• Title/Summary/Keyword: Fish consumption

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Evaluation of Dietary Intake of Korean School-aged Children from Low-income Families by Comparing with the Korean Food Guide: Analysis of the Data from the 2001 National Health and Nutrition Survey (식사구성안을 이용한 저소득층 학령기 어린이의 식생활 평가: 2001년 국민건강.영양조사 자료 분석)

  • Shim, Jae-Eun;Yoon, Ji-Hyun;Lee, Ki-Won;Kwon, Soo-Youn
    • 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.

The Influence of Food Habits on Body Stature of Children (어린이의 식습관(食習慣)이 체위(體位)에 미치는 영향(影響)에 관한 연구(硏究))

  • Lee, Mi-Suk;Mo, Su-Mi
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.9 no.1
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    • pp.7-15
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    • 1976
  • The Purpose of this study was to determine every possible correlation between food habits and body statures of primary school children, aged ten years old. This study was conducted from July to October of 1975. In July, prepared questionaires concerning life style, anthropometry, food preference, and food behavior were distributed through school teachers to 425 children; 219 boys and 206 girls, in the 5th grade of three elementary schools in the city of Seoul. Then, in October, when subjects had been classified into underweight/obese by statistical analysis, mothers of obese or underweight children were interviewed by the authors to determine weaning history, daily food consumption of their children, and opinions of various snacks for children. Analysis of results in terms of correlation coefficient, chisquare test and percentage calculations, are as follows: 1. Physical growth and development Boys Girls Height (cm) $134.8{\pm}5.74\;134.4{\pm}5.97$ Weight (kg) $30.0{\pm}4.27\;29.5{\pm}5.16$ Chestgirth (cm) $64.1{\pm}3.59\;63.3{\pm}3.81$ Arm circumference (cm) $18.3{\pm}1.61\;18.2{\pm}1.70$ Triceps skinfold thickness (mm) $10.9{\pm}5.13\;12.7{\pm}4.86$ Various indices of nutrition such as relative weight, relative chestgirth, $R{\ddot{o}}hrer's$ index, Kaup index, Vervaeck index were determined. 2. Food habits 1) Food $preference{\cdots}{\cdots}A$ varying number of foods were selected from 60 items were accepted. It was found that the food which children liked best was fruit and snacks were popular one. Lowest ranking among LIKED foods were from strongly flavored vegetables and organ meat. In general, girls had more food dislikes than did boys. Selected as liked foods were fruits, rice noodle soup, biscuits, and peanuts. Disliked foods were liver, green onions, onions, green pepper, mushrooms, oysters, shellfish, and pork. Items which children never ate before were liver, mushrooms, fish cake, boiled rice mixed with sorghum, mayonnaise, and fresh water firsh. Reasons which children gave for dislike were undesirable flavor and odor. 2) Food $behavior{\cdots}{\cdots}It$ was found that boys liked sweet and salty flavors more than did the girls who more often liked sour flavor. The majority of children enjoyed evening meals more than lunch and breakfast. A number of children skipped breakfast because of lack of appetite or lack of time before going to school. Snacks were the most popular food, especially among girls. Their snacking habits were formed by the encouragement of the mother, and the relieve boredom. Educational backgrounds of mothers and family economical levels of children were remarkable correlated with mothers' attitudes toward feeding of children. There were several interesting findings relating body stature to some other responses; such as that the obese child has a small number of brothers, higher birth order, higher educated mothers and higher family cultural background. It was also discovered that food perference, except for fat and oil group foods was not related to body stature. Sweet taste was liked best and pepperly taste was mostly disliked. Sour taste was popular in the group of underweight. Underweight children were more finicky, disliked snacking, and didn't get much attention from their mothers. 3) Correlation between body stature and nutrition during their infancy. The majority of children, both from obese and underweight, were breast fed as infant. Twenty five per cent of obese children and 17.4 per cent of underwight children started weaning at $1{\sim}6$ months old. The most popular supplemental food of weaning was cereal gruel for the obese group, while boiled white rice and cereal gruel were most common for the underweight group. Highly significant relationships were found between stature of parents and their children. In the obese group 47.8 per cent of fathers and 45.9 per cent of mothers were overweight; however, none of the fathers and only one mother was found to be underweight. In daily food consumption patterns, meals consisting of bread or noodle were popular in the obese group but disliked by the underweight group. The study found clear contrast in that the obese group liked meat and fish while the underweight group liked fruits and vegetables, especially kimchee. The obese children desired to eat cereal foods, milk and milk products, and fat foods while the underweight group desired to eat fruits and vegetables. Frequency of snacks per day was much greater in the obese group. Foods which mothers believed to be good for the health were carrots, cucumbers, fruits, milk, potatoes, sweet potatoes, and breads, while sweet foods such as candies, drinks. chocolate were considered not good for the teeth. Watching television was not significantly related to statures of children. Most significant relationships were found beween frequencies of family guest meals/and eating-out, and children's statures. Nutritional problems which have been considered for the malnourished children in addition to those of children who have a tendency toward obesity, must be taken into consideration in the development of proper nutrition education through the channels of regular school teaching and teaching by parents in the homes. Korean standards of anthropometric measurements for children should be revised, current measurements show much higher figures than present Korean standards.

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Analysis of Contents of Food Intake of Middle School Home Economics Textbook and Food Intake Trends of Middle School Students in Korea Using 2007~2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for Exploring Education Direction of Food Intake (중학생의 식품 섭취 교육방향 탐색을 위한 가정 교과서 및 2007~2015 국민건강영양조사의 식품 섭취 변화 추이 분석)

  • Kim, Sun Hyo
    • Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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    • v.31 no.3
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    • pp.179-192
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    • 2019
  • This study was performed to analyze the contents of food intake in middle school Home Economics textbook and the trends of food intake of middle school students in Korea to figure out the education direction of food intake. The contents of food intake were analyzed in major three kinds of middle school Home Economics textbook according to 2015 curriculum and the trends of food and nutrient intake were analyzed in 2,543 subjects aged 13 to 15 years using 2007~2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination survey by logistic regression analysis or Pearson correlation coefficient. As a result, contents of food intake of textbook included food source of nutrient, food group name, necessity of eating diverse foods, recommended daily eating frequency of food group and menu planning according to meal composition guideline, however food intake trends were not included. Consumption of grains and grain products was increased until 2007 to 2010 year and was decreased after 2011 year(p=0.0012). Sugars and sweets, beverages and alcohols, and fish and shellfish consumption were increased during 2007~2015 year(p<0.0001). Carbohydrate, fat, vitamin A, thiamin and iron intakes were increased(p=0.0052), and energy ratio by carbohydrate was decreased(p=0.0009) and energy ratio by fat was increased(p<0.0001) during 2007~2015 year. Mean ratios of nutrient intake compared to the dietary reference intakes for Koreans were very low in dietary fiber(19-27%) and calcium(46-56%), but was higher in sodium(221-289%)(p<0.0001) regardless of year. There was a significant positive correlation between most food group intakes except sugars and sweets, bean and bean products, nuts and seeds, seaweeds, and beverages and alcohols and energy, protein, dietary fiber, vitamin A, riboflavin, calcium and iron intakes(p=0.0375). In the above, during the period from 2007 to 2015 year, intakes of sugars and sweets, beverages and alcohols, and fish and shellfish were increased, and intakes of dietary fiber and calcium were low and energy ratio by fat was increased, thus these trends are concerned to threaten nutritional balance and health of subjects. Therefore, Home Economics textbook of middle school needs to include food intake trends of adolescents with basic concepts to help them maintain balanced diet in the rapid change of food intake patterns for maintaining optimal nutrition and health.

Effect of Oxytetracycline Injection an the Body of Paralichthys Olivaceus (Oxytetracycline의 투여방법에 따른 넙치(Paralichthys olivaceus) 체내의 잔류 특성)

  • Ko, Chang-Sik;Kim, Dong-Hwi;Park, So-Hyun;Moon, Kyung-Mi;Heo, Moon-Soo
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.26 no.3
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    • pp.309-317
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    • 2016
  • Industrial advancements have resulted in food culture development, followed by increased seafood consumption and large-scale seafood farming, which has been accompanied by an increased prevalence of fish disease. The antibiotic oxytetracycline (OTC) is commonly used to prevent and treat bacterial diseases in fish. However, overuse of OTC had led to negative aspects. In view of this, we conducted a research with regard to aspects of remnants on olive flounder skin, liver, and muscle through dipping treatment and oral feeding of OTC and analyzed the results with bioassay and HPLC quantitative analyses. The dipping treatment was carried out once with 25 g/ton/hr of OTC, and the oral treatment with 62.5 mg/kg body weight/7 days. The results underwent a bioassay analysis. The dipping group reacted only on the skin right after dipping, while the oral feeding group responded on the skin for 77 days after feeding and on the muscle for 14 days. In the dipping group, the HPLC quantitative analysis revealed remnants in the skin on the 37th day and on the 13th day in the liver group. No remnants were found in the muscle, even immediately after dipping. In the oral feeding group, there was a high concentration (1.07 mg/kg) of remnant in the skin, even on the 77th day. 0.56 mg/kg in the liver, even a small amount, and no remnant in the muscle on the 42nd day. To sum up, the results suggest that it will not be harmful to our body to observe the OTC withdrawal period of 40 days with the muscle because OTC will hardly remain on it. When using olive flounder for sashimi, the skin and liver should not be used for broth, as the quantity of OTC residue is several times higher than that found in muscle. As previous studies reported that the concentration of remnants gradually decreased with heating, so it was likely to lessen, depending on the cooking temperature.

Processing Conditions and Quality Stability of Frozen Seasoned Sardine Meat during Frozen Storage (냉동 정어리 조미육의 가공 및 저장중의 품질안정성)

  • LEE Eung-Ho;OH Kwang-Soo;AHN Chang-Bum;LEE Tae-Hun;CHUNG Young-Hoon
    • Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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    • v.20 no.3
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    • pp.191-201
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    • 1987
  • Seasoned sardine meat was prepared to extend the use of sardine for human consumption, and processing conditions and storage stability of frozen seasoned sardine meat were studied during storage at $-20^{\circ}C$. The fish was beheaded, gutted and cleaned in a washing tank. The washed fish was then put through a belt-drum type meat separator which separates the flesh iron the bone and skin. Mechanically deboned fish meat was mixed with $20.6\%$ emulsion curd, $0.5\%$ table salt, $2.0\%$ sugar, $0.4\%$ sodium bicarbonate, $0.2\%$ polyphosphate, $0.1\%$ monosodium glutamate, $0.3\%$ onion powder, $0.1\%$ garlic powder, $0.1\%$ ginger powder, $3.0\%$ soybean protein and $0.1\%$. In sodium erythorbate. This seasoned sardine meat was frozen with contact freezer, packed in a carton box and then stored at $-20^{\circ}C$. The pH, volatile basic nitrogen, viable cell counts, peroxide value, carbonyl value, thiobarbituric acid value, taste compounds, fatty acid composition, salt extractable nitrogen, drip, texture, and color values of the products were determined during frozen storage. The results showed that lipid content in products could be controlled by using emulsion curd, and flavor and texture could be improved by adding spices and soybean protein, and lipid oxidation could be retarded by $0.1\%$ sodium erythorbate. Judging from the results of chemical experiments and sensory evaluation, the products can be preserved in a good quality for 120 days during frozen storage.

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Effects of adherence to Korean diets on serum GGT and cardiovascular disease risk factors in patients with hypertension and diabetes (고혈압 및 당뇨병 환자에서 한식 섭취가 혈청 GGT와 심혈관질환 위험인자에 미치는 영향)

  • Jung, Su-Jin;Chae, Soo-Wan
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.51 no.5
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    • pp.386-399
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    • 2018
  • Purpose: This study examined whether the supply of healthy Korean diets for 12 weeks is effective in improving the risk factors related to serum GGT and cardiovascular diseases in patients with hypertension and diabetes. Methods: This study selected 41 patients, who were treated with hypertension and diabetes. The Korean diet was composed of cooked-rice, soup, kimchi, and various banchan with one serving called bapsang, which emphasize proportionally high consumption of vegetables and fermented foods, moderate to high consumption of legumes and fish, and low consumption of animal foods. The control group was instead instructed to "eat and exercise as usual" while following the Korean Diabetes Association's dietary guidelines with an intake that can assist in glycemic control, maintain adequate weight, and meet the nutritional requirements. The Korean diet group (21 patients) were served three healthy Korean meals a day for 12 weeks, and the control group (20 patients, who trained in the diet guideline of diabetes) maintained their usual diabetic diet. The serum GGT, blood pressure, heart rate, glycemic control data, cardiovascular risk indicators, and changes in diet measured at the four visits (week 0, 4, 8, and 12) during the course of 12 weeks were compared and evaluated. Results: The serum GGT (p < 0.001), HbA1c (p = 0.004), heart rate (p = 0.007), weight (p = 0.002), Body Mass Index (p = 0.002), body fat mass (p < 0.001), body fat (%) (p < 0.001), and free fatty acid (p = 0.007) in the Korean diet group decreased significantly after the dietary intervention compared to the control group. The amount of intake of rice, whole grains, green vegetables, Kimchi, and soybean fermented food were increased significantly compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The Korean diet group showed significant decreases (p < 0.001) in the intake of animal protein, lipid, and cholesterol derived from animal foods compared to the control group but significant increases (p < 0.001) in the intake of total calories, folic acid, dietary fiber, sodium, potassium, and vitamins A, E, and C. Conclusion: In patients with hypertension and diabetes, it was confirmed that regular eating of a healthy Korean diet helps improve the risk factors for GGT and cardiovascular diseases.

A Comparative Study on the Dietary Culture Consciousness and Their Consumption Attitude of Traditional Foods between Korean and Japanese Women (한국과 일본여성의 식문화 의식과 전통식품 소비실태 비교 연구)

  • Koh, Kyung-Hee
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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    • v.18 no.4
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    • pp.333-345
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    • 2003
  • We conducted a survey on Japanese women's consciousness of food culture and their traditional food consumption by self filling-out questionnaire during January, 2000 for the period of a month, For the survey we selected 250 women residing in Kyoto, Japan. For the statistic work we used SAS package system, and t-test, $\cal{X}^2-test$ and Duncan's multiple range test were also used to verify the results significance. The purpose of this survey lies in gathering a basic data on the comparative direction of Korean and Japanese women's food culture in the future 1. Comparing the preferred food purchase place, In case of Korean women, traditional market was comparatively more preferred while Japanese women relatively preferred convenience store (p<0.001). 2. In case of Japanese women, they answered there is no difference from ordinary days on New Year's Day (71%) and Christmas (40%) while 38% answered they prepare food at home. 40% said they prepare food on parents-in-law's birthday, and 41% said no difference from ordinary days. 52% said they prepare food at home on husband's birthday. For their own birthday, 32% said yes to preparing food at home while 45% said no difference and 22.3% said eating out. For children's birthday 65% said preparing at home, 16.3% said no difference and 14.9% said eating out. 3. Comparing the conception on traditional food, Korean women answered 'complicated' (77%) most while 'simple' (5%) least, which indicates their demands for simplified recipes. In case of Japanese women, 'complicated' (44%) was most while 'scientific' (6%) was least which indicates their demands for scientific way of recipes. There were differences shown by age (p<0.001) and the older the more said 'simple' or 'logical' (p<0.01). 4. As the reason for the complicity of traditional food recipes, Koreans said 'too many hand skill' (60%) most while 'too many spices' (8%) least. For Japanese, 'various kind of the recipe' (55%) was most while 'too many hand skill' (7%) was least. There were significant differences shown by academic background (p<0.01) and income(p<0.01), and the lower the academic background, the more said 'too many spices' as the reason for the complicity in making traditional food. Generally, the lesser the income, the more tendency to say 'various kinds of the recipe'. 5. In case of Koreans, 'the recipe is difficult' (56%) was high while 'uninterested' (9%) was low in answer which showed differences by academic background (p<0.05), and in case of Japanese, 'no time to cook' (44%) was high while 'uninterested' (7%) was low. 6. The following is the reasons for choosing traditional food as a snack for children. In case of Koreans, they answered as 'traditional food' (34%), 'made from nutrious and quality materials' (27%), 'for education' (22%) and 'suites their taste' (17%) revealing 'traditional food' is highest. In case of Japanese, it was revealed in the order of 'made from nutrious and quality materials' (36.3%), 'traditional food' (25.2%), 'suites their taste' (22.6%), 'for education' (12.8%) and 7. Comparing the most important thing for the popularization of traditional food in the world, Koreans answered 'taste and nutrition' (45%) most while 'shape and color' (6%) least. In case of Japanese, 'taste and nutrition' (75%) was answered most while 'hygienic packaging' (4%) was least. Both considered 'taste and nutrition' as most important thing for the popularization of traditional food in the world. 8. In case of Koreans, they answered they learn how to make traditional food 'from mother' (47%), 'media' (18%), 'school' (15%), 'from mother-in-law' (14%), 'private cooking school' (4%) and 'close acquaintances' (2%). In case of Japanese, they said mostly learn 'from mother', but it was also shown that the lower the academic background the lesser the tendency of learning 'from mother' but 'from school' (p<0.001). 9. About the consumption of traditional fermented food, Koreans said they make kimchi (90%), pickled vegetables (39%), soy sauce (33%), bean paste (38%), salted fishery (12%) and traditional liquors (14%) at home while 67% for salted fishery and 48% for traditional liquors answered they buy rather than making at home. On the other hand, Japanese answered they mostly buy kimchi (60%), soy sauce (96%), bean paste(91%), natto(92%), salt fermented fish foods (77%) and traditional alcoholic beverage (88%) to eat. This difference was shown very distinct between Korean and Japanese women (p<0.001). 10. About the most important thing in food, Koreans answered in the order of 'liking and satisfaction' (33%), 'for health' (32%), 'for relieve hunger' (18%) and 'convenience' (17%). In case of Japanese, it was revealed in the order of 'for health' (61%), 'liking and satisfaction' (20%), 'to relieve hunger' (16%) and 'convenience' (3%). This shows that Japanese women take comparably more importance to health than Korean women. The conception of food was shown different between Korean and Japanese women (p<0.001), and Koreans showed level 4-5 of food culture while Japanese showed level 5.

Effects of Dietary Factors on Lymphocyte DNA Damage in Smoking Elderly People in Korea (식이 요인이 SCE 빈도수로 본 흡연노인 임파구 DNA손상에 미치는 영향)

  • 강명희;이정희
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.33 no.3
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    • pp.523-532
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    • 2004
  • The spontaneous frequency of genetic damage and the possible relationship of this damage to dietary and nutritional variables were investigated in peripheral blood lymphocytes from 45 elderly people using sister chromatid exchange (SCE). The relationship of dietary and nutritional factors on SCE was assessed by different degrees of smoking status such as smokers (n=14), ex-smokers (n=16) and non-smokers (n=15). Significant relationship of the SCE frequency to nutrient intake of the combined subjects (n=45) was found. When cigarette smoking status was taken into account, there were negative linear relationships between SCE and fat, phosphorus or vitamin A intakes of the non-smokers as well as SCE and the dietary quality scores. There was a positive linear relationship between SCE and food frequency of meat and fish among the smokers. Use of artificial sweetners in ex-smokers of the elderly people produced a significant increase of SCE in comparison with the mean SCE for those not using sweetners. Other dietary parameters, including intake of coffee, green tea and ginseng tea, alcohol consumption, use of processed foods, and administration of vitamin pills did not show any correlation with SCE. These results suggested that dietary fat, phosphorus or vitamin A status are the major determinants of spontaneous DNA damage in lymphocytes of the elderly people.

A Study of Food Taboos on Jeju Island (I)-Focused on Pregnancy- (제주지역(濟州地域)의 식품금기(食品禁忌)에 관(關)한 연구(硏究) (I)-임신기(妊娠期)를 중심(中心)으로-)

  • Kim, Ki-Nam;Mo, Su-Mi
    • Journal of Nutrition and Health
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    • v.10 no.1
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    • pp.49-58
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    • 1977
  • Nutrition counselors in Korea often encounter difficulty in their attempt to change village women's attitudes regarding food taboos which are counter to good eating habits. There are a great many food superstitions which are not due to religious influence, but seem to be related to shape and composition of food. Many expectant mothers superstitiously avoid eating certain foods for fear that they may cause mental or physical abnormality in their babies. As was shown in a previous survey (Mo, 1966)of villages in all provinces except Jeju Island, such superstitions were common among pregnant and lactating mothers. Many food taboos and superstitions based on non-scientific and irrational ideas do exist even in modern society, and are a major obstacle to nutritionally adequate food consumption. A study of food taboos among women of Jeju Island was undertaken from November to December of 1976, these results to be compared as well with those of the previous study. There were 73 items found to be prohibited during pregnancy. Of these, 48.7% were of the deaf group, 17.4% fish, 5.5% eggs, 4.7% cereal, and only 2.2% fruit. Of 252% women respondents, 111 (45% ) abstained from eating chicken, duck, and shark because of the belief that they would cause their babies to be born with gooseflesh or shark skin. Many of them avoided rabbit meat for fear that their babies might be born with harelip. It was also feared that a baby would become disfigured if his mother ate duck, goat, dog meat, chicken or duck eggs, or soup made of bones. A common superstition was that highly spiced or salty foods would cause the fetus to be hairless. Squid and octopus were believed to cause babies to have weak bones, or none at all. Most of these food taboos were associated with fears concerning Physical structure and appearance of unborn babies. Other taboos were associated with fear of undesirable behavioral characteristics. For example, some mothers thought that a baby would pinch or bite the mother's breast during the weaning period, if crab meat were eaten during pregnancy. Unevenly sliced rice cake, loach, snake meat and eel were also believed to cause a baby to be ill-tempered. The findings of this study are remarkably similar to those of the previous study conducted by the authour in 1966. Most of the same food taboos, based on non-scientific and irrational reasons, were found on Jeju Island as on the peninsula, and thor were similarly wide-spread. The results of correlational analysis show that the most significant factors related to prevalence of food taboos, are level of education and religious background. Number of food taboos is correlated with level of education. Also, food taboos are least freqent among the Christian woman. Proper nutrition education should he undertaken in order to encourage intake of protein-rich food, particularly during pregnancy when nutritional needs of mother and fetus are great.

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Concentrations of PBDE Congeners in Breast Milk and Predictors of Exposure in Seoul Residents (서울 거주 산모 모유 중 PBDEs 이성질체 농도 및 노출 요인에 관한 연구)

  • We, Sung-Ug;Yoon, Cho-Hee;Min, Byung-Yoon
    • Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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    • v.37 no.6
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    • pp.440-449
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    • 2011
  • Objectives: This study was designed to determine the levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in breast milk and to evaluate the relations with factors affecting these levels. Methods: The congener levels of PBDE in 22 samples of breast milk were analyzed using a high resolution gas chromatograph with a high resolution mass detector. In accordance with our standard operating procedures, the recoveries of internal standards had to range between 68% and 118%. Since the distribution of PBDE concentrations is close to log-normal, the data were logarithmically transformed before analysis. Test subjects were healthy primipara and multipara mothers with a mean age of 32 (SD = 2.7) in 2006. Results: Seven PBDE congeners (BDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 183) were detected and identified in all of the pooled breast milk samples, indicating widespread contamination from PBDEs in the environment in Korea. Residue levels of total PBDEs (sum PBDEs from tri- to hepta-BDE) ranged from 0.84-13.1 ng/g lipid with median and geometric mean levels of 2.6 ng/g lipid and 2.74 ng/g lipid, respectively. PBDE congeners 47, 99 and 153 markedly predominated and accounted for about 75% of the amount of the PBDE congeners analyzed. BDE-47 was the dominant congener in most samples, whereas BDE-153 was predominant in a few (n = 7/22). BDE-47 was highly correlated with total PBDEs (r = 0.987, p < 0.01). In analyses of the differences of the means of log transformed breast milk PBDE levels for groups of potential covariates, only breast milk BDE-47 and BDE-99 levels were significantly associated with fish (p < 0.05) and meat consumption (p < 0.01). However, we did not find significant correlations between PBDE levels and maternal age, body mass index (BMI), parity, job presence and smoking status. Conclusions: Our findings are mainly limited due to the small sampling size and low doses of PBDEs exposure. Background and human exposure data of PBDEs is lacking, and longitudinal investigations into the environment and biota are encouraged to determine the health impact on future populations in Korea.