The effect of varied dietary grains on plasma lipid profiles, gut transit time, and aorta histopathology in experimental rats.

This study was designed to investigate the influence of natural brown and black rice consumption on plasma lipid parameters, transit time, and thickness of the aortic wall in rats fed different combinations of grains. Fifty male rats were divided into five groups and raised for eight weeks with diets containing white rice (WR), white rice and brown rice (WRBR), white rice and black rice (WRBL), brown rice and black rice (BRBL), or wheat flour (WH). Gut transit time was the shortest in the BRBL group, and was longer in the order of WRBL, WRBR, WR, and WH group. Plasma lipid profiles differed significantly according to the grain combination. The BRBL group had the lowest levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (T-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and the highest plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration among all groups. The aortic wall thickness hatro for body weight was lower in rats in order of BRBL, WRBR, WH, WRBL, and WR group. In conclusion, black rice and brown rice have anti-atherogenic effects by decreasing plasma lipide profiles and attenuating the thickness of the aortic wall.

Nutritional status, iron-deficiency-related indices, and immunity of female athletes.

Nutritional status, iron-deficiency-related biochemical indices, and immunologic patterns of female Judo athletes and control subjects were evaluated. The subjects' 3-d food records showed that 41.0 kcal/kg of energy was consumed daily and the contributions of protein, fat, and carbohydrate to total energy intake were 12.5%, 29.2%, and 58.3%, respectively. The reported vitamin intakes of athletic subjects were above those of the recommended daily allowance, however, calcium and iron intakes were less than 100% of the recommended daily allowance. Intakes of energy, protein, phosphate, vitamin B1, and vitamin B2 were higher in the athletes than in the control subjects. Analysis using the Nutrient Adequacy Ratio and the Index of Nutritional Quality showed that athletic subjects had more desirable patterns than the control subjects. There was no any indication of anemia, which often occurs as a result of hemodilution in strenuously trained athletes. The subjects' immunologic patterns showed a slight immunosuppression. Iron, vitamin B1, niacin intakes were positively correlated with immunoglobulin (Ig) G levels in the athletes. The relation between nutrient intakes and the immune systems of endurance-trained athletes needs further investigation.

Effect of vitamin E supplementation on antioxidant defense systems and humoral immune responses in young, middle-aged and elderly Korean women.

Free radical-mediated oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous chronic diseases. Vitamin E is known to play an important role in the free-radical quenching process. However, clinical trials with vitamin E have yielded contrasting results in the prevention of several diseases related to oxidative stress. This study was undertaken to investigate the antioxidative and humoral immunologic effects of vitamin E supplementation in three different age groups: young (mean age 32.7 +/- 5.7 y), middle-aged (mean age 47.0 +/- 5.0 y) and elderly (67.6 +/- 4.7 y) women. Volunteer subjects were given a supplement of 400 IU dl-alpha-tocopherol acetate for 6 wk. Thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) in the plasma significantly decreased with vitamin E supplementation. In addition, the radical scavenger activities (RSA) of red blood cells significantly increased with vitamin E supplementation in all age groups. However, humoral immune response modulation was not observed following vitamin E supplementation. Even though there is no clear indication that vitamin E supplementation is necessary to improve the humoral immune functions, vitamin E supplementation may be beneficial to all adult age groups as a preventive measure for complications related to oxidative damage.

Meal replacement with mixed rice is more effective than white rice in weight control, while improving antioxidant enzyme activity in obese women.

The physiologic consequences of using white rice or mixed rice were evaluated in overweight Korean women (body mass index > or = 25 kg/m(2)) over a period of 6 weeks. Forty women between 20 and 35 years of age were randomly divided into 2 groups who consumed 1 of 2 low-energy meal replacements containing either white rice (WR group) or mixture of brown rice and black rice (BRBL group). The subjects were not allowed to have any food other than the low-energy meal replacement 3 times a day and snacks provided by the researcher. The changes in anthropometric indices and blood parameters such as lipid levels and antioxidant activities were measured every 3 weeks during the dietary intervention. The subjects showed a significant reduction in weight, body mass index, and body fat (%) during the experimental period, with the BRBL group exhibiting levels of all 3 parameters significantly lower than those of the WR group (P < .05). The levels of total cholesterol and triacylglycerols decreased gradually and significantly after intervention in both groups, with no significant difference between groups. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly elevated in the BRBL group but not in the WR group. Superoxide dismutase activity was not affected by dietary intervention, but glutathione peroxidase activity in the BRBL group was higher than in the WR group, and the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance was lower in the BRBL group compared to the WR group. In conclusion, meal replacement with mixed rice was superior to replacement with white rice in weight control, improving antioxidant enzyme activity, and as such, should be recommended for diet therapy in obese women.

Cultural perspectives and current consumption changes of cooked rice in Korean diet.

Cooked rice is a staple food for Koreans which provides more than 60% of daily required energy. In 1960's, Koreans ate 600 g-800 g of cooked rice per meal and the energy obtained from cooked rice was almost more than 80% of the daily intake of energy. However, as the economy of Korea improved, the major industry has been shifted from agriculture to various manufacturing industries and the export of those products has been increased thus increasing the national income but decreasing the farming population and thus rice consumption have been decreased. It has been said that the decreased rice consumption is caused solely by decreased farming population but it can also be said that the decreased farming population is caused by decreased rice consumption.As the national income increases, the type of foods people consume have become diversified. Various processed foods such as convenience food or ready-to-eat food have been widespread, which are mostly made of wheat flour rather than rice.

Supplementation of baby formula with native inulin has a prebiotic effect in formula-fed babies.

OBJECTIVES: In this study we investigated the effects of native inulin on formula-fed babies. The influence of inulin on the microbial composition, pH, consistency and amount of faeces, and on frequency of defecation was assessed. METHODS: In this study a daily dosage of 0.25 g/kg/d was used: 3 weeks of inulin consumption were inulin followed by 3 weeks without or vice versa. The study group consisted of 14 babies with an average age of 12.6 weeks (+/-6.4 weeks) and the average intake of inulin was 1.5 (+/-0.3) g/d. RESULTS: The consumption of inulin increased the content of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in the faeces of formula-fed babies, without affecting the number of Bacteroides or the total anaerobic count. With inulin a trend for stools becoming softer and the amount of faeces increased significantly. Frequency of defecation was not affected by the consumption of inulin. No adverse effects were reported during the periods of inulin consumption. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that with native inulin a prebiotic effect can be observed in formula-fed babies. Inulin may therefore be a useful ingredient in the formulation of baby formula to enhance the nutritional properties.

Academic performance of Korean children is associated with dietary behaviours and physical status.

The purpose of this study was to obtain a fuller understanding of the association of dietary behaviours, physical status and socio-economic status with academic performance in Korean teenagers. The subjects in this study were 6,463 boys and girls, in grade 5, 8, and 11 in Korea. A self-administered questionnaire and the food-frequency form were used. Grade point average (GPA), height, weight, and physical fitness score for the year were recorded from the school record. The academic performance of students was strongly associated with dietary behaviours, especially with regularity of three meals even after control for parent's education level. Regular breakfast and lunch were more important in grades 5 and 8, while regular dinner was more related with academic performance in grade 11. Small, positive associations of height and physical fitness to academic performance were also found. The relative importance of regularity of meals was greater than that of socio-economic status and physical status in older teenagers. The results of this study suggest that accommodation of better dietary environment and nutrition education for three regular meals is recommended.