• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2021

Euglena gracilis is a microalga of great biotechnological interest that can create high levels of bioactive compounds, such as tocopherol, paramylon, and folic acid. The objective of this study was to investigate the biological activities of extracts from E. gracilis, especially those focused on immunological activity. E. gracilis biomass was extracted with hot water (HWE) and the remaining pellet was continuously extracted with methanol (HWME). First, we examined the effect of two extracts from E. gracilis on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of pro-inflammation cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. HWE treatment dose-dependently increased the production of IL-1β and TNF-α. On the other hand, treatment with HWME significantly decreased the generation of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage cells. In addition, other biological activities of the extracts were further analyzed: α-glucosidase inhibition, protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP1B) inhibition, tyrosinase inhibition, xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. Analysis of these biological activities showed that HWE has more inhibitory effects than HWME against α-glucosidase, tyrosinase, and XO agents. However, the inhibition of PTP1B and ACE with HWME were higher than with HWE. Taken together, the results suggested that E. gracilis possesses various biological activities―especially immunological capabilities―through regulation of cytokine production. Therefore, E. gracilis extract may be potentially useful for food material with immune-regulating effects.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.580-595
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• 2022

This study looked at the relationship between lifestyle choices and various substance addictions in young adults by applying the Relapse Prevention model of addiction. The data was obtained from a cross-sectional questionnaire (Depression and Anxiety Assessment Test) of 926 young adults aged 18~24 from 24 countries. Of these, 17.6% reported that they had a serious substance addiction, with alcohol addiction being the highest (11.2%), followed by nicotine (10.3%) and illicit drug (8.7%) usage. Results of chi-square test and logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between various lifestyle factors (exercise patterns, intake of dietary nutrients like tryptophan, folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids and micronutrients, spiritual habits such as Bible reading and prayer) and addiction to various substances (illicit drugs, alcohol and nicotine). Depression was also found to be a significant factor influencing substance addiction. Interestingly, the risk of alcohol abuse was the highest at 9.870 (95% CI: 4.525-21.525) times among those who didn't have the habit of daily Bible reading. The highest risk of nicotine and illicit drug addiction was among those who consumed 'less than 1 serving' of dietary micronutrients per day compared to those who consumed '5 or more servings', with odds ratios of 9.606(95% CI: 2.726-30.111) and 8.642(95% CI: 2.022-37.378), respectively. These findings suggest that holistic lifestyle interventions may help prevent and reduce substance addiction in young adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.285-295
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to compare the awareness of dietary patterns and health of full-time and employed housewives. The investigation gathered information on general characteristics, dietary lifestyle, nutritional status, and health by questionnaire as well as anthropometric measurements. The subjects included housewives living in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province (86 full-time and 127 working housewives) during November 2009 to January 2010. The average age, height, and weight of the housewives were $45.8{\pm}7.6\;yr$, $161.0{\pm}8.4\;cm$, and $55.7{\pm}6.3\;kg$, respectively. The average monthly income of the households was 3 million to 5 million won (31.4% full-time and 37.0% working housewives), and their average food expense was 200,000 to 500,000 won (46.5% full-time and 48.1% working housewives). More than 90% of the studied homes were nuclear families and the most common number of children was 2 to 3 (79.1% full-time and 76.4% working housewives). The ratio of employed housewives who ate regular meals was 35.4%, but that of the full-time housewives was 48.2% (p<0.05). Of the working housewives, 7.1% never ate breakfast and the primary reason for skipping breakfast was 'busy in the morning' (61.1%). The type of food that the housewives preferred when eating out was Korean food, both for the full-time and employed housewives (76.0%). All the housewives overate calories and the full-time housewives ate more protein, fat, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, niacin, vitamin C, vitamin E, folic acid, and cholesterol than the employed housewives (p<0.05). Both the full-time and employed housewives were more satisfied with supper than with other meals. About 30.6% of the full-time and 33.9% of the working housewives had no interest in health, but answered that regular exercise was very important for health (33.3% full-time and 39.7% working housewives). In conclusion, working housewives have poor dietary habits and nutrient intakes, thus substantial measures to improve these problems are urgently needed.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2002

Owing to a need for simple extraction and purification for analysis of water soluble vitamins in food samples by RP-HPLC with UV-detector, the methods of bromelain and protease hydrolysis and $C_{18}$ Sep-Pak solid phase extraction were employed. The recoveries of standard water soluble vitamins by the bromelain and protease hydrolysis and $C_{18}$ Sep-Pak solid phase extraction were significantly high compared to AOAC methods in most of vitamins. The contents of pyridoxal determined with protest in the pork was similar, but in the bromelain hydrolysis and AOAC method, was high compared to the results of reference. The niacinamide, thiamin and riboflavin determined with bromelain and protease hydrolysis showed similar values to the results of references. In the potato, pyridoxamine was detected in the AOAC method, which was not detected in the bromelain and protease hydrolysis methods. Pyridoxal contents in the protease hydrolysis and AOAC methods were very similar to the results of references. The recoveries of fortified standard vitamins in food samples were significantly high and accurate compared to those of AOAC methods. The extraction and purification with $C_{18}$ Sep-Pak solid extractor might be considered superior method for the determination of water soluble vitamins in food samples.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.447-460
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• 2013

Dietary supplement use is prevalent and represents an important source of nutrition. This study was conducted in order to assess the dietary maximum exposure of vitamins and minerals from various sources including regular diet, vitamin mineral supplements for non-prescription drug (VMS-NPD), vitamin mineral supplements for health functional foods (VMS-HFF), and fortified foods (FF). A total of 1,407 adolescent boys and girls attending middle or high schools were chosen from various cities and rural communities in Korea. Users of vitamin and mineral supplements (n = 60, 15-18 years of age) were chosen from the above 1,407 students. Intake of vitamins and minerals from a regular diet and FF was assessed by both food record method and direct interview for three days of two weekdays and one weekend, and those from VMS-NPD and VMS-HFF were assessed by both questionnaire and direct interview, and compared with the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) and the tolerable upper intake level (UL) for Korean adolescents. Daily average exposure range of vitamins and minerals from a regular diet was 0.3 to 4.4 times of the RNI. Some subjects had an excessive exposure to the UL in the following areas: from regular diets, vitamin A (1.7%) and niacin (5.0%); from only VMS-NPD, vitamin C (9.1%) and iron (5.6%); and from only VMS-HFF, niacin (8.6%) > vitamin $B_6$ (7.5%) > folic acid (2.9%) > vitamin C (2.3%). Nutrients of daily total intake from regular diet, VMS-NPD, VMS-HFF, and FF higher than the UL included nicotinic acid for 33.3% of subjects, and, then, in order, vitamin C (26.6%) > vitamin A (13.3%), iron (13.3%) > zinc (11.7%) > calcium (5.0%) > vitamin E (1.7%), vitamin $B_6$ (1.7%). Thus, findings of this study showed that subjects may potentially be at risk due to overuse of supplements, even though most of them took enough vitamins and minerals from their regular diet. Therefore, we should encourage adolescents to have sound health care habits through systematic and educational aspects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.869-878
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• 2008

The purpose of this study was to obtain baseline data on nutritional management of women's bone health. We examined the bone mineral density (BMD) by ultrasound bone densitometer, anthropometric measurement and dietary intake to assess the nutrient intakes. The subjects were 102 Korean female college students (normal=59, bone disease group [osteopenia+osteoporosis]=43) and the mean age was 21.4 yr. Mean T-score (BMD) were -0.42 and -1.52 in normal and bone disease groups, respectively. Anthropometric measurement showed that 59% of the subjects were normal weight and bone disease group had lower value than normal group in majority of anthropometric index. The average energy intake was 1539.7 kcal, which was 73% of Korean EER. The subjects had lower vitamin C, folic acid, Ca and K intake than Korean RI independent of BMD. Bone disease group (1:2.05) showed significantly lower Ca:P ratio than normal group (1:1.86). Normal group had more intake frequency of milk and milk product than bone disease group. In relation to anthropometric index with T-score, significant correlations have been found in weight, PM, BFM, MM, TBW, SLM, FFM WHR, BMI and SMM. In relation to dietary factors with T-score, significant correlations have been found relating to intake frequency of milk and milk product. Our results indicate that for nutrients, ratio and balance may be more influential than intake for bone health in young women.

• 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.51 no.2
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• pp.186-198
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• 2018

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the utilization of a current national Food Composition Database (FCDB) and to investigate demand for nutrients that should be added or supplemented in order to expand the national FCDB. Methods: Surveys were constructed based on the utilization of FCDB, use of a food and nutrition analysis program, utilization and importance of nutritional ingredients, and nutritional ingredients desired to be supplemented in the national FCDB. Self-administered surveys were obtained from 349 food and nutrition specialists, including dietitians, nutrition teachers, food industry workers, professors, and researcher. Results: Exactly 73.6% of respondents used the FCDB, and 90.5% experienced using various food and nutrition analysis programs. Professors and researchers frequently utilized protein, carbohydrate, and lipid nutrients in the FCDB. Among vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin D were frequently used. Among minerals, sodium and calcium were highly used. Among the subjects, 17.4% of subjects have used phytochemical DB. Carotenoids, anthocyanins, and isoflavones among phytochemicals were frequently used, in that order. Respondents desired an additional data on sugars, vitamin D, folic acid, selenium, iodine, dietary fiber, vitamin $B_{12}$, and carotenoids in the FCDB. Conclusion: The survey results indicate that the current FCDB is actively used for various purposes, although it is necessary to construct a national nutrition database with additional nutrients.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.702-713
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• 2009

This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of constipation, bowel habits and nutrient intakes of college students. The subjects were 353 college students (166 males and 187 females) aged 19 to 29 years in Incheon area. The subjects were asked about bowel habits and dietary intake using questionnaires during march, 2008 and the prevalence of functional constipation (FC) was based on the Rome II criteria. The prevalence of FC in male and female students was 12.7% and 28.9%, respectively. The prevalence of self-reported constipation in male and female students was 12.0% and 36.9%, respectively. Both were higher in female students compared to male students. Among the subjects that have self-reported constipation, proportions of FC were 35.0% in male students and 55.1% in female students. Of subjects that did not self-reported constipation, the proportions of FC were 9.6% in male students and 13.6% in female students. Over 90% of respondents that self-reported constipation in male students, had neither visited a hospital and nor used laxatives or functional foods for constipation relief. Seventy five point three percent of male students, and 40.1% of female students, had a defecation frequency of over 5 times per week (p < 0.001). Ratios intaken under the estimated average requirement (EAR) of Vit A, Vit C, folic acid and Ca were over the 50% regardless of functional constipation. Mean daily consumption of total dietary fiber was 15.0 g/day in male students and 13.5 g/day in female students. According to these results, both functional constipation and self-reported constipation are more frequent in female college students and further studies are required in case-control study and related to psychological factors as well as nutrients to relieve of constipation.