Antihypertensive effect of Ganjang (traditional Korean soy sauce) on Sprague-Dawley Rats

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although Korean fermented foods contain large amounts of salt, which is known to exacerbate health problems, these foods still have beneficial effects such as anti-hypertension, anti-cancer, and anti-colitis properties. We hypothesized that ganjang may have different effects on blood pressure compared to same concentrations of salt. MATERIALS/METHODS: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into control (CT), NaCl (NC), and ganjang (GJ) groups and orally administered with 8% NaCl concentration for 9 weeks. The systolic blood pressure (SBP), serum chemistry, Na⁺ and K⁺ concentrations and renal gene expressions were measured. RESULTS: The SBP was significantly increased in the NC group compared to the GJ and CT groups. In addition, the Na+ concentration in urine was higher in the GJ and NC groups than the CT group, but the urine volume was increased in the GJ group compared to the other groups. The serum renin levels were decreased in the GJ group compared to the CT group, while the serum aldosterone level was decreased in the GJ group relative to the NC group. The mRNA expression of the renin, angiotensin II type I receptor, and mineralocorticoid receptor were significantly lower in the GJ group compared to other groups. Furthermore, GJ group showed the lowest levels of genes for Na⁺ transporter in kidney cortex such as Na⁺/K⁺ ATPaseα1 (NKAα1), Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger 3 (NHE3), Na⁺/HCO₃⁻ co-exchanger (NBC), and carbonic anhydrases II (CAII). CONCLUSIONS: The decreased SBP in the GJ could be due to decreased renin and aldosterone levels in serum and increased urinary volume and excretion of Na⁺ with its transporter gene alteration. Therefore, ganjang may have antihypertensive effect despite its high contents of salt.

Actual Status of Constipation and Life Factors Affecting Constipation by Diagnosis of Rome in Female University Students in Korea

This study investigated the actual status of constipation. In total, 978 female students in Korea participated. We identified the relationship among constipation and life style, clothing patterns, housing patterns, dietary habits, and dietary intake in a constipation symptom group and a normal group. The actual constipation rate based on the Rome II criteria was 27.0% (n = 264). Body weight (p < 0.05) and body mass index (p < 0.05) in the constipation group were significantly higher than those in the normal group. The incidence of functional bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome in the constipation group were significantly higher than those in the normal group. The discomfort of wearing underwear was significantly higher in the constipation group than that in the normal group. The constipation group revealed a significantly higher rate of irregular dietary habits than those in the normal group. The dietary diversity score of the normal group was 4.22 (p < 0.05), which was significantly higher than that of constipation group (4.12). No significant difference in life style factors was observed. It is necessary for university female students to correct their dietary habits, maintain food intake of three times per day, and select diverse foods. Furthermore, it is necessary for university female students to wear comfortable clothing to lessen symptoms and improve constipation rates.

Elementary School Children's Nutrient Intakes by School Lunch in Jeonbuk Area

The purpose of this study was to investigate children's nutrient intakes by school lunch. Evaluation of nutrient intakes by school lunch for three days was conducted with 86 children in urban and 64 children in rural of Jeonbuk area. The results of this study were as follows. 1) With respect to amounts of provided nutrients in school lunch, CPF (carbohydrate : protein : fat) energy ratio was 48.6 : 19.7 : 31.6 in urban and was 46.7 : 20.5 : 32.7 in rural. Compared to 1/3 RDA (RDA) of children for 10-12 years, folic acid and zinc were provided below 50 % of RDA. Protein, fat, phosphorus, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin C and vitamin E were provided above 125 % of RDA. There were no differences in amounts of provided nutrients-except calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, folic acid and zinc-between urban and rural. 2) With respect to amounts of nutrient intakes, CPF energy ratio was 51.1 : 17.4 : 31.5 in urban and 47.5 : 19.7 : 32.7 in rural. Compared to RDA, folic and zinc were below 50 % of RDA. Iron and vitamin B6 were below 75 % of RDA. Protein, fat, phosphorus and vitamin E were above 125 % of RDA. There were significant differences in nutrient intakes between urban and rural. The children in rural showed higher levels of nutrient intakes-energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, vitamins and folic acid-compared to those of children in urban. These results suggest that programs are needed for providing adequate nutrient intakes for children in school lunch and for improving nutrient intakes of children in urban.

A Study on Middle School Students' Recognition of Food and Nutrition Part in Home Economics / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences of middle school students' recognition of food and nutrition part in Home Economics by gender, school location and school type. The study was carried out through questionnaire about three category: perception (interests, practical usefulness, attitude change in food behavior), difficulty (nutrition and health in adolescence, balanced diet, principle of cooking and preparing food), necessity (nutrition and health in adolescence, balanced diet, principle of cooking and preparing food). The subjects were 1014 middle school students of 1st grade in Jeonbuk area; urban 334, suburban 339 and rural 341. The results of this study were as follows. 1) There was difference in 'interests' by gender (girls > boys), school location (urban, suburban > rural) and school type (coeducation > boys, girls). There were differences in 'practical usefulness' by school location (urban > rural) and in 'attitude change in food behavior' by school location (urban > suburban > rural) and school type (boys, girls > coeducation). 2) There was difference in difficulty in section of 'nutrition and health in adolescence' by school location (suburban > rural). There were no differences in section of 'balanced diet' by gender, school location and school type. But there were differences in section of 'principle of cooking and preparing food' by school location (urban, rural > suburban)and school type (coeducation > boys). 3) There were differences in necessity for 'balanced diet' and for 'principle of cooking and preparing food' by school location (urban, suburban > rural) and school type (coeducation > boys, girls). Characteristically, the boys had more necessity for 'nutrition and health in adolescence' and for 'balanced diet' than girls but girls had more necessity for 'principle of cooking and preparing food' than boys. It suggests that gender, school type and school location should be considered for an effective and practical curriculum of food and nutrition part in Home Economics.

Retinoic acid inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

The present study was undertaken to explore whether retinoids, which are known to have immunomodulatory actions, could attenuate tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF)-stimulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Adipocytes incubated with TNF induced dose- and time-dependent accumulation of nitrite in the culture medium through the iNOS induction as confirmed by Western blotting. Treatment of cells with TNF in the presence of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) significantly decreased their ability to produce nitrite and iNOS induction. Both 13-cis- and all- trans-RA-induced suppression was dose-dependent, and all-trans-RA was somewhat potent than 13-cis-RA. The inhibitory effect of RA on TNF-induced iNOS induction was reversible, completely recovered after 2 days, and was exerted through the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation. TNF also suppressed the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. RA could not reverse the TNF- induced LPL suppression at RA levels causing near complete inhibition of the TNF-induced NO production. These results indicate that RAs attenuate iNOS expression reversibly in TNF-stimulated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and that the TNF- induced LPL suppression is not the result of NO overproduction.

A Study of the Nutritional Intake from Lunch-Box of Middle School Girls in the Chonbuk Area / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The present study was conducted to evaluate nutritional intake by lunch-box of middle school girls who live in Chonbuk area. Anthropometric measurements and food intake from lunch-box over a three day period were investigated in a total of 110 middle school girls from rural (n = 37) and urban (n = 73) areas. The results are summarized as follows : 1. Not all the steamed rice in the lunch-box had enough mixed-cereal. 2. In the survey of food intake by food groups, 70.5% of the food came from the cereal group. 3. The intake of protein, phosphate, Vitamins B1 and B2, niacine and Vitamin E were adequate, however, the intake of other nutrients was significantly lower than those of one-third of the Korean RDA. 4. Protein, lipid, and zinc intakes of the students from the rural area were significantly lower than those of students from the urban area, however, the carbohydrate and dietary fiber intakes of those in the rural area were significantly higher than those of the students in the urban area. 5. The percentage of calories from carbohydrate : protein : lipid ratio was 67.6 : 12.2 : 16.9 for students in the rural area and 59.2 : 14.9 : 22.5 respectively for those in the urban area. In Summary, the intake of calcium, iron, Vitamins A, B6, and D, folate and zinc from lunch-box in middle school girls was much lower than that of one-third of the Korean RDA. The intake of carbohydrate and dietary fiber of the students in the rural area was significantly higher, but that of protein, lipids, and zinc was lower than that of the students in the urban area. Therefore, nutritional education programs for both students and their parents should be provided to improve the daily food intake from lunch-box.