• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.55 no.6
• /
• pp.630-641
• /
• 2022

Purpose: In this study, we assessed the intake of nutrients and food groups and analyzed the nutrition quotient of obese children in South Korea. The hypothesis was that dietary quality and nutrient intake are related to the body mass index (BMI) of obese children. Methods: The participants included 48 children (20 boys and 28 girls). Based on the guidelines for the age-for-body mass index provided by the Korean National Growth Charts for children and adolescents, the participants were divided into 3 groups: overweight, BMI ≥ 85th percentile; obese, BMI ≥ 95th percentile; severely obese, BMI ≥ 99th percentile. Results: The energy distribution showed that the carbohydrate ratio was significantly higher in the overweight group (p < 0.01), whereas the fat ratio was significantly higher in the obese and severely obese groups (p < 0.05). Thus, in the overweight and obese groups, the percent body fat was negatively associated with the carbohydrate ratio (p < 0.05) but was positively associated with the fat ratio (p < 0.05). The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) data revealed that the intake levels of protein, vitamin B₁, vitamin B₁₂, and sodium were higher in all groups. Intakes of fiber, calcium, potassium, and magnesium were insufficient in all groups, and the DRI percent for protein was significantly higher in the obese and severely obese groups than in the overweight group. No significant differences were obtained in food group patterns or Nutrition Quotient (NQ) scores among the 3 groups. According to the evaluation results by food record and NQ, a significant difference was obtained in the dietary quality of obese children. Conclusion: We conclude that a higher intake of fat enhances weight gain. Based on the study results, we propose that the guidelines should consider the energy distribution of carbohydrate and fat intake to prevent and control obesity among Korean children.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.200-217
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess energy and nutritional intake and investigate the preference for food and cooking methods of the residents in elderly care facilities. Methods: Data were collected from 72 residents (10 males and 62 females) aged ${\geq}70$ years in elderly care facilities using questionnaires, food photographs for estimating dietary intake and records for daily physical activity. Results: Average age of the study participants was 85.0 years and 41, 36 and 8 had dementia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, respectively. 15%, 65% and 19% of subjects were physically mobile, enervated, and immobile, respectively. Daily energy intake was 1360.2 kcal in men and 1378.0 kcal in women, which were 68.0% and 86.1% of the estimated energy requirement (EER) of dietary reference intake for Koreans (KDRI) for ${\geq}75$ year old individuals, respectively. Estimated energy expenditure (EEE) of subjects calculated using formula from KDRI was 1361.9 kcal and EER calculated using estimated daily physical activity (EDPA) was 1232.9 kcal. Energy intake and EEE from KDRI were higher than EER from EDPA. Dietary intake of dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, zinc, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, vitamin C were lower, and protein, phosphorous, iron, sodium, vitamin A, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_6$, vitamin E were higher than the corresponding ones of KDRI. Subjects liked meats, fishes and shellfish, and fruits, while subjects disliked milk, seaweeds and salted fish and salted vegetables. Cooked rice, soybean paste soup, beef, cooked sliced radish strip, and yogurt were favorite foods, with steam being a favorite cooking method. Subjects considered nutrition as the most important factor for improving food service quality. Conclusions: Results of this study could be utilized for improving food-service for the residents in elderly care facilities, and provide a basis for setting reference intake of energy and nutrients of the elderly having very low activity levels.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.55 no.3
• /
• pp.330-347
• /
• 2022

Folate, a water-soluble vitamin, acts as a coenzyme for one-carbon metabolism in nucleic acid synthesis and amino acid metabolism. Adequate folate nutritional status during the periconceptional period is known to prevent neural tube defects. In addition, insufficient folate intake is associated with various conditions, such as anemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, cardiovascular disease, cancer, cognitive impairment, and depression. This review discusses the rationale for the revision of the 2020 Korean dietary reference intakes for folate, and suggestions for future revisions. Based on the changes in the standard body weight in 2020, the adequate intake (AI) for infants (5-11 months) and the estimated average requirements (EARs) for 15-18 years of age were revised, but there were no changes in the recommended nutrient intakes (RNIs) and tolerable upper intake levels (ULs) for all age groups. Mean folate intake did not reach RNI in most age groups and was particularly low in women aged 15-29 years, according to the results of the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The percentages of folate intake to RNI were lower than 60% in pregnant and lactating women, but serum folate concentrations were higher than those in other age groups, presumably due to the use of supplements. Therefore, total folate intake, from both food and supplements, should be evaluated. In addition, the database of folate in raw, cooked, and fortified foods should be further expanded to accurately assess the folate intake of Koreans. Determination of the concentrations of erythrocyte folate and plasma homocysteine as well as serum folate is recommended, and quality control of the analysis is critical.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.27 no.3
• /
• pp.495-506
• /
• 2014

This study was conducted to measure the effect of a community-based nutritional intervention program on dietary behaviors and nutrient intakes of low-income elderly women in Korea. The subject of the study was a group of 88 elderly women using the free meal service in Dong-gu, Gwangju city in Korea. The study was carried out from April to July 2009, and the pretest, application of nutrition education, and post-test were applied in each stage. This community-based nutrition intervention program consisted of snack supplement and nutrition education provided three times a week and 36 times in total. The nutrition education was led by the nutritionists and professionals using various educational media. Snack supplement included were milk, soymilk, carrot juice, bread, yogurt, and bananas. The result of pretest showed that the nutrient intakes of the subjects were much below the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) level of Dietary Reference Intake for Koreans. Comparison of the dietary behavior score and nutrient intakes before and after the nutritional intervention program indicated that the food behavior score increased from 3.1 to 5.6 (P<0.001) and intake of energy, protein, carbohydrate, thiamin, niacin, vitamin C, iron, and potassium of the subjects all increased significantly (P<0.05). Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) of their nutrient intakes was also improved from 0.53 to 0.64 (P<0.01). These results indicated that the nutrition intervention program conducted in this study was effective in improving dietary behavior and nutrient intakes of elderly women in local community.

• Food Science and Industry
• /
• v.49 no.3
• /
• pp.2-11
• /
• 2016

As recently many studies on the relationship between excessive sugar intake and chronic disease have been reported across the world, more attention to sugar intake has been paid. Sugars, called simple sugars, is a kind of carbohydrate and sum of monosaccharides and disaccharides. Sugars that are particularly related to health are added sugars or free sugars, which are added to food by processing or cooking. It is generally not to give satiety and increases energy density without other nutrients. Especially, the major food source of added sugar is sugar-sweetened beverages(SSBs), from which sugars are closely linked with health outcome. The total sugar intake in Korea is 61.4 g per day and it is almost half of those in the western countries such as the U.S. or Australia and it is within the recommendation level by the Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans. However, when it is classified by age groups or food sources, sugar intake in adolescents and young adults are high and the sugar from processed foods is also high that would lead to high intake levels of added sugar. Particularly, the frequency of SSBs, the major food source of added sugar, is the highest among 20's. While the studies of excessive sugar intake with chronic diseases including obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease reported in the Western populations, those in the Korean populations have just started. Given our dietary practice is very different from those in the western population, more prospective studies would be necessary to evaluate sugar intake by type or food source exactly and examine its relationship with chronic diseases in the Korean population.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 2008

The Purposes of this study were to assess high school students' nutrient consumption at the ordinary time and to analyze nutrient contents and nutrition consumption of lunch. The questionnaires for self-reported food consumption were distributed to 210 students enrolled in a boy's high school and a girl's high school located in Seoul area. A final response rate was 87.1%, excluding responses that had significant missing data. Data of self-reported food consumption and BMI(Body Mass Index) were analyzed with descriptive analysis and t-test using SPSS Win(ver. 12.0). To measure the serving size and the waste amount, data were collected for three meals in a three day period at each school. A weighed plate method was employed to measure plate wastes and consumption of the menus served. Nutrient analyses for the served and consumed menus were performed using CAN-PRO. The result of nutrient intake determined by self-reported food consumption demonstrated 74.2% of boys and 70.0% of the girls did not meet EAR(Estimated Average Requirement) for calcium. In addition, the data collection showed that 60.2% boys and 26.7% girls did not consume EAR for Vitamin B$_1$. Nutrient analyses of the served and consumed menus at school lunch were compared with 1/3 of the Dietary Reference Intakes(DRIs) for this age group. The served menus did not meet 1/3 of the Recommended Intake(RI) for calcium, iron, and vitamin B$_2$. In contrast, the menu provided to students exceeded almost five times(490%) more than the sodium needed for 1/3 of the Adequate Intake(AI). Considering the amount of the students' plate waste, intake of vitamin A and vitamin C were below 1/3 of the RI, and calcium, iron, and vitamin B$_2$ intake were also reduced. Students' sodium consumption still exceeded 1/3 of the AI at 340.0%.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.909-918
• /
• 2013

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of dietary nutrient intakes for markers of blood glucose and inflammation which is important to the progress of type 2 diabetes and the development of its complications. For this study, 76 adults with diabetes (42 males, 34 females) were recruited from a group of patients who had visited the department of endocrine medicine. Data on anthropometric characteristics, clinical indices such as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and C-reactive protein (CRP), and dietary nutrient intakes were collected. Our results have shown that 66% of subjects were either overweight or obese. Serum analysis indicates that levels of C-peptide, glucose, HbA1c, CRP, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol were higher than normal range. Results from the dietary nutrient intake survey displayed that intakes of cholesterol and sodium were higher than Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans. On the contrary, folate intake was lower than the guideline. Within the females, energy contribution from carbohydrate was higher than Korean Diabetes Association guideline. Statistical analysis has revealed a negative correlation between serum HbA1c level and dietary intakes of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), n-3 PUFA, ${\beta}$-carotene and vitamin E after adjustments for age, BMI, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, exercise and ingestion of diabetes mellitus medication (p<0.05). Serum CRP level was inversely associated with dietary intakes of carbohydrate, protein, vitamin C and fiber (p<0.05). Our results suggest that dietary nutrient intakes may influence the levels of HbA1c and CRP, and subsequently, it may help in the management/treatment of type 2 diabetes.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.48-55
• /
• 2021

Objectives: This study was conducted to estimate the dietary iodine intake of Koreans by a Total Diet Study (TDS) which provides 'closer-to-real' estimates of exposure to hazardous materials and nutrients through an analysis of table-ready (cooked) samples of foods. Methods: Dietary intake data from 2013-2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used to select representative foods (RFs) for iodine analysis. A total of 115 RFs were selected and 158 'RF × cooking method-combination' pairs were derived by pairing each RF to corresponding cooking method(s) used more frequently. RFs were collected from 9 mega-markets in 9 metropolitan cities nationwide and mixed into composites prior to cooking preparation to a 'table ready' state for iodine analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Iodine intake of Koreans was estimated based on the food intake data of the 2016-2018 KNHANES. Results: High iodine content was detected in seaweeds such as sea mustard and kelp. The mean iodine intake/capita/day was 418.4 ㎍ and the median value was 129.0 ㎍. Seaweeds contributed to 77.4% of the total iodine intake and the contribution by food item was as follows: sea mustard (44.0%), kelp (20.4%), laver (13.1%), milk (3.9%), egg (3.5%). Compared to the Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans 2020, the proportion of people with iodine intake exceeding the tolerable upper intake level or below the estimated average requirement was high in the physiologically vulnerable groups (infants, children, pregnant women, and lactating women). Conclusions: The results, drawn from a TDS, are regarded closer to real estimates for iodine intake of Koreans compared with values in existing literature, which were based on a very limited variety of foods. On the other hand, it seems necessary to seek out solutions for the problematic iodine intake among physiologically vulnerable groups through in-depth analyses on food intake data collected with significant scale & quality.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.70-76
• /
• 1998

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and dietary intake, and the relationship between BMI and plasma lipid levels in Korean adults. This study was conducted from January 1 to December 31 of 1997. It consisted of 3781 subjects (men 2402, women : 1379) with the majority between the ages of 40 and 59. The dietary assessment was based upon a twenty-four-hour food record. Subjects were classified into one of four reference BMI groups : underweight ($\leq 20 kg/m^2$), normal (20.1-25.0 kg/$m^2$), overweight (25.1-30.0 kg/$m^2$), and obese (>30 kg/$m^2$). The biochemical assessment included measurements of plasma total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), lipoprotein (a), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). The BMI study showed that 60.5% of the men measured were normal and 32.6% of the men were overweight and/or obese subjects. Sixty-four percent of the women were normal and 20.3% of the women measured were overweight and/o. obese subjects. With respect to the daily energy intake of the men and women subjects, the levels of daily energy intake appeared to increase as values of BMI increased. Men of the overweight group had significantly higher protein, fat and cholesterol intake than those of the normal or the underweight groups. The alcohol intake of the men in the overweight group was also significantly higher than that of the men in the underweight group. With respect to percent energy intake of macronutrients, there was no significant difference between the four BMI groups and percent energy intake for all the subjects in the study. The ratio of percent energy intake of carbohydrates : protein : fat : alcohol of the normal women group was 62 : 17 : 20 : 1, respectively. Women apparently had a higher intake of carbohydrates than men (52 : 17 : 19 : 10). With respect to the levels of plasma TC, LDL-C, TG, and HDL-C, the levels of plasma TC, LDL-C and TC appeared to increase as the values of BMI increased, while the level of HDL-C appeared to decrease as values of BMI increased. Levels of lipoprotein (a) appeared to be inversely related to the values of BMI, and levels of PAI-1 appeared to increase as values of BMI increased. The results of this study demonstrate that there is a relationship between dietary intake and BMI, and that there is a relationship between BMI and blood lipids levels.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.55 no.1
• /
• pp.10-20
• /
• 2022

This article evaluated levels of Estimated Average Requirements (EARs), Reference Nutrient Intakes (RNIs), and Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDRs) of protein using the recently revised Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for Koreans (2020). Dietary protein requirements are based on amounts sufficient to satisfy physiological demands to accomplish nitrogen equilibrium. The same principle was applied to estimate EARs and RNIs, for adults in DRIs conducted in 2015 and 2020 in Koreans. EAR was estimated to be 0.73 g/kg body weight/day, according to data (0.66 g/kg body weight/day) obtained using the nitrogen balance method and adjusted by efficiency of protein use (90%). RNI was calculated as EAR increased by an amount equal to twice the standard deviation of an age group so as to cover 97.5% of the group and was found to be 0.91 g/kg body weight/day. For weaned infants, children, and adolescents, growth requirement was added to estimate EAR. In particular, growth requirement was adjusted by efficiency of protein use in the revised EAR, which led to higher EARs for weaned infants, children, and adolescents of both genders as compared with 2015 DRIs. The AMDR for protein was set at 7%-20% of energy intake, which was the same as 2015 DRIs. Current, average protein intake by the Korean population is almost twice times the EAR, which suggests it might be better to increase the minimal margin for AMDR. However, it was not adjusted in this revision due to lack of evidence.