This study was designed to investigate the anti-obesity and anti-atherosclerotic effects of supplementation with Chungkookjang (CKJ), a traditional fermented soybean food, in overweight/obese subjects. The study was a 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial followed by a 3-week screening period. Overweight/obese subjects (both groups having a body mass index ≥23 kg/m(2) and waist hip ratio of ≥0.90 for men and ≥0.85 for women) who were not diagnosed with any disease were included in this study. Sixty subjects were randomly divided into a CKJ (n=30, 26 g/day) or placebo (n=30) group. During the 12-week intervention period, subjects were asked to maintain their usual diet and activity and not to take any functional foods or dietary supplements. Anthropometric parameters, abdominal fat distribution by computerized tomography, and blood parameters (lipid profile, atherosclerotic indices) before and after the 12-week intervention period were measured. Fifty-five subjects (29 CKJ group, 26 placebo group) finished the study. After the 12 weeks of supplementation, subjects in the CKJ group showed a significant improvement in apolipoprotein B (P<.05) compared with the placebo group. Visceral fat areas by computerized tomography scans and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 showed a tendency to decrease in the CKJ group, but there were no significant differences between the CKJ and placebo groups. These results suggested that CKJ supplementation has potential anti-atherosclerotic effects that might be more pronounced when combined with lifestyle modification.

This research involved 226 Jeonbuk Province school dietitians as subjects to investigate intake and perceptions of the healthy functional foods. Sixty nine percent of the school dietitians didn't even know about the law enforcement concerning the health functional foods. Although 68.1% of the respondents said that they slightly knew about health functional foods, only 25% knew exactly what it was. As shown in the survey, most didn't have the cognitive understanding did not understand which should be obtained by education. Sixty two percent of the answerers said they had experience of taking health various functional food products of various kinds such as supplements (57.9%), red ginseng products (52.9%), and chlorella products (30.0%). The motive of intake was in the order of fatigue restoration (25.7%), sickness prevention (22.9%), and nutrient replenishment (22.9%). A fascinating fact from this study was that the reason for healthy functional product intake was different between groups that was primarily interested in the products and those that was not. For those who had interest, the reason for intake was for sickness prevention. On the other hand, for those who didn't have any interest, the reasons was primarily for fatigue restoration and they were mostly persuaded by close friends and relatives. Main concerns were in the order of side effects (4.72), efficacy after intake (4.59), cleanliness (4.51), reliability of the company (4.29), and price (4.23). In view of the study, it is clear that a lot of people are showing interest in healthy functional food products. However, dietitians who are experts in food and nutrition lacked knowledge and information on healthy functional food.

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To investigated the effects of Chungkookjang (CKJ) supplementation on anti‐obesity and anti‐atherogenesis in overweight/obese subjects. This study was a 12‐week, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial followed by a 3 week screening period. Overweight/obese subjects [both BMI = 23 kg/m2 and WHR = 0.90(men), WHR = 0.85(women)] who were not diagnosed with diseases were included in this study and sixty subjects (38.68 ± 1.47 years, 72.2 ± 1.47 kg) and were randomly divided to a placebo (n=30) or a supplement group (n=30, CKJ 26g/day). We measured anthropometric parameters, abdominal fat distribution by computerized tomography and blood components before and after the 12 week intervention period. Fifty‐five subjects (29 CKJ group, 26 Placebo group) finished the study. After the 12 weeks of supplementation, subjects in the CKJ supplemented group showed a significant improvement in lean body mass (p<0.035) and Apo B(p<0.027) compared with placebo group. Visceral fat areas (p<0.013) by CT scans and fructosamine (p<0.02) concentrations were significantly reduced in the CKJ group after the 12 weeks, but there was no significant differences between placebo and CKJ group. The results suggested CKJ supplementation that potential anti‐obesity and anti‐atherogenesis benefits might be more pronounced when combined with lifestyle modification.