• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.630-638
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• 2007

This study was performed to examine the combined effects of L-carnitine and isoflavone supplementation on weight reduction and body fat distribution in overweight women. Overweight/obese women (body mass index > $23kg/m^2$) who were not diagnosed any type of diseases were included in this study and sixty subjects ($41.1{\pm}1.5$ years, $25.9{\pm}0.3kg/m^2)$ were randomly assigned to a placebo (n=30) or a supplement group (n=30, L-carnitine 300 mg+isoflavone 40 mg/day). We measured anthropometric parameters, abdominal fat distribution by computerizd tomography and blood components before and after the 12 week intervention period. After the 12 weeks of supplementation, subjects in L-carnitine and isoflavone supplement group showed a significant reduction of body weight (p < 0.001), body fat % (p < 0.05), and waist to hip ratio (p < 0.01) whereas placebo group did not show any changes. In a CT-scanned results, total fat area at L4 level was significantly reduced by 8.1% (p < 0.01) with the reduction of visceral fat area (-11.1%, p < 0.001) and subcutaneous fat area (-7.0%, p < 0.05) in the supplement group. The supplementation of L-carnitine and isoflavone showed the significant improvement of HDL-C (p < 0.01) and apoB (p < 0.05) concentrations, however, change values in those markers were not significant compared with those of the placebo group. In addition, a significant increase of adiponectin level (p<0.001) was observed in the supplement group after the intervention. The result of present study demonstrated that supplementation of 300 mg L-carnitine and 40 mg isoflavone per day fur 12 weeks can give beneficial effects on weight reduction and visceral fat accumulation. These potential antiobesity supplement can produce more favorable effects when combined with lifestyle modification.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.176-187
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• 2001

This research was conducted to evaluate the general dietary quality(the balance and diversity of food intake, nutrient intake and adequacy) of 12 to 36-month-old toddler, through examining their actual food intake. It was conducted for 664(male-357, female-307) healthy toddler who were outpatients from Mar. to Aug., 1999 at university hospitals and private hospitals in Seoul and kyunggi province. The anthropometric parameters were measured. The 24-hr recall method were utilized to analyze the nutrient intake by months, based on the classification of The Korea Child Gorwth Standard. As for the subjects of this research, we found that the younger the age, the more frequent the pattern of intake of only 3 kinds of food groups. The results are that 1) the group with 1 point of the DDS(Dietary Diversity Score) mostly took only foods from the milk group, 2) the group with 2 points only took foods from the grain and milk group, 3) the group with 3 points did not take foods from the fruit and vegetable group, and 4) the group with 4 points took just about all kinds of food groups except for the vegetable group. This means that most of them were not taking various kinds of food even after the age of 12 months, and that they took more than twice the recommended amount of foods from the milk group until the age of 20 months. Thus, one could find a tendency of dependance on the milk group for food intake. Food intake for the vegetable group was severely under the recommended allowance, regardless of the age. The intake of iron was less than two thirds of the recommended allowance, except for the group of 12 to 14-month-olds who had been fed with infant formula. The Nutrient Adequacy Ratio(NAR) of major nutrients(protein, calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B$_1$, vitamin B$_2$, niacin, vitamin C) and the Mean Adequacy Ratio(MAR, shows the general quality of dietary intake) was 0.86$\pm$0.12, but the NAR of iron was 0.62$\pm$0.27, which was extremely low compared to those of other nutrients. Therefore, concerning the subjects of this research, the MAR value alone does not provide enough ground to conclude that the subjects dietary quality is satisfactory. (Korean J Nutrition 34(2) : 176-187, 2001)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.124-134
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• 1990

To investigate nutritional and growth status of premature infants, survey was conducted against 19 premature infants admitted to Nursery of Pediatrics, Young nam University Hospital from Jan. 1984 to July 1988. Variations in feeding patterns as analyzed through the five feeding phases of dextrose, dextrose/hyperal, dextrose/formula, dextrose/hyperal/formula and formula. During 30days from birth, dietary intake, feeding phase, selective anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters and demograpic information of premature infants were as follows: Distributions of birth weight by gestational age and apgar score showed preamture infants below 1499g were 31 weeks, 4/7(1min/5min) and premature infants from 1500g to 1999g were 33 weeks, 8/9(1min/5min) and premature infants from 2000g to 2500g were 33 weeks, 8/9(1min/5min). Average calorie intakes of premature infants below 1499g, premature infants from 1500g to 1999g and premature infants from 2000g to 2500g were 102.0㎉/kg/day, 119.3㎉/kg/day and 101.7㎉/kg/day. The mean values Na, K, Ca, P for all premature infants remained within the normal level for full term infants throughtout the 25days of this study period. Percentages of inital weight loss showned premature infants below 1499g were 5.4%, premature infants from 1500g to 1999g were 6.4%, premature infants from 2000g to 2500g were 11.4%. Percentages of inital weight loss of the amino acid injection group and the amino acid control group were 9.4% and 9.0%.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.617-623
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• 2006

The mortality and morbidity rate of hemodialysis patients (HD) remain high. Among many factors, protein and calorie malnutrition has been shown to be a major risk factor for increased mortality in the HD patients population. Malnutrition can be caused by insufficient amino acid intake, nutrient losses in dialysate, oxidant stress and muscle catabolism. In this study, we evaluated the association of markers of nutritional status and essential amino acids intake in HD patients. We investigated nutritional status of 41 HD patients (mean age: $64.2\;{\pm}\;11.5\;y$, men: 24, women: 27) by measuring anthropometric, biochemical parameters and food intakes by using 24 hr recall methods. Subject's total energy intake and total protein intake were $1,648.0\;{\pm}\;397.31\;kcal/day,\;79.2\;{\pm}\;27.2\;g/day$:, respectively. The animal protein intake was $42.7\;{\pm}\;22.1\;g/day$, essential amino acids intake was $23.4\;{\pm}\;9.92\;g/day$, and the ratio of essential amino acids to total protein intake was $29.6\;{\pm}\;5.42%$. There were significantly positive correlation between muscle mass and lean body mass with serum creatinine level (r=0.435, p<0.01; r=0.435, p<0,01). There were also significant positive correlation in muscle mass and lean body mass with pre hemodialysis blood urea nitrogen (preHD BUN) (r=0.329, p<0.05; r=0.329, p<0.05). There were no significant correlation in total energy intake and total protein intake per kg ideal body weight (IBW) to muscle mass and lean body mass. However, there were significantly positive correlation between the ratio of essential amino acids and muscle mass and lean body mass (r=0.368, p<0.05; r=0.405, p<0.01). And serum hematocrit concentration was positively correlated with the ratio of essential amino acids (r=0.032, p<0.05). The results of this study indicate that strong associations exist in essential amino acid intakes with malnutrition than total protein intakes in HD patient. In conclusion, specialized nutrition education should be necessary to efficiently improve the quality of protein intakes.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.230-241
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Inadequate nutrition in infants and young children affects physical growth and neurocognitive development. Therefore, early nutritional intervention is important to promote catch-up growth in young children with faltering growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutritional supplementation with a pediatric concentrated and balanced nutritional supplement formula on promoting growth and improving nutritional status in children with nonorganic faltering growth. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Children aged 12-36 months whose body weight-for-age was < 5^th percentile on the Korean Growth Charts were enrolled. Children born premature or having organic diseases were excluded. Children were instructed to consume 400 mL of formula per day in addition to their regular diet for 6 months. Pediatricians and dietitians educated the parents and examined the subjects every 2 months. Anthropometric parameters were measured at baseline and at 2, 4, and 6 months, and laboratory tests were done at baseline and 6 months. The good consumption group included children who consumed ≥ 60% of the recommended dose of formula. RESULTS: Total 82 children completed the 6-month intervention. At baseline, there were no significant differences in all variables between the good consumption and poor consumption groups. Weight and weight z-scores were significantly improved in the good consumption group compared to the poor consumption group at the end of the intervention (P = 0.009, respectively). The good consumption group showed a significant trend for gaining weight (P < 0.05) and weight z-score (P < 0.05) compared to the poor consumption group during 6 months of formula intake. The concentration of blood urea nitrogen was significantly increased in the good consumption group (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional supplementation with a concentrated and balanced pediatric nutritional formula along with dietary education might be an effective approach to promote catch-up growth in children with nonorganic faltering growth.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.372-380
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between inflammatory cytokines and chronic disease status in Korean elderly. The subjects were 248 elderly people aged over 65 years recruited from Health Center in Seoul. The subjects were classified into 3 groups based on their disease (diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia) status: subjects with one diagnosed disease of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia fall into singular group (n=89), subjects with more than 2 disease into multiple group (n=39), and those with free of the diseases into normal (n=122). Anthropometric and biochemical characteristics, and dietary intakes were assessed. Dietary intakes were surveyed by 24-recall method. The means of IL-2, IL-6, MCP-1 and C3 were not differ among 3 groups. However, when subjects classified into tertiles of IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-$\alpha$ and C3 and frequencies of each fertile were compared, the multiple group showed significantly lower frequencies in lowest fertile than normal group (p<0.05), suggesting higher tendency of inflammatory responses. For hematological values, blood pressure, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose levels were highest in multiple group (p<0.05) compared to other 2 groups. BMI, body fat(kg), and triceps skinfold thickness were also significantly higher in multiple group than in 2 other groups(p<0.05). Moreover, the concentrations of IL-2, IL-6 and C3 were significantly correlated with hematologic values of fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides or obesity factors such as triceps skinfold thickness, BMI, and body fat(%). Among singular and multiple group, the subjects with higher intakes for vitamins A, C, and E showed the higher level of IL-2 and the lower level of MCP-1, and C3. In conclusion, blood concentrations of triglycerides and proinflammatory cytokines, blood pressure, obesity parameters (BMI, body fat, triceps skinfold thickness) were higher in multiple group than in normal, but this result strongly suggest that the increasement of the vitamin A, C, and E intakes would modify the cytokine levels to reduce the inflammatory response in the elderly people with chronic diseases.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.520-526
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• 2012

Various forms of fermented soybean products are well documented for their health benefits. The efficacy of anti-obesogenic effect of Doenjang, one of the most commonly used seasonings in Korean cuisine, has been reported only in animal models; thus, an evaluation of Doenjang needs to be conducted in human studies. We aimed to test the hypothesis that Doenjang supplementation reduces body weight and changes body composition in overweight adults. A total of 51 overweight adults participated in this study. A group of males with BMI ${\geq}23kg/m^2$ and waist to hip ratio (WHR) ${\geq}$ 0.90, and a group of females with BMI ${\geq}23kg/m^2$ and WHR ${\geq}$ 0.85 were randomly assigned to either a Doenjang supplement (9.9 g dry/day) group or a placebo group for a 12-week randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study. Anthropometric parameters, abdominal fat distribution by computerized tomography (CT) and blood components were measured before and after the intervention period. After the 12-week study, the Doenjang supplementation group had significant reductions in body weight (kg), body fat mass (kg) and body fat (%) compared to the placebo group, the supplementation of Doenjang resulted in a significant reduction in visceral fat ($cm^2$), although no changes were observed in total and subcutaneous fat are as ($cm^2$), serum lipid profiles and dietary intakes. The present study demonstrated that daily supplementation of 9.9 g dry/day of Doenjang for 12 weeks reduces body weight and visceral fat in overweight adults.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.30-43
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• 2012

Patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis are at risk for protein-energy malnutrition because of nutrient losses during dialysis. This study determined the nutritional status of patients undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Forty-four patients receiving CAPD were divided into two groups according to dialysis period. We investigated the nutritional status of the patients by measuring anthropometric and biochemical parameters, as well as food intake, self-appetite, dietary habits, a subjective global assessment, and a total nutritional status assessment. Group I subjects (7 males, 13 females) had received dialysis for < 2 years, whereas the group II subjects (18 males, 6 females) received dialysis for ${\geq}$ 2 years. Energy intake with added dextrose in the dialysate per kg of body weight was $30.3{\pm}5.8$ kcal in group I and $29.0{\pm}8.1$ kcal in group II. The average protein intake per kg of weight was $1.0{\pm}0.3$ g in group I and $1.0{\pm}0.4$ g in group II, which were less than the recommended protein intake for patients undergoing CAPD (1.2-1.5 g/kg). Mean serum albumin level was significantly lower in group II than that in group I (p < 0.05). A recent self-appetite score was significantly higher in group II than that in group I (p < 0.01). The dietary habits score was significantly lower in group II than that in group I (p < 0.05). The subjective global assessment was significantly higher in group I (85.0%) than that in group II (54.2%) under normal nutrition status (p < 0.05). The dialysis period was significantly and negatively correlated with the subjective global assessment (r = -0.502, p < 0.01) and the total nutritional status assessment (r = -0.575, p < 0.01). These results demonstrated that patients undergoing CAPD for ${\geq}$ 2 years had worse nutritional status than those who had been undergoing dialysis for < 2 years. Good nutritional status can predict the long-term survival of patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Additionally, the exact evaluation of nutritional status before 2 years will be important to maintain long-term dialysis therapy in patients undergoing CAPD.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.357-366
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• 2009

The principal objective of this study was to evaluate the association between plasma antioxidant levels and metabolic syndrome in male workers, and to provide basic information regarding the control and prevention of metabolic syndrome. We analyzed 163 male workers who had participated in annual medical examinations from January to December 2007. The subjects were classified into normal and metabolic syndrome groups according to the NCEP-ATP III criteria and the Asia-Pacific criteria for waist circumference. Anthropometric parameters, lifestyles, blood lipid profiles, and antioxidant levels were evaluated. As compared to the normal group, the metabolic syndrome group evidenced significantly higher plasma levels of $\alpha$- tocopherol(p<0.05) and retinol(p<0.05), but significantly lower plasma levels of lycopene(p<0.05) and $\beta$-carotene(p<0.05). This tendency was found to be predominantly attributable to increases in the number of metabolic syndrome components. In our simple regression analysis, higher plasma levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol($\beta$=0.001, p<0.01) and retinol($\beta$=0.021, p<0.001) were associated with significantly higher risks of metabolic syndrome, but lycopene($\beta$=-1.499, p<0.01) and $\beta$-carotene($\beta$=-0.048, p<0.01) were associated with significantly lower risks of metabolic syndrome. Retinol($\beta$=0.013, p<0.05) and $\beta$-carotene($beta$=-0.044, p<0.01) were associated significantly with metabolic syndrome, when adjusted for age and BMI. These data indicate that the plasma levels of $\alpha$-tocopherol, retinol, lycopene, and $\beta$-carotene are associated with metabolic syndrome. Specifically, low lycopene and $\beta$-carotene levels in the plasma appear to increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, proper nutritional education programs for male workers are required to increase dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins. Further studies will be necessary to determine whether antioxidant levels can be utilized as a predictive or a preventive factor.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.112-123
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• 2013

HbA1c was recently adopted as a reliable indicator for screening diabetes. This study investigated the ability of nutrition consultation to prevent diabetes in overweight women (BMI 23 $kg/m^2$ or more) using HbA1c as an indicator. Twenty overweight and obese women (with $HbA1c{\geq}5.7$%) completed the 12-week nutritional study, with individual and personalized nutrition counseling performed every 2 weeks. The main study guidelines involved the following: 1) reducing the intake of high fat foods and alcohol, 2) consuming a large amount of vegetables, 3) reducing the intake of simple sugars and empty-calorie foods, and 4) increasing physical activity to ${\geq}30$ min/day. Anthropometric (height, weight, BMI, body muscle (kg), body fat (%), waist and hip circumference, blood pressure) and biochemical parameters (fasting blood sugar (FBS), HbA1c, lipid profiles, hs-CRP) were measured before and after the nutrition consultation. After 12 weeks, the HbA1c<5.7% group had significant decreases in BMI, WC, HC, WHR, HbA1c, hs-CRP and also dietary intake of energy (P<0.01), carbohydrates, lipids (P<0.01), proteins (P<0.01) and cholesterol was significantly decreased (P<0.05). In the HbA1c ${\geq}5.7$% group, HbA1c, TC, LDL, NON-HDL, hs-CRP and dietary intake of energy, carbohydrate, lipid, protein, and cholesterol significantly decreased (P<0.05). These results suggest that nutrition consultation effectively helps to prevent diabetes in overweight and obese women after applying HbA1c standards. Overall, the improvement in all markers measured suggest that HbA1c is a good indicator for blood glucose regulation, helping to prevent diabetes.