• Yonsei Medical Journal
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• v.59 no.9
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• pp.1064-1071
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• 2018

Purpose: To explore the influence of S100 calcium binding protein A4 (S100A4) knockout (KO) on methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in mice. Materials and Methods: S100A4 KO mice (n=20) and their wild-type (WT) counterparts (n=20) were randomly divided into KO/MCD, Ko/methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS), WT/MCD, and WT/MCS groups. After 8 weeks of feeding, blood lipid and liver function-related indexes were measured. HE, Oil Red O, and Masson stainings were used to observe the changes of liver histopathology. Additionally, expressions of S100A4 and proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines were detected by qRT-PCR and Western blot, while hepatocyte apoptosis was revealed by TUNEL staining. Results: Serum levels of aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, and total cholesterol in mice were increased after 8-week MCD feeding, and hepatocytes performed varying balloon-like changes with increased inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen fibers; however, these effects were improved in mice of KO/MCD group. Meanwhile, total NAFLD activity scores and fibrosis were lower compared to WT+MCD group. Compared to WT/MCS group, S100A4 expression in liver tissue of WT/MCD group was enhanced. The expression of proinflammatory ($TGF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6) and profibrogenic cytokines ($TGF-{\beta}1$, COL1A1, ${\alpha}-SMA$) in MCD-induced NAFLD mice were increased, as well as apoptotic index (AI). For MCD group, the expressions of proinflammatory and profibrogenic cytokines and AI in KO mice were lower than those of WT mice. Conclusion: S100A4 was detected to be upregulated in NAFLD, while S100A4 KO alleviated liver fibrosis and inflammation, in addition to inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.276-286
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• 2020

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease associated with multiple metabolic disorders. The medicinal plant Curcuma longa L. is widely distributed in Asia and has been used to treat a spectrum diseases in clinical practice. To date, there are inadequate reports of the effects of C. longa 50% EtOH extract (CE) on NAFLD. Therefore, in this study, we evaluate the CE on an NAFLD animal and elucidate the mechanism of action. Methods and Results: C57BL/6J mice fed a methionine-choline deficient diet (MCD) were treated with CE or milk thistle, and changes in inflammation and stetosis were assessed. Experimental animals were divided into six group (n = 10); Normal, MCD, MCD + CE 50 mg/kg/day (CE 50), MCD + CE 100 mg/kg/day (CE 100), MCD + CE 150 mg/kg/day (CE 150), and the Control, MCD + Milk thistle 150 mg/kg/day (MT 150). Body weight, liver weight, liver function, and histological changes were assessed in experimental animals. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses were performed on samples collected after 4 weeks of treatment. We observed that CE administration improved MCD-diet-induced lipid accumulation, and triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in serum. Treatment with CE also decreased hepatic lipogenesis through modulation of the sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1), CCAAT-enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expresion. In addition, the use of CE increased adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation and inhibited the up-regulation of toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and TLR-4 signaling and the production of inflammatory mediators. Conclusions: In this report, we observed that CE regulated lipid accumulation in an MCD dietinduced NAFLD model by decreasing lipogenesis. These data suggeste that CE could effectively protect mice against MCD-induced NAFLD, by inhibiting the TLR-2 and TLR-4 signaling cascades.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 1984

Rice, the staple food in Korea, is deficient to some extent in protein, lipid and vitamins. This study was carried out in order to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation to the rice diet of cellulose, ginseng, and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol on lead toxicity in rats. Using male rats fed the rice diet with the distilled drinking water containing 750mg of lead as nitrate per liter, for 11 weeks, organ weights, hemoglobin levels, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity and accumulation of lead in liver, blood and kidney were observed. Supplementation of cellulose, ginseng and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol to the lead groups showed the protective effect significantly in the weight of liver but no influence in hemoglobin levels. Ginseng especially decreased the serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity to normal level. The three supplemented diets reduced the lead accumulation in kidney and blood, but not in liver.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.68-79
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• 2007

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional problem that affects people of all ages in both industrialized and developing countries. Especially, college women are the target population for dietary iron deficiency. Recent study showed that the nutritional status of college women was poor because of insufficient food consumption and repeatabled weight reduction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of nutrition counseling on the diet quality, nutritional status of iron and hematic parameters in college women who have self-recognized anemic symptoms. Anthropometric and dietary assessments as well as blood analysis, were carried out before and after the 8 weeks of nutrition counseling. During the experimental period, the 31 subjects were given nutrition education by a clinical dietitian. Nutrition counseling consisted of pathology of anemia, nutrition information for iron deficient anemia, diet information of balanced meals and menu choices for eating out. As a result, the frequencies of consumption of legumen and vegetables significantly increased after nutrition counseling(p<0.05). Daily intakes of protein, especially animal protein, vitamin E, niacin, heme iron, and zinc significantly increased(p<0.05). After nutrition counseling, some self-reported clinical symptoms such as 'dizziness', 'fatigue', 'short of breath', 'headache', 'sleeplessness', and 'beating heart' were significantly improved. Serum levels of transferrin(p<0.01) and total iron binding capacity levels(p<0.05) significantly increased. It could be concluded that the 8 weeks of nutrition counseling might be effective on quality of diet as well as iron status and it might also improve the some hematic parameters in college women who have self-recognized anemic symptoms.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.66 no.1
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• pp.145-155
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• 2024

This study was conducted to determine the effects of amino acid (AA) supplementation in low-protein (LP) diets on growth performance and nitrogen (N) excretion. A total of 175 7-day-old Ross 308 male broilers, with a mean body weight (BW) of 165 g (standard deviation = 11.2 g), were grouped into five blocks by BW and allocated to seven treatments according to a randomized complete block design with five replicate cages at five birds per cage. Dietary treatments comprised a control diet containing 20.0% crude protein (CP) and six LP diets containing either 18.5% or 17.0% CP. These LP diets were supplemented with either no AA supplementation, indispensable AA, or both indispensable and dispensable AA (glutamic acid and glycine). Birds were fed experimental grower diets from day 7 to 21 and then commercial finisher diets until day 28. During the grower period (day 7 to 21), birds fed LP diets supplemented with indispensable AA exhibited greater (p < 0.05) BW, body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) than birds fed LP diets without crystalline AA and were comparable to birds fed the control diet. During the finisher period (day 21 to 28), birds fed LP diets supplemented with indispensable AA showed greater (p < 0.05) BW than birds fed LP diets without crystalline AA, and their growth performance was comparable to birds fed the control diet. Throughout the overall period, supplementing indispensable AA in LP diets resulted in elevated (p < 0.05) BWG, FI, and G:F more than those of LP diets without crystalline AA and were comparable to those of the control diet. Supplementing indispensable AA in LP diets decreased amount and coefficient of N excretion as much as the control diet. Dispensable AA supplementation in LP diets did not influence growth performance and N excretion. In conclusion, supplementing indispensable AA in LP diets maintains growth performance and N excretion until the dietary CP lowers from 20.0% to 17.0% during the grower period. As long as dietary CP is above 17.0%, dispensable AA may not be deficient in LP diets during the grower period.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.147-157
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• 2000

This study examined the effects of excess intake of calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) supplement on bone loss, nephrocalcinosis and renal function in osteoporotic model rats. Seven-week-old female rats were first fed a Ca-deficient diet for four weeks after ovariectomy operation, and then one of nine experimental diets for additional eight weeks, containing three levels of Ca, normal (0.5%) or high (1.5%) or excess (2.5%) and three levels of Fe, normal (35ppm) or high (210ppm) or excess (350ppm). The osteoporotic model rats showed a remarkable increase in body weight, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and decrease in breaking force, Ca, P, Mg contents of femur. Serum Ca concentration was not significantly affected by dietary Ca and Fe levles. Liver Ca content increased in rats fed a high-and excess-Ca diet. Kidney Ca content and microscopic Ca deposition remarkably increased in osteoporotic model rats compared to control group, and showed a tendency to decrease in rats fed a excess-Ca diet. Breaking force of femur increased with increasing dietary Ca levels, but Ca, P contents of femur and serum ALP were not significantly affected by dietary Ca and Fe levels. Serum total protein decreased in rats fed a excess-Ca diet, BUN increased in rats fed a excess-Ca diet, while serum uric acid and creatinine were not significantly affected by dietary Ca levels. Urinary creatinine, GFR increased in rats fed a high-and excess-Ca, diet, and GFR was highest in rats fed a excess-Ca/excess-Fe diet. These results suggest that excess intake of Ca may increase breaking force of femur, but not increase mineral contents of femur, and decrease kidney function. Furthermore, excess intake of Fe and Ca concurrently may aggravate kidney function leading to potential health problems in ovariectomized osteoporotic model rats.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2003

The effects of soy-isoflavones, which are phytoestrogens derived from plants with a flavonoid structure, on cyclooxygenase -2 (COX-2) expression, PGE2 production, and mapkinases expression, were investigated in experimentally-induced atherogenic rats by feeding a high fat-high cholesterol diet. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were bilaterally ovariectomized; sham-operated animals were used as controls. Three weeks later, the animals were randomized to the following treatments for an eight-week experimental period: 17$\beta$-estradiol (200$\mu$ g/kg diet), low concentration of isoflavones (0.8g/kg diet), and high concentration of isoflavones (4.0g/kg diet). In the group supplemented with a high dose of isoflavones, COX-2 expression was down-regulated. This down-regulation was accompanied by a reduced expression of pERK1/2. In the second experiment using 48-week old female Sprague-Dawly rats, the effects of isoflavones and estrogen were compared in the basal estrogen-supplementation at the level of 600$\mu$ g/kg diet. Isoflavones induced the marked down-regulation of COX-2 protein and the decrease in $PGE_2$ production in estrogen supplemented states and this was followed by the down-regulation of p38 among mapkinases. The two different mapkinases are involved in the down-regulation of COX-2 depending on estrogen-deficient and estrogen supplemented states. This kind of COX-2 down-regulation by isoflavones was not observed in the different tissue, mammary glands. Further investigations on the relationship between COX-2 and biological activities such as vasodilation by isoflavonesin the absence or the presence of estrogen ave required in vivo system of female rats.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1326-1335
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• 2005

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary lysine deficiency on protein turnover of porcine muscles. There were 18 LYD three-breed-crossing postweanling barrows from six litters cannulated with gastric tubes through the esophagus at approximate 10 kg of body weight and allocated into three treatment groups. When their body weights reached over 12 kg, one group was sacrificed for determining the initial protein masses of m. masseter, m. longissimus dorsi, m. adductor and m. biceps femoris from the right body side. The others received a diet containing 100% or 61.4% (calculated values) of the lysine requirement (NRC, 1998) multiplied by 1.103 for a period of 17 days. Daily feed provision was computed for each pig according to body weight at the same day. All pigs were infused a flooding dose of $^2$H$_5$-phenylalanine to determine the fractional protein synthesis rates (FSR) of the aforementioned muscles in the end. Their four muscles from the right body side were also dissected for measuring the fractional rates of protein accretion (FAR). As for protein degradation, fractional rates (FDR) were calculated by differences between synthesis and accretion. Results showed that the lysine deficiency resulted in, significantly (p<0.05), lighter body weights, smaller muscles and a slower growth rate. The protein mass, accreted by the muscles, of the deficient group was only 54% averaged of the pigs fed adequately (p<0.05). The FAR of these muscles in the deficient group was significantly lower (p<0.05) and only achieved 61.1% averaged of the control; there was no significant difference (p>0.05), nevertheless, in the amino-acid composition of muscles between two groups. The lysine deficiency reduced significantly (p<0.05) the FSR of m. longissimus dorsi but did not influence its FDR. The m. biceps femoris also presented an inhibited FSR while its FDR reduced only exhibited a very high tendency (p = 0.055) compared to the adequately-fed pigs. As for the m. masseter and m. adductor, both of the FSR and FDR were depressed significantly (p<0.05) by the lysine deficiency, and changes in the FSR were severer than those in the FDR, so that their FAR were significantly slower (p<0.05) in comparison with the control group. The lysine deficiency also inhibited the RNA translation activity of the muscles while the effects on RNA capacity were not significant (p>0.05). In conclusion, the FAR of muscle protein was changed by the current lysine deficiency through the alterations in the FSR and/or FDR.

• Journal of the Korean Home Economics Association
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.57-68
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• 1986

The present survey was designed to investigate correlations among blood pressure, nutritional intakes, and various environmental factors in Korean adult males, and to observe the difference in dietary intakes between hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects. Two hundred forty-three adult men from Seoul and rural areas were interviewed about their food intakes, dietary patterns, food habits, and general environmental factors from December 20, 1982 to February 15, 1983. Their dietary intakes were surveyed by means of 24-hour recall diet method. Dietary score card was used in order to evaluate the quality of routine diet of the subject. Variables of environmental factors and factors related to hypertension were expressed as percentage, and the differences in nutrient intake and food score of each sub-group were examined by means of t-test. Correlation of all the variables were analyzed by Pearsons Correlation Coefficient. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. 38% of the subjects were between the ages of 40~49, and about one-half of the subjects were middle or high school graduates. 28% of the subjects earned 210, 000~350, 000 Won per month, and income distribution was almost identical to that of the urban population of Korea. 2. There was more overweight or obese found in the hypertensive patients than in the normotensive subjects. About 40% of the hypertensive patients reported a family history of hypertension, and their knowledge about hypertension was rather poor, but slightly better than the normotensive subjects. The patient group had less adherence to smoking and alcohol compared with the normotensive subjects, but no difference was observed in coffee drinking. The mean value of the blood pressure for the normotensive subjects was 127/86mmHg and 175/109mmHg for the hypertensive group. 3. Nutrient intake for the hypertensive group was lower for most of nutrients than in the healthy group. Hypertensive patients on diet therapy consumed less calories and carbohydrates compared with those who do not follow diet therapy. 4. There was no difference intake of these food groups between patients and the healthy group. Food score was strongly related to consumption of animal protein, saturated fats, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin A, Riboflavin, and Vitamin C, which are prone to be deficient in the typical Korean diet. 5. Blood pressure had a strong positive correlation with age, body weight, and socioeconomic level. In addition, monthly income was positively related with age and education level. 6. Three was a positive relationship between blood pressure and consumption of vegetable protein, and a negative relationship with consumption of Calories, Carbohydrates, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Niacin, and Vitamin C. Animal protein intake increased as income and education levels increased, but this tendency was opposite for carbohydrates. In summary, nutritional intakes are strongly correlated with various environmental factors and the level of blood pressure. There was no difference between normotensive and hypertensive subjects with respect to the quality of food consumed except restricting energy and carbohydrate in the patient group.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.613-618
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Iron deficiency in early life is associated with developmental problems, which may persist until later in life. The question of whether iron repletion after developmental iron deficiency could restore iron homeostasis is not well characterized. In the present study, we investigated the changes of iron transporters after iron depletion during the gestational-neonatal period and iron repletion during the post-weaning period. MATERIALS/METHODS: Pregnant rats were provided iron-deficient (< 6 ppm Fe) or control (36 ppm Fe) diets from gestational day 2. At weaning, pups from iron-deficient dams were fed either iron-deficient (ID group) or control (IDR group) diets for 4 week. Pups from control dams were continued to be fed with the control diet throughout the study period (CON). RESULTS: Compared to the CON, ID rats had significantly lower hemoglobin and hematocrits in the blood and significantly lower tissue iron in the liver and spleen. Hepatic hepcidin and BMP6 mRNA levels were also strongly down-regulated in the ID group. Developmental iron deficiency significantly increased iron transporters divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) and ferroportin (FPN) in the duodenum, but decreased DMT1 in the liver. Dietary iron repletion restored the levels of hemoglobin and hematocrit to a normal range, but the tissue iron levels and hepatic hepcidin mRNA levels were significantly lower than those in the CON group. Both FPN and DMT1 protein levels in the liver and in the duodenum were not different between the IDR and the CON. By contrast, DMT1 in the spleen was significantly lower in the IDR, compared to the CON. The splenic FPN was also decreased in the IDR more than in the CON, although the difference did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that iron transporter proteins in the duodenum, liver and spleen are differentially regulated during developmental iron deficiency. Also, post-weaning iron repletion efficiently restores iron transporters in the duodenum and the liver but not in the spleen, which suggests that early-life iron deficiency may cause long term abnormalities in iron recycling from the spleen.