ABSTRACT
Aim: To determine the effect of feeding flaxseed on Omega-6 to Omega-3 ratio (n-6/n-3) in Korean native steers (Hanwoo) and effect of flaxseed-fed beef consumption on reducing blood lipid profile and glucose in normal human. Methodology: A total of 60 Hanwoo steers (750 kg b.wt.) were assigned three treatments (20 per treatment). Each treatment group was divided into C (control, feeding basal diets without flaxseed for 40 days before slaughter), FS5 (feeding 5% flaxseed for 60 days before slaughter), and FS7.4 (feeding 7.4% flaxseed for 40 days before slaughter). Fatty acid composition from Hanwoow jugular vein and beef loin were analyzed. Clinical trials were carried out to investigate the effect of consumption of flaxseed-fed beef loin on blood lipid profile and glucose in twenty human subjects. Results: n-6/n-3 ratio in the blood and beef loin of Hanwoo steers were lowered to 2.26-2.27 and 3.67-3.71 in the FS group, respectively, compared with the other groups. Oleic acid level in the blood and beef loin of Hanwoo steers increased to 40.12-42.01 and 52.27-52.79%, respectively, compared with other groups. Blood triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in normal human fed with FS beef loin reduced by 25.35, 5.22, and 17.59%, compared to those before intake of beef loin. Blood high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) level in normal human fed with FS beef loin was increased by 6.07%. In human subjects fed with FS and C beef loin, blood glucose level was decreased by 6.42 and 11.82%, respectively. Interpretation: The results demonstrated that feeding 5 and 7.4% flaxseed to Hanwoo steers for 40 to 60 days before slaughter could lower n-6 to n-3 ratio and inhance oleic acid in the blood and beef loin. Further, consumption of flaxseed-fed beef loin by human subjects could improve blood lipid profile.
ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to determine the allergen skin test positivity and total serum IgE of adult patients in Singapore with clinical features suggestive of allergic rhinitis. The study was carried out prospectively from January to August 1990. All patients had one or more of three symptoms (1) rhinorrhoea or nasal congestion, (2) itching nose or throat and (3) sneezing, as well as pale edematous nasal mucosa. Twenty inhalant allergens (Greers Laboratory, USA) were used for skin prick test (SPT). Serum total IgE was measured using 3M FAST test. Eighty-five consecutive patients, 54 males and 31 females, were studied. Their mean age (SD) was 26.8 (6.1) years. More than half (55.3%) had severe symptoms affecting work. Twenty percent did not have any positive skin reaction compared with 44.9% of age-matched healthy controls; 62.4% had 2 or more positive reactions compared to only 37.2% of controls. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.002). The two most commonly, positive allergens were Dermatophagoides farinae (76.5%) and house dust (61.2%). No significant difference was found in the skin test positivity between males and females. Forty-three patients also had serum total IgE measurement and their geometric mean IgE was 240 IU/I which was significantly higher than the geometric mean IgE of healthy controls (88 IU/I, P = 0.0005).