This study examined the nutritional information using the nutrition labels of gimbap sold at convenience stores and evaluated nutritional adequacy compared to dietary reference intakes for Korean adolescents. Thirty gimbaps (triangular gimbaps and regular gimbaps according to the main ingredients of vegetables, fish, and meat) were purchased at five convenience stores of different brands with many stores in Korea. The food and nutrition labels of the gimbaps were investigated, and nine minerals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The average price of gimbap was 1,906.7 won, and average energy was 292.0 kcal, and the protein content was 15.5% of the recommended intake for Korean male adolescents aged 15~18 years. The mineral content ranged from 6.9% for zinc to 39.0% for selenium. Except for sodium and selenium, the energy, protein, and mineral content did not meet 1/3 of dietary reference intakes for adolescents. For the index of nutritional quality (INQ), calcium and zinc were the lowest in the triangular and regular gimbap, respectively. The INQ of potassium was significantly higher in triangular gimbap with vegetables. The content and INQ of selenium were in regular gimbap with fish, and the zinc INQ was in regular gimbap with meat. Overall, gimbap sold in convenience stores has a high sodium content, and the contents of energy, protein, and minerals, except selenium, are insufficient for a single meal.

In this study, the authors surveyed the dietary habits of all elementary school students registered with the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education using an online questionnaire called the Dietary Screening Test (DST). The DST consists of 36 items, and these were divided into 5 factors: life rhythm, meal quality, eating development, eating temperament characteristics, and eating habit characteristics. Data were collected from 153,017 students attending 304 schools in Busan, and the responses of 4,020 were included in the analysis. The study was undertaken to document growth and development and diagnose nutrition and dietary problems to provide basic data for the development of customized nutrition education and counseling programs. Results showed that 13.5% and 14.3% of participants were classified as overweight or required weight management for obesity, respectively; 6.7% were underweight. Additionally, 37.0% and 9.5% of children required parental attention at bedtime and sleeping hours, and 14.2% ate too quickly or too slowly. Furthermore, food group consumptions were unbalanced, 25.0% and 64.4% of participants ate grains and protein less than twice a day, respectively, and 72.3% and 74.5% ate kimchi and vegetables less than twice a day, respectively. In contrast, 28.8% of respondents consumed sweet snacks daily or 5~6 times weekly. These findings highlight the need for a standardized school nutrition counseling manual and individually customized nutrition counseling programs to address the nutrition and dietary problems of elementary school students in Busan.

This was a clinical trial study to aid the recovery of elderly female alcoholic liver disease patients by providing a balanced nutritional supplement comprising soymilk. All patients gave their consent before enrolling. The average demographics of the subjects were age 81.57 years, height 150.43 cm, weight 52.67 kg, and body mass index 24.15 kg/m². An increase in the daily consumption of fruits and fruit juice was observed after the patients had started taking the balanced meal as compared to before. Intakes of vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and cholesterol decreased after consuming soymilk, whereas vitamin B₁₂, niacin, folic acid, and dietary fiber significantly increased (P<0.05). Blood cholesterol and BUN levels showed a decreasing tendency. Our results indicate that consuming soymilk in a balanced diet for female patients afflicted with alcoholic liver disease helps improve their nutritional status by increasing the nutrients lacking in the body.