This study was performed to describe the perceptions of the family mealtime environment in preadolescents， and to determine the frequency of family meals and whether the mealtime environment is associated with nutrient intake. Surveys and 24-hour dietary recalls were completed by 197 children, ages 11 to 12, in elementary schools in the Incheon area. We assessed family meal frequency and the perceptions of the family meal environment with respect to priority, atmosphere, and family mealtime structure. The subject response frequencies and correlations among perceptions of the family mealtime environment, as well as the frequency of family meals and nutrient intake, were analyzed. Having a greater priority for family meals was associated with an increased frequency of family mealtimes. An enjoyable family meal environment was positively correlated with increases in nutrient intake. From the results of this study, we suggest consideration be placed on opportunities to design nutrition promotion strategies that target families and their children, with respect to promoting family mealtimes and overcoming the barriers to having family meals.

Background : Ginseng, an important traditional medicinal plant still used in rats with bone fractures or dislocation to promote connective tissue repair and to reduce inflammantion. We investigated the effect of ginseng on the proliferation rate of rat bone. Methods and Results : We investigated the effect of ginseng extracts on blood biochemical parameters, bone density and bone inorganic components etc. and data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. In the results of our study, the level of albumin and HDL, Ca, P, Mg, and estradiol in blood, and the content of Ca, P, ash in femur were significantly increased in ginseng treated group than in OVX group, and the level of ALP, AST, ALT, blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, creatinine, osteocalcin, and N-terminal telopeptide were significantly decreased in red ginseng treated group than in OVX group (p < 0.01). Conclusion : From these results, we knew that within the normal level, ginseng extracts improved liver and kidney function, component of glucose and lipid in blood, bone densith, bone ash and inorganic components in femur, and index related with bone metabolism.

Background : Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) appears to enhance the differentiation of osteoblasts and to activate the mineralization of bone. Hence, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ginseng complex on the remodeling of rats tibia. Methods and Results : Ginseng complex significantly increased serum IGF-1 by 58% and 34.5% than the control, respectively. Treatment with α-amylase when manufacturing these extracts remarkably increased the concentration of IGF-1 by 63% and 36% above the control, respectively. This ways that this ginseng complex, especially α-amylase treated extracts, contained a higher level of IGF-1 secretion in the ginseng complex groups. In addition, increases of 8% in femuf length were found after 12 weeks of oral administration with ginseng complex (300mg/kg). Conclusion : These results mean that ginseng complex have beneficial effects on bone effects on bone growth via IGF-1.

Background : Our animal model of stress contained two components: (1) acute trauma, immobilization of rats in close proximity to a cat twice in 10 days, and (2) chronic social instability, 31 days of randomized housing of cage cohorts. Here we tested the hypothesis that daily social stimulation would block the development of the stress. Methods and Results : Beginning 24 h after the first cat exposure, adult male rats were given our established stress model, alone or in conjunction with daily social stimulation, in which all rats within a group interacted in a large apparatus for 2 h each day for the final 30 days. All behavioral, for example, anxiety, memory, startle testing, and physiological assessments, for example, body growth, organ weights, and corticosterone levels, took place following completion of the psychosocial stress period. Conclusion : From the above study, V. fauriei possess significant anti-stress properties and can be used for the treatment of stress-induced disorders.