The effect of anthocyanins extracted from black soybean (Glycine max L.) seed coats on body weight, adipose tissue weight, and serum lipids was evaluated in rats fed a high fat diet (HFD). Rats were raised on a normal diet (ND) (based on the AIN-93M diet), HFD (ND supplemented with 16% lard oil), HFD containing 10% black soybean, and HFD containing 0.037% black soybean anthocyanins (equivalent to that in the 10% black soybean diet). Weight gain was significantly lowered in the rats fed HFD plus black soybean anthocyanins compared with the rats fed HFD alone (P < .05) and reversed to the level of the rats fed ND. The black soybean diet also decreased body weight gain compared with the HFD (P < .05). The black soybean anthocyanins-added diet suppressed the HFD-induced weight gain in liver intermediately and tended to decrease the weights of epididymal and perirenal fat pads. The black soybean anthocyanins were also effective in improving the lipid profile. They significantly reduced the levels of serum triglyceride and cholesterol (P < .05), while they markedly increased the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration, which was decreased in the rats fed HFD (P < .05). These results indicate that the anthocyanins in black soybean seed coats have an anti-obesity effect, which can reverse the effects of HFD on body weight, adipose tissue weight, and serum lipid contents.

Kochujang (Korean fermented red pepper paste) is a mixture of fermented soybeans, wheat, and red pepper powder. Kochujang has been reported to reduce body fat gain and lipid levels of adipose tissues and serum in rats. We studied the inhibitory effect of Kochujang on lipid accumulation and investigated the molecular mechanism of the action in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by measuring the expression levels of adipocyte-specific genes by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. When 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with Kochujang extract (KE), the sizes of adipocytes and leptin secretion were decreased. Hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) was transcriptionally up-regulated at 4 hours, and glycerol secretion was increased at both 4 hours and 24 hours. Moreover, mRNA expression levels of both sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1-c (SREBP-1c) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma), which are critical transcription factors for adipogenesis, were markedly down-regulated. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is reported to impair pre-adipocyte differentiation and induce lipolysis and apoptosis. KE treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes decreased TNF-alpha mRNA levels, but had no apparent affect on apoptosis. Taken together, our study shows that Kochujang decreased lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by inhibiting adipogenesis through down-regulation of SREBP-1c and PPAR-gamma and by stimulation of lipolysis due to increased HSL activity. TNF-alpha might not be involved in the reduction of lipid accumulation by KE.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the association between the high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in Korean men. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed the data of 3,705 men (age 30-64 years) who participated in the 2014-2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). SSB intake was defined as the sum of the intakes of carbonated beverages and fruit juices. Participants were categorized into study groups depending on their intake of SSBs: ≤2, 3-4, or ≥5 times per week. High CVD risk was defined as a 10-year risk of more than 10%, based on the Framingham Heart Study 10-year CVD Risk Calculator. The association between high CVD risk and SSB intake was evaluated using a multivariable-adjusted logistic regression model. Results: Korean men who consumed SSBs 3-4 and ≥5 times a week showed a multivariate-adjusted odds ratio of 1.49 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-2.11) and 1.61 (95% CI, 0.97-2.67) for high CVD risk, respectively, compared with those who consumed SSBs ≤2 times per week. Additionally, the risk of CVD increased with the increase in the intake of SSBs (P-trend=0.01). In subgroup analysis, no association was observed between SSB intake and high CVD risk in the group with regular physical activity (P for interaction=0.01). Conclusion:In Korean men, except those with regular physical activity, SSB intake ≥3 times a week is associated with a high risk for CVD (10-year CVD risk ≥10%).

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