Effects of dietary glycerol supplementation on meat quality, palatability, and lipid metabolism gene expression in the longissimus thoracis of Hanwoo steers.

This study tested the hypothesis that dietary glycerol supplementation (GS) would affect growth of Hanwoo steers, beef marbling and palatability, and gene expression for lipid uptake and transport and lipogenesis in the longissimus thoracis (LT). Diets with or without 45.2 g daily glycerol supplementation/kg dry matter concentrate were tested in fourteen Hanwoo steers during a 16-week feeding trial. GS did not affect (P ≥ 0.40) the average daily gain or the gain-to-feed ratio. GS increased the LT marbling score (P = 0.01). GS enhanced (P ≤ 0.01) the sensory traits, including the flavor and overall acceptance of the LT. GS tended (0.05 < P ≤ 0.10) to upregulate mRNA levels of fatty acid translocase, lipoprotein lipase, and fatty acid binding protein 4 genes in the LT. These tendencies of upregulated expression of fatty acid uptake and cytosolic transport genes may, in part, contribute to the increased marbling by GS. The increased marbling degree caused by GS may improve palatability including the flavor and overall acceptance of the LT.

Association between Dietary Patterns and Atopic Dermatitis in Relation to GSTM1 and GSTT1 Polymorphisms in Young Children.

Previous research suggests the association of glutathione S-transferase (GST) gene polymorphisms or diet, but no interactions between these factors in atopic dermatitis (AD). We conducted a community-based case-control study including 194 AD and 244 matched non-AD preschoolers. Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) present/null genotypes were evaluated uisng a multiplex PCR method. We measured dietary intakes by a validated food frequency questionnaire and constructed three dietary patterns such as "traditional healthy", "animal foods", and "sweets" diets. In stratified analyses by GST genotypes, the "traditional healthy" diet and reduced AD showed association only in the GSTM1-present group (odd ratio (OR) 0.31, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.13-0.75). A similar pattern of the association existed in the combined GSTM1/T1 genotype that indicated the inverse association between the "traditional healthy" diet and AD in the double GSTM1/T1-present genotype group (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.06-0.93). Results from the multiplicative test analyses showed that the "traditional healthy" diet on reduced AD was significant or borderline significant in the GSTM1-present group (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54-0.92 vs. GSTM1-null group) or the GSTM1/T1 double present group (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.39-1.03 vs. GSTM1/T1 double null group). These findings demonstrate that the present type of GSTM1 may increase susceptibility to the potential effect of the "traditional healthy" diet on AD.

Association between cord blood 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations and respiratory tract infections in the first 6 months of age in a Korean population: a birth cohort study (COCOA).

PURPOSE: Previous studies suggest that the concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in cord blood may show an inverse association with respiratory tract infections (RTI) during childhood. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of 25(OH)D concentrations in cord blood on infant RTI in a Korean birth cohort. METHODS: The levels of 25(OH)D in cord blood obtained from 525 Korean newborns in the prospective COhort for Childhood Origin of Asthma and allergic diseases were examined. The primary outcome variable of interest was the prevalence of RTI at 6-month follow-up, as diagnosed by pediatricians and pediatric allergy and pulmonology specialists. RTI included acute nasopharyngitis, rhinosinusitis, otitis media, croup, tracheobronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonia. RESULTS: The median concentration of 25(OH)D in cord blood was 32.0 nmol/L (interquartile range, 21.4 to 53.2). One hundred and eighty neonates (34.3%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations less than 25.0 nmol/L, 292 (55.6%) showed 25(OH)D concentrations of 25.0-74.9 nmol/L, and 53 (10.1%) showed concentrations of ≥75.0 nmol/L. Adjusting for the season of birth, multivitamin intake during pregnancy, and exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy, 25(OH)D concentrations showed an inverse association with the risk of acquiring acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age (P for trend=0.0004). CONCLUSION: The results show that 89.9% of healthy newborns in Korea are born with vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency (55.6% and 34.3%, respectively). Cord blood vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency in healthy neonates is associated with an increased risk of acute nasopharyngitis by 6 months of age. More time spent outdoors and more intensified vitamin D supplementation for pregnant women may be needed to prevent the onset of acute nasopharyngitis in infants.