Effects of Allium Vegetable Intake on Levels of Plasma Glucose, Lipid and Minerals in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

The effects of Allium vegetables on blood glucose levels and lipid metabolism in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats were investigated. Diabetes mellitus was induced by STZ injection (45 mg/kg b.w.) into the tail vein. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 220+/-10 g were randomly assigned to 7 groups: normal, STZ-control and five Allium groups (Allium cepa, Allium fistulosum, Allium sativum, Allium tuberosum and Allium victorialis) . Normal and STZ-control groups were fed an AIN-93 diet and five Allium groups were fed a modified diet containing 10% Allium powder each for 4 weeks. Body weight, diet intake, food efficiency ratio (FER) and organ weights were monitored. Activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were observed. Plasma levels of glucose, free fatty acid, triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol were analyzed. Levels of glycogen, cholesterol and triglyceride in liver were determined. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver, lung, kidney, and pancreas were assayed. The hepatic contents of chromium (Cr) , iron (Fe) , zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) were measured. The Allium sativum group had weight gain and suppressed a hypertrophy of the kidney significantly. The activity of ALT was significantly lowered in the diabetic groups except Allium sativum group compared to STZ-control group. The Allium sativum and Allium tuberosum groups showed the hypoglycemic effects at 4 weeks. There were no significant differences between the control and all the other diabetic groups in the plasma levels of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and free fatty acids. Most of the Allium groups except Allium fistulosum were observed significantly lowered level of MDA in the lung compared to STZ-control group. The diabetic rats fed the Allium cepa and Allium sativum have shown significantly lowered hepatic Zn contents. The results suggested that the intake of the Allium vegetables may be effective in the antihyperglycemia by lowering blood glucose levels.

A Study on Dietary Pattern and Nutritional Status of the Long-Lived Elderly People by Food Habit Index in Ganghwa-gun Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was carried out to assess the food habit index of the long-lived elderly who were aged over 85 years living in Ganghwa-gun. A survey was conducted during December 2003. Dietary nutrient intake data was obtained through the 24-hr recall method. The subjects were 96 (32 males, 64 females) aged people and divided into three groups based on food habit index scores. Such as group A: good 16~20, group B: fair 11~15, and group C: poor 5~10. The three groups of the subjects were 90.7 years of age and 21.3 kg/m2 of BMI on average. Healthy eating index scores of the subjects were 9.4% in group A, 54.2% in group B and 36.5% in group C. Their level of education were lower and their levels of living standards tended to have been middle and lower of the middle class. The percentage of living together with their families or spouses in all groups were over 60.0% and the rates of the subjects who have responsibility for their meal preparations were also very high in all groups. Most subjects tended not to drirk nor smoke, and spend 8~10 hours for their sleep. The percent of number of diseases in group A was lower than in groups B and C. Their dietary habits such as taking three meals a day regularly have shown that they have good eating habit in general. There was a positive correlation between the eating behaviors and nutrient intakes. The protein, animal protein, fat, PUFA, vitamin E, vitamin B2, niacin, P and K intaks in group A were significantly higher than that of the groups B and C. For group A of good food habits aged had no sufficient intake of Ca and vitamin A than the Korean RDA and long-lived elderly of group C in Ganghwa areas had worse nutrients intakes, especially Ca, vitamin A, vitamin B2 and vitamin E. According to this research having a good eating habits could be considered as increasing of the health and nutritional status.

Food Habits and Nutritional Status of the Long-Lived Elderly People in Ganghwa-gun Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This survey was carried out to obtain the information concerning nutritional status, including factors of food habits and nutrient intake of the long-lived elderly men and women living in Ganghwa-gun. In order to assess the quality of dietary intake among the elderly, a survey was conducted during December 2003 of 103 subjects who were over 85 years of age. Dietary nutrient intake data were obtained through the 24 hr recall method. Chi-square test and t-test were the main data analysis method. Their dietary habits such as three meals a day and a regular meal time have shown that they have generally good eating habits. Average daily calorie intake (% RDA) was 1233.2 kcal (68.8%) for male and 1215.8 kcal (75.8%) for female which were lower than the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for Koreans. Energy intake of females got closer to RDA than that of male. Protein intake was 49.3 g for male and 46.9 g for female (which was 82.3% RDA for male and 85.1% RDA for female) for elderly person, the proportion of animal protein to total protein intake were 45.2% for male and 39.0% for female. Average CPF ratio of energy intake for both male and female were 68.7 : 16.1 : 15.2 and 69.6 : 15.4 : 15.0. SFA : MUFA : PUFA ratio of the subject was 0.78 : 1.03 : 1.00 for male and 0.64 : 0.92 : 1.00 for female. Calcium intakes for both males and females were 321.3 mg and 377.2 mg. Vitamin A was the nutrient found to be least sufficient. Mean daily intakes of most of the vitamins and minerals for both males and females were lower than RDA except vitamin C and Zn for female, especially % RDAs of vitamin A, Ca for male and vitamin A for females were less than 50% of RDA. In conclusion, long-lived elderly in Ganghwa areas did not consume enough nutrients quantitatively as well as qualitatively, especially Ca, Fe, vitamin A, vitamin B2 and vitamin E. These results suggest that nutritional guidelines for older Koreans should focus on the maintenance of adequate energy intake. In addition, selection of foods with high protein and calcium, such as dairy food, should be emphasized, particularly in the long-lived elderly.

A Study on Social Factors and Physical Health Status of the Long-Lived Elderly People in Ganghwa-gun Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was to performed to assess social factors and physical health status. The subjects of the study were 103 elderly people of age over 85 years living in Ganghwa-gun area. The method of this research was based on the interview-survey with questionnaire. Chi-square test was the main data analysis method. The subject group was composed of 36 males and 67 females, the average age being 91.0 +/- 3.2 years old for the males and 91.1 +/- 3.4 years old for the females. The aged average height and weight were 161.0 +/- 7.9 cm and 54.6 +/- 7.8 kg in males, 141.0 +/- 8.2 cm and 42.2 +/- 7.9 kg in females which were lower than the Korean average standard but the mean BMIs of both male and female showed normal range. Their level of education was lower and they tended to be religious. The aged population might be economically poor. Their level of living standards tended to have been lower-middle and lower class. The mean age of their parents' death were 64.3 +/- 17.2 years in males, 59.0 +/- 14.9 years in females for the father and 70.9 +/- 15.5 years in males, 66.8 +/- 16.6 years in females for the mother. The rate of living together with their family or spouse in the female aged was 83.2% higher than in the male aged. They tended to have engaged in hobbies that require less movement. Of the kinds of hobby, "TV watching (47.8% in male and 44.9% in female) was the highest. Ratios of the drinking and the smoking elderly were 30.6%, 25.0% in male and 7.5%, 18.8% in female but they tended to have never drunken and smoked. Of the subjects, 42.9% spend 8~9 hours for sleeping in male and 35.8% spend 10 hours for sleeping in female. They tended to have not done any particular health behavior. The most common diseases were digestive disease in male, arthritis and hypertension in female. Most elderly males (47.3%) and females (61.2%) had 1~2 diseases.

Effects of Benincasa hispida Intake on Blood Glucose and Lipid Level in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

This study was designed to investigate the hypoglycemic effects of Benincasa hispida (Wax gourd) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in the male rats by intravenous injection of STZ at a dose of 45 mg/kg dissolved in citrate buffer. The diabetic animals then had plasma glucose concentration of above 300mg/dl. The experimental groups were divided into five groups; normal, STZ-control and three Wax gourd groups (5%, 10% and 20% intake groups). Normal and STZ-control groups were fed on a AIN-93 diet and experimental groups were fed a AIN-93 diet with the Wax gourd powder (5%, 10% and 20%/kg diet) for 4 weeks. The body weight, diet intake and feed efficiency ratio (FER) were monitored. The blood glucose and cholesterol levels were determined everyweek. After 4 weeks, the rats were sacrificed and the levels of glucose, insulin, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acids in plasma and levels of glycogen in liver and muscle were analyzed. Diabetic rats showed the lower weight gain compared to the normal rats. The weight gain and feed efficiency ratios in 15 and 20% Wax gourd groups were higher than in STZ-control group. The plasma glucose levels were significantly lower in all Wax gourd groups than in STZ-control group. The plasma insulin levels in diabetic groups were not significantly different compared to the normal group, but the level of 20% Wax gourd group was higher than other diabetic groups. The experimental diabetic groups showed the higher levels of muscle glycogen compared to STZ-control group. The lower levels of plasma cholesterol were noticed in 20% Wax gourd group throughout the experimental period. The plasma level of triglyceride was elevated in STZ-diabetic control and the levels were slightly decreased in Wax gourd groups. Rats of 10% Wax gourd group showed the lower levels of plasma free fatty acids. It is suggested, from the results, that the possibility of therapeutic or preventive use of wax gourd to the diabetes mellitus.

Effects of Wax Guard on Weight, Triglyceride, Leptin and Fat Cell Size in Rats Fed on a High Fat Diet

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wax gourd on weight, triglyceride, leptin and fat cell size in rats fed a high-fat diet. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed an experimental diet containing total dietary fat at 40% of calories with wax gourd 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% (w/w) for 4 weeks. Weight gain and triglyceride level fell significantly in the 15% wax gourd group compared to the control group. Epididymal fat pad, abdominal fat and perirenal fat tended to decrease in the 15% wax gourd group. Leptin and free fatty acid level were not significantly different among the groups. Fat cell size significantly decreased in the 10% and 15% wax gourd groups compared to the control group. Weight gain correlated positively with visceral fat masses and the levels of leptin and triglyceride. Fat cell size significantly correlated with visceral fat and leptin level. Therefore, the 15% wax gourd diet substantially reduced weight, triglyceride and fat cell size.

Diagnostic Value of C-Veactive Protein and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Differentiation of Pleural Effusions / 결핵

BACKGROUND: Pleural effusions are generally divided into transudates and exudates. If it is exudative, more diagnostic tests are required in order to determine the cause of the local disease. A malignancy is a common and important cause of exudative pleural effusions. Because the pleural fluid cytology and pleural biopsy specimens do not provide a diagnosis in a high percentage of malignant effusions, several tumor markers have been examined. In order to overcome this limitation, this study hypothesized that C-reactive protein(CRP) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) measurements would be useful for differentiating trasudates from exudates and determining the differences between a benign and malignant effusion. METHODS: Eighty consecutive patients with a pleural effusion (tuberculous 20, parapneumonic 20, malignant 20, transudative 20) were examined prospectively: 60 of them were classified according to Light's criteria as having an exudative fluid and 20 had a transudative fluid. The standard parameters of a pleural effusion were examined and the serum and pleural effusion VEGF levels were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). CRP in the serum and pleural fluid was determined by a turbidimetric immunoassay. RESULTS: The pleural CRP levels in the exudates were significantly higher than those in the transudates, 4.19+/-4.22 mg/dl and 1.29+/-1.45 mg/dl, respectively. The VEGF levels in the pleural effusions were significantly elevated in the exudates compared to the transudate, 1,011+/-1,055 pg/ml and 389+/-325 pg/ml, respectively. The VEGF ratio in the exudative effusion is significantly higher than a transudative effusions, 3.9+/-4.7 and 1.6+/-0.9, respectively. The pleural CRP levels in the patients with a benign effusion(4.15+/-4.20 mg/dl) were significantly higher than those in the malignant effusion(1.43+/-1.91 mg/dl). The VEGF ratio is significantly higher in malignant effusions(4.9+/-5.5) than in benign effusions(2.8+/-3.6). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the CRP and VEGF levels in the serum and pleural effusion can distinguish between transudates and exudates. Moreover it can differentiate between benign and malignant pleural effusions.

Effects of Edible and Medicinal Plants Intake on Blood Glucose, Glycogen and Protein Levels in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

The hypoglycemic effects of four edible plants (Angelicae tenuissimae (A. ten.), Pleurospermum kamtschaticum (P. kam.), Adenophora remotiflora (A. rem.) and Zanthoxylum schinifolium (Z. sch.)) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 190-230 g were induced diabetes mellitus by the STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divided into six groups ; normal, STZ-control and four edible plant groups (A. ten., P kam., A. rem. and Z. sch. groups). Normal and STZ-control groups were fed a AIN-93 diet and four groups of STZ-induced diabetic rats were fed one of each experimental diets containing 10% of the edible plant powder for 4 weeks. Diabetic rats showed the lower weight gain compared to the normal rats. In experimental groups except P. kam., AST activities were close to normal. A. ten. group were lowered ALT activities slightly. The plasma glucose levels of the diabetic experimental groups were significantly decreased at 4th week. The plasma insulin levels in diabetic experimental groups were not significantly different compared to the STZ-control group. The liver glycogen levels in STZ injected rats were significantly lower in compared to the normal rats. However no significant differences were found in response experimental plants intake in diabetic rats. The muscle glycogen were not significantly different among all the groups.