Nutrition Research and Practice最新文献

Background/objectives: UV radiation is a major factor contributing to DNA damage in skin cells, including stem cells and mesenchymal stem cells, leading to the depletion of these crucial cells. This study examined whether a mixture of Indian gooseberry and barley sprout (IB) could inhibit UVB irradiation and 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX)-induced photoaging and oxidative stress in the skin using HaCaT, Hs27, and B16F10 cells.

Materials/methods: The moisturizing-related factors, the collagen synthesis-related c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)/c-Fos/c-Jun/matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) pathway, and the melanogenesis-related cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA)/cAMP-responsive binding protein (CREB)/melanocyte inducing transcription factor (MITF)/tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)/tyrosinase activation pathways were analyzed in vitro by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis.

Results: The IB complex increased the hyaluronic acid and sphingomyelin levels and the collagenase inhibitory activity, enhanced hydration-related factors, including collagen, hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS), elastin, long chain base subunit 1 (LCB1) (serine palmitoyltransferase; SPT), and delta 4-desaturase sphingolipid 1 (DEGS1), modulated the inflammatory cytokines levels, antioxidant enzyme activities and the NF-κB/MMPs/cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathway in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells, and inhibited wrinkle formation by down-regulation of the JNK/c-Fos/c-Jun/MMP pathway and up-regulation of the transforming growth factor-β receptor I (TGFβR1)/small mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad3)/procollagen type І pathway in UVB-irradiated Hs27 cells. Moreover, the IB complex prevented melanin production by down-regulating the PKA/CREB/MITF/TRP-1/TRP-2 pathway in IBMX-induced B16F10 cells.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that the IB complex has the potential to serve as a safeguard, shielding the skin from UVB radiation-induced photo-damage.

Background/objectives: Mukbang, a trend originating in South Korea and gaining global popularity, could influence children's food choices and eating habits. This study analyzed the correlation between Mukbang viewing time in children and adolescents, their meal consumption frequency, nutrition quotient (NQ), and frequency of food intake.

Subjects/methods: From July to August 2022, this cross-sectional study investigated upper elementary students (ages 9-11 yrs) and adolescents (aged 12-18 yrs) using an online survey. The survey items included key demographic factors, Mukbang viewing frequency and duration, frequency of main meal consumption, commonly consumed foods, and the validated NQ, which was used to assess food intake quality. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the link between Mukbang viewing and nutritional habits.

Results: Weekly Mukbang viewing time was significantly correlated with eating habits after adjusting for gender, age, physical activity frequency past week, household income, and primary caregiver's level of education. Increased Mukbang viewing time correlated with reduced frequency of breakfast (P for trend < 0.001) and dinner (P for trend = 0.012), while the frequency of eating out (P for trend < 0.001) and late-night snacking (P for trend = 0.008) increased. Higher Mukbang viewing time notably decreased scores in the moderation domain (P for trend < 0.001), in the practice domain (P for trend = 0.031), and overall NQ (P for trend < 0.001). It also significantly elevated intake of sweets (P for trend = 0.001), Korean-style street food, Western-style fast food, instant noodles, sweetened beverages, caffeinated beverages, and fruit and vegetable juices (P for trend < 0.001).

Conclusion: This study identifies a negative correlation between Mukbang viewing and eating habits among Korean children and adolescents. The results indicate the importance of incorporating children and adolescents' media usage and environmental factors on dietary education and the development of policy programs.

Background/objectives: Inflammation and ferroptosis are implicated in various diseases and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) have been linked with these disorders. Recently, many edible insects, such as Gryllus bimaculatus, Protaetia brevitarsis larvae (PB) and Tenebrio molitor larvae, have been recommended as alternative foods because they contain lots of nutritional sources. In this study, we explored the potential of PB extract in preventing LPS-induced inflammation and ferroptosis in Hep3B cells.

Materials/methods: PB powder was extracted using 70% ethanol and applied to Hep3B cells. Co-treatment with LPS was conducted to induce ferroptosis and inflammation. The anti-inflammatory and anti-ferroptosis mechanisms of the PB extract were confirmed using Western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Results: PB extract effectively prevented LPS-induced cell death and restored LPS-induced inflammatory cytokine production, NF-κB signaling, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and ferroptosis. Interestingly, PB extract reduced LPS-induced ceramide increase and acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) expression. The use of the ASMase inhibitor, desipramine, also demonstrated a reduction in these pathways, highlighting the pivotal role of ASMase in inflammation and ferroptosis. Treatment with each inhibitor revealed that ferroptosis causes ER stress and that NF-κB and MAP kinase pathways are involved in inflammation.

Conclusion: PB emerges as a potential functional food with inhibitory effects on LPS-induced inflammation and ferroptosis, making it a promising candidate for nutritional interventions.

Background/objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare nutrient intake according to the presence of glaucoma among Korean individuals aged 60 yrs or older and to establish evidence for the necessity of dietary habits and nutritional management in the prevention and management of glaucoma.

Subjects/methods: The study was conducted on 4,195 older adults aged 60 or older who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2017 and 2018. The subjects were classified into glaucoma (n = 186) and non-glaucoma (n = 4,009) groups based on the doctor's diagnosis of glaucoma. Nutrient intake was estimated using a 24-h recall method, and the intake of nutrients between the 2 groups was compared.

Results: The comparison of food group and nutrient intake according to the subjects' prevalence of glaucoma showed that the average intake of potatoes and starches was higher in the glaucoma group than in the non-glaucoma group (P = 0.049), whereas the average intake of meat, fish, and shellfish was higher in the non-glaucoma group than in the glaucoma group (P = 0.045, P = 0.018). Additionally, the average intake of omega-3 and vitamin C was higher in the non-glaucoma group than in the glaucoma group (P = 0.022, P = 0.045), while the average intake of niacin was higher in the glaucoma group than in the non-glaucoma group (P = 0.046).

Conclusion: The intake of meats, fish, and shellfish, omega-3, and vitamin C was higher in the non-glaucoma group than in the glaucoma group. These results suggest that a healthy diet might be necessary for the prevention and management of glaucoma.

Background/objectives: The diet is an important route of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). However, few studies have investigated the association between dietary intake and EDC exposure levels among Koreans. In an earlier study, we showed that the bioactivity of serum aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands (AhRLs) could be a surrogate biomarker to indicate exposure to EDCs and that they inhibit mitochondrial function. We also found that the mitochondria-inhibiting substances (MIS) in serum ascertained by intracellular adenosine triphosphate (MIS-ATP) and reactive oxygen species (MIS-ROS) levels could be biomarkers of exposure to EDCs, as they showed a strong correlation with AhRL and the levels of EDCs in the blood. Here, we investigated the association between the consumption of specific foods and surrogate serum biomarkers for EDCs, namely AhRL, MIS-ATP, and MIS-ROS, among middle-aged Korean adults.

Subjects/methods: A total of 1,466 participants aged 45-76 yrs from the Ansung cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were included. Food consumption, including that of meat, fish, vegetables, and fruits, was measured using a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire.

Results: Fish intake was positively associated with AhRL (β = 0.0035, P = 0.0166), whereas cruciferous vegetable intake was negatively associated with AhRL (β = -0.0007, P = 0.0488). Cruciferous vegetable intake was positively associated with the MIS-ATP levels (β = 0.0051, P = 0.0420). A higher intake of fish was significantly associated with an increased risk of high AhRL (tertile: odds ratio [OR], 1.49; 95% confidence intervals (CIs), 1.08-2.06; P for trend = 0.0305). In addition, the second-highest tertile of cruciferous vegetable intake had lower odds of high AhRL than the lowest tertile (OR, 0.73; 95% CIs, 0.54-0.97), although no significant linear trend was observed.

Conclusion: Consumption of different types of foods may be differentially associated with EDC exposure in middle-aged Korean adults.

Background/objectives: To encourage schools to transform school meal programs to be more educational, it is necessary to evaluate the related environment using a whole school approach. We developed a school food culture evaluation tool to quantitatively evaluate school food culture in Gyeonggi Province, Korea.

Subjects/methods: Based on a literature review, a school food culture evaluation system consisting of areas, subareas, indicators, and questions (scored on a 5-point scale) was constructed. The validity of the tool was reviewed using focus group interviews, the Delphi technique, and a preliminary survey. Subsequently, evaluation tool was applied to elementary, middle, and high schools in Gyeonggi Province. Data from 115 schools were used for the final analysis. This included 64 elementary schools, 29 middle schools, and 22 high schools. At least one respondent from each group-school administrators, teachers, and nutrition teachers (or dietitians)-participated. The results were compared at the school level.

Results: The evaluation tool consisted of 66 questions in 5 areas (institutional environment, physical environment, educational environment, educational governance, and school meal quality). The total average score for school food culture was 3.83 points (elementary school 3.89 points, middle school 3.76 points, and high school 3.76 points) and did not differ significantly among school levels. Among the 5 evaluation areas, scores were highest for institutional environment (4.43 points) and lowest for physical environment (3.07 points). Scores for educational environment, educational governance, and school meal quality were 3.86, 3.85, and 3.97 points, respectively.

Conclusion: It is necessary to improve the physical environment to create a desirable school food culture in Gyeonggi Province. To effectively promote healthy eating, ongoing investment and interventions by local authorities at improving school food culture are needed, with an emphasis on particular factors, such as the eating environment and staff training.

Background/objectives: Chronic alcohol consumption causes oxidative stress in the body, which may accumulate excessively and cause a decline in memory; problem-solving, learning, and exercise abilities; and permanent damage to brain structure and function. Consequently, chronic alcohol consumption can cause alcohol-related diseases.

Materials/methods: In this study, the protective effects of Phyllostachys edulis (Carrière) J. Houz (PE) against alcohol-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment were evaluated using a mouse model. Alcohol (16%, 5 g/kg/day for 6 weeks) and PE (100, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day for 21 days) were administered intragastrically to mice.

Results: PE showed a protective effect against memory deficits and cognitive dysfunction caused by alcohol consumption, confirmed through behavioral tests such as the T-maze, object recognition, and Morris water maze tests. Additionally, PE attenuated oxidative stress by reducing lipid oxidation, nitric oxide, and reactive oxygen species levels in the mice's brains, livers, and kidneys. Improvement of neurotrophic factors and downregulation of apoptosis-related proteins were confirmed in the brains of mice fed low and medium concentrations of PE. Additionally, expression of antioxidant enzyme-related proteins GPx-1 and SOD-1 was enhanced in the liver of PE-treated mice, related to their inhibitory effect on oxidative stress.

Conclusion: This suggests that PE has both neuroregenerative and antioxidant effects. Collectively, these behavioral and histological results confirmed that PE could improve alcohol-induced cognitive deficits through brain neurotrophic and apoptosis protection and modulation of oxidative stress.

Background/objectives: Urban-rural inequities in health and mortality exist in Korea, a highly centralized developed country. The potential impact of multiple health-related lifestyle behaviors on mortality and difference between urban and rural areas is not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of high-risk health behaviors on all-cause mortality among residents living in urban and rural in Korea.

Subjects/methods: Cross-sectional analyses were conducted on 8,298 adults aged 40 yrs and older from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2015. High-risk behaviors were defined as having poor diet quality, current smoking, high-risk drinking, or insufficient physical activity. Mortality status was linked to the Cause of Death data followed up to December 31, 2019. The associations between all-cause mortality and high-risk behaviors were evaluated using Cox proportional hazard regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, income, and survey year. Population attributable fractions (PAFs) were calculated, and effect modification analysis was conducted. Participants were stratified by residential area (urban or rural).

Results: During the follow-up (median: 5.4 yrs), 313 deaths occurred. A higher proportion of rural residents than urban residents engaged in multiple high-risk behaviors (28.9% vs. 22.6%; P < 0.0001). As individual factors, a greater risk of mortality was associated with poor diet quality, current smoking, and inadequate physical activity, and these tendencies persisted in rural residents, especially for diet quality. Multiple high-risk behaviors were positively associated with a higher risk of mortality in Koreans living in urban and rural areas. PAF (95% confidence interval) was 18.5% (7.35-27.9%) and 29.8% (16.1-40.2%) in urban and rural residents, respectively. No additive or multiplicative effect of the region was observed.

Conclusion: The higher prevalence of multiple high-risk lifestyle behaviors in rural residents may explain the higher mortality in rural areas compared to urban areas. Comprehensive public health policies to improve health-related behaviors in rural populations may be needed.

Background/objectives: The umami taste receptor (TAS1R1/TAS1R3) is endogenously expressed in skeletal muscle and is involved in myogenesis; however, there is a lack of evidence about whether the expression of the umami taste receptor is involved in muscular diseases. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of the umami taste receptor and its mechanism on muscle wasting in cancer cachexia using in vivo and in vitro models.

Materials/methods: The Lewis lung carcinoma-induced cancer cachexia model was used in vivo and in vitro, and the expressions of umami taste receptor and muscle atrophy-related markers, muscle atrophy F-box protein, and muscle RING-finger protein-1 were analyzed.

Results: Results showed that TAS1R1 was significantly downregulated in vivo and in vitro under the muscle wasting condition. Moreover, overexpression of TAS1R1 in vitro in the human primary cell model protected the cells from muscle atrophy, and knockdown of TAS1R1 using siRNA exacerbated muscle atrophy.

Conclusion: Taken together, the umami taste receptor exerts protective effects on muscle-wasting conditions by restoring dysregulated muscle atrophy in cancer cachexia. In conclusion, this result provided evidence that the umami taste receptor exerts a therapeutic anti-cancer cachexia effect by restoring muscle atrophy.

[This corrects the article on p. 372 in vol. 18, PMID: 38854475.].