BackgroundAstaxanthin modulates immune response, inhibits cancer cell growth, reduces bacterial load and gastric inflammation, and protects against UVA-induced oxidative stress in in vitro and rodent models. Similar clinical studies in humans are unavailable. Our objective is to study the action of dietary astaxanthin in modulating immune response, oxidative status and inflammation in young healthy adult female human subjects.MethodsParticipants (averaged 21.5 yr) received 0, 2, or 8 mg astaxanthin (n = 14/diet) daily for 8 wk in a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Immune response was assessed on wk 0, 4 and 8, and tuberculin test performed on wk 8.ResultsPlasma astaxanthin increased (P < 0.01) dose-dependently after 4 or 8 wk of supplementation. Astaxanthin decreased a DNA damage biomarker after 4 wk but did not affect lipid peroxidation. Plasma C-reactive protein concentration was lower (P < 0.05) on wk 8 in subjects given 2 mg astaxanthin. Dietary astaxanthin stimulated mitogen-induced lymphoproliferation, increased natural killer cell cytotoxic activity, and increased total T and B cell subpopulations, but did not influence populations of Thelper, Tcytotoxic or natural killer cells. A higher percentage of leukocytes expressed the LFA-1 marker in subjects given 2 mg astaxanthin on wk 8. Subjects fed 2 mg astaxanthin had a higher tuberculin response than unsupplemented subjects. There was no difference in TNF and IL-2 concentrations, but plasma IFN-γ and IL-6 increased on wk 8 in subjects given 8 mg astaxanthin.ConclusionTherefore, dietary astaxanthin decreases a DNA damage biomarker and acute phase protein, and enhances immune response in young healthy females.

To study the importance of family meals in adolescents, 251 middle school students were surveyed through a questionnaire on their family meal patterns, dietary behaviors, food intake, and life satisfaction. The family meals were defined as "meals with all family members living together" by 62.2% of the students. For the frequency of family meals, 42.2% of the students replied having family meals "More than once a day". A common reason for the difficulty in having a family meal was a "lack of time" (73.3% of the students). Students tended to respond that they would be most fond in having meals with entire family members with traditional Korean food. Having more frequent family meals was found to benefit both individual and familial dietary behavior. In terms of food intake according to the frequency of family meals, the group having frequent family meals consumed significantly more rice, tofu, legumes, meats, fishes, eggs, green vegetables, seaweeds, fruits, milk, and milk products. This indicates that students can achieve a balanced diet through family meals. In terms of emotional status, the group having more frequent family meals showed a higher satisfaction with their daily life, health, nutritional status, and care from their relatives. In terms of personal mental status, the group having more frequent family meals was also found to be more effective at controlling undesirable emotions such as loneliness, indignation, and lethargy. As a result of this study, students in the group having more frequent family meals were found to have a positive dietary behavior, a balanced nutrition, a higher life satisfaction, and a more stable mental status. This result is useful as nutritional and educational information in schools to impress upon the public the importance of family meals for adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to investigate improvement of food habits and eating behavior in children with obesity and precocious puberty by nutritional education monitoring. The results are as follows. Average height and weight of subjects exceeded Korean height and weight standards for children as outlined by The Korea Pediatric Society. Using nutrition education monitoring, meals became more regular, overeating significantly decreased, and eating speed decreased. Further, frequencies of eating-out and night-eating significantly decreased. The most preferred menu item when eating-out was Korean food, and the most preferred menu item for night-eating was fruits, fast food, & processed food. Meat & fish and vegetable intakes all significantly increased. Fruit and milk intakes also significantly increased while bread, snack, and ice cream intakes decreased. Further, fast food & instant food intakes decreased. However, water intake was not significantly affected. The favorite food of children was meat & fish, followed by fast food & processed food. This study may provide information on dietary behavior of children with obesity and precocious puberty and suggests that nutrition education or counseling can improve food habits and eating behavior.

Quercetin derivatives in onion peel extracts (OPE) have been regarded as the most important flavonoids to improve lipid profiles. The present study was aimed to examine the effects of OPE and exercise on fat deposition and blood lipid profiles in a diet‐induced obese Sprague‐Dawley rats. Twenty eight male Sprague‐Dawley rats were randomly assigned into four groups: High‐fat diet (HFD, 15% beef tallow + 1% cholesterol + 5% corn oil), HFD with exercise (HFD‐Ex), HFD with 0.15% OPE (HFD‐OPE), and HFD with both exercise and 0.15% OPE (HFD‐Ex‐OPE). After feeding experimental diets for 4 weeks, we weighed epididymal fat and retroperitoneal fat, and examined blood lipid profiles and liver lipid peroxide (TBARS). Epididymal fat and retroperioneal fat weights were remarkably lower in the HFD‐Ex and HFD‐Ex‐OPE group than the HFD group. The liver TBARS was significantly reduced and serum HDL cholesterol was significantly increased in HFD‐Ex, HFD‐OPE, and HFD‐Ex‐OPE. Atherogenic index and cardiovascular risk factor(CRF) were lower in HFD‐Ex, HFD‐OPE, and HFD‐Ex‐OPE than those in HFD group. Our results suggest that OPE and exercise might improve cardiovascular (CVD) risk with reduction of epididymal and retroperioneal fat. These findings provide a basis for the use of OPE with exercise to reduce CVD risk.

Onion Peel Extracts (OPE) are known as rich sources of quercetin derivatives. Quercetin has been reported to have antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was to evaluate hepatoprotective effects of dietary OPE supplementation on liver injuries induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. OPE were extracted with ethanol, concentrated, and freeze dried to a powder. Thirty two Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided into control group, CCl4 group, 0.15% OPE with CCl4 group, and 3% OPE with CCl4 group. Experimental diets were provided for four weeks. We measured blood lipid levels and enzymes such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Part of the liver was separated and lipid peroxide level(TBARS) was measured. CCl4 cause a marked increase in the activities of serum ALT and ALP levels and the levels of TBARS in the liver. Supplementation of OPE significantly attenuated liver toxic effects of CCl4, and decreased the activities of ALT, and ALP. OPE offered a dose‐dependent hepatoprotective effects and the blood levels of LDL cholesterol were also decreased by supplementation of the OPE. These findings indicate that OPE have hepatoprotective effects in CCl4‐indced liver injuries by reducing lipid peroxidation and enhancing antioxidant properties. Hepatoprotective effects of OPE improve blood cholesterol profiles.