kind of IDF caused more changes in the gut microbiota compared with in satiety hormone or in hepatic metabolism. Further analysis of the gut microbiota by high-throughput amplicon sequencing showed IDF from pear pomace obviously improved the structure of the gut microbiota. Specifically, it promoted the growth of Bacteroidetes and inhibited the growth of Firmicutes. These results are coincident with previous hypothesis that the ratio of Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes is negatively related with obesity. In conclusion, our results demonstrated IDF from pear pomace could prevent high-fat diet-induced obesity in rats mainly by improving the structure of the gut microbiota.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.32-44
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: We have previously designed the anti-cancer food scoring model (ACFS) 1.0, an evidence-based quantitative tool analyzing the anti-cancer or carcinogenic potential of diets. Analysis was performed using simple quantitative indexes divided into 6 categories (S, A, B, C, D, and E). In this study, we applied this scoring model to wider recipes and evaluated its nutritional relevance. MATERIALS/METHODS: National or known regional databases were searched for recipes from 6 categories: Korean out-dining, Korean home-dining, Western, Chinese, Mediterranean, and vegetarian. These recipes were scored using the ACFS formula and the nutrition profiles were analyzed. RESULTS: Eighty-eight international recipes were analyzed. All S-graded recipes were from vegetarian or Mediterranean categories. The median code values of each category were B (Korean home-dining), C (Korean out-dining), B (Chinese), A (Mediterranean), S (vegetarian), and D (Western). The following profiles were correlated (P < 0.05) with ACFS grades in the univariate trend analysis: total calories, total fat, animal fat, animal protein, total protein, vitamin D, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B₁₂, pantothenic acid, sodium, animal iron, zinc, selenium, and cholesterol (negative trends), and carbohydrate rate, fiber, water-soluble fiber, vitamin K, vitamin C, and plant calcium (positive trends). Multivariate analysis revealed that animal fat, animal iron, and niacin (negative trends) and animal protein, fiber, and vitamin C (positive trends) were statistically significant. Pantothenic acid and sodium showed non-significant negative trends (P < 0.1), and vitamin B₁₂ showed a non-significant positive trend. CONCLUSION: This study provided a nutritional basis and extended the utility of ACFS, which is a bridgehead for future cancer-preventive clinical trials using ACFS.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.394-405
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• 2011

Osteoporosis is a rising problem, as the older age population is increasing due to prolongation of life. Genetic and environmental factors play key roles in bone metabolism, and diet is also an important factor. We investigated the relationship among factors affecting bone mineral density (BMD), including daily food intake and nutrient intake in men aged >50 years. Seventy-eight men, who visited the health promotion center at one of the university medical centers, were divided into normal and osteopenia groups according to their BMD. The body weight of the normal group was significantly higher than that of the osteopenia group. The osteopenia group showed significantly higher carbohydrate intake and lower calcium and vegetable calcium intake compared to those in the normal group. Lumbar spine BMD was negatively correlated with energy, fat, vitamin B1, and sodium intake in the normal group. Additionally, femoral neck BMD was negatively correlated with total animal protein, energy, protein, fat, phosphorous, iron, animal iron, potassium, vitamin B1, B2, B6, and niacin intake. Lumbar spine BMD was positively correlated with fruit, calcium, vegetable calcium, animal calcium, and vitamin C intake in the osteopenia group. Femoral neck BMD was negatively correlated with meat, dairy product, total animal protein, plant protein, animal protein, vitamin A, and cholesterol intake. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that several dietary factors affected BMD, including energy, fat, vitamin B1, B2, B6, niacin, sodium, protein, iron, animal iron, phosphorous, potassium, and animal protein in the normal group and zinc, calcium, vegetable calcium, animal calcium, vitamin C, fruit, protein, animal protein, meat, dairy product, carbohydrates, cholesterol, vegetables, mushrooms, and seasonings in the osteopenia group. These results indicate that adequate nutrient intake plays an important role maintaining optimum bone health in middle aged men.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2013

Recent studies have shown that Rosa canina L. and tiliroside, the principal constituent of its seeds, exhibit anti-obesity and anti-diabetic activities via enhancement of fatty acid oxidation in the liver and skeletal muscle. However, the effects of rosehip, the fruit of this plant, extract (RHE), or tiliroside on lipid accumulation in adipocytes have not been analyzed. We investigated the effects of RHE and tiliroside on lipid accumulation and protein expression of key transcription factors in both in vitro and in vivo models. RHE and tiliroside inhibited lipid accumulation in a dose-dependent manner in 3T3-L1 cells. We also analyzed the inhibitory effect of RHE on white adipose tissue (WAT) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mice model. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed HFD or HFD supplemented with 1% RHE (HFDRH) for 8 weeks. The HFDRH-fed group gained less body weight and had less visceral fat than the HFD-fed group. Liver weight was significantly lower in the HFDRH-fed group and total hepatic lipid and triglyceride (TG) content was also reduced. A significant reduction in the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR${\gamma}$) was observed in epididymal fat in the HFDRH-fed group, in comparison with controls, through Western blotting. These results suggest that downregulation of PPAR${\gamma}$ expression is involved, at least in part, in the suppressive effect of RHE on lipid accumulation in WAT.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.324-332
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: Insects are ectothermic organisms in terrestrial ecosystems and play various roles such as controlling plant biomass and maintaining species diversity. Because insects are ectothermic, their physiological responses are very sensitive to environmental temperature which determines survival and distribution of insect population and that affects climate change. This study aimed to identification of genes contributing to fitness under high temperature. METHODS AND RESULTS: To identify genes contributing to fitness under high temperature, the transcriptomes of fat body in Plutella xyostella larva have been analyzed via next generation sequencing. From the fat body transcriptomes, structure-related proteins, heat shock proteins, antioxidant enzymes and detoxification proteins were identified. Genes encoding proteins such as structural proteins (cuticular proteins, chitin synthase and actin), stress-related protein (cytochrome P450), heat shock protein and antioxidant enzyme (catalase) were up-regulated at high temperature. In contrast expression of glutathione S transferase was down-regulated. CONCLUSION: Identifications of temperature-specific up- or down-regulated genes can be useful for detecting temperature adaptation and understanding physiological responses in insect pests.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.46-59
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda (AY) has remarkable bioactivities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-cancer activities. On the other hand, the effects of AY against obesity-induced insulin resistance have not been reported. Therefore, this study examined the potential of AY against obesity-associated insulin resistance in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: An obesity model was established by feeding C57BL/6J mice a 60% HFD for 16 weeks. The C57BL6/When ethyl acetate fraction from AY (EFAY) at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg/day was administered orally to mice fed a HFD for the last 4 weeks. Normal and control groups were administered water orally. The body weight and fasting blood glucose were measured every week. Dietary intake was measured every other day. After dissection, blood and tissues were collected from the mice. RESULTS: The administration of EFAY reduced body and organ weights significantly compared to HFD-fed control mice. The EFAY-administered groups also improved the serum lipid profile by decreasing the triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein compared to the control group. In addition, EFAY ameliorated the insulin resistance-related metabolic dysfunctions, including the fasting blood glucose and serum insulin level, compared to the HFD-fed control mice. The EFAY inhibited lipid synthesis and insulin resistance by down-regulation of hepatic fatty acid synthase and up-regulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase pathway. EFAY also reduced lipid peroxidation in the liver, indicating that EFAY protected hepatic injury induced by obesity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that EFAY improved obesity-associated insulin resistance by regulating the lipid and glucose metabolism, suggesting that AY could be used as a functional food to prevent obesity and insulin resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1544-1547
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• 2011

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) leaf is known to be effective for 'overcoming body heat' and stopping bleeding. It is commonly used as a traditional curing plant for the treatment of hematemesis, epistaxis, hemoptysis, hematuria, and metrorrhagia in traditional Chinese medicine. This study investigated on the effect of oral administration of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) leaf extract on the serum and liver lipid levels of rats fed a high fat diet. Experimental rats were divided into five different experimental groups, including the general diet group (Cont), high fat diet with lotus leaf extract groups (HL40, HL80, HL120), and high fat diet group (HFG). Body weight significantly decreased in the HL120 sample compared to that of Cont. The weights of the livers and kidneys of rats corresponded to the increase in body weight. Total cholesterol and triglyceride contents in liver tissues of rats were lowest in the sample HL120 sample. The levels of total lipids, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in serum were lower in the HL120 sample compared to the HFG.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.352-363
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• 2005

The previous extensive in vitro studies on the antioxidative activities of a number of Korean grains, vegetables, seaweeds and mushrooms, and the various combinations of these food source exhibited a wide range of antioxidative activities, and four food mixtures composed of 5 kinds of foods (5A, 5B, 5C and 5D) were designed from 16 selective foods showing. high antioxidant effect, in vitro, to find the good combinations for the meal planning. Mixture 5B or 5C contained very high levels of total flavonoid and polyphenol, and ethanol extract from 5A, 5B or 5C showed very strong inhibitory effects against in vitro $Fe^{2+}-induced$ lipid peroxidation and ethanol extract from 5B or 5C showed remarkable DPPH radical scavenging effect and lipid peroxide-protein conjugation inhibition effect. And in vivo study was also carried out with two mixtures (5B, 5C). Powders (P5B, P5C) or ethanol extracts (E5B, E5C) of these mixtures were supplemented to Sprague-Dawley rats fed on high fat $(15\%)-high$ cholesterol $(1\%)$ semipurified diet for 5 weeks. The total antioxidant power in serum was significantly higher in P5B, P5C, E5B and E5C groups than in high fat control group, and $ascorbate-Fe^{2+}-induced$ TBARS was significantly lowered by E5B supplementation in rat liver. In liver tissue, Cu, Zn-SOD activity was significantly higher in P5B and E5B groups than in high fat control group, while catalase or GSH-peroxidase (GPx) activity was not changed by any supplementations. In kidney, Cu, Zn­SOD activity was significantly higher in P5B group than in high fat control group, while GPx activity was not changed by any supplementations. Taken together, mixture 5B and 5C showed very strong antioxidative effects both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the ingredient Korean foods of 5B and 5C could be recommended to take a lot together for prevention from age-related chronic diseases.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.603-612
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• 2014

According to the microbiological standard, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Listeria monocytogenes should not be detected in milk and egg products in Korea. Refrigerated food such as milk must be kept under $10^{\circ}C$ at retail markets. However, temperature abuse of refrigerated foods at such markets is often observed. We compared the growth and survival kinetics of S. aureus and C. perfringens at 10 and $15^{\circ}C$, and the growth kinetics of L. monocytogenes at 4 and $10^{\circ}C$ in whole and skim milk and ready-to-eat (RTE) quail eggs to evaluate their growth possibilities at retail markets. Regardless of storage temperature, the level of S. aureus reached the maximum level ($10^8-10^9CFU/ml$) in whole milk, non-fat milk and RTE quail eggs within the expiration date. Even low contamination levels of S. aureus (10 CFU/mL) grew rapidly in milk and quail eggs to reach the maximum level within the shelf life. Survival of C. perfringens in whole milk was greater than that in non-fat milk, indicating that the fat content in milk influences the survival of C. perfringens. For L. monocytogenes, the population in milk increased by 0.5-1 log CFU/mL at $4^{\circ}C$, while the populations reached the maximum level at $10^{\circ}C$ within the expiration date, regardless of initial contamination levels. In quail eggs, L. monocytogenes grew to the maximum level within the expiration date (60 days) at both temperatures. S. aureus and L. monocytogenes must be controlled to be negative, and proper temperature management should be emphasized at retail markets to protect the consumer. Since C. perfringens did not grow in milk and RTE quail eggs, there is no risk due to the growth of C. perfringens in these products at retail markets.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.716-728
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: An imbalanced adipokine profile in obesity increases the susceptibility to obesity-related cardiometabolic alterations, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The mulberry plant has been reported to have health benefits, such as hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects. This study examined the effects of a mulberry (Morus alba L.) fruit ethanol extract (MBEE) on dyslipidemia, liver steatosis, and adipokine imbalance in response to a high-fat diet. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of 4 groups containing 6 rats each and fed either a control diet (CON), a high-fat diet (HFD), or a high-fat diet with MBEE of 150 mg/kg/day (LMB) or 300 mg/kg/day (HMB). The triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were measured spectrophotometrically. The leptin, adiponectin, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The plasma TG levels were similar in the 4 groups. Plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and TC/HDL-C ratio increased in the HFD group compared with the CON group, whereas those values decreased in the LMB group (P < 0.05), indicating that MBEE had a plasma lipid-lowering effect. HDL-C decreased in the HFD group, but MBEE did not affect the HDL-C level. The HFD rats significantly increased hepatic TG and cholesterol levels and plasma ALT and AST activities compared to the CON group. The hepatic TG level and ALT and AST activities were reduced markedly by the MBEE treatment. The HFD group showed a higher PAI-1 level, whereas MBEE treatment, especially in the HMB group, significantly reduced leptin level, and leptin/adiponectin and PAI-1/ adiponectin ratios. These findings suggest that MBEE altered the imbalance between the pro-and anti-inflammatory adipokines to a more anti-inflammatory state. CONCLUSIONS: MBEE could protect against abnormal lipid metabolism and hepatic steatosis induced by a high-fat diet, lowering plasma cholesterol, LDL-C and TC/HDL-C, and hepatic TG. These findings are associated with the regulating effect of MBEE on the leptin/adiponectin and PAI-1/adiponectin ratios.