Hae-Jeung Lee

• PhD
• Professor (Full) at Gachon University

Objective: To investigate the relationship between hypertension and fruit intake in an Asian population. Method: This study was based on the data from 2007, 2008 and 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In the final analysis, a total of 9791 subjects (men=3819, women=5972) were included. Daily energy and nutrient intakes...

The presence of nanoplastics (NPs), which cause oxidative stress and damage to the cell structure due to the breakdown of microplastics (MPs), poses considerable ecological and health challenges. This study investigated the protective role of nobiletin (NOB), a flavonoid derived from citrus peel, in modulating autophagy and mitigating NP‐induced to...

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between excessive postpartum iodine intake and the incidence of thyroid disease in mothers, as well as child growth and development. Methods: Of 1054 participants in the 2019 nationwide survey that assessed maternal postpartum iodine intake, 684 mothers participated in a follow-up study....

Background: Pork meat is a widely consumed protein food with the potential to differentially affect health and nutritional status across social and cultural contexts. Objectives: We evaluated the association between pork meat consumption and nutrient intake, diet quality, and biomarkers of health among older adults (age ≥ 65 years) in Korea. Method...

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a widespread age-related neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the presence of an aggregated protein, α-synuclein (α-syn), which is encoded by the SNCA gene and localized to presynaptic terminals in a normal human brain. The α-syn aggregation is induced by the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mit...

Regular exercise as part of one’s lifestyle is well-recognized for its beneficial effect on several diseases such as cardiovascular disease and obesity; however, many questions remain unanswered regarding the effects of exercise on the gut environment. This study aimed to investigate the impact of long-term endurance exercise on modulating inflamma...

Purpose DNA methylation is a major epigenetic phenomenon through which diet affects health and disease. This study aimed to determine the epigenetic influence of the traditional Korean diet (K-diet) on global DNA methylation via one-carbon metabolism. Methods A crossover study was conducted on 52 women. Two diets, a K-diet, high in plant foods and...

The extensive utilization of bismuth and its derivatives in many industries, such as chemical, semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and cosmetics, leads to their accumulation in wastewater, posing a risk to both human health and the environment. Carbon nanorods (CNR) are fluorescent nanoparticles with an ability to detect various analytes as sensing prob...

Astrocytes are the major glial cells in the human brain and provide crucial metabolic and trophic support to neurons. The amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) alter the morphological and functional properties of astrocytes and induce inflammation and calcium dysregulation, contributing to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. Recent studies highlight the role of T...

Malvidin and its glycosides have been studied for their anti-carcinogenic potential in various forms of cancer, however the in-depth review for malvidin and its glycosides in in vitro and in vivo studies, is yet to be reported. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the anti-carcinogenic potential of malvidin and its glycosides in various can...

Background Obesity is a serious disease with an alarmingly high incidence that can lead to other complications in both humans and dogs. Similar to humans, obesity can cause metabolic diseases such as diabetes in dogs. Natural products may be the preferred intervention for metabolic diseases such as obesity. The compound 1-deoxynojirimycin, present...

Ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) linked to colon cancer, needs effective natural preventive and therapeutic strategies to alleviate its clinical course. This study investigated the combined effects of phlorotannins (TAs) isolated from Eisenia bicyclis (E. bicyclis) and Lactobacillus casei (LC) on inflammatory markers in...

The immune system acts as a defense mechanism against foreign antigens. Impairment of the immune system leads to the development of chronic diseases such as respiratory infections, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegeneration. Macrophages, natural scavengers that are part of innate immunity, are known to directly participate in scavenging...

Macroalgae, particularly red seaweeds, have attracted significant attention due to their economic and health benefits. Chondrus, a red algae genus, despite its economic importance, seems to be undervalued. Among all its species, Chondrus crispus has been meticulously documented for its biological properties, and little is known about other species....

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) is a natural anthocyanin with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. However, as the effects of C3G on the amyloidogenic pathway, autophagy, tau phosphorylation, neuronal cell death, and synaptic plasticity in Alzheimer’s disease models have not been reported, we attempted to investigate the same in t...

Obesity is consistently linked to skeletal muscle atrophy. It is characterized by a chronic inflammatory state that produces various pro-inflammatory substances that may have negative effects on muscles, such as muscle atrophy, impaired muscle regeneration, and a reduction in muscle protein synthesis. Fucoidan, isolated from the brown alga Undaria...

Fucoidan, a polysaccharide derived from brown seaweed, has multiple biological properties, including antioxidant, antitumor, anticoagulant, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, there are few reports on their neuroprotective effects. This study is about the neuroprotective effects of fucoidan against Aβ42-induced neuronal apoptosis in human neuro...

With an increase in the world’s aging population, candidate substances for the management of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), have received considerable attention. Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide, the leading cause of AD, induces synaptic deficits, eventually leading to cognitive impairment. Plasmalogen is a subclass of gly...

Parabens are used as preservatives in various household products, including oral products, cosmetics, and hair/body washes. In recent years, the widespread use of parabens has raised concerns due to the potential health risks associated with their estrogenic effects. In the present study, we evaluated and compared the estrogenic activity of paraben...

The anti-obesity effect of milk intake has been suggested via a variety of designed studies, but findings of obesity interventions for adult Koreans are scarcely reported. The study aimed to investigate the anti-obesity effect of cow's milk in adult Koreans with an 8-wk randomized intervention. A total of 121 adults with overweight aged 19 to 60 ye...

Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a growing health problem worldwide, is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to insulin resistance and defective insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells. The skeletal muscle is a central organ that consumes most of the insulin-stimulated glucose in the body, and insulin resistance can da...

Chemical risk assessment is important for risk management, and estimates of chemical exposure must be as accurate as possible. Chemical concentrations in food below the limit of detection are known as nondetects and result in left‐censored data. During statistical analysis, the method used for handling values below the limit of detection is importa...

Cognitive decline and constipation are common complications in the elderly. Probiotics are potential therapeutic agents to ameliorate cognitive impairment through gut-brain axis. Several clinical studies have investigated the beneficial effects of probiotics on cognitive impairment and constipation in elderly. However, a quantitative meta-analysis...

In recent decades, several studies demonstrating various applications of carbon dots (C-dots), including metal sensing, bioimaging, pH sensing, and antimicrobial activities, have been published. Recent developments have shifted this trend toward biomedical applications that target various biomarkers relevant to chronic diseases. However, relevant d...

Overweight and obesity are significant global public health concerns that are increasing in prevalence at an alarming rate. Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of probiotics against obesity. Postbiotics are the next generation of probiotics that include bacteria-free extracts and nonviable microorganisms that may be advantageous to the...

Bisphenol A (BPA) is not a natural substance but is produced artificially during the manufacturing of various plastics. Exposure to (BPA) is a pervasive and growing concern. BPA has recently been classified as a substance of great concern by the European Union (EU). BPA is suspected to be associated with several chronic human health effects. In thi...

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have inconsistent findings against inflammation. Although a wealth of literature on the beneficial effects of green-synthesized AgNPs has been published, a detailed mechanistic study of green AgNPs on the protective effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation using human microglial cells (HMC3) ha...

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) were synthesized from blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea) berry fruit extracts using a well-known, cost-effective, and environmental friendly hydrothermal process. The material was characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL), XPS, and TEM studies. The as-synthesized carbon dots exhibit excellent PL pr...

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a more aggressive type of breast cancer due to its heterogeneity and complex molecular mechanisms. TNBC has a high risk for metastasis, and it is difficult to manage clinical conditions of the patients. Various investigations are being conducted to overcome these challenges using RNA, DNA, and proteins for ea...

Patients with cancer need to maintain proper nutritional status to overcome cancer, alleviate the side effects of chemotherapy, and prevent a recurrence. As such, it is necessary to manage nutritional status. This study aimed to develop a dish-based semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to evaluate the nutritional status of patients...

Recently, mogrol has emerged as an important therapeutic candidate with multiple potential pharmacological properties, including neuroprotective, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiobesity, antidiabetes, and exerting a protective effect on different organs such as the lungs, bone, brain, and colon. Pharmacokinetic studies also highlighted the poten...

Scytosiphon lomentaria (SL) is a brown seaweed with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; however, its effects on obesity are unknown. In this research, we investigated the anti-obesity properties and underlying mechanisms of the SL extract in vitro and in vivo. In 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, SL extract inhibited lipid accumulation, decreased the...

Evidence on what people eat globally is limited in scope and rigour, especially as it relates to children and adolescents. This impairs target setting and investment in evidence-based actions to support healthy sustainable diets. Here we quantified global, regional and national dietary patterns among children and adults, by age group, sex, educatio...

Many individuals are suffering from depression, and various improvements are being proposed. This study was conducted on young people diagnosed with depression and aimed to assess the effects of flavonoid-rich orange juice on the major depressive disorder (MDD) using a randomized controlled trial. In all, 40 young men and women with MDD aged 18–29...

Lipophagy, a type of autophagy that breaks down lipid droplets, is essential in the regulation of intracellular lipid accumulation and intracellular free fatty acid levels in numerous organisms and metabolic conditions. We investigated the effects of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni (S), a low-calorie sweetener, and stevioside (SS) on hepatic steatosis an...

Breast cancer (BC) is caused by epigenetic modifications and genetic heterogeneity and exhibits various histological feature. HER2+ (Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) is a more aggressive type of breast cancer, diagnosis and prognosis are difficult for HER2+ BC. Anti-HER2+ inhibitors have been effectively used for patient treatment. High mo...

Overweight and obesity, associated with various health complications, refer to abnormal or excessive fat accumulation conditions that harm health. Like humans, obesity is a growing problem in dogs, which may increase the risk of serious diseases such as diabetes and cancer. Mulberry leaf has shown potential anti-obesity and anti-diabetes effects in...

Like humans, the accumulation of amyloid-beta oligomers in the brains of aged dogs leads to cognitive dysfunction. Our study investigated the effects of dietary flavonoids in pet foods on cognitive dysfunction. All nine dogs (six species) recruited were older than seven years, and cognitive function was measured using a questionnaire before and aft...

Nausea and vomiting are the most common side effects of chemotherapy. They must be managed because they can increase the risk of malnutrition in patients, which can adversely affect treatment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ginger supplementation as an adjuvant treatment for alleviating chemo We checked. therapy-induced n...

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional intakes and treatment regimens of Korean patients with type 2 diabetes who were aware of their condition. Methods Participants (n = 16582) aged ≥ 19 years from the 2016–18 National Health and Nutrition Survey were divided into diabetes-aware and unaware groups and the variables we...

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves have been used to lower blood glucose in patients with diabetes. We evaluated the effects of mulberry leaves extract (MLE) and 1-deoxynojirimycin (1-DNJ) in improving insulin resistance through the activation of the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt pathway in the skeletal muscle of db/db mice. Histological analysis revealed an amelior...

Nuciferine, isolated from Nelumbo nucifera (commonly known as lotus) leaves, has been shown to have beneficial effects, including antioxidant, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, little is known about the mechanism of nuciferine action on the inflammatory response. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflamm...

Inflammation is important in the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases. The anti-inflammatory properties of berries have been investigated but the anti-inflammatory activity of bilberry has received little attention and a detailed review is yet to be published. Therefore, we compiled information on the phytochemicals of bilberry and preclinical...

Worldwide, since ages and nowadays, traditional medicine is well known, owing to its biodiversity, which immensely contributed to the advancement and development of complementary and alternative medicines. There is a wide range of spices, herbs, and trees known for their medicinal uses. Chilli peppers, a vegetable cum spice crop, are bestowed with...

Background: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is widely used throughout different industries, including the food industry, because it is resistant to heat and prevents water or oil from easily permeating into or contaminating materials coated by PFOA. Although many studies have reported an association between PFOA exposure and the risk of developing h...

The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Schisandra chinensis (SC) extract on clinical symptoms of osteoarthritis and the modulating effect on the mechanisms associated with the progression of osteoarthritis in a rat model of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis-induced rats were randomized in...

Leuconostoc is mostly found in food, plants, and dairy products. Due to their innate genomic features, such as the presence of carbohydrate-active enzymes, bacteriocins, and plasmids, Leuconostoc spp. have great biotechnological potential. In this study, four strains were isolated and identified as Leuconostoc mesenteroides SG315 (LA), L. citreum S...

Honeysuckle berry (HB, Lonicera caerulea L.) is an oriental herbal medicine reported to have beneficial effects on metabolic disorders, such as obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The fruit part of HB is rich in anthocyanin, a type of polyphenol. Most studies credit the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of HB as the mechanisms...

Traditional GAN-based image generation networks cannot accurately and naturally fuse surrounding features in local image generation tasks, especially in hairstyle generation tasks. To this end, we propose a novel transformer-based GAN for new hairstyle generation networks. The network framework comprises two modules: Face segmentation (F) and Trans...

Lungworts (members of genus Pulmonaria), especially Pulmonaria officinalis, have been used as medicinal plants in folk and traditional medicine. The potential biological activities of lungworts, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-neurodegenerative, skin whitening, anticoagulant, antibacterial, anti-anemic, anticonvulsant, and wound-healin...

Microglial polarization to the M1 phenotype (classically activated) or the M2 phenotype (alternatively activated) is critical in determining the fate of immune responses in neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). M1 macrophages contribute to neurotoxicity, neuronal and synaptic damage, and oxidative stress and are the first line of defense, and M2 macrop...

Microglial polarization plays an essential role in the progression and regression of neurodegenerative disorders. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), a dietary anthocyanin found in many fruits and vegetables, has been reported as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor agent. However, there have been no reports on whether C3G can regulate the M1...

Lactobacillus plantarum HAC01 has been shown to effectively treat metabolic diseases. However, the precise pharmacological effects and molecular mechanisms of L. plantarum HAC01 remain unclear. In this study, we investigate the anti-adipogenic effects of L. plantarum HAC01 lysate and its associated mechanism of action. To induce lipid accumulation,...

Hemomine is an herbal blend comprising Angelicae Gigantis Radix and other herbs known to have immunomodulatory effects. We examined the immunopotentiating effect of this herbal blend on cyclophosphamide (CPA)-induced immunosuppression. Male mice were assigned to one of six groups: the intact control and five CPA treatment groups (one control, one r...

Background/objectives: Accumulating evidence has shown the beneficial effects of isoflavone on health. There is limited information on the usual isoflavone intake for Koreans. This study examined the usual intake of total isoflavone and its major food sources in Koreans according to age and gender. Subjects/methods: The dietary intake data of 21...

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is the most devastating pandemic of the century, which is still far from over. The remarkable success of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines is the working hope, but the evolving variants are the huge concern that can turn the tide. Potential immune escape mutations (PIEMs) in th...

The aging population contributes to increasing economic and social burden worldwide. Sarcopenia, an age-related degenerative disease and progressive disorder, is characterized by a reduction in skeletal muscle mass and function. This study aims to assess the association between dietary factors and sarcopenia in the Korean elderly using nationwide d...

Stevioside, the primary sweetener in stevia, is a glycoside with numerous beneficial biological activities. However, its anti-adipogenic effects on tissue differentiation and adipose tissues remain to be thoroughly investigated. In this study, the anti-adipogenic effects of stevioside during the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and epididymal adipos...

Background The use of smokeless tobacco has increased worldwide among young people. This study aimed to investigate the association between smokeless tobacco use and cigarette smoking amount in adult smoker groups stratified by age. Method 2013–2015 National Health Interview Survey was used. A total of 19,635 subjects were included in our analysis...

Multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged and are now prevalent at the global level. Currently designated variants of concern (VOCs) are B.1.1.7, B1.351, P.1, B.1.617.2 variants and B.1.1.529. Possible options for VOC are urgently required as they carry mutations in the virus spike protein that allow them to spread more easily and cause more ser...

A traditional balanced Korean diet (K-diet) may improve energy, glucose, and lipid metabolism. To evaluate this, we conducted a randomized crossover clinical trial, involving participants aged 30–40 years, who were randomly assigned to two groups—a K-diet or westernized Korean control diet daily, with an estimated energy requirement (EER) of 1900 k...

Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. is an underutilized crop plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. In recent years, the plant received huge attention and was introduced in different countries owing to properties such as a high nutritional content, its nitrogen-fixing abilities, and different biological activities such as its antioxidant, immune modulati...

Flavonoids and carotenoids are bioactive compounds that have protective effects against depressive symptoms. Flavonoids and carotenoids are the two main types of antioxidant phytochemicals. This study investigated the association between flavonoid and carotenoid intake and depressive symptoms in middle-aged Korean females. We analyzed the mechanism...

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR-γ, PPAR-α, and PPAR-β/δ) are ligand-dependent nuclear receptors that play a critical role in the regulation of hundreds of genes through their activation. Their expression and targeted activation play an important role in the treatment of a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative, cardiovas...

Background The immune-enhancing effects of red Platycodon grandiflorus root extract (RPGE) has been reported in vitro and in vivo, but there are few studies on humans. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of RPGE in enhancing immune function in healthy subjects. Subjects and methods An 8-week randomized, double-blind,...

Background/objectives: Due to the rapid increase of global cancer incidence and mortality and a high level of interest in cancer prevention, a systematic review of garlic intake and cancer risk is needed. Subjects/methods: We implemented a systematic review to examine the effects of varying levels of garlic intake on cancer. We conducted compreh...

Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) is a perennial plant that has been used as a traditional remedy to control immune-related diseases. PG was steamed and dried to improve its taste (PGS). The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of PG and PGS (PG-diets) on the gut microbiome and immune system. We treated PG-diets to immunosuppressed mice via c...

Obesity is a major health problem. Compelling evidence supports the beneficial effects of probiotics on obesity. However, the anti-obesity effect of probiotics remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity effects and potential mechanisms of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum ATG-K2 using 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high-fat diet (HFD)-indu...

Iodine is an essential component of thyroid hormones, but excessive iodine intake can lead to thyroid dysfunction. Traditionally, Korean mothers consume brown seaweed soup (miyeokguk), a high source of iodine, after childbirth. There is controversy regarding the effects of excessive postpartum iodine intake on the health of mothers and infants. Thu...

Until now, several studies have looked at the issue of anthocyanin and cancer, namely the preventive and inhibitory effects of anthocyanins, as well as the underlying molecular processes. However, no targeted review is available regarding the anticarcinogenic effects of delphinidin and its glycosides on various cancers and their plausible molecular...

Sarcopenic obesity is a combination of sarcopenia and obesity. Although several herbal extracts showed improvement on sarcopenia and obesity, respectively, there are few studies on sarcopenic obesity. Lonicera caerulea (honeysuckle berry, HB) can ameliorate metabolic disorders including obesity. However, its effects on sarcopenic obesity have not b...

Nano-carbons have received a lot of attention owing to their distinctively fascinating properties and myriad applications in our daily lives. A plethora of literature on the use of natural materials for the green synthesis of nano-carbons is available. However, seafood waste is often ignored. Indeed, seafood waste is a rich source of carbon and cou...

Objectives: Postmenopausal obesity is a paramount health concern among older women. Black rice is a well-known pigmented rice variety with a higher anthocyanin content. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the effects of black rice on obesity. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of black rice extract (BRE) on obesity...

Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside (C3G) is a well-known antioxidant found as a dietary anthocyanin in different fruits and vegetables. It has protective and therapeutic effects on various diseases. It can reduce neuronal death from amyloid-beta (Aβ)-induced toxicity and promote the inhibition of Aβ fibrillization. Antioxidant and immune modulation might play...