Fermented foods and preterm birth risk from a prospective large cohort study: the Japan Environment and Children's study

BACKGROUND@#The dietary pattern of pregnant women is known to be associated with preterm birth (PTB). We investigated whether PTB was associated with intake of fermented food by using data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study.@*METHODS@#From a data set of 103,099 pregnancies, 77,667 cases at low risk for PTB were analyzed. The primary outcome measurements were based on PTB. Fermented food (miso soup, yogurt, cheese, and fermented soybeans) consumption was assessed by using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire.@*RESULTS@#Intake of miso soup, yogurt, and fermented soybeans before pregnancy significantly reduced the risk of early PTB (< 34 weeks). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for early PTB in women who had miso soup 1-2 days/week, 3-4 days/week, or ≥ 5 days/week were 0.58, 0.69, and 0.62, respectively, compared with those who had miso soup < 1 day/week (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40-0.85, 0.49-0.98, and 0.44-0.87). The adjusted OR for early PTB in women who ate yogurt ≥ 3 times/week was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.44-0.87) compared to those who ate yogurt < 1 time/week. The adjusted OR for early PTB in women who ate fermented soybeans ≥ 3 times/week was 0.60 (95% CI, 0.43-0.84) compared to those who ate < 1 time/week. However, the incidence of overall PTB and late PTB (34-36 weeks) was not associated with fermented food intake.@*CONCLUSION@#PTB low-risk women with a high consumption of miso soup, yogurt, and fermented soybeans before pregnancy have a reduced risk of early PTB.

Effect of secondary fermentation on processing technology for fermented soybeans / 中草药

Objective: To optimize the fermentation processing technology for fermented soybeans, and to identify that the secondary fermentation process is an important link in fermentation processing of fermented soybeans. Methods: According to Chinese Pharmacopoeia 2010, combined with the ancient way to produce fermented soybeans, the contents of total isoflavones, daidzein, and genistein were as chemical indexes, the finished product properties (color, smell, degree of shrinkage, cross section, and hardness) were as organoleptic quality indexes, and the processing parameters before and within the secondary fermentation process, including cooking time, fermentation temperature, fermentation time, secondary fermentation temperature and time were optimized. Results: The optimal processing technology was as follows: soybeans were boiled for 1.5 h after absorbing drug juice, and then fermented for 6-8 d at (30 ± 2)°C until yellow cladding. After washing off yellow cladding, soybeans were placed in the container, sealed using water, and put into secondary fermentation process. The container was in secondary fermentation for 12-15 d at (30 ± 2)°C. During the period of secondary fermentation, the soybeans were poured out every 3 d with stiring and slightly drying for four to five times, and at last was slightly steamed and dryed. The quality of fermented soybeans after secondary fermentation had more obvious advantage than that without secondary fermentation. The finished product had aromatic odor with light color and grain soft. The cross section color was brownish black and hand skin shrivel. The contents of total-isoflavones, daidzein, and genistein were at the highest value. Conclusion: The secondary fermentation process is an important link in fermentation processing of fermented soybeans and the key factor to affect the change of main chemical composition content and the finished product properties of fermented soybeans. The fermentation processing technology of fermented soybeans after optimization would lay the foundation of the regulation of production and the research of fermentation processing mechanism.

Cytotoxicity on Human Cancer Cells and Antitumorigenesis of Chungkookjang, a Fermented Soybean Product, in DMBA-Treated Rats

It is reported that a fermented soybean food, Doenjang, has strong antimutagenic and cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. This study investigated the effect of Chungkookjang, another traditional popular Korean soybean fermented food, on growth of cancer cells: HL-60, SNU-638 and MCF-7, and also its in vivo antitumorigenic effect in DMBA-induced mammary tumor rat model. For the in vitro study, Chungkookjang and steamed soybeans were extracted with ethanol and sequentially fractioned with 5 kinds of solvents differing in grades of polarity such as hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, butanol and water. Almost all Chungkookjang extracts significantly inhibited the growth of HL-60 (human leukemic cancer cell), SNU-638 (human gastric cancer cell) and MCF-7 (human breast cancer cell) when compared to steamed soybean extracts. Butanol fraction of Chungkookjang extract especially showed a remarkable inhibitory effect in all the three kinds of cancer cells. To induce a mammary gland tumor, DMBA (50 mg/BW) was administered to 50 day-old female rats and followed by Chungkookjang or steamed soybean supplemented diets. Freezedried Chungkookjang powder (20% of diet in wet weight) was added to AIN-93G based diet for the Chungkookjang group of rats. Likewise, steamed soybean powder containing equal protein content to that of Chungkookjang powder was supplemented to soybean group of rats. At 13 weeks later, the mammary tumor incidence, average tumor number and tumor weight a rat were lower in Chungkookjang group compared to the control or soybean group. In conclusion, Chungkookjang showed a strong inhibitory effect on cancer cell growth in vitro, as well as a more preventive effect against chemically induced mammary tumorigenesis in vivo, while steamed soybeans did not. Therefore, these results suggest that Chungkookjang acquire its anticancer activity through the fermentation process.