The Effect of Excess Calcium on the Iron Bioavailability and Bone Growth of Marginally Iron Deficient Rats

This study examined the effect of excess calcium (Ca) on the iron (Fe) bioavailability and bone growth of marginally Fe deficient animals. Two groups of weanling female SD rats were fed either normal Fe (35 ppm) or Fe deficient diet (8 ppm) for 3 weeks. Then each group of animals were assigned randomly to one of three groups and were fed one of six experimental diets additionally for 4 weeks, containing normal (35 ppm) or low (15 ppm) Fe and one of three levels of Ca as normal (0.5%), high (1.0%), or excess (1.5%). Feces and urine were collected during the last 3 days of treatment. After sacrifice blood, organs, and femur bone were collected for analysis. Final body weight and average food intake were not affected by either the levels of dietary Ca or Fe. Low Fe diet significantly reduced the level of serum ferritin, however, for Hb, Hct, and TIBC no difference was shown than those in the normal Fe group. TIBC increased slightly by high and excess Ca intake in low Fe groups. For both normal and low Fe groups, high and excess Ca intakes reduced the apparent absorption of Fe and Fe contents of liver significantly (p < 0.05). Calcium contents in kidney and Femur of rats that were fed high and excess levels of Ca were significantly greater than those of normal Ca groups. However, weight, length, and breaking force of the bone were not affected by increased Ca intakes. Both in control and low Fe groups, high and excess intakes of Ca decreased the apparent absorption of Ca. These results indicate that the excess intakes of calcium than the normal needs would be undesirable for Fe bioavailability and that the adverse effects be more serious in marginally iron deficient growing animals. In addition bone growth and strength would not be favorably affected by high Ca intakes, though, the long term effect of increased Ca contents in bone requires further examination.

Supplementary Effect of gamma-Oryzanol on Lipid Metabolism in Diabetic KK Mice

This study was carried out to investigate the supplementary effects of gamma-oryzanol extracted from rice bran on lipid metabolism in diabetic mice. We supplied 2 kinds of experimental diets (CO without and GO with 0.2% gamma-oryzanol) to diabetic mice for 8 weeks. Diet intake, body weight, organ weight, contents of serum and hepatic lipid profiles, and fecal lipid levels were measured. Though there was no significant difference in diet intake, body weight change and organ weight between experimental groups, the concentration of serum total cholesterol and hepatic total lipid, total cholesterol and HMG-CoA reductase activity was significantly lower in GO group treated with 0.2% gamma-oryzanol of diet than CO group after supplementary period of experimental diets. And total lipid, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and bile acid levels excreted to feces were significantly higher in GO group than CO group. These results suggest that gamma-oryzanol decrease the serum and hepatic lipid levels by lowing HMG-CoA reductase activity or increasing the contents of fecal lipid in diabetic KK mice.

Supplementary Effect of Lentinus Edodes on Serum and Hepatic Lipid Levels in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat

This study was conducted to investigate the supplementary effects of Lentinus edodes on blood pressure and blood lipid levels in the Hypertensive Rat. We supplied 3 kinds of experimental diets (Control; CO, cap of Lentinus edodes; LC, and stipe of Lentinus edodes; LS) to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) for 8 weeks. Diet intake, body weight, organ weights, and serum lipid levels were measured. There was no significant difference in diet intake, and body, liver and epididymal fat pad weights among experimental groups. The levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower in LC and LS groups than CO group. The concentrations of serum total cholesterol were lower in LC and LS groups than CO group. These results suggested that Lentinus edodes decrease blood pressure levels and serum total cholesterol concentration in the spontaneously hypertensive rats. But these effects of Lentinus edodes didn't show any significant difference between animals fed cap and stipe of this mushroom.

Supplementary Effect of the High Dietary Fiber Rice on Blood Glucose in Diabetic KK Mice

This study was carried out to investigate the supplementary effects of Suwon 464, which has over two times of dietary fiber content compared with normal rice (Ilpum), on blood glucose in diabetic mice. We supplied 5 kinds of experimental diets (corn starch diet as a control (CO), Ilpum polished rice diet (IP), Ilpum brown rice diet (IB), polished rice diet (SP) and brown rice diet (SB) of Suwon 464) to diabetic mice for 8 weeks, after analyzing dietary fiber contents of 5 experimental diets. Diet intake, body weight and contents of blood glucose, hemoglobin A(1c) and insulin were measured. The dietary fiber contents in CO, IP, IB, SP, and SB diets were 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, and 2.0% respectively. Body weight was lower in SB group than the other groups though there was no significant difference in diet intake among experimental groups. The concentration of blood glucose in diabetic mice was lower in SB group than the other groups during the supplementary period of experimental diets. The hemoglobin A(1c) and serum insulin levels were lower in SP and SB groups. These results suggested that the brown rice of Suwon 464 with high dietary fiber can control diabetes in diabetic mice by reducing the blood glucose and hemoglobin A(1c).

Supplementary Effect of the High Dietary Fiber Rice on Lipid Metabolism in Diabetic KK Mice

This study was conducted to investigate the supplementary effects of Suwon 464 developed by Rural Development Administration, which has over two times of dietary fiber content compared with normal rice (Ilpum), on lipid metabolism in diabetic mice. We supplied 5 kinds of experimental diets (corn starch diet as a control (CO), Ilpum polished rice diet (IP), Ilpum brown rice diet (IB), polished rice diet (SP) and brown rice diet (SB) of Suwon 464) to diabetic mice for 8 weeks, after analyzing dietary fiber contents of 5 experimental diets. Diet intake, body weight, organ weights, and lipids levels of serum, liver and feces were measured. The dietary fiber contents in CO, IP, IB, SP, and SB diets were 1.0, 1.2, 1.4, 1.4, and 2.0% respectively. Body weight and liver and epididymal fat pad weights were lower in SB group than the other groups though there was no significant difference in diet intake among experimental groups. The concentrations of serum triglyceride was lower in SP and SB groups than CO and IP groups. The levels of hepatic total lipid and total cholesterol were significantly lower in SP and SB groups than CO group, and the level of hepatic triglyceride was lower in IB, SP and SB groups than CO group. The levels of total lipid and triglyceride excreted in feces were higher in IB, SP and SB, and the level of total cholesterol in feces was higher in SP and SB groups than CO group. These results suggested that the high dietary fiber rice (Suwon 464) decrease the triglyceride or total cholesterol concentrations of serum and liver by increasing of fecal lipid excretion in diabetic mice.

Evaluation of Nutritional Safety for the Herbicide-Resistant Rice in Growing Male Rats

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety of herbicide-resistant rice, a genetically modified organism (GMO) developed by the Rural Development Administration, in Sprague-Dawley rats. The nutrient content of herbicide-resistant polished and brown cooked rice was compared with that of conventional Ilpum polished and brown cooked rice to assess composition equivalence. Compositional analysis was performed to measure proximates, fiber, and minerals before animal feeding. Growing male rats were fed one of the following four diets for six weeks: Ilpum polished cooked rice (IP) and Ilpum brown cooked rice (IB) as a non-GMO and herbicide-resistant polished cooked rice (GP) and brown cooked rice (GB) as a GMO. We checked clinical symptoms (anorexia, salivation, diarrhea, polyuria, anuria, fecal change) every day, food intake, change of body weight twice a week, and serum biochemistry and organ weights after 6 weeks of experimental feeding among the four groups. Nutrient content of the herbicide-resistant rice was similar to that of the non-transgenic control and was within the published range observed for non-transgenic rice. We could not find any significant difference in the above-mentioned items as the index to be checked in the animals fed the GMO. These results suggest that the nutrient content of genetically modified herbicide-resistant rice is compositionally equivalent to that of conventional Ilpum rice and that growing male rats fed herbicide-resistant rice are no different from those fed Ilpum rice, non-GMO for 6 weeks.

The Effect of Rice Germ Oil Supplement on Serum and Hepatic Lipid Levels of Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of rice germ oil supplement on the lipid metabolism of insulin-dependent diabetic mice. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were fed three kinds of experimental diets with 20% lipid, composed of 20% lard (L) : 10% lard and 10% rice germ oil (LRGO) ; and 20% rice germ oil (RBO), respectively, for 7 weeks. Diet intake, body weight, organ weight and lipid levels of serum, liver and feces were measured. There was no significant difference in diet intake, body weight and organ weight among the experimental groups. But the concentrations of serum triglyceride in the LRGO and RGO groups, and of serum total cholesterol in the RGO group, were significantly lower than those of the L group fed the 20% lard diet. The levels of hepatic total lipid of the RGO group, and of hepatic total cholesterol of the LRGO and RGO groups were significantly lower than those of the L group. The contents of total lipid and total cholesterol excreted in the feces of the LRGO and RGO groups were higher than those of the L group. These results suggest that rice germ oil can reduce the levels of total cholesterol concentrations in the serum or livers of insulin-dependent diabetic mice, and that the hypolipidemic effect of rice germ oil may be due to increasing fecal lipid excretion and decreasing lipid absorptivity.