The consumption of fruits and vegetables that have high polyphenol content has been previously associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease. We investigated the effects of onion peel extract on plasma total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, and leukocyte DNA damage. This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Healthy female subjects received either onion peel extract or placebo (dextrin) for two weeks, underwent a 1-week washout period, and then received the other treatment for an additional two weeks. After two weeks of onion peel extract supplementation, the total cholesterol level, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and atherogenic index significantly decreased (P < 0.05). No changes were observed in activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes or levels of lipid peroxidation markers following onion peel extract supplementation. Additionally, no significant difference was found in plasma antioxidant vitamin (retinol, tocopherols, carotenoids, and coenzyme Q10) levels or ex vivo H2O2-provoked oxidative DNA damage after onion peel extract supplementation. The present interventional study provides evidence of the health benefits of onion peel extract and demonstrates its effects in modulating lipid profiles in healthy young Korean women.

This study is to verify the effects of sensory education based on classroom activities for 2nd and 3rd grade children. The hypothesis is that children who participated in sensory education would demonstrate positive changes in eating behaviors through sensory experiences. The sensory education program consists of 12 lessons. Twenty-six children were being recruited from one school in Changwon, Korea. Two control groups, one of which was the same age as the educated group and the other group of sixth graders, were selected by random sampling from the same school. Children answered a self-administered questionnaire. The parents (n = 20) of the children who participated in the program, took part in evaluating the program through self-administered questionnaires after the program ended. The questionnaire contained variables of general characteristics, education satisfaction, nutrition knowledge, eating attitude and behavior concerning unfamiliar foods. The score of nutrition knowledge was improved in educated children (P < 0.05). Food neophobia score towards unfamiliar foods (P < 0.05) was increased in educated children, but there are no changes in eating behaviors in all groups towards unfamiliar foods. In conclusion, sensory education is useful for having a positive eating attitude among children. Its consistent implementation could lead to healthier and well-balanced eating behaviors for children.

This study was performed to examine the effects of onion powder supplementation on lipid metabolism in male SD rats fed a high fat and high cholesterol diet. Experimental groups were control (C), high fat fed group (HF), high fat＋onion powder intake (OP), high fat＋quercetin intake (Q). The HF diet contained 1% cholesterol, 4% lard, 0.3% Na-taurocholate, and quercetin supplementation level was 0.1 g/kg diet. The OP group showed lower body weight gains compared to the control, while there was no significant difference in food efficiency ratio efficiency. When the proportion of fecal bile acids per total lipids was calculated, there was a significant decrease in the HF group compared to the control group, while the levels of the control group was same as that of the OP group. There was no significant difference between the HF and Q groups in bile acid/total lipid in feces. The amount of total cholesterol in liver increased significantly in HF group compared to the control group, while total cholesterol decreased significantly in the OP group compared to the HF group. There was a significant decrease in GOT (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase) activity in OP and Q groups compared to the HF group. In conclusion, feeding onion powder to hyperlipidemic rates appeared to control weight gain, significantly lower the level of total cholesterol in the liver, and recover GOT activity. We also demonstrated that onion powder intake was more effective than quercetin intake.

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This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a set of 16 nutrition education lessons on the eating behaviors and nutrition knowledge of middle school students. The target was a group of 128 boys in the first year of middle school in Changwon, who took the classes from the 29th of August, 2011, to the 17th of February, 2012. The education was performed for 16 weeks using the e-learning textbook, 'Health and nutrition of youth', and a teacher's guidebook developed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The results were summarized as follows. Students demonstrated significant changes in their knowledge about nutrition and in their dietary behavior due to the nutrition education, and the effects were observed to be maintained for one year after education. The average nutrition knowledge score before, immediately after, and 1 year after the education was significantly increased from 13.0 before the education to 18.8 after education (p<0.001), maintaining the score of 18.5 1 year later. The eating-related questions of 'I will practice healthy eating habits in life' and 'Nutrition education is necessary to build healthy eating habits', were given a high score by the students at the last survey conducted one year later. Of course, it is not easy to change the dietary behavior of students through dietary education in schools. Nevertheless, the results of this study demonstrated that such educatcan is necessary since the habits can indeed be changed, as observed in the present study.