Supplementation with Aspergillus oryzae-fermented kochujang lowers serum cholesterol in subjects with hyperlipidemia

• Published in: Clinical nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 383 - 387
• Main Authors: Lim, Ji-Hee, Jung, Eun-Soo, Choi, Eun-Kyung, Jeong, Do-Yeoun, Jo, Seung-Wha, Jin, Jung-Hyun, Lee, Jung-Mi, Park, Byung-Hyun, Chae, Soo-Wan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2015
• Subjects: Adult; Aspergillus oryzae; blood serum; cholesteremic effect; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Clinical trial; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; electrocardiography; Female; Fermentation; Follow-Up Studies; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; high density lipoprotein cholesterol; Humans; Hyperlipidemia; Hyperlipidemias - blood; Kochujang; koji; laboratory experimentation; low density lipoprotein cholesterol; Male; Middle Aged; placebos; risk; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides - blood; Young Adult; Clinical trial; Fermentation; Hyperlipidemia; Kochujang
• ISSN: 0261-5614; 1532-1983; 1532-1983
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2014.05.013

Kochujang, a traditional fermented red pepper paste, is known for its hypocholesterolemic effect; however, these studies used non-commercial preparations of kochujang. In this study, we examined whether commercially-made kochujang in which Aspergillus oryzae (also known as koji) was used as a microorganism for fermentation has the same cholesterol-lowering effects. Hyperlipidemic subjects (based upon criteria of 110 ∼ 190 mg/dL LDL cholesterol or 200 ∼ 260 mg/dL total cholesterol) who had not been diagnosed with any disease and met the inclusion criteria were recruited for this study. The 30 subjects were randomly divided into either the kochujang (n = 15) or placebo (n = 15) group. All subjects ingested either the kochujang pill (34.5 g/d) or a placebo three times daily during meals for 12 weeks. Outcomes included measurements of efficacy (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride) and safety (adverse events, laboratory tests, electrocardiogram, and vital signs). In the kochujang-supplemented group, subjects' total cholesterol level significantly decreased (from 215.5 ± 16.1 mg/dL to 194.5 ± 25.4 mg/dL, p = 0.001). LDL-C cholesterol levels were also decreased by kochujang supplementation (from 133.6 ± 14.8 mg/dL to 113.5 ± 23.1 mg/dL); however no significant difference was seen between groups (p = 0.074). There were no statistically significant differences in HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels between the supplemented and non-supplemented groups. None of the subjects complained of any adverse effects. These results indicate that A. oryzae-fermented kochujang elicits a significant hypocholesterolemic effect and might be useful for improving blood cholesterol levels in subjects at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Clinical trial registration: NCT01865370.