Heeok Hong

Effects of pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto oil in Korean men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia

This study was to investigate the role of complementary and alternative medicine in the prevention and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. For this purpose, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was performed over 12 months on 47 benign prostatic hyperplasia patients with average age of 53.3 years and international prostate symptom score over 8. Subjects received either sweet potato starch (group A, placebo, 320 mg/day), pumpkin seed oil (group B, 320 mg/day), saw palmetto oil (group C, 320 mg/day) or pumpkin seed oil plus saw palmetto oil (group D, each 320 mg/day). International prostate symptom score, quality of life, serum prostate specific antigen, prostate volume and maximal urinary flow rate were measured. In groups B, C and D, the international prostate symptom score were reduced by 3 months. Quality of life score was improved after 6 months in group D, while those of groups B and C were improved after 3 months, compared to the baseline value. Serum prostate specific antigen was reduced only in group D after 3 months, but no difference was observed in prostate volume in all treatment groups. Maximal urinary flow rate were gradually improved in groups B and C, with statistical significance after 6 months in group B and after 12 months in group C. None of the parameters were significantly improved by combined treatment with pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto oil. From these results, it is suggested that administrations of pumpkin seed oil and saw palmetto oil are clinically safe and may be effective as complementary and alternative medicine treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Zinc Deficiency-induced Iron Accumulation, a Consequence of Alterations in Iron Regulatory Protein-binding Activity, Iron Transporters, and Iron Storage Proteins *

One consequence of zinc deficiency is an elevation in cell and tissue iron concentrations. To examine the mechanism(s) underlying this phenomenon, Swiss 3T3 cells were cultured in zinc-deficient (D, 0.5 μm zinc), zinc-supplemented (S, 50 μm zinc), or control (C, 4 μm zinc) media. After 24 h of culture, cells in the D group were characterized by a 50% decrease in intracellular zinc and a 35% increase in intracellular iron relative to cells in the S and C groups. The increase in cellular iron was associated with increased transferrin receptor 1 protein and mRNA levels and increased ferritin light chain expression. The divalent metal transporter 1(+)iron-responsive element isoform mRNA was decreased during zinc deficiency-induced iron accumulation. Examination of zinc-deficient cells revealed increased binding of iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2) and decreased binding of IRP1 to a consensus iron-responsive element. The increased IRP2-binding activity in zinc-deficient cells coincided with an increased level of IRP2 protein. The accumulation of IRP2 protein was independent of zinc deficiency-induced intracellular nitric oxide production but was attenuated by the addition of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine or ascorbate to the D medium. These data support the concept that zinc deficiency can result in alterations in iron transporter, storage, and regulatory proteins, which facilitate iron accumulation.

Dietary Ungerminated and Germinated Soybean Supplementation Improves Bone Mineralization and Strength in Growing Male Rats

It has been thought that soybean products rich in phytoestrogenic isoflavones are effective in promoting bone metabolism in ovariectomized rats. However, it is not clear if such an effect can be changed by germination of soybean and can be observed in growing males. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of different concentrations of dietary ungerminated and germinated soybean (UGS and GS, respectively) on bone metabolism in young male rats. Forty-nine 6-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to seven dietary treatment groups: AIN 93G (control); control with UGS powder at 3% (UGS-L), 15% (UGS-M), or 30% (UGS-H); and control with GS powder at 3% (GS-L), 15% (GS-M), or 30% (GS-H). The biomarkers of bone metabolism (plasma and urinary Ca and P) and the physical properties and mineral content of bones were measured. Plasma osteocalcin and urinary deoxypyridinoline levels were not affected by soybean diets. The plasma P level was significantly elevated by dietary soybeans (P < .001). However, there was a negative correlation (r = -0.555) between plasma P level and dietary UGS level (P < .01). Between the UGS and GS groups, the P level of the GS-M group was significantly higher than that of the UGS-M group (P < .001). The tibial weight was decreased with low to medium doses of soybeans, but not with higher levels. Femoral bone strength was improved in the UGS-H, GS-M, and GS-H groups. The P contents of femoral and tibial bones were increased in all UGS groups as well as in GS-M and GS-H groups. In conclusion, soybean supplementation in young growing male rats improved bone mineralization and bone strength.