Effect of retrograded rice on weight control, gut function, and lipid concentrations in rats

The effects of retrograded rice on body weight gain, gut functions, and hypolipidemic actions in rats were examined. When the retrograded rice was produced by repetitive heating and cooling cycles, it contained significantly higher amounts of resistant starch (13.9 +/- 0.98%) than is found in common rice (9.1 +/- 1.02%) (P < 0.05). Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either common rice powder or retrograded rice powder, and mean body weight gain was significantly lower in the retrograded rice group (P < 0.05). The liver weight of the retrograded rice group (14.5 +/- 0.5 g) was significantly lower than that of the common rice group (17.1 +/- 0.3 g, P < 0.05). However, the weights of other organs, such as the kidney, spleen, thymus, and epididymal fat pad were not significantly affected by rice feeding. Intestinal transit time tended to be lower in rats fed retrograded rice when compared to rats fed the common rice, but the difference was not significant. The retrograded rice diet significantly increased stool output when compared to that in the common rice powder diet (P < 0.05), whereas fecal moisture content (%) was significantly higher in the retrograded rice group (23.3 +/- 1.2) than that in the common rice group (19.1 +/- 1.2) (P < 0.05). The retrograded rice group had significantly lower plasma cholesterol (P < 0.05), liver cholesterol (P < 0.05), and triacylglycerol contents in adipose tissue (P < 0.05) when compared to those in the common rice group. In conclusion, retrograded rice had higher resistant starch levels compared with those of common rice powder, and it lowered body weight gain and improved lipid profiles and gut function in rats.

Decreased expression of DNA repair proteins Ku70 and Mre11 is associated with aging and may contribute to the cellular senescence

The gradual loss of telomeric DNA can contribute to replicative senescence and thus, having longer telomeric DNA is generally considered to provide a longer lifespan. Maintenance and stabilization of telomeric DNA is assisted by binding of multiple DNA-binding proteins, including those involved in double strand break (DSB) repair. We reasoned that declining DSB repair capacity and increased telomere shortening in aged individuals may be associated with decreased expression of DSB repair proteins capable of telomere binding. Our data presented here show that among the DSB repair proteins tested, only the expression of Ku70 and Mre11 showed statistically significant age-dependent changes in human lymphocytes. Furthermore, we found that expressions of Ku70 and Mre11 are statistically correlated, which indicate that the function of Ku70 and Mre11 may be related. All the other DSB repair proteins tested, Sir2, TRF1 and Ku80, did not show any significant differences upon aging. In line with these data, people who live in the regional community (longevity group), which was found to have statistically longer average life span than the rest area, shows higher level of Ku70 expression than those living in the neighboring control community. Taken together, our data show, for the first time, that Ku70 and Mre11 may represent new biomarkers for aging and further suggest that maintenance of higher expression of Ku70 and Mre11 may be responsible for keeping longer life span observed in the longevity group.

Comparison of preference for convenience and dietary attitude in college students by sex in Seoul and Kyunggi-do area

This study was conducted to investigate preference for convenience food and dietary attitude in college students in Seoul and Kyunggi-do area. This study used a questionnaires as instrument tool. Thequestionnaire consisted of socio-demographic characteristics of the subjects, the valuation of preference for convenience, the concern of nutrition, and the dietary attitude. The subject were 199 males and 137 females. The mean age of subjects was 22.4+/-2.3year. The results have been summarized as follows Male students preferred more convenience food than females. Male students liked chicken, ice cream, ramyeon, pizza.hamburgerandfemalestudentslikedchicken,pizza, ice cream, ramyeon.hamburger. The kinds of convenience foods for a substitute meal were ramyeon, hamburger, bread, potato in male group and female group had frequently ramyeon, hamburger, bread, rice cake for a substitute meal. Male students were more likely to eat ramyeon (p<0.01) and purchased sabalmyeon The subjects used to purchase sabalmyeon as main convenience food at convenient store The score of preference for convenience food in male group was higher than female group. The score of attitude toward balanced diet in female group was higher than male group(p<0.01). In scores of concern for nutrition information, balanced diet, and nutrition knowledge, Female group had higher scores of concern for nutrition information, balanced diet, and nutrition knowledge than that of male group (p<0.01).There was no significant difference in the degree of preference for packing types, however, Male group tended to prefer more micro wave type than female group. The persons to affect the consumption of convenience food were friends. There was no significant difference in the time of purchase convenience food, however, Male tended to purchase convenience food at the time of snack than female group. As a results, proper nutritional education and qualitative development of convenience food are required in order to improve the consuming attitude of consumers and their preference for convenience food.

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.