Nutr Res Pract.  2020 Apr;14(2):102-108. 10.4162/nrp.2020.14.2.102.

Nutrikinetic study of fermented soybean paste (Cheonggukjang) isoflavones according to the Sasang typology

• Kim MJ
• Lee DH
• Ahn J
• Jang YJ
• Ha TY
• Do E
• Jung CH

• KMID: 2471877
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2020.14.2.102

Abstract

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
In Oriental medicine, certain foods may be beneficial or detrimental based on an individual's constitution; however, the scientific basis for this theory is insufficient. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of body constitution, based on the Sasang type of Korean traditional medical classification system, on the bioavailability of soy isoflavones of Cheonggukjang, a quick-fermented soybean paste.
SUBJECTS/METHODS
A pilot study was conducted on 48 healthy Korean men to evaluate the bioavailability of isoflavone after ingestion of food based on constitution types classified by the Sasang typology. The participants were classified into the Taeeumin (TE; n = 15), Soyangin (SY; n = 15), and Soeumin (SE; n = 18) groups. Each participant ingested 50 g of Cheonggukjang per 60 kg body weight. Thereafter, blood was collected, and the soy isoflavone metabolites were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Ntrikinetic analysis of individual isoflavone-derived metabolites was performed.
RESULTS
Our nutrikinetic analysis identified 21 metabolites derived from isoflavones in the blood samples from 48 healthy Korean men (age range, 21-29 years). Significant differences were observed in the time to maximum concentration (T(max)) and elimination half-life (t(1/2)) for nine metabolites among the three groups. The T(max) and t(1/2) of the nine metabolites were higher in the SE group than in the other groups. Moreover, the absorption rates, as determined by the area under the plasma-level curve (AUC) values of intact isoflavone, were 5.3 and 9.4 times higher in the TE group than in the SY and SE groups, respectively. Additionally, the highest AUC values for phase I and II metabolites were observed in the TE group.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that isoflavone bioavailability, following Cheonggukjang insgestion, is high in individuals with the TE constitution, and relatively lower in those with the SE and SY constitutions.

Keyword

Nutrikinetics; cheonggukjang; isoflavones; bioavailability; sasang typology

MeSH Terms

Absorption
Area Under Curve
Biological Availability
Body Constitution
Body Weight
Classification
Constitution and Bylaws
Eating
Half-Life
Humans
Isoflavones*
Male
Mass Spectrometry
Medicine, East Asian Traditional
Pilot Projects
Soybeans*
Isoflavones

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Overview of Tmax (h), t1/2 (h), Cmax, and AUC(0-24 h) for 21 isoflavone metabolites detected in the plasma following ingestion of Cheonggukjang according to sasang typology.Error bars represent the mean ± SEM (* P < 0.05; ** P < 0.01; *** P < 0.001). SE, Soeumin; SY, Soyangin; TE, Taeeumin; AUC(0-24 h): area under the curve of the metabolite peak area versus time; Tmax, time to maximum concentration; t1/2, elimination half-life; Cmax, maximum peak area.

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