Table 1 Summary of randomized controlled trials investigating the health benefits of kimchi
From: Effects of kimchi on human health: a scoping review of randomized controlled trials
Author/year | Study population, Study duration | Intervention | Control | Outcomes | Conclusion (quotes) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Choi et al. 2001 [27] | Healthy subjects, n = 12 6 weeks | Kimchi supplement (6 pills of 500 mg, 3 g/day, equivalent of 30 g of kimchi, n = 6) | Placebo (rice powder pill, n = 6) | 1. Serum lipid profiles | “Kimchi supplementation seems to have beneficial effects on controlling plasma TG.” |
Choi et al. 2013 [21] | Healthy subjects, n = 100 7 days | High kimchi consumption (210 g/day, n = 50) | Low kimchi consumption (15 g/day, n = 50) | 1. Serum lipid profiles 2. Fasting glucose levels | “Greater consumption of kimchi improved FBG and serum total cholesterol in young healthy adults.” |
Lee et al. 2014 [28] | Healthy subjects, n = 43 4 weeks | Kimchi diet (100 g/day, n = 19) | Non-kimchi diet (100 g radish/day, n = 20) | 1. Anthropometrics 2. Clinical parameters | “The short-term consumption of kimchi has no immunomodulatory effects.” |
Kim & Park 2018 [29] | Healthy subjects, n = 28 4 weeks | Standard kimchi (210 g/day, n = 14) | Functional kimchi (210 g/day, n = 14) | 1. Anthropometrics 2. Serum lipid profiles 3. Fecal pH and enzyme activity 4. Fecal microbiota | “FK more effectively improved markers of obesity and metabolic disease as well as enhanced human colon health than SK.” |
Han et al. 2019 [30] | Healthy subjects in 20’s and 30’s, n = 78 12 weeks | Lactobacillus plantarum (CJLP55) from kimchi (1010 CFU, 2 g/day, n = 39) | Placebo (n = 39) | 1. Skin pH 2. Epidermal levels (epidermal lactate, FFA, FAA) | “Kimchi supplement promotes acidic skin pH with a selective increase in epidermal lactate.” |
Song & Baek 2001 [33] | Healthy subjects, n = 12 6 weeks | Kimchi supplement (3 g/day, n = 6) | Placebo (rice powder pill, n = 6) | 1. Serum lipid profiles | “Kimchi supplement had serum lipids lowering effect.” |
Healthy subjects, n = 19 6 weeks | 1. Water-soluble kimchi supplement (n = 6) 2. Insoluble kimchi supplement (n = 7) | Placebo (n = 6) | 1. Serum lipid profiles | “Water-soluble kimchi supplement was more effective than insoluble kimchi supplement in lowering serum lipids.” | |
Obese adolescent subjects, n = 28 Healthy adolescent subjects, n = 10 6 weeks | 1. Kimchi supplement and exercise (n = 8), 2. Exercise (60 min each time, HRmax 60% ~ 85%, 4 times a week n = 8), 3. Kimchi supplement (twice a day, 3 pills each time, 500 mg/pill, n = 12) | No intervention (n = 10) | 1. Body composition 2. Serum lipid profiles | “Kimchi supplement reduced weight, body fat, body fat percentage, abdominal fat percentage, and degree of obesity, but had no effect on HDL-C. In addition, kimchi supplementation with exercise showed greater effect in changes of body composition and serum lipids.” | |
Han et al. 2015 [31] | Obese female subjects, n = 24 8 weeks | Fermented kimchi (180 g/day, n = 11) | Fresh kimchi (180 g/day, n = 12) | 1. Clinical parameters 2. Composition of gut microbiota 3. Gene expression related to metabolic syndrome | “Consumption of fermented kimchi can either directly influence expression of human genes related to metabolic and immunity pathways or indirectly influence human metabolism by altering gut microbial composition.” |
Lim et al. 2020 [32] | Obese subjects, n = 114 12 weeks | Lactobacillus sakei (CJLS03) derived from kimchi (5 × 109 CFU, n = 47) | Placebo (n = 48) | 1. Body compositions 2. Biochemical parameters | “L. sakei (CJLS03) might help people with obesity reduce body fat mass without serious side effects.” |
Yoon et al. 2020 [34] | Rectal cancer subjects, n = 40 3 weeks | Lactobacillus plantarum (CJLP243) derived from kimchi (1 × 1010 CFU, n = 20) | Placebo (n = 20) | 1. Bowel function index (BFI) total score 2. Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) scores 3. Quality of life 4. Adverse events | “… no significant effects supporting the use of a probiotic for improved bowel function.” |
Oh et al. 2021 [35] | Prediabetic subjects, n = 40 8 weeks | L. plantarum HAC01 (4 × 109 CFU, n = 20) | Placebo (n = 17) | 1. Parameters of glucose metabolism 2. Serum lipid profiles, adiponectin, and leptin 3. Fecal microbiota and SCFAs 4. Adverse events | “…show a beneficial effect of single-strain probiotic supplementation administered over eight weeks on HbA1c levels in prediabetic subjects.” |
Kim et al. 2022 [36] | IBS subjects, n = 90 12 weeks | (a) Dead nano-sized Lactobacillus plantarum nF1 plus standard kimchi (210 g/day, n = 28) (b) Functional kimchi (Viscum album (mistletoe) extract added with Lab. plantarum, (210 g/day, n = 29) | 3 kinds of kimchi (210 g/day, n = 30) | 1. Dietary intake 2. Anthropometric measurements and serum analysis 3. IBS symptoms 4. Fecal enzyme activity 5. Fecal microbiota 6. Inflammatory factors | “Kimchi intake helps alleviate IBS by increasing dietary fiber intake and reducing serum inflammatory cytokine levels and harmful fecal enzyme activities.” |