• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.207-218
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• 1999

The increased number of elderly in Korea presents great challenges for community nutrition programs. Strategies to enhance elderly nutrition are needed, as well as dietary advice that are reality-based and tailored to the need of the elderly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the overall effectiveness of an elderly nutrition improvement program(ENIP), by assessing changes in nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and behavior after program completion. ENIP was conducted in Suwon for 4 months in 1998 at 5 centers for the elderly. The program provided individual nutrition counseling and brief biweekly group education sessions. To stimulate participation and motivation, the elderly in two centers were served free milk packs(200ml) three time a week during the program(milk＋education group), and the elderly in 3 other centers were served yoghurt on the program day(education group). Altogether, 102 subjects finished the program(milk＋education group 67 ; education group 35). Data about nutrition knowledge, dietary attitudes, diet records(24 hour recall) and dietary habit was collected before(baseline) and after the program(follow-up). The Drop-out rate for the milk＋education group(2.9%) was significantly lower than that for the education group(30.0%)(p<.001). The Nutrition Knowledge fo females milk＋education group increased significantly after the program, but no significant differences were observed in other groups. Over 60% of all the elderly showed positive responses to the healthy eating attitudes. Energy, protein, vitamin A, riboflavin, Calcium and Potassium intakes improved in the male milk＋education group. The Vitamin C intake improved in the male education group. Energy and vitamin A intakes improved in the female milk＋education group and energy, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, Ca nad P in the female education group. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the effects of food intake changes on overall nutrient quality. For all elderly, the fish intake explained 12.6% of the variance, followed by candy intake and vegetable intake(model $R^2$=19.6%). Dietary habits such as meal time regularity and salty food reduction were markedly improved in both groups. Sixty-one percent of the milk＋education subjects stated their participation was voluntary and active, while 51% of education subjects did. Sixty four percent of the subjects stated their interest on diet increased remarkably through program participation. Considering the results, it is conjectured that ENIP had a great impact on nutrient intake, dietary attitudes and habits. Milk supplement showed no direct effects on elderly nutrition improvement, but it encouraged the program by reducing drop-out rates and inducing voluntary participation. Therefore milk supplement could enhance the community nutrition education program. Moreover it is strongly suggested that the ENIP be expanded to other communities.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.197-210
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• 1997

Low energy intakes, poor nutritional quality, and low food diversity are among the factors affecting the nutritional status of elderly in Korea. Therefore, a nutrition counseling and education program was conducted to promote dietary change and to improve nutritional status of elderly. The 7 step program consisted of a individual nutrition counseling and weekly or biweekly group nutrition education programs. Pre- and post-test measurings of dietary behaviors, attitudes, nutrition knowledge, and 24-hour dietary recall data were collected. Positive changes in the attitude related to diet were noted, whereas nutritional knowledge scores were not improved. Significant increases were noted in the frequency of vegetable consumption in female and diversity of food consumption in male. The densities of vitamin C(male & female), $B_1$, $B_2$, and niacin, calculated using the INQ(Index of Nutritional Quality), were significantly improved by nutrition counseling and education programs. These results suggest the appropriateness of nutrition intervention programs for the improvement of elderly nutrition.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.182-196
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• 1997

Physiological changes that affect nutrient absorption and utilization occur in older adults, and the collection of nutritional information is an important part of examining the nutrition and health issue. A nutritional survey using the 24-hour recall method was performed to identify nutritional quality and leading patterns of food group intake for protein, vitamin C, P and Fe were over 1, whereas those for vitamin A, $B_1$, $B_2$, niacin and Ca were below 1. The MAR(Mean Adequacy Ratio) was relatively low(0.75). The percentage of energy from carbohydrate, protein, and fat was 65.1, 15.6, and 19.5, respectively, thus the quantities of energy source were ideal. The Older subjects revealed poorer nutrition quality than the younger subjects did. The food group intake pattern of the elderly was not diverse, only 9% of them consumed all food groups in a day. These results suggest that nutritional guidelines for older Koreans should focus on the maintenance of adequate energy intake. In addition, selection of foods with high protein and calcium, such as dairy food, should be emphasized, particularly in the older elderly. Nutrition programs should target individuals at risk of not receiving enough nutrients, like the oldest elderly, and persons with lower education.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.46-56
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• 1999

A deep understanding of the dietary patterns and nutrient intake is important for assessment of possilbe nutritional risk and for establishing nutrition improvement strategies. This study was conducted toexamine the dietary characteristics of a nutritionally poor elderly group compared to the middle-and highly-nourished group. Elderly participant was recruited from local elderly centers in Suwon city in 1998. Trained dietitians interviewed 119 elderly(35 males, 84 females) aged 60 years and over for collecting dietary data(24-hour recall) and related variables. Male and female subjects were grouped into high, middle, and low according to the mean nutrient adequancy ratio(MAR) tertiles. An analysisof the percentage of RDA(Recommended Daily Allowances of Korea) for each of the 10 nutrients showed that the male low-MAR group consumed below the RDA in all kinds of nutrients, and the female low-MAR group consumed nutrients below the RDA except vitamin C. An evaluation of nutrient density by Index of Nutritonal Quality(INQ) also showed a similar tendency. Thus, the INQ level of the male low-MAR group was significantly lower than the middle-or high-MAR group, especially in protein, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, and phosphorus(p<0.05). Moreover, INQ level of female low-MAR group was significantly lower than that of the high group(p<0.05) in all nutrients. The female low-MAR group's daily food intake were also lower than those of the high-MARgroup in gains, fish, fruits, oil and beverages. The energy distribution from carbohydrates, fats and proteins showed that the male low-MAR group had significantly higher carbohydrate and lower fat proportions compared to each gender high-MAR group, respectively. The male and female low-MAR group had low scores about eating all side dishes. These findings indicate that a moderate increase of the meat/egg/fishes intake was needed by the male low-MAR group for improving nutrition adequacy, and an overall increase of the food quantity and quality was desired for the female low-MAR group. These data could be used for planning a community elderly nutrition program and establishing strategies for tailored guidelines for the individuals.