Effect of Dietary Fibers on Retinol Binding Protein (RBP, cRBP I, cRBPII) Gene Expression in Rats Fed High Fat Diet

Recently it has been reported that vitamin A and retinol binding proteins (RBPs) in blood and urine were changed in the condition of diabetes mellitus or hyperlipidemia. Fruits and vegetables are recommended to consume for the people suffered from these chronic degenerative diseases. The main components of fruits and vegetables are dietary fibers, for example cellulose and pectin, of which function to affect the absorption and excretion of dietary fat and fat-soluble substances. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary fibers on RBPs mRNA expression in liver, small intestine and serum of rat fed high fat diet during 4 weeks. Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 121g on average, were divided into four groups; (Control; 17% fat & cellulose supplement diet, HF0: 25% fat & fiber free diet, HFC: 25% fat & cellulose supplement diet and HFP: 25% fat & pectin supplement diet). The rats fed high fat diet groups (HF0, HFC, HFP) tended to consume the food less than the control group, but FER of HF0 groups was significantly higher than the control (p < 0.05). The weight of adrenal gland in high fat diet groups (HF0, HFC, HFP) was significantly less than the control. Total lipid in feces daily excreted and in liver did not show any significant differences among the groups. Total cholesterol in HFP group was significantly higher than that of HFC group. Serum total cholesterol and triglyceride in HFP group tended to lower than other groups and HDL cholesterol higher. Consequently, AI (atherogenic index) was the lowest in HFP group. Vit A contents in feces daily excreted tended to lower in high fat diet groups (HF0, HFC, HFP) compared to the control group. That content in adrenal gland was the lowest in HF0 group, but not in liver. In HFP group were down-regulated cRBPI mRNA in liver and cRBPII mRNA in small intestine and up-regulated RBP and transthyretin expression in serum compared to the other groups. In conclusion, dietary fibers, especially pectin, in high fat diet might down-regulate the expression of cRBP I, cRBP II mRNA in liver and small intestine, but increase the secretion of RBP into serum and therefore inhance the bioavailability of Vit A through the body.

Effects of the 8-week Resistance Exercise on Body Composition, Serum Hormone Profiles and Feeding Patterns of Obese Females

This study was designed to investigate the effects of 8-week resistance exercise by using dumbell on the body composition, serum hormone profiles and feeding patterns in young and healthy female students with over 30% of body fat, aged 22 years in Masan, Korea. The subjects were all six, performed successfully the entire exercise-program. Anthropometry, serum lipid and neurohormone profiles of subjects were analyzed at 0, 4 and 8 weeks after exercise. And also their food and nutrient intakes were self-reported by 3-day record and food frequency questionnaire. Triceps skinfoldthickness of the subject students significantly reduced after the exercise to 46% less than before (p < 0.002). The serum concentrations of leptin, insulin and catecholamine appeared to decrease steadily, but not significantly. Total protein in serum increased significantly (p < 0.05), and Na (p < 0.005), K (p < 0.001) and Fe (p < 0.058) concentrations increased remarkably within the normal range. The 8-week resistance exercise tended to induce fiber consumption (p < 0.089) of subject students and changed the P/M/S ratio changed into the desirable way from 0.8 : 1 : 1 to 1 : 1 : 1, and that of n- 6/n-3 PUFA from 11 : 1 to 6 : 1. After taking exercise, the intake frequency of cookies (p < 0.058) and raymeun (p < 0.085) decreased, but finally this feeding pattern returned to the way as before even though at marginal significance. Consequently the resistance exercise may induce the desirable changes of body fat and improve serum lipid profiles and feeding patterns in young obese females.