Endurance training and ingestion of green tea extract (GTE), composed mainly of tea catechins (TC), are well known to enhance fat metabolism. However, their synergistic effects remain to be fully elucidated. We tested the hypothesis that endurance training supplemented with GTE would further accelerate whole-body fat utilization during exercise, compared with training alone, in humans. Twelve healthy male subjects [peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak), 50.7 ± 1.3 (SEM) mL/kg/min] were divided into two groups: GTE and placebo (PLA) groups. Subjects in both groups performed a cycle ergometer exercise at 60% of VO2peak for 60 min/day, 3 days/week, and daily ingested 572.8 or 0 mg TC in GTE and PLA groups for 10 weeks, respectively. Before and after training, respiratory gas exchange was measured during 90-min exercise at pre-training ∼55% of VO2peak. After training, the average respiratory exchange ratio during exercise remained unchanged in the PLA group (post-training: 0.834 ± 0.008 vs pre-training: 0.841 ± 0.004), whereas it was lower in the GTE group (post-training: 0.816 ± 0.006 vs pre-training: 0.844 ± 0.005, P<0.05). These results suggest that habitual GTE ingestion, in combination with moderate-intense exercise, was beneficial to increase the proportion of whole-body fat utilization during exercise.

SummaryThe acute effects of dihydrocapsaicin (DHC) and capsaicin (CAP) on the number of white blood cells (WBCs), neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes, lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes and NK cells, and serum corticosterone levels were studied in rats. Male 7-wk-old SD rats were divided into DHC (3.0 mg/kg BW), CAP (3.0 mg/ kg BW) and control (CON) groups. The number of total WBCs was 1.30-1.42 times significantly higher in the DHC group than in the CON group at 6-12 h. The number of neutrophils was 1.62 times significantly higher in the DHC group than in the CON group at 12 h. The number of total WBCs and neutrophils, however, showed no significant changes between the CAP and CON groups. The number of lymphocytes was 0.61 and 0.70 times significantly lower in the DHC and CAP groups than in the CON group at 3 h. The number of T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes was 0.74 and 0.54 times lower in the DHC group than in the CON group, respectively. CAP, however, did not significantly change the number of T lymphocytes or B lymphocytes. No significant changes in the number of NK cells were observed among the three groups. CAP and DHC did not change the number of monocytes, eosinophils or basophils. No significant changes of the serum corticosterone levels were observed among the three groups. In conclusion, capsaicinoids decreased the number of acquired immunity cells, and increased the number of total WBCs and neutrophils without changing the number of monocytes, eosinophils or basophils. The magnitidue of these effects was relatively higher in DHC than in CAP.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of dexamethasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, on the immune system by analyzing the number of white blood cells (WBCs) over the course of hours and days of dexamethasone administration. Dexamethasone was given as either a single dosage [1.0 mg/kg body weight (BW); subcutaneous injection (s.c.)] or as a daily dosage (1.0 mg/kg BW per day; s.c.) for 10 days for the hourly and daily assessment of changes in the number of white blood cells, respectively. A single administration of dexamethasone markedly decreased the number of total WBCs, as well as the number of lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil and eosinophil subsets with a nadir at 8 hr post-injection. The number of these cells recovered to the control levels at 24 hr. The numbers of total WBCs, lymphocytes, monocyte, eosinophil and basophil were reduced by the daily administration of dexamethasone. However, the number of neutrophil was significantly higher at days 2 and 8 after the injection. These results suggest that glucocorticoid-mediated immunosuppressions are at least partly attributable to quantitative changes in the number of circulating WBCs.

-Red peppers are used as a spice for enhancing the palatability of foods. Two major capsaicinoids, dihydrocapsaicin (DHC) and capsaicin (CAP) are responsible for up to 90% of the total pungency of pepper fruits. These capsaicinoids are known to enhance energy metabolism and thermogenesis. However, there is a little information on the effects of capsaicinoids on the lipolysis and carbohydrate metabolism. We studied the effects of DHC and CAP on plasma glucose, free fatty acid (FFA) and glycerol concentrations in rats. Male six-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into the DHC, CAP and control groups. Each capsaicinoid (dose = 3 mg/kg BW/day) was subcutaneously administered to rats for 10 days. DHC increased markedly plasma glucose, FFA and glycerol concentrations on day 1-10 by 14-35%, 61-103% and 108-174%, respectively, as compared with those of the control group. CAP increased relatively plasma glucose concentrations on day 1-3 by 15-17%, as compared with the control group.groups. On the contrary, CAP did not change plasma FFA and glycerol concentrations on day 1-3. However, CAP increased markedly plasma FFA and glycerol concentrations on day 7-10 by 54-89% and 92-98%, respectively, as compared with the control group. DHC and CAP did not change the weights of white (perirenal and periepididymal) and brown (interscapular) adipose tissues. In conclusion, the effects of capsaicinoids on plasma glucose, FFA and glycerol concentrations were relatively higher in the DHC than in the CAP, and capsaicinoids did not change the weight of white and brown adipose tissues.

feeding and its recovery on liver cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH; alcohol: NAD + oxidoreductase, EC1.1.1.1) activities and plasma zinc levels in rats. The weaned male Sprague Dawley rats were ran-----recovery period were observed between both groups. Plasma zinc concentration in the recovery period was almost recovered to the control level. These results suggest that rat liver cytosolic ADH activity was clearly related to dietary zinc intake levels.Liver alcohol dehydrogenase, Class I ADH, Plasma zinc, Rat