In this study, we analyzed the biochemical factors in lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) leaf, stem, and yeonjabang and their effects on serum factor levels in mice fed a high-fat (HF) diet. The loutus leaf showed 9.47±0.30% moisture content, 8.25±0.39% ash, 21.45±1.25% crude protein, and 2.21±0.13% crude fat content; the lotus stem showed 11.84±0.43% moisture, 10.21±0.64% ash, 17.55±0.92% crude protein, and 4.16±0.23% crude fat content; and the lotus yeonjabang showed 11.86±0.50% moisture, 6.81±0.51% ash, 18.71±1.02% crude protein, and 3.95±0.15% crude fat. Blood triglyceride levels were higher in the HF group (146.43±38.81 mg/dL), and lower in the HF+yeonjabang groups (98.00±17.18 mg/dL). In particular, blood triglyceride levels were significantly lower in the groups that had 10% dry yeonjabang powder added to the high-fat diet. The inclusion of excessive high-fat diet increased concentrations of serum insulin and leptin. Serum leptin concentrations were highest in the HF group mice (3.00±1.35 ng/dL), whereas they were significantly lower in the HF+yeonjabang groups by 1.34±0.52 ng/dL (p<0.05). Thus, addition of dry yeonjabang powder to the high-fat diet was more effective in regulating the levels of serum triglycerides and leptin in mice. Additional studies would help in the development of yeonjabang as a functional food.

The purposes of this study were to investigate changes in serum lipid levels with age and gender, and to determine which factors affect the serum lipid profiles. The anthropometric parameters(height, weight, waist girth, hip girth) and biochemical status(cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-chol.) were measured for clinically normal adults(male 89, female 91) in Yeongdong area. The results are as follows: 1. The obesity index was significantly higher in female(115.2±15.2%) than in male(109.9±13.4%), but waist/hip girth ratio(WHR) was significantly higher in male (0.89±0.05) than in female(0.81±0.06). 2. Male subjects had higher triglyceride and atherogenic index and lower HDL-cholesterol and relative cholesterol than those of female subjects. 3. Prevalences of hypercholesteolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypoHDL-cholesterolemia were 9.0%, 9.0%, 14.6% respectively in male and 9.9%, 2.2%, 4.4% in female. 4. WHR positively correlated with serum cholesterol, TG, LDL/HDL and A.I., and negatively correlated with HDL-chol. and relative chol. Correlation analyses indicated that WHR seemed to be more closely associated with serum lipid levels(rather than obesity index). 5. Age showed positive correlations with waist girth, WHR, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, LDL/HDL and A.I., but negative correlations with height, body weight and relative cholesterol. 6. There was significant differences in TG concentration between drinker(169.3±130.0mg/dl) and non-drinker(111.4±64.5mg/dl), and smoker(165±103.6mg/dl) and non-smoker (110.8±39.0mg/dl). That is to say that as risk factors for hyperlipidemia are obesity index, serum lipid concentration, life style(such as alcohol drinking and smoking) and age. Specially major risk factors are drinking, smoking and regulated exercise in male and age is an important risk factor in female.