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BACKGROUND The aims of this study are to (i) evaluate the effects of color enhancers, caramel (C) and molasses (M), on acrylamide and 5-hydroxylmethylfurfural (HMF) formation in non-centrifugal cane sugar (NCS) and to (ii) perform nine-point hedonic scale and evaluation of sensory attributes, encompassing the appearance, flavor, texture and aftertaste, by 71 consumers on NCS, NCS_C, and NCS products made with a blend of molasses and sugar (NCS_MS) and steam processing (NCS_S). RESULTS With the addition of molasses and caramel at the maximum allowable level of 5 g kg-1 in sugarcane juice, significantly greater acrylamide or HMF did not accumulate in NCS_C and NCS_M during the thermal manufacturing process, while color values of NCS_C significantly changed (P

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of metformin supplementation on metabolic dysfunction, testicular antioxidant capacity, apoptosis, inflammation and spermatogenesis in male mice with high-fat and high-cholesterol diet-induced obesity. Forty male C57BL/6 mice were fed a normal diet (NC group, n = 10) or a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (HFC group, n = 30) for 24 weeks, and mice randomly chosen from the HFC group were later treated with metformin for the final 8 weeks of HFC feeding (HFC + Met group, n = 15). Compared with the HFC group, the obese mice supplemented with metformin exhibited improved blood cholesterol, glucose and insulin resistance. The HFC group diminishes in the sperm motility and normal sperm morphology, while the poorer maturity of testicular spermatogenesis was improved by metformin treatment. The HFC group exhibited a higher estradiol level and a lower 17&beta, HSD protein expression. Further analyses showed that metformin treatment increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase and reduced lipid peroxidation. Nevertheless, both the HFC and HFC + Met groups exhibited increased expressions of apoptosis and inflammation proteins in the testis. Metformin treatment ameliorated obesity-induced poor testicular spermatogenesis and semen quality through increasing the testosterone level and antioxidant capacity.

We aimed to explore the associations between different lipid profiles and semen quality in a large-scale general male population. Sperm concentration, total sperm motility, progressive motility, and normal sperm morphology of total 7601 participants were recorded. The association of these semen parameters with the triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein of serum lipid profiles was analyzed. Sperm concentration was statistically positively correlated with triglyceride and very low-density lipoprotein (adjusted P = 0.001 and P = 0.005, respectively). Total sperm motility and progressive motility were statistically increased with increasing low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol levels (both adjusted P = 0.008 and P < 0.001, respectively). The similar J-shaped associations (high-low-low-high) were noted between individual lipid profile and normal sperm morphology, especially low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol with statistical significance (adjusted P = 0.017 and P = 0.021, respectively). The prevalence of abnormal total sperm motility and progressive motility was decreased in participants with high levels of cholesterol (P = 0.008 and P = 0.019, respectively), and the reverse J-shaped associations (low-high-high-low) were noted between high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, very low-density lipoprotein, and the prevalence of abnormal normal sperm morphology (P = 0.010, P = 0.037, and P = 0.025, respectively). A high cholesterol level was associated with better sperm motility. Similar J-shaped associations were noted between all lipid profiles and normal sperm morphology; meanwhile, the reverse J-shaped trends were identified between them and abnormal normal sperm morphology prevalence.

&beta, amyloid formation in the brain is one of the characteristics of Alzheimer&rsquo, s disease. Exposure to this peptide may result in reentry into the cell cycle leading to cell death. The phytoestrogen equol has similar biological effects as estrogen without the side effects. This study investigated the possible mechanism of the neuron cell-protecting effect of equol during treatment with A&beta, SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were treated with either 1 &mu, M S-equol or 10 nM 17&beta, estradiol for 24 h prior to 1 &mu, M A&beta, (25&ndash, 35) exposure. After 24 h exposure to A&beta, 35), a significant reduction in cell survival and a reentry into the cell cycle process accompanied by increased levels of cyclin D1 were observed. The expressions of estrogen receptor alpha (ER&alpha, ) and its coactivator, steroid receptor coactivator-1 (SRC-1), were also significantly downregulated by A&beta, 35) in parallel with activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2. However, pretreatment of cells with S-equol or 17&beta, estradiol reversed these effects. Treatment with the ER antagonist, ICI-182,780 (1 &mu, M), completely blocked the effects of S-equol and 17&beta, estradiol on cell viability, ER&alpha, and ERK1/2 after A&beta, 35) exposure. These data suggest that S-equol possesses a neuroprotective potential as it effectively antagonizes A&beta, 35)-induced cell cytotoxicity and prevents cell cycle reentry in SH-SY5Y cells. The mechanism underlying S-equol neuroprotection might involve ER&alpha, mediated pathways.

Research has suggested that the consumption of foods rich in polyphenols is beneficial to the cognitive functions of the elderly. We investigated the effects of grape consumption on spatial learning, memory performance and neurodegeneration-related protein expression in aged rats fed a high-fructose-high-fat (HFHF) diet. Six-week-old Wistar rats were fed an HFHF diet to 66 weeks of age to establish a model of an HFHF dietary pattern, before receiving intervention diets containing different amounts of grape powder for another 12 weeks in the second part of the experiment. Spatial learning, memory performance and cortical and hippocampal protein expression levels were assessed. After consuming the HFHF diet for a year, results showed that the rats fed a high grape powder-containing diet had significantly better spatial learning and memory performance, lower expression of β-amyloid and β-secretase and higher expression of α-secretase than the rats fed a low grape powder-containing diet. Therefore, long-term consumption of an HFHF diet caused a decline in cognitive functions and increased the risk factors for neurodegeneration, which could subsequently be ameliorated by the consumption of a polyphenol-rich diet.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated factor that regulates biological effects associated with obesity. The AhR agonists, such as environmental contaminants 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and β-naphthoflavone (BNF), inhibit preadipocyte differentiation and interfere with the functions of adipose tissue, whereas the antagonist may have opposite or protective effects in obesity. This study investigated the effects of α-naphthoflavone (α-NF), an AhR antagonist, on adipogenesis- and angiogenesis-associated factors in mature adipocytes and on cross-talk of mature adipocytes with endothelial cells (ECs). Besides, the roles of the AhR on lipid accumulation and on secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor were also determined by introducing siRNA of AhR. Differentiated 3T3-L1 cells were treated with α-naphthoflavone (α-NF) (1–5 μM) for 16 h. Lipid accumulation and the expressions of AhR-associated factors in the cells were determined. The interaction between adipocytes and ECs was investigated by cultivating ECs with conditioned medium (CM) from α-NF-treated mature adipocytes, followed by the determination of endothelial tube formation. The results showed that α-NF significantly increased triglyceride (TG) accumulation in mature adipocytes, which was associated with increased expression of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL), estrogen receptor (ER), as well as decreased expression of AhR, AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT), cytochrome P4501B1 (CYP1B1), and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor (NRF-2) proteins. In addition, CM stimulated formation of tube-like structures in ECs, and α-NF further enhanced such stimulation in association with modulated the secretions of various angiogenic mediators by mature adipocytes. Similarly, increased TG accumulation and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion were observed in AhR-knockout cells. In conclusion, α-NF increased TG accumulation in mature adipocytes and enhanced mature adipocyte-stimulated tube formation in ECs, suggesting that the AhR may suppress obesity-induced adverse effects, and α-NF abolished the protective effects of the AhR.

We investigated the effects of high-fructose-high-fat diets with different fat compositions on metabolic parameters, hippocampal-dependent cognitive function, and brain leptin (as well as stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD1) mRNA expressions). Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups, a control group (n = 8), a high-fructose soybean oil group (37.5% of fat calories, n = 12), and a high-fructose coconut oil group (37.5% of fat calories, n = 12) for 20 weeks. By the end of the study, the coconut oil group exhibited significantly higher serum fasting glucose, fructosamine, insulin, leptin, and triglyceride levels compared to those of the control and soybean oil groups. However, hippocampal leptin expression and leptin receptor mRNA levels were significantly lower, while SCD1 mRNA was significantly higher in rats fed the high-fructose-high-coconut oil diet than in rats fed the other experimental diets. In addition, the coconut oil group spent significantly less time in the target quadrant on the probe test in the Morris water maze (MWM) task. Rats fed the high-fructose-high-coconut oil diet for 20 weeks were prone to develop hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperleptinemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. These metabolic consequences may contribute to hippocampal-dependent memory impairment, accompanied by a lower central leptin level, and a higher SCD1 gene expression in the brain.

To examine the effect of consuming polyphenol-rich Oriental plum (Prunus salicina Lindl) on the cognitive performance and the expressions of cerebral neurodegeneration-related proteins in diabetic rats, Wistar rats were assigned into 4 groups: control (C, n = 14), nicotinamide/streptozotocin-induced DM rats (DM, n = 13), DM rats fed metformin (0.05% w/w in the diet, MT, n = 18), and DM rats fed freeze-dried oriental plum powder (2% w/w in the diet, OP, n = 16) for 2 months. The cognitive performance was evaluated by testing in a Morris water maze. The insulin resistance, serum lipid peroxidation, expressions of pathological proteins of AD, beta-amyloid (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau protein were also measured. Consumption of plums significantly improved the spatial learning ability, reduced the insulin resistance, lipid peroxidation, Aβ and phosphorylated tau protein expressions in the cerebral cortex (all P β deposition in the hippocampus of diabetic rats. In conclusion, polyphenol-rich Oriental plums ameliorated the cognitive decline and reduced the expressions of pathological proteins of AD by possibly reducing hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress in diabetic rats.

This study investigated the effects of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) on adipogenesis- and angiogenesis-associated factors in mature adipocytes. The cross-talk between mature adipocytes and endothelial cells (ECs) was also explored by cultivating ECs in a conditioned medium (CM) by using I3C-treated adipocytes. The results revealed that I3C significantly inhibited triglyceride accumulation in mature adipocytes in association with significantly increased expression of AhR and CYP1B1 proteins as well as slightly decreased nuclear factor erythroid-derived factor 2–related factor 2, hormone-sensitive lipase, and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression by mature adipocytes. Furthermore, I3C inhibited CM-stimulated endothelial tube formation, which was accompanied by the modulated secretion of angiogenic factors in adipocytes, including vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-6, matrix metalloproteinases, and nitric oxide. In conclusion, I3C reduced lipid droplet accumulation in adipocytes and suppressed adipocyte-stimulated angiogenesis in ECs, suggesting that I3C is a potential therapeutic agent for treating obesity and obesity-associated disorders.

We aimed to investigate the effect of enriched 3-prebiotic formula (including inulin, fructooligosaccharides, and galactooligosaccharides) on toddler gut health by measuring fecal microbiota. Our results revealed that the consumption of 3-prebiotic formula three times per day giving total intake of 1.8 g prebiotic ingredients significantly showed the increased number of probioticBifidobacteriumspp. colonies and the reduced populations of bothC. perfringensand total anaerobic bacteria on the fecal bacterial flora in toddlers at 18~36 months. In addition, total organic acids in the fecal samples significantly increased which improves the utilization of bifidus under acidic conditions after consumption of the 3-prebiotic formula. Therefore, using the formula enriched with prebiotic may maintain gut health in toddlers.

Epidemiological investigations have shown that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. It has been indicated that the cholesterol concentration in the brain of AD patients is higher than that in normal people. In this study, we investigated the effects of cholesterol concentrations, 0, as the control, 3.125, 12.5, and 25μM, on cholesterol metabolism, neuron survival, AD-related protein expressions, and cell morphology and apoptosis using SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. We observed that expressions of cholesterol hydroxylase (Cyp46), flotillin-2 (a marker of lipid raft content), and truncated tyrosine kinase B (TrkBtc) increased, while expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and full-length TrkB (TrkBfl) decreased as the concentration of cholesterol loading increased. Down-regulation of the PI3K-Akt-glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β cascade and cell apoptosis were also observed at higher concentrations of cholesterol, along with elevated levels of β-amyloid (Aβ), β-secretase (BACE), and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In conclusion, we found that cholesterol overload in neuronal cells imbalanced the cholesterol homeostasis and increased the protein expressions causing cell apoptosis, which illustrates the neurodegenerative pathology of abnormally elevated cholesterol concentrations found in AD patients.

Ageing accompanied by a decline in cognitive performance may be a result of the long-term effects of oxidative stress on neurologic processes. It has been shown that high-cholesterol contents in the blood and brain may lead to the deposition of the β-amyloid (Aβ) protein in the brain, which damages brain cells. The present study was designed to observe the effect of polyphenol-rich Oriental plums on cognitive function and cerebral neurodegeneration-related protein expression in mice that were fed a high-cholesterol diet for 5 months. The study consisted of four groups: the control (Ctrl) group, which was fed the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN)-93M diet; the high cholesterol (HC) group, which was fed the AIN-93M diet with 5 % cholesterol; the high cholesterol+low Oriental plum (LOP) group, which was fed the AIN-93M diet with 5 % cholesterol and 2 % Oriental plum powder; and the high cholesterol+high Oriental plum (HOP) group, which was fed the AIN-93M diet with 5 % cholesterol and 5 % Oriental plum powder. Measurements of cognitive function were assessed using the Morris water maze, and the mRNA expression of cholesterol hydroxylase (Cyp46),Aβand β-secretase 1 (BACE1) were analysed. The results showed that cholesterol concentrations in both the blood and the brain were significantly higher in the HC group than in the Ctrl and HOP groups at the end of the trial. The high-cholesterol dietper seproduced significant cognitive deficits, which were accompanied by a significantly increased mRNA expression ofCyp46,BACE1,Aβand 24-hydroxycholesterol in the brain cortex and hippocampus. However, all of these variables were non-significantly increased in the HOP group as compared to the Ctrl group. In conclusion, incorporating polyphenol-enriched Oriental plum into a high-cholesterol diet can ameliorate some of the symptoms of neurodegenerative conditions.

The possibility of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) serving as a sensitive biomarker of oxidative DNA damage and oxidative stress was investigated. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been reported to be a cause of diabetes induced by chemicals such as streptozotocin (STZ) in experimental animals. In this study, we examined oxidative DNA damage in multiple tissues in rats with STZ-induced diabetes by measuring the levels of 8-OHdG in the liver, kidney, pancreas, brain, and heart. Levels of 8-OHdG in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear DNA (nDNA) were also determined in multiple tissues of rats treated with rice bran oil. Levels were 0.19 +/- 0.07, 0.88 +/- 0.30, 1.97 +/- 0.05, and 9.79 +/- 3.09 (1/10(5) dG) in the liver of nDNA of normal rats, nDNA of STZ-induced diabetic rats, mtDNA of normal rats, and mtDNA of STZ-induced diabetic rats, respectively. Levels of mtDNA of 8-OHdG were 10 times higher than those of nDNA in multiple tissues. Significant reductions in mtDNA 8-OHdG levels were seen in the liver, kidney, and pancreas of diabetic rats treated with rice bran oil compared with diabetic rats without intervention. Our study demonstrated that oxidative mtDNA damage may occur in multiple tissues of STZ-induced diabetics rats. Intervention with rice bran oil treatment may reverse the increase in the frequency of 8-OHdG.

In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effect of administration of a high quantity of red yeast rice on coenzyme Q10(CoQ10) synthesis in the tissues of ICR mice. Eighty-eight adult male ICR mice were housed and divided into control and experimental groups for red yeast rice treatment. Animals were gavaged with a low (1 g/kg body weight) or a high dose (5 g/kg body weight, approximately five times the typical recommended human dose) of red yeast rice dissolved in soyabean oil. After gavagement, animals of the control group were immediately killed; mice of the experimental groups (eight for each subgroup) were killed at different time intervals of 0·5, 1, 1·5, 4 and 24 h. The liver, heart and kidney were taken for analysis of monacolin K (liver only) and CoQ10analysis. Liver and heart CoQ10levels declined dramatically in both groups administered red yeast rice, especially in the high-dose group, within 30 min. After 24 h, the levels of hepatic and cardiac CoQ10were still reduced. A similar trend was also observed in the heart, but the inhibitory effect began after 90 min. The higher dose of red yeast rice presented a greater suppressive effect than did the lower dose on tissue CoQ10levels. In conclusion, acute red yeast rice gavage suppressed hepatic and cardiac CoQ10levels in rodents; furthermore, the inhibitory effect was responsive to the doses administered.

Diabetes is often associated with decreased melatonin level. The aim was to investigate the effects of different dosage of melatonin on glucose hemostasis, antioxidant ability and adipokines secretion in diabetic institute for cancer research (ICR) mice. Forty animals were randomly divided into five groups including control (C), diabetic (D), low-dosage (L), medium-dosage (M), and high-dosage (H) groups. Groups L, M, and H, respectively, received oral melatonin at 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg of BW (body weight) daily after inducing hyperglycemia by nicotinamide (NA)/ streptozotocin (STZ). After the six-week intervention, results showed that melatonin administration increased insulin level and performed lower area under the curve (AUC) in H group (p < 0.05). Melatonin could lower hepatic Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in all melatonin-treated groups and increase superoxide dismutase activity in H group (p < 0.05). Melatonin-treated groups revealed significant higher adiponectin in L group, and lower leptin/adiponectin ratio and leptin in M and H groups (p < 0.05). Melatonin could lower cholesterol and triglyceride in liver and decrease plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) in L group, and increase plasma high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in H group (p < 0.05). Above all, melatonin could decrease oxidative stress, increase the adiponectin level and improve dyslipidemia, especially in H group. These data support melatonin possibly being a helpful aid for treating hyperglycemia-related symptoms.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the adiponectin and leptin levels in overweight/obese and lean women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).This was a retrospective study.Of the 422 studied patients, 224 women with PCOS and 198 women without PCOS were evaluated.Insulin resistance and the metabolic components were assessed. The adiponectin and leptin levels were also evaluated.Adiponectin was negatively correlated with insulin resistance, body mass index (BMI), and total testosterone, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels; conversely, leptin reversed the aforementioned reaction and was negatively correlated with adiponectin levels. The adiponectin to leptin ratios were significantly lower in PCOS women than in those without PCOS. Compared to women with non-PCOS, overweight/obese women with PCOS had lower serum adiponectin levels than women without PCOS, which was not the case for lean women. Conversely, lean women with PCOS had higher serum leptin levels than those without PCOS, which was not the case for overweight/obese women.Adipose tissue might play an important role in the metabolic complications in women with PCOS. To study the impact of obesity biomarkers in women with PCOS, overweight/obese and lean women should be considered separately.

Background : Evidence on biological activities of cooked black rice is limited. This study examined the effects of washing and cooking on the bioactive ingredients and biological activities of black rice. Methods : Cooked rice was prepared by washing 0–3 times followed by cooking in a rice cooker. The acidic methanol extracts of raw and cooked rice were used for the analyses. Results : Raw black rice, both washed and unwashed, had higher contents of polyphenols, anthocyanins, and cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), but lower protocatechuic acid (PA), than did cooked samples. Similarly, raw rice extracts were higher in ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) activities than extracts of cooked samples. Nonetheless, extracts of raw and cooked rice showed similar inhibitory potencies on nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 productions in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages, whereas equivalent amounts of C3G and PA did not possess such inhibitory effects. Conclusions : Thermal cooking decreased total anthocyanin and C3G contents and the FRAP antioxidative capacity, but did not affect anti-inflammatory activities of black rice. Neither C3G nor PA contributed to the anti-inflammatory activity of black rice. Keywords: black rice; anthocyanin; cyanidin-3-glucoside; protocatechuic acid; antioxidation; anti-inflammation (Published: 20 September 2016) Citation: Food & Nutrition Research 2016, 60: 32941 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/fnr.v60.32941

AIM: To investigate the effects of fermented soy milk powder on the antioxidative status and lipid metabolism in the livers of CCl4-injected rats. METHODS: Forty-five healthy male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to five groups according to five different diets: control (AIN-76), AIN-76+high-dose fermented soy milk powder, AIN-76+low-dose fermented soy milk powder, AIN-76+high-dose milk yogurt powder and AIN-76+low-dose milk yogurt powder. The experiment lasted for 8 wk. After 4 wk, all the rats received intraperitoneal administration of CCl4 (0.2 mL/100 g body weight) every week. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), TBARS, ALP, and antioxidative enzymes in the liver were evaluated. RESULTS: There was also no significant difference in TBARS and antioxidative enzymes in the liver. TC and TG in the groups fed with fermented soy milk powder were generally lower than those fed with casein powder. CONCLUSION: Consumption of fermented soy milk was positive in lowering total cholesterol and TG accumulation in the liver under CCl4-induced oxidative stress.

A variety of studies have suggested a cancer protective role of cruciferous vegetables. In the present study, we investigated the effect of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a major indole metabolite in cruciferous vegetables, on cell proliferation and in vitro markers of angiogenesis in phorbol myristate acetate (PMA)-stimulated endothelial EA hy926 cells. The results showed that I3C inhibited the growth of EA hy926 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. The capillary-like tube formation by PMA-activated endothelial cells was significantly suppressed by I3C, and such inhibition was associated with decreased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and increased interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion, but not with the expression of VEGF receptor-2 protein. Additionally, gelatin zymography analysis indicated that I3C suppressed activities of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 stimulated by PMA. These results suggest that the dietary I3C may be useful in the treatment of human cancers and angiogenic diseases.

Chicken extract has been consumed in oriental countries for centuries for improving body conditions such as recovery from fatigue. It is a rich source of antioxidant dipeptides. The in vivo antioxidative abilities were evaluated. Diets mixed with 4 different amounts of chicken extract were investigated for in vivo antioxidation ability using healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Total antioxidant status (TAS), thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS), iron content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, glutathion peroxidase (GPx) activity and uric acid content were determined. In healthy rats, most of the indexes were not affected by intake of chicken extract significantly. However, plasma TBARS in the chicken extract-fed groups increased at the end of the experiment, which could be due to some pro-oxidative minerals in the extract. In conclusion, we found no significant or minor changes on the activities of antioxidative enzymes, antioxidant conditions, or lipid oxidation in healthy rats from consuming chicken extract, which may be the result of a balanced body condition. However, because of its high content of dipeptides, we suggest that it should have liver protecting effects if oxidative stresses are introduced.

Chicken extract contains carnosine and anserine, both of which possess some antioxidant abilities. The objective of this study was to investigate the protective effects of chicken extract in male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats under induced oxidative stress. Carbon tetrachloride was used as the oxidative stress inducer. Glutamic-oxalacetatic transaminase (GOT), glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), total antioxidant status (TAS), thiobarbituric-reactive substances (TBARS), iron content, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were determined. We concluded that under oxidative stress, the intake of chicken extract was helpful in promoting the activities of antioxidant enzymes and in protecting the liver from oxidative damage.

AIM: To assess the effects of soy protein, isoflavone, and saponin on liver and blood lipid in rats that consumed high-cholesterol diets. METHODS: High-cholesterol diets (1%) with or without soy material were fed to 6-wk-old male Sprague-Dawley rats for 8 wk. Blood lipids, liver lipids, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels were measured. The in vitro bile acid-binding ability of soy materials was analyzed. RESULTS: The results of in vitro studies showed that soy protein isolate had a significantly higher bile acid-binding ability (8.4±0.8%) than soy saponin (3.1±0.7%) and isoflavone (1.3±0.4%, P