• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.99-110
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• 2016

Purpose: The current study was conducted in order to identify health and nutritional status of Korean underweight women in their twenties by comparing with normal, overweight, and obese women. Methods: Data from the 2010~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used in this study. Subjects were 897 women aged 20~29 years. Subjects were classified according to underweight, normal weight, overweight, and obese groups based on body mass index. Health status was assessed using data from the health questionnaire and examination. Nutritional status was assessed using data from 24-hour dietary recall and a food frequency questionnaire. Results: The underweight group had higher education and exercised less than the obese group. Means of blood chemistry and blood pressure of the underweight group did not differ from those of the normal weight group. Means of fasting glucose, insulin, lipid profiles, blood cell counts, and blood pressure in the underweight group were different from those of the overweight or obese group. Proportions of delivery, breast feeding, and irregular menstruation in the underweight group were lower compared with the other groups. Except retinol intake, means of nutrient intake did not differ among four groups. There were significant differences among four groups in the intakes of cereals and eggs and frequency of consumption of dairy products. Conclusion: The current findings showed that health and nutritional status of underweight women in their twenties did not differ from those of normal weight women. In particular, health status of underweight women in their twenties was better than that of obese women of the same ages. Further study on health and nutritional status of extremely underweight women is necessary.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.231-242
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of nutrition education based on ubiquitous healthcare (u-health) service on changes in dietary habits, nutrition intake, and risk factors for metabolic syndrome in male workers. In total, 72 male office workers with at least three risk factors of the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III were recruited as subjects. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical analyses were conducted on all subjects. Dietary habits and nutrient intake were determined by a questionnaire using the 24-hour dietary recall method before and after nutrition education. Subjects measured their body composition, blood pressure, and physical activity more than once per week during the 12 weeks using the u-health care equipment and sent these data to a central database system using a personal computer. Individual nutrition counseling was provided four times on the first, fourth, eight, and twelfth weeks. The results showed significant decreases in abdominal circumference, body fat (%), diastolic blood pressure, serum triglycerides, and serum total cholesterol during the 12 weeks. Subjects with more than 12 measurements showed significant reductions in abdominal circumference, body fat (%), serum triglyceride, and serum total cholesterol. Mean intake of dietary fiber, animal calcium, potassium, vitamin C, and folic acid after nutrition education were higher than those before nutrition education. Participants showed significant increases in the frequencies of consuming protein foods (meat, fish, eggs, beans, tofu, etc.) and vegetables. In conclusion, nutrition education through the u-health service resulted in positive effects on the risk factors for metabolic syndrome, nutrient intake, and dietary habits.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.258-268
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship of ready-to-eat cereal (RTEC) consumption with nutrition and health status. Examination of health status for this project included obesity, abdominal obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, low-HDL-cholesterolemia, diabetes, anemia, and metabolic syndrome. Methods: Two groups, RTEC consumers and those who did not consume RTEC, were identified using 24-hour dietary recall data from the 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Nutritional intakes and risk factors of the two groups were compared using covariates-adjusted statistical procedures. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS survey procedures, and strata, cluster, and weight were considered. Subjects of analysis of nutritional intake were between the ages of 1 and 75, and those considered in the risk factor analysis were between the ages of 19 and 75. Results: Results showed that 3.8% of the Korean population was RTEC consumers. Compared to the subjects who did not intake RTEC, RTEC consumers exhibited significantly higher intakes of calcium, thiamin, riboflavin, and vitamin C. It was also discovered that the percentage of people whose intakes were less than EAR decreased with RTEC consumption. RTEC consumption showed significant association with decreased systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum triglyceride, and serum total cholesterol. Consequently, prevalence of hypertension among RTEC consumers was significantly lower than that among non-consumers, and the odds ratio for hypertension was 0.19 after adjusting the models for covariates. Conclusion: Results of this study clearly suggest an association of RTEC consumption with improved nutritional status and cardiometabolic risk profile in Korean adults. Conduct of additional studies will be necessary in order to determine the nature of these relationships.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.565-577
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• 2017

Purpose: There have been limited studies investigating the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), metabolic diseases, and dietary factors in Korean adults. Here, we examined the association between nutrient intake and serum hsCRP among Korean adults. Methods: Using data on 2,624 healthy Korean adults (1,537 women and 1,087 men) from the 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, demographic, anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary factors were analyzed once the subjects were grouped into either sex, age, or BMI. Nutrient intake was evaluated using the dietary data obtained by one-day 24-hour recall. Based on the guidelines of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association, hsCRP level was classified as HCRPG (High CRP Group, hsCRP > 1 mg/L) and LCRPG (Low CRP Group, hsCRP ${\leq}1mg/L$). Proc surveyreg procedure was performed to examine the associations between nutrient intake and hsCRP after adjustment for potential confounding variables. Results: The average hsCRP level of healthy Korean adults was $0.95{\pm}0.03mg/L$ ($0.97{\pm}0.04mg/L$ in men, $0.92{\pm}0.05mg/L$ in women). Obese subjects had significantly higher hsCRP than non-obese subjects in both sexes. The hsCRP level was positively associated with current smoking, physical inactivity, BMI, waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and blood pressure and inversely associated with HDL-cholesterol. LCRPG had significantly higher intake of dietary fiber compared to HCRPG in women. High hsCRP level was associated with more dietary cholesterol intake but less omega-3 fatty acid intake among subjects aged ${\geq}50y$. HCRPG of obese subjects had higher intakes of fat and saturated fatty acid than LCRPG. Conclusion: The hsCRP level is closely associated with several lifestyle variables and nutrient intake in healthy Korean adults. Individuals with high hsCRP level show low intakes of dietary fiber and omega-3 fatty acids but high intakes of dietary fat and cholesterol. Our findings suggest that a potential anti-inflammatory role for nutrients and lifestyle in the Korean adult population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.603-614
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was performed to identify the health and nutritional status of Korean adults according to food security by age group. Methods: The subjects were 20~79 year old adults (n = 16,595) who participated in the fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010~2012). Subjects were divided into three groups based on food security such as secure, mildly insecure, and moderately/severely insecure groups. Dietary intake was estimated by 24-hour dietary recall. As for mental health status, the data on mental stress, sleep hours, depression symptoms, and suicide ideation were used. Results: Korean adults who were exposed to high food insecurity typically had low income levels, lived alone, and were recipients of basic welfare. In the 20~39y group, people with higher food insecurity had lower concentrations of hemoglobin and higher iron-binding capacity. In the 40~59y group, people with higher food insecurity had lower HDL-cholesterol. In the 60~79y group, people with higher food insecurity had higher total cholesterol levels, more stress, more experiences of depression symptoms, and were more suicidal. Mean intakes of energy, protein, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin A, carotene, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, and vitamin C were lower in the food insecure groups. Amounts of vegetables, fruits, and seasoning intakes tended to be lower in people with higher food insecurity. The effects of food security on nutrition intake were greater in the 40~59y and 60~79y groups than the 20-39y group. Conclusion: Food insecurity was related to certain health indicators such as anemia and cholesterol levels and affected mental health. The effects of food insecurity on health and nutritional status were different by age group.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was aimed to assess selenium and zinc status in female collegiate athletes and their relationship with dietary intake. Methods: Female collegiate athletic groups of judo and aerobics, and healthy sedentary collegiate females were recruited for this study and their serum selenium and zinc contents were measured by the neutron activation analysis (NAA) method. In addition, the dietary intake of subjects was measured using the two days 24-hour recall method. Results: Serum selenium in judo athletes was $10.7{\mu}g/dl$, which was significantly lower than that of aerobic athletes ($12.2{\mu}g/dl$), but not different from that of the sedentary group ($11.4{\mu}g/dl$). Additionally, serum zinc levels were $96.1{\mu}g/dl$ and $90.2{\mu}g/dl$ in aerobic and judo athletes, respectively, which did not differ significantly. Moreover, dietary selenium and zinc intake of the athletic groups did not differ significantly from that of the sedentary female group. Overall, 33.3% of the serum selenium concentration variation was explained by the intake of vitamin E, selenium and saturated fatty acids, while 14.7% of the serum zinc level variation was explained by the intake of saturated fatty acids. The strongest dietary indicator for serum selenium and zinc levels was saturated fatty acids intake. Conclusion: Judo athletes appear to have lower selenium status than aerobic athletes, suggesting different body selenium status according to sport type. To maintain body selenium and zinc levels, the dietary intake of saturated fatty acids should be decreased.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.691-701
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• 2009

This study was conducted to evaluate the dietary quality of school-aged children from low-income families in comparison with those from higher income families. The socio-demographic and anthropometric data and one day 24-hour recall dietary intake data of 1,782 school-aged children were used for analysis from the data of 2001 National Health and Nutrition Survey. The children whose family had monthly household income 120% or lower than the 2001 Minimum Cost of Living were classified into Low Income Group (LIG), and the others were classified into Higher Income Group (HIG). The consumption levels of the food groups of the Korean Food Guide as well as the general nutritional status based on their weight and height, energy and nutrient intake were compared between LIG and HIG in elementary (n = 989), middle (n = 432), and high (n = 361) school-aged children, respectively. LIG tended to have lower weight, height, and BMI than HIG, but the difference was significant only in the weight and the BMI of the middle school-aged children. The energy intake of LIG didn't differ from that of HIG, but LIG consumed a higher percentage of energy from carbohydrate and a lower percentage of energy from fat than HIG. Some micronutrient intake was lower in LIG than HIG in case of the elementary and the middle school-aged children. The average numbers of servings of milk dairy products and fruits consumed by LIG were significantly lower than those consumed by HIG in the elementary and the middle school-aged children, and they were less than the respective recommended serving. The average number of servings of meat fish egg beans consumed by LIG was lower than that consumed by HIG in the middle and the high school-aged children, and it was also less than the recommended serving. The results suggested that the diet of children from low-income families should be intervened by strategies different from the other children in order to improve the consumption level of milk dairy products, fruits, and meat fish egg beans.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.258-267
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• 2014

Purpose: The current study was designed to investigate the relationship of dietary calcium and riboflavin and their main dietary source (milk and dairy products) with the risk of periodontitis using data from 2007 to 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Methods: A total of 1,690 adults aged ${\geq}40$ years were included. We used results of dental examination regarding all sextant information on probing depth of at least two index teeth, nutritional assessment by a single 24-hour dietary recall, and demographic and medical information. The periodontitis group was defined as those who had 3-4 points, and the normal group was defined as those who had 0 points of Community Periodontal Index at all locations of six examination sites using a probe. Results: Using multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for age, body mass index, energy intake, income, smoking, and alcohol drinking, we found an inverse relationship between consumption of dairy products and risk for periodontitis (OR: 0.465, 95% CI: 0.224-0.964) and between dietary riboflavin intake more than the estimated average requirements and risk for periodontitis (OR: 0.535, 95% CI: 0.300-0.954) in males. Conclusion: Adequate intake of milk dairy products and riboflavin may be recommended for prevention of periodontitis in the Korean male population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.51-66
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• 2014

Purpose: The objective of this study was to investigate the differences of sodium intake in the diet according to the kind of meal, food group, and dish group. Methods: A dietary survey was conducted using the 24-hour recall method from April to May, 2009. The study subjects consisted of 701 elementary and 1,184 middle school students in the Jeju area. Mean sodium intake and the percentage contribution of meals and each dish and food group to daily sodium intake were calculated. Results: The daily sodium intake was 2,868.4 mg and 3,032.5 mg in elementary and middle school students. For elementary school students, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack provided approximately 18.0%, 35.1%, 32.8%, and 14.1% of total daily sodium intake, and for middle school students, 15.3%, 40.2%, 29.1%, and 15.5%, respectively. Major food groups for sodium intake were spices (1,252.5 mg in elementary, 1158.0 mg in middle school students), vegetables and their products (409.0 mg, 495.6 mg), cereal and grain products (322.4 mg, 647.8 mg), and fish and shellfish (255.3 mg, 336.6 mg). Except cereal and grain products, sodium intake of the food groups mentioned above was greater at lunch and dinner than at breakfast and snack. And, the elementary and middle school students obtained 5.9% and 9.8% of total daily sodium intake from cereal and grain products at snack. Among the 29 dish groups, the highest dish groups contributing to dietary sodium intake were soup and stew and tang/jeongol, consuming 19.8% (elementary school students) and 25.4% (middle school students) of daily sodium intake. The following major dish groups contributing to dietary sodium intake, in order, were kimchi, seasoned vegetables, grilled dish, stir-fried dish, and $\grave{a}$ la carte. By meals, the percentage of sodium intake from soup, kimchi, stew, fried dish, and stir-fried dish at school lunch was high, from noodles, grilled dish, and $\grave{a}$ la carte at dinner, and from bakery/snacks and noodles at snack. Conclusion: Sodium intake from the various side dishes at school lunch was high and noodles and bakery/snacks were popular snack foods in elementary and middle school students in Jeju area. In order to lower the intake of sodium, students need to be educated about eating less soup and choosing better snacks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.351-361
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• 2012

This study was carried out to compare the differences in dietary habits, food consumption patterns, nutrient intakes, and serum lipid levels according to kimchi consumption in college students. The anthropometric and biochemical parameters of blood samples from the subjects were investigated, as well as a kimchi frequency questionnaire, 24-hour food recall and dietary habits. The subjects were divided into two groups according to their kimchi consumption level based on the quantitative kimchi frequency questionnaire-kimchi consumption under 50 g group and kimchi consumption over 50 g group. As kimchi consumption increased, consumption of white rice (p<0.05) and noodles increased, whereas the consumption of confections decreased. The kimchi consumption over 50 g group was more likely to eat balance meals (p<0.05), and consume fruits and vegetables (p<0.05) than the other group. On the other hand, the kimchi consumption under 50 g group was more likely to consume milk than the kimchi consumption over 50 g group. The energy and sodium (p<0.05) intakes in the kimchi consumption over 50 g group were higher compared to the kimchi consumption under 50 g group. Kimchi consumption was positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol and negatively correlated with body fat, BMI, and blood glucose level. In addition, kimchi consumption was positively correlated with cereals, meats, and vegetables intakes, and negatively correlated with milk and dairy product intakes. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups.