BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESTiming of almond intake during a day may result differently in the perspectives of body composition and changes of lipid profile. The current study was conducted to compare the effects of daily almond intake as a preload versus as a snack on body composition, blood lipid profile, and oxidative and inflammation indicators among young Korean adults aged 20–39 years old.SUBJECTS/METHODSParticipants were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a pre-meal almond group (PM), a snack almond group (SN) in which participants were instructed to consume 56 g of almonds either as a preload before meals or as a snack between meals, respectively, and a control group (CL) in which participants were provided high-carbohydrate iso-caloric control food. Measurements were performed at baseline, weeks 8 and 16.RESULTSA total of 169 (M 77/F 92) out of the 227 participants completed the study between June 2014 and June 2015 (n = 58 for PM; 55 for SN; and 56 for CL). A significant decrease in body fat mass was observed in the PM group at both weeks 8 and 16 compared with the CL. There were significant intervention effects on changes of body fat mass (P = 0.025), body fat percentages (P = 0.019), and visceral fat levels (P < 0.001). Consuming almonds as a daily snack reduced the levels of total cholesterol (P = 0.043) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (P = 0.011) without changing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol compared with the CL.CONCLUSIONAlmond consumption as a preload modified body fat percentages, whereas snacking on almonds between meals improved blood lipid profiles. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03014531.

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm.), king oyster mushroom (Pleurotus eryngil), and winter mushroom (Flammulina velutipes) are typical edible mushrooms in many Asian countries. The splenocyte proliferations were measured at 48 hours after treatment of water extract those mushrooms in seven concentrations (0, 5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 ug/ml). Also cytokine productions (TNF, IFN‐γ, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐5) in activated macrophage were measured. Splenocyte proliferation was enhanced when the 100, 250, 500, 1000 ug/ml oyster mushroom extracts were administered compared to control (0 ug/ml). Splenocyte proliferation were significantly higher in 50, 100, 250, 1000 ug/ml king oyster mushroom extract treated cells. Splenocyte proliferations of cells treated with winter mushroom extract were significantly increased in all groups except the group treated 5ug/ml extract. Th1 cytokine productions (TNF‐α and IFN‐γ) were increased by administration of mushroom extracts whereas levels of Th2 cytokines such as IL‐4 and IL‐5 did not change. These primary results suggest that oyster, king oyster, and winter mushrooms may be enhance the immune function in fairly high concentrations.

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It has been reported that the increased uric acid level is associated with metabolic syndrome risk factors in both male and female. However, there has not been enough studies to investigate gender differences of this association in Korea. To evaluate relation between serum uric acids and metabolic syndrome markers, anthropometric and biochemical analyses data was obtained from National Health Examination 2005 and 5,523 (M=3,097; F=2,426) data was analyzed. Results by quartile of serum uric acid levels in females showed that increased serum uric acid level was associated with elevated levels of total-. LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides, whereas association between serum uric acid and total cholesterol levels was not observed in male subjects. In both female and male, higher quartile of serum uric acid level were linked with lower levels of HDL-cholesterol. In regression analysis, association of serum uric acid levels with fasting glucose levels was significant in female subjects only. In conclusion, higher serum uric acid levels were associated with metabolic syndrome indices, however gender differences were existed for total cholesterol.

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