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Clinical Nutrition

Korean traditional Chungkookjang improves body composition, lipid profiles and atherogenic indices in overweight/obese subjects: a double-blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled clinical trial

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 70, pages 1116–1122 (2016)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives:

Chungkookjang is a Korean representative fermented soybean food. In this study, we investigated the effect of Korean traditional Chungkookjang compared with placebo on body composition, dyslipidemia and risk factors for atherosclerosis in overweight/obese subjects.

Subjects/methods:

This double-blind, randomized, controlled crossover trial was conducted on 120 overweight/obese subjects, aged 19–29 years. Subjects were randomly divided into a Chungkookjang (n=60) or a placebo (n=60) group. After 12 weeks, the groups were crossed over for an additional 12 weeks. During the intervention period, subjects were asked to maintain their usual diet and activity and not to take any functional foods or dietary supplements. The anthropometric measures, lipid profiles and atherogenic indices were determined at baseline and at the end of each 12-week period.

Results:

The anthropometry measurements, percentage body fat, lean body mass, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio of women in the Chungkookjang group were significantly improved compared with the placebo group. Lipid profiles and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein of women in Chungkookjang were significantly improved. The atherogenic indices of apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 decreased in both the placebo and the Chungkookjang group, and it also decreased below 0.55 for all the men and women in the Chungkookjang group.

Conclusions:

In conclusion, these results suggest that supplementation with Chungkookjang may improve body composition and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in overweight and obese adults.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Globalization of Korean Foods R&D program and funded by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Republic of Korea. Clinical Trials NCT01811511 (available at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/home).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obesity Research Center, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea

    M-S Byun, O-K Yu, Y-S Cha & T-S Park

  2. Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea

    M-S Byun & Y-S Cha

  3. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea

    T-S Park

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Correspondence to Y-S Cha or T-S Park.

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Byun, MS., Yu, OK., Cha, YS. et al. Korean traditional Chungkookjang improves body composition, lipid profiles and atherogenic indices in overweight/obese subjects: a double-blind, randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Eur J Clin Nutr 70, 1116–1122 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2016.77

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