Effect of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb on Body Composition and Biochemical Examination of Blood

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is defined as a condition characterized by obesity due to visceral fat accumulation and ≥2 of the following symptoms: hyperglycemia, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Metabolic syndrome may trigger arteriosclerotic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, heart disease, and stroke. Therefore, prevention and treatment of metabolic syndrome are urgent issues. Since it has been reported that excessive nutrient intake and unhealthy lifestyles may contribute to metabolic syndrome, various approaches have been introduced into the medical administration system and performed; for example, preventive and therapeutic dietary counseling and nutritional therapy for the purpose of reducing of visceral fat. Recently, the pharmacological effects of foods have been noted and a study on "functional foods" has been promoted in countries worldwide. It has been reported that approximately 60% of Japanese adults routinely use functional foods with expectations of health maintenance, disease prevention, or the amelioration of symptoms. However, it is limited functional foods of which effect on improvement of metabolic syndrome has been demonstrated by clinical trials in human. Therefore, it is thought that the evidence of functional foods should be established immediately. 【ABSTRACT】 Peucedanum japonicum Thunb (PJT) has reported the effect of l ipid and glucose metabolism at some in vivo and in vitro study. In this study, 21 subjects with dyslipidemia border zone took PJT for 12 weeks. The changes over t ime of body composition and biochemical test were examined. The values of HbA1c were significantly reduced compared to the values before intake. For body fat percentage, the value at 8 weeks after intake showed a significant decrease compared with the value before intake. Adiponectin was significantly increase after 8 weeks in obese subject. These results suggested PJT may improvement of glucose metabolism.