Brain diseases and disorders such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, depression, schizophrenia, autism, and addiction lead to reduced quality of daily life through abnormal thoughts, perceptions, emotional states, and behavior. While the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, human and animal studies have supported a role of neuroinflammation in the etiology of these diseases. In the central nervous system, an increased inflammatory response is capable of activating microglial cells, leading to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α. In turn, the pro-inflammatory cytokines aggravate and propagate neuroinflammation, degenerating healthy neurons and impairing brain functions. Therefore, activated microglia may play a key role in neuroinflammatory processes contributing to the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders and neurodegeneration.
Alzheimer Disease ; Animals ; Autistic Disorder ; Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Central Nervous System ; Cytokines ; Depression ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukins ; Microglia ; Necrosis ; Neurodegenerative Diseases* ; Neurons ; Parkinson Disease ; Schizophrenia

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of Inonotus obliqua extract on blood glucose, insulin, and other biochemical parameters in genetically diabetic mice (C57BL/KsJ-m+/+Lepr(db)). The mice were divided into four groups - control, Chaga 1 (dose of 0.09 mg/kg of body weight), Chaga 5 (5 times of Chaga 1), and Chaga 10 (10 times of Chaga 1)- according to supplemented dose. Inonotus obliqua extract was orally administered to the animals for 6 weeks. The body and organ (liver and kidney) weights were not different among groups. Fasting blood glucose level was significantly lower in the Chaga 5 group compared with the control (p < 0.05). Hemoglobin A1c content was significantly lower in the Chaga 5 group compared with either the control and Chaga 1 group (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in serum insulin level among groups. The glucose-6-phosphatase activity in liver was significantly the lowest in Chaga 10 group and was significantly lower in Chaga 5 group as compared with those of control and Chaga 1 groups. Therefore, the results of this study demonstrate that Inonotus obliqua extract alleviates many of the symptoms of diabetes in genetically obese mice and may offer a possibility as a therapeutic supplement for the normalization of blood glucose levels in human with hyperglycemia and have beneficial effects in patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
Animals ; Blood Glucose* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Fasting ; Glucose-6-Phosphatase ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Insulin ; Liver ; Mice* ; Mice, Obese ; Weights and Measures

This study was performed to determine the effects of dietary calcium (Ca) intake, milk and dairy product intake, and serum vitamin D level on bone mineral density. The survey data from the 2008-2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) for adults (3,819 males, 5,625 females) aged > 20 years were examined; osteoporosis was defined according to the standards for Asian populations (T-score < -2.5). The risk for osteoporosis significantly decreased as Ca intake increased; this effect persisted (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1 of Ca intake: odds ratio [OR] 0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.50-0.87) even after adjustment for gender, age, and other factors (body mass index, serum vitamin D, menstruation, female hormone intake, menopausal status, and the number of days per week of muscular strength exercise). Additionally, the risk for osteoporosis significantly decreased as the Ca/P ratio increased (quartile 4 vs. quartile 1: OR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.58-0.98). The degree of risk was 0.96 (0.66-1.38) in those who consumed < 1 portion of milk or dairy products daily, and 0.71 (0.53-0.96) in those who consumed > 1 portion per day, compared with those who had zero intake. The risk for osteoporosis significantly decreased as the serum 25(OH) vitamin D level increased. From these results, we advocate an increase in Ca, milk, and dairy product intake, and that serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels be maintained within the normal range, for the maintenance of bone health and the prevention of osteoporosis in adults.
Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bone Density ; Calcium ; Calcium, Dietary ; Dairy Products ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Menstruation ; Milk ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Osteoporosis ; Reference Values ; Vitamin D ; Vitamins

The effects of the erect bipedal stance exercise on bone mass and the biomarkers of bone formation and resorption were investigated in rats. Five-week old rats were assigned into control and exercise groups. The rats of exercise group were weight-bearing-trained for 13 weeks in the cage designed to adjust progressively the height from 26.5 cm to 31.5 cm to force the rats rising an erect bipedal stance for feeding and drinking. There was no significant difference in food intakes between two groups. But body weight gain was significantly increased in control group. The lengths of femur, tibia, humerus and radius were significantly longer in control group than exercise group, but the femur and tibia weights per body weight were significantly higher in exercise group than control group. Also the breaking force of femur and tibia in exercise group were higher than control group significantly. The calcium contents of femur and tibia were significantly increased in exercise group than control group. The activity of bone specific alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP) and the osteocalcin contents of serum (the biomarkers of bone formation) in exercise group were higher than control group, but the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1CP) contents of serum did not show any difference between two groups. However the urinary deoxypridinolin (DPD) excretion, biomarker of bone resorption, was significantly lower in exercise group than control group. From these results, it has been indicated that the erect bipedal stance exercise enhanced the density and the strength of femur and tibia by increasing biomarkers of bone formation and suppressing a biomarker of bone resorption in rats.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Biomarkers ; Body Weight ; Bone Resorption ; Calcium ; Collagen Type I ; Drinking ; Femur ; Humerus ; Osteocalcin ; Osteogenesis* ; Radius ; Rats* ; Tibia ; Weights and Measures

The food and nutrient intakes on weekdays and weekends was examined with 196 high school girls residing in Seoul using the 3-day food record. Frequency for skipping breakfast was higher than that for lunch and dinner. Frequencies for skipping breakfast and lunch were significantly higher on weekends than on weekdays (p < 0.05). The daily average food, vegetable food, and animal food intakes were 1,074.8 g, 680.0 g, and 317.3 g, respectively. The total food and vegetable food intakes on weekdays were significantly higher than on weekends (p < 0.05). The daily average dietary variety score (DVS) was 20.5, and was significantly higher on weekdays (23.3) than on weekends (15.1)(p < 0.05). The daily averages of energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate intake were 1,732.9 kcal, 68 g, 56.2 g, and 240.9 g, respectively. Energy, protein, carbohydrate, phosphate, iron, sodium, potassium, thiamin, niacin, folate and vitamin C intakes were significantly higher on weekdays than on weekends (p < 0.05). Fat intake was significantly lower on weekdays than on weekends (p < 0.05). The daily average percentages of energy intake from carbohydrate, protein, and fat were 55.4%, 15.6%, and 29.0%: 56.1%, 15.8%, and 28.2% on weekdays and 54.7%, 15.3%, and 30.1% on weekends, respectively. The percentages of energy intake from carbohydrate on weekdays and weekends were below 60%, and that from fat was above 28% on weekdays and weekends. The daily averages of energy, vitamin A, riboflavin, niacin and phosphate intake were above 80% as compared with the estimated energy requirement (EER) or the recommended intake (RI). The intakes of calcium, potassium and folate were below 50% as compared with the adequate intake (AI) or (RI). The daily average mean adequacy ratio (MAR), an index of overall dietary quality, was 0.77, and significantly high school girls was worse on weekends than on weekdays.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Breakfast ; Calcium ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Iron ; Lunch ; Meals ; Niacin ; Potassium ; Riboflavin ; Sodium ; Vegetables ; Vitamin A

investigated with high school girls residing in Seoul. As subjects, 159 girls were divided into a normal weight (NW) group (18.5 kg/m2 < or = BMI < 23 kg/m2, n = 110) and an overweight (OW) group (BMI > or = 23 kg/m2, n = 49) by body mass index (BMI). The food and nutrient intake data obtained by the 3-day food record were analyzed by Can pro 3.0 software. Anthropometric measurements were collected from each subject. Daily dietary GI (DGI) and dietary GL (DGL) were calculated from the 3-day food record. Body weights and BMI of NW were 52.4 kg and 20.4 kg/m2 and those of OW were 65.2 kg and 25.4 kg/m2, respectively. Total food, animal food, and other food intakes of NW were higher than those of OW, and vegetable food intakes of NW were lower than those of OW. Sugars intake of NW was significantly higher than OW. Nutrient intakes were not different between the two groups. Dietary fiber, calcium, and folate intakes of NW and OW were under 65% of the dietary reference intakes (DRIs). Major food sources of energy intake for both groups were rice, pizza, ice cream, pork, instant noodle, and chicken. Mean adequacy ratio (MAR), an index of overall dietary quality, was higher in NW (0.82) than in OW (0.80). Mean daily DGI of NW and OW was 66.5 and 66.4, respectively. Mean daily DGL of NW and OW was higher in NW (162.0) than in OW (155.9). DGI and DGL adjusted to energy intake were not significantly correlated with anthropometric data.
Animals ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Calcium ; Carbohydrates ; Chickens ; Dietary Fiber ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Folic Acid ; Glycemic Index ; Humans ; Ice Cream ; Overweight ; Vegetables

This study was carried out to know the food preferences of college students in Seoul. The subject was 403 students (197 males and 206 females), using questionnaires during June 2004. Regarding preference of the staple foods, it was shown that both male and female students had the highest preferences for boiled rice, chicken porridge, naengmyon, boiled rice with assorted meat and vegetable mixtures, and Kimchi with fried rice but the lowest preferences for boiled rice mixed with beans and sesame porridge (p < 0.05). Male students preferred boiled rice, boiled rice mixed with beans, boiled rice mixed with millet, boiled rice mixed with barley, rice porridge, abalone porridge, pine nut porridge, red-bean porridge, pumpkin porridge, vegetable porridge, sesame porridge, ramyon, noodles with assorted vegetable mixtures, udong noodles, noodles with black-bean sauce, chinese-style hotchpotch noodle with vegetables and seafood, blackish bean sauce with rice, curry with rice, omelette rice and rice cake and dumpling soup more than female students (p < 0.05). For the preference of snacks, honeyed rice-cake was preferred the most by both of them and male students had higher preferences for cake made from glutinous rice and songpyon than female students (p < 0.05). Male students liked strawberry and pear and female students liked strawberry the most. Preferences for apple, pear, banana, persimmon, and musk melon were higher in male students than female students (p < 0.05).
Chickens ; Cucurbita ; Cucurbitaceae ; Diospyros ; Fabaceae ; Female ; Food Preferences* ; Fragaria ; Hordeum ; Humans ; Male ; Meat ; Musa ; Nuts ; Panicum ; Pyrus ; Seafood ; Seoul* ; Sesamum ; Snacks* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vegetables

There is growing evidence of the association between inflammation and stress-related disorders including depression. The positive correlation between the increased levels of inflammatory cytokines observed in patients with other diseases and the byproduct of the depressive symptoms may be caused by chronic stress. Increased neuroinflammatory responses are capable of activating microglia and astrocytes, which leads to release pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6 are causally related to various aspects of depression such as the behavioral symptomatology. Eventually, these elevated cytokines aggravate and propagate neuroinflammation, impairing brain functions. Thus, activated astrocytes and microglia may be potential mediators in neuroinflammatory processes contributing to the development of depression.

This study was conducted to study the relationship between food intakes, glycemic index (GI), glycemic load (GL), and body weight with high school boys residing in Seoul. The subjects of 329 boys were divided into normal weight group (BMI < 23 kg/m2, n = 212) and overweight group (BMI > or = 23 kg/m2, n = 117) by body mass index (BMI). The food intakes data obtained by the 3-day food record were analyzed by Can pro 3.0 software. Anthropometric measurements and physical activities were collected from each subject. Daily dietary glycemic index (DGI) and dietary glycemic load (DGL) were calculated from the 3-day food record. Body weights and BMI of normal weight group were 58.8 kg and 19.9 kg/m2 and those of overweight group were 79.2 kg and 26.8 kg/m2, which were significantly different between two groups (p < 0.05). Total food and animal food intakes of normal weight group were significantly higher than overweight group (p < 0.05), and vegetable food and other food intakes of normal weight group showed higher than overweight group. All nutrient intakes of normal weight group were higher than overweight group. Dietary fiber, calcium, potassium and folate intakes of normal weight group and overweight group were under 65% of the dietary reference intakes (DRIs). Major food sources of energy intake for both groups were rice, pork and instant noodle in order. Mean adequacy ratio (MAR), an index of overall dietary quality were 0.83 in normal weight group and 0.79 in overweight group, which showed significantly higher in normal weight group than overweight group (p < 0.05). Mean daily dietary GI of normal weight group and overweight group were 67.7 and 68.2, respectively. Mean daily dietary GL of normal weight group and overweight group were 214.6 and 202.7, respectively, and which was significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.05). Major food sources contributed to DGI and DGL were rice (> or = 55%) in both groups. DGI and DGL were not significantly correlated with anthropometric data. Activity adjusted to energy intake was negatively correlated with percentage of body fat (r =-0.1308, p < 0.01) and that was positively correlated with height (r = 0.1227, p < 0.05) and lean body mass (r = 0.1351, p < 0.05).
Adipose Tissue ; Animals ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Calcium ; Dietary Fiber ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Folic Acid ; Glycemic Index ; Humans ; Motor Activity ; Overweight ; Potassium ; Vegetables

residing in Seoul using the 3-day food record. Frequency for breakfast skipping was the highest as compared with lunch and dinner skipping. Frequencies for breakfast and lunch skipping were significantly higher in weekend than weekday (p < 0.05). The daily average food, vegetable food and animal food intakes were 1,327.6 g, 800.5 g, and 425.8 g, respectively. Total food and vegetable food intakes of weekday were significantly higher than weekend (p < 0.05). The dietary variety score (DVS) was 20.5 in daily average, 23.3 in weekday and 15.1 in weekend, which showed significantly higher in weekday than weekend (p < 0.05). The daily averages of energy, protein, fat and carbohydrate intake were 2244.9 kcal, 89 g, 72.6 g, and 311.2 g, respectively. Fat intake was significantly lower and carbohydrate, fiber, phosphate, iron, sodium, potassium, vitamin A, niacin, folate, and vitamin C intakes were significantly higher in weekday than weekend (p < 0.05). The percentages of energy intake from carbohydrate, protein, and fat were 55.4%, 15.8%, 28.8% in daily average, 56.8%, 15.8%, 27.4% in weekday and 53.6%, 15.8%, 30.7% in weekend, respectively. The percentages of energy intake from carbohydrate in weekday and weekend were below 60%, and that from fat was above 27% in weekday and weekend. Carbohydrate intake was significantly higher and fat intake was significantly lower in weekday than weekend (p < 0.05). Energy intakes of daily average, weekday and weekend were above 83% as compared with estimated energy requirement (EER). Intakes of dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamin C, riboflavin and folate were below 75% as compared with adequate intake (AI) or recommended intake (RI). Mean adequacy ratios (MAR), an index of overall dietary quality were 0.78 in daily average, 0.80 in weekday and 0.75 in weekend. MAR of weekend showed significantly lower than weekday (p < 0.05). This study revealed that the overall nutrient intake status was worse in weekend than weekday among high school boys.
Animals ; Ascorbic Acid ; Breakfast ; Calcium ; Dietary Fiber ; Energy Intake ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Iron ; Lunch ; Meals ; Niacin ; Potassium ; Riboflavin ; Sodium ; Vegetables ; Vitamin A