• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.298-303
• /
• 2001

The hypolipidemic effect of the diet containing uncooked food was evaluated in hyperlipidemic rats. Body weightgain, food intake and food efficiency ratio were not significantly different among the diet groups examined. Significant decrease in plasma total cholesterol(8.8%), triglyceride(10.0%) and LCL-cholesterol(34.8%) were observed in uncooked food diet groups, and the liver total cholesterol and triglyceride level to the extent of 8.7% and 16.7%, respectively. Uncooked food groups substantially increased the plasma HDL to total cholesterol ratio(47.2%) and decreased the atherogenic index(37.6%) as well. Gut transit time for uncooked food was significantly higher, up to 104 minutes, compared to that of control diet group. These results suggest that uncooked food may have beneficial effects on blood lipid level and gut transit time in hyperlipidemc rats.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.931-936
• /
• 2006

This study sought to investigate any additive or interactive effects that soy isoflavones may have on the ecosystem of the gut, which is influenced by fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in colon-cancer model rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine were given experimental diets containing 0, 3, 6, or 9% FOS with or without 0.1% soy isoflavone for 12 weeks. In addition to the effects of FOS dosage on the gut ecosystem, dietary supplementation with soy isoflavone reduced the number of colonic aberrant crypts (ACs). The fecal weight, fecal pH, and gut transit time significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner in rats fed FOS and the fecal concentration of bifidobacteria was higher in rats fed FOS than in control rats. The fecal output of total short-chain fatty acids, acetate, and propionate was significantly increased by the presence of FOS and was negatively correlated with the number of ACs, whereas the fecal output of butyrate showed no significant correlation with FOS dosage. The addition of soy isoflavone to the diet did not result in any significant differences in gut ecosystem parameters. Therefore, we conclude that the suppressive effect of soy isoflavone on ACs was not associated with the intestinal ecosystem, which was significantly altered by the dosage of FOS.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.208-212
• /
• 2012

In the present study, we examined whether four grains including adlay (AD), buckwheat (BW), glutinous barley (GB), and white rice (WR) affect the duration of food residence in the gastrointestinal tract and hepatic enzyme activities in rats fed different combinations of the grains. The rats were raised for 4 weeks on a high fat diet based on the American Institute of Nutrition-93 (AIN-93G) diets containing 1% cholesterol and 20% dietary lipids. Forty male rats were divided into four groups and raised for 4 weeks with a diet containing one of the grains. Corresponding to the dietary fiber contents of the experimental grains, gut transit time was shortest in the rats fed GB and increased in the order of BW, AD, and WR. In addition, the accumulated shortest transit time occurred in the GB group. Gut transit time affected weight gain and major organ weight, as it was closely related to the absorption of nutrients. The level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) in liver was higher in rats fed WR, AD, BW, and GB, indicating that the other grains decreased oxidative stress in vivo more than WR. Glutathione, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase levels in the AD, BW, and GB groups were significantly higher than those in the WR group. In conclusion, reduced colonic transit time has been implicated in reducing the incidence of colon cancer, as evidenced by populations consuming diets rich in fiber. Whole grains such as AD, BW, and GB may contribute to a significant supply of antioxidants to prevent oxidative stress if they are consumed in large amounts.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.109-116
• /
• 2003

This study investigated the effects of high amylose starch (HAS) consumption on gut functions in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Experimental animals were fed an diet containing HAS for 4 weeks (0, 125, 250, 500 g/kg diet). Stool weights, transit time, the pH of cecum, Bifidobacterium growth, short chain fatty acid production, and prostaglandin E$_2$production in colon mucus were measured. HAS intake did not affect body weight gain or food efficiency ratio during experimental period. There were no significant differences in kidney weight, epididymal fat pad weights or spleen weights, but the weights of the liver and thymus were significantly lower in the HAS100 group. The length of the large intestine, the weights of the cecum wall and cecum contents, and stool weights significantly increased through HAS intake. But transit time was not affected by the experimental diet. Although Bifidobacterium growth in the cecum increased through the HAS intake dose dependently, there were significant differences in the HAS50 and HAS100 groups. HAS intake increased the production of short chain fatty acid in the cecum contents. In particular, acetate and butyrate concentrations grew significantly. And the production of prostaglandin E$_2$in the colon mucus significantly decreased through HAS intake. These results demonstrate that high amylose starch intake significantly improves gut function.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.296-304
• /
• 1998

The effects of common Korean dietary fiber-rich foods(dried sea mustard, Lentinus edodes and Korean radish leaves) on total gut transit time of diet, serum cholesterol level and mineral apparent absorption ration and tissue level were investigated. Twenty eight male were divided into 4 groups and were fed a control diet(containing 2% cellulose) and three fiber supplementary diet mixed with 10% of the above dietary fiber rich foods for 4 weeks, respectively. Body weight gain and food efficiency ration were not affected by the supplementary diet of fiber but the total gut transit time of diet was shortened in all dietary fiber groups. The Lentinus edodes reduced significantly serum total cholesterol and increased the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio at 4th week without and effect on calcium and iron apparent absorptions and tissue levels of the minerals. Radish leaves decreased significantly iron apparent absorption ration with a tendency to increase iron retention in spleen and did not alter serum cholesterol level. Serum cholesterol concentration and calcium and iron apparent absorptions were not significantly altered by the ingestion of sea mustard, while it had more soluble dietary fiber than mushroom and radish leaves.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.344-351
• /
• 2003

The purpose of this study was to elucidate effects of fructooligosaccharide on gastrointestinal tract and blood lipids of rats when this was supplied as purchased condition or oligosaccharide containing sponge cake. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to one of 3 treatments 1) control diet 2) 7.5% fructooligosaccharide containing diet (FOS diet) 3) lyophilized sponge cake powder containing diet (FOS-C diet). The sponge cake was made with fractooligosaccharide which replaced 40% of its surose, and the final concentration of fructooligosaccharide in FOS-C diet was 7.5%. Cecal and fecal water contents, amount of cecal content, and cecal wall weight were higher from fructooligosaccharide consumption, whereas total gut transit time was longer in rats consuming fructooligosaccharide compared with those fed control diet. Cecal and fecal pH were lower in FOS and FOS-C groups than in control group. Total cecal SCFA pools were higher from ingesting fructooligosaccharide containing diets compared with control diet. Serum triglyceride levels were lower in rats fed FOS and FOS-C diet than those fed control diet, while serum cholesterol levels were unaffected by treatment. Therefore the effects of fructooligosaccharide in sponge cake on serum lipids and gastrointestinal tract were similar to those of intact fructooligosaccharide. Also, adding 7.5% of FOS accompanied diarrhea symptom which suggests some precaution are needed when using FOS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.474-478
• /
• 2003

The effects of dietary fiber isolated from ascidian (Halocynthia roretzi) tunic on the changes of weight, total gut transit time, serum cholesterol and glucose level were investigated in rats. Twenty four male rats were divided into 4 groups and were fed a control diet and three fiber supplemented diets with 5,10 and 20% of ascidian insoluble cellulose for 4 weeks, respectively. Food intake was not affected by the supplemented diet of ascidian cellulose but the body weight gain and food efficiency ratio were reduced in proportion to a feeding amount of ascidian cellulose. The fecal output and fecal water content were increased, gut transit time was shortened, and length of gut was elongated in all dietary fiber groups. Serum cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, neutral lipid, phospho-lipid and serum glucose concentrations were lowered and HDL-cholesterol was increased in rats fed the ascidian insoluble cellulose diet in proportion to a feeding amount of ascidian cellulose.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.16-20
• /
• 2012

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 ($13.9{\pm}0.98%$) than is found in common rice ($9.1{\pm}1.02%$) (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 ($14.5{\pm}0.5\;g$) was significantly lower than that of the common rice group ($17.1{\pm}0.3\;g$, 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 ($23.3{\pm}1.2$) than that in the common rice group ($19.1{\pm}1.2$) (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.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.92-103
• /
• 2021

Lactobacillus casei, one of the most widely used probiotics, has been reported to alleviate multiple diseases. However, the effects of this species on intestinal diseases are strain-specific. Here, we aimed to screen L. casei strains with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-alleviating effects based on in vitro physiological characteristics. Therefore, the physiological characteristics of 29 L. casei strains were determined, including gastrointestinal transit tolerance, oligosaccharide fermentation, HT-29 cell adhesion, generation time, exopolysaccharide production, acetic acid production, and conjugated linoleic acid synthesis. The effects of five candidate strains on mice with induced colitis were also evaluated. The results showed that among all tested L. casei strains, only Lactobacillus casei M2S01 effectively relieved colitis. This strain recovered body weight, restored disease activity index score, and promoted anti-inflammatory cytokine expression. Gut microbiota sequencing showed that L. casei M2S01 restored a healthy gut microbiome composition. The western blotting showed that the alleviating effects of L. casei M2S01 on IBD were related to the inhibition of the NF-κB pathway. A good gastrointestinal tolerance ability may be one of the prerequisites for the IBD-alleviating effects of L. casei. Our results verified the efficacy of L. casei in alleviating IBD and lay the foundation for the rapid screening of L. casei strain with IBD-alleviating effects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.996-1003
• /
• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the effect of promoting gastrointestinal function and inhibiting of decreasing body temperature of ginger extract(Zingiber officinale) in rats. In order to elucidate the gastrointestinal function and inhibiting effect of body temperature of native ginger and improved ginger, water extracts of ginger were orally administrated into rats. The results are as follows: The gastrointestinal transit time was significantly decreased in native ginger(7.66hrs) and improved ginger(7.72hrs) extract administrated groups compare to control group(8.44hrs). The mean red faecal weight was increased in native ginger(30.6%) and improved ginger(31.1%) extract administrated groups compare to control group(24.9%) for 24hrs. Inhibiting effect of decreasing body temperature induced by serotonin was increased in native ginger($1.116^{\circ}C$) and improved ginger($1.416^{\circ}C$) extract administrated groups compare to positive control group($0.384^{\circ}C$) during 40 minutes. Gastrin and CGRP immunoreactive density was more strongly expressed in native ginger and improved ginger extract administrated groups compare to control group. Serotonin immunoreactive density was more weakly expressed in native ginger and improved ginger extract administrated groups compare to control group. These results suggest that ginger extracts may enhance physiological activity such as gastrointestinal motility, protection of mucosa and gastric acid secretion in gastrointestinal tracts, and inhibits decreasing body temperature