The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of consumption and consumer satisfaction of dietary fiber supplements. The survey was conducted using a self-recorded questionnaire developed to meet the purpose of this study. The characteristics of the subjects who have taken dietary fiber supplements in the past are as follows: distributions of socioeconomic variables showed that the highest-ranked group(the group that reported the highest consumption of dietary fiber supplements) was professionals with a college degree or higher degree. In addition, the highest-ranked group were the most healthy, nonsmokers and reported drinking habits of ‘1～2 times/week’. Regarding the health status of those surveyed, digestive disease and constipation were the most common complaints. The majority responded with ‘health concerns’ to the question that asked the reason for their purchase of the dietary fiber supplements. Three major places respondents could find dietary fiber supplements were ‘through the internet’, ‘the market’, ‘the pharmacy’ in descending order. The compositions of dietary fiber products varied. ‘konjac’, ‘cellulose’, ‘psyllium husks’ were the most popular components consumed by the subjects. The average duration of product consumption was less than one month. In terms of satisfaction levels(satisfaction was ranked from 1 to 5), ‘taste’ and ‘type’ scored the highest in satisfaction levels while ‘price’ ranked the lowest. When subjects were asked about self-awareness regarding the physiological efficacy of dietary fiber supplements, the responses were positive in ‘bowel movement’ and ‘weight loss’. Further research is required to improve the quality of dietary fiber supplements in order to assist consumers in selecting the appropriate products.

본 연구에서는 히알루론산나트륨(sodium hyaluronate, HA)을 효소 분해하여 분자량 크기(1, 10, 50, 100, 660, 및 1500 kDa) 별로 제조한 뒤 콜라겐 합성 및 항염증 활성에 미치는 영향과 피부투과도를 조사하였 다. 이들 HA는 인간피부세포인 Hs68 세포에 세포독성을 나타내지 않았다. 콜라겐 생합성능은 1500 kDa, 50, kDa HA가 각각 59, 50%로 콜라겐 생합성 촉진능이 우수한 것으로 나타났다. 분자량 크기에 따른 HA의 피부투 과도를 측정한 결과 660 또는 1500 kDa의 HA은 2% 미만의 미미한 투과율을 보였으나, 저분자 HA (1, 10, 또는 50 kDa)은 시간이 지남에 따라 투과율이 증가하는 것을 확인하였다. 마우스 대식세포인 RAW 264.7 세포 에서 HA 분자량 크기에 따른 항염증 효과를 확인한 결과, 50 kDa HA가 농도 의존적으로 nitric oxide 및 tumor necrosis factor-α 합성을 저해하여 다른 분자량의 HA (1, 10, 및 100 kDa)에 비해 가장 큰 항염증 효능을 나타냈다. 현재까지 효소(hyaluronidase) 처리하여 제조된 다양한 크기의 분자량(1, 10, 50, 100, 660, 1500 kDa)의 HA 중 50 kDa HA가 collagen의 합성, 항염증 및 피부 흡수도에 대한 종합적인 평가를 한 사례 는 없었다. 따라서 이러한 연구결과는 50 kDa의 HA가 인간피부세포에서 콜라겐 합성을 증진시키고, 피부 투과 율을 높으며 피부 주름을 유발하는 염증반응을 억제함으로써 피부노화 및 주름 개선용 화장품소재로 개발될 수 있는 가능성을 보여준다.