Hyun Jeong Oh

This randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of fermented gold kiwi (FGK) in improving gastrointestinal health. A total of 100 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to treatment or placebo groups. Over 8 weeks, the participants consumed an FGK or placebo preparation daily. Primary outcomes included changes in gastrointestinal symptoms assessed using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and the Korean version of the Nepean Dyspepsia Index (NDI-K), as well as quality of life assessed using the Functional Dyspepsia-related Quality of Life questionnaire. The FGK group showed significant improvements in GSRS and NDI-K total and subdomain scores compared with the placebo group. Moreover, the quality of life scores were significantly better in the FGK group than in the placebo group. Safety evaluations revealed no significant adverse events or clinically meaningful changes upon assessing laboratory test results. This study demonstrated that FGK is a safe and effective dietary supplement for improving gastrointestinal health in adults with gastrointestinal symptoms.

7-MEGA^TM is a food product made from purified Alaska pollack fish oil containing palmitoleic acid (16:1), commonly referred to as omega-7. We sought to quantitatively evaluate whether this substance inhibits skin aging. A total of 101 middle-aged females were randomly allocated to the intervention (N = 50) or placebo group (N = 51). Each participant was advised to take either 500 mg of 7-MEGA^TM or a placebo twice daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcomes were the degree of improvement in wrinkles and the degree of moisture filling after consumption for 12 weeks compared to baseline. The secondary outcomes were improvement in skin wrinkles; moisture changes at 4 and 8 weeks from baseline; changes in transdermal water loss, skin elasticity, the melanin index, the erythema index, and the Global Photo Damage Score. We found a significant improvement in skin wrinkles and elasticity at 12 weeks in the 7-MEGA^TM-consuming group compared to that in the placebo group; skin moisture, elasticity, and the melanin index were also improved. No supplement-related adverse reactions were observed and 7-MEGA^TM was identified as safe. 7-MEGA^TM was effective for human skin function in terms of wrinkles, moisture, elasticity, and melanin production and may be useful as a skin nutritional supplement.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is defined allergic disease that is mediated by Th2 cells. Its incidence rate is showing a growing tendency worldwide. Research on traditional medicine for AR is also being increasingly conducted. Thymus quinquecostatus Celakovski (TQ) has been used as an important medicinal and aromatic plant in the world. The purpose of this study was to assess whether TQ can alleviate AR. BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) to provoke AR. Mice were treated with ethanol extract of TQ at 10 or 100 mg/kg after the intranasal OVA challenge. Their clinical symptoms such as nasal rubbing and sneezing were significantly reduced in the ethanol extract group (10 or 100 mg/kg) compared to the OVA group. Serum levels of Th1 (TNF-α) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-6) cytokines and IgE levels (both total and OVA-specific) were significantly reduced by administration of ethanol extract of TQ at 100 mg/kg. The thicknesses of the nasal septum and epithelium were significantly reduced by the administration of ethanol extract of TQ. These results suggest that TQ may inhibit early and late phases of AR reactions.

Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver disease and liver-related death. Ninety percent of alcohol consumed is broken down in the liver; excessive consumption destroys liver cells and causes stress. The gold kiwi contains more vitamin C than the green kiwi, and various studies have reported that the gold kiwi boosts digestive health. Fermented gold kiwi (FGK) was made using two lactic acids. It contains many more bioactive compounds than fresh gold kiwi. Mice were first given FGK (50, 125, and 250 mg/kg b.w.) and then given a 5 g/kg alcohol solution (50% w/v) for 2 weeks. The results indicate that the FGK promoted hepatic function by significantly decreasing the serum ethanol and aldehyde levels and downgrading the serum TC and TG levels. The FGK attenuated alcohol-induced oxidative stress and improved alcohol metabolism by controlling the ADH and ALDH levels in murine liver tissue. In addition, the FGK significantly reduced the concentration of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in mouse serum and liver tissue. The overexpression of inflammatory mediators (iNOS, COX-2) was also decreased in the FGK groups. This study demonstrates that FGK exerts a protective effect against alcohol-induced liver damage by improving alcohol metabolism and increasing anti-inflammatory activity. This finding suggests that FGK might be developed into a functional food treatment against alcohol-induced liver disease.

Gastritis and gastric ulcers caused by stressors such as drinking are common. The ability of functional foods to protect the stomach more effectively and reduce the risk of side effects is of interest. The fermentation process can increase the preservation and bioactive compound content of kiwi fruits. This study produced fermented kiwi powder using two lactic acids separated from gold kiwi fruits. Gold kiwi puree (Actinidia chinensis L.) was fermented using beneficial bacteria. Fermentation increased the content of bioactive compounds such as organic acids, flavonoids, and carotenoids. We investigated whether fermented gold kiwi (FGK) extract had antioxidant and gastric protective effects in an HCl/EtOH-induced gastritis animal model and pyloric ligation animal model. FGK increased radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner. In the gastritis model, FGK inhibited inflammation-related factors such as iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and TNF-α, while increasing the expression of the protective molecule PGE2. Furthermore, FGK administration improved gastric lesion site appearance, clinical symptoms, and mucosal thickness in rats. FGK also reduced gastric fluid volume, free acidity, total acidity, and pepsin activity in the pyloric ligation model. These results suggest that FGK can decrease the inflammatory response and protect the gastric mucosa. FGK therefore has the potential to prevent and treat gastritis and gastric ulcers.