• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.232-241
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• 1988

This study was to investigate the effect of calcium supplementation on the reduction of blood pressure in normotensive young adults. Fortyseven healthy college students(23 male and 24 female) were divided into Ca and placebo groups, and were orally given with calcium(1g/day, 2.5g as CaCO3) and placebo, respectively, for 20 weeks. Blood pressure was measured by Korotokoff method in seated position every two weeks. Average daily dietary calcium intakes of the subjects were 626-643mg in men and 513-552mg in women. Average initial level of serum calcium of the subjects belonged to normal range. 1. Both systolic and diastolic blood pressure(SBP and DBP) of Ca group showed significant continuously decreasing tendency from 6-8 weeks until final 20 weeks of the supplementation in both men and women. But placebo groups did not. Comparing with the basal value, reduction of SBP and DBP after 20 weeks were 6.53$\pm$4.30%(8.9mmHg) and 8.10$\pm$3.30%(7.4mmHg) in men, and 6.56$\pm$2.41%(8.1mmHg) and 7.33$\pm$3.75%(6.2mmHg) in women. The blood pressure lowering effect of calcium supplementation seemed to be greater in the subjects with higher basal SBP. 2. Serum calcium was significantly increased by calcium supplementation in both men and women, and showed significant negative correlation with SBP(r=-.213) and DBP(r=-.301) in women. Serum Ca/Mg ratio of Ca group was also elevated and showed significant negative correlation with SBP(r=-.174) and DBP(r=-.194) in total subjects. 3. Urinary excretion of Na did not show any significant changes by calcium supplementation in both men and women and showed no correlations with blood pressures.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.134-142
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: North Korean refugees (NKRs) in South Korea are a unique population as they must adapt in a new country with similar cultural traits but different social, political, and economic systems, but little research has been conducted on diet and nutrition in this population. This study examined food security, dietary behaviors, and nutrient intakes among adult NKRs living in South Korea and compared them to those of South Koreans. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were 139 adult NKRs (25 men, 114 women) living in the Seoul metropolitan area, and 417 age- and sex- matched South Korean controls (SKCs; 75 men, 342 women) selected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Food security and dietary behaviors (meal skipping, eating-out, meals with family, nutrition education and counseling, and nutrition label knowledge and utilization) were obtained using self-administered questionnaires. Nutrient intakes were assessed by 24-hr recall. The statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS ver. 23.0. RESULTS: In South Korea, food security had improved over the previous 12 months, but remained significantly poorer for NKR women than SKC women. Meal skipping was three times more frequent than for SKCs and eating-out was rare. Average energy intake was 1,509 kcal for NKR men and 1,344 kcal for NKR women, which was lower than those of SKCs (2,412 kcal and 1,789 kcal, respectively). Significantly more NKRs (men 24.0%, women 21.9%) showed simultaneously deficient intake in energy, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and riboflavin than SKCs (men 2.7% (P = 0.003), women 7.0% (P < 0.001)). NKR women had a significantly higher index of nutrient quality (INQ) for some nutrients than SK women. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports significant differences in food security, dietary behaviors, and nutrient intakes between NKRs and SKCs. Generally, NKRs reported lower intakes despite improved food security, but relatively good INQs across nutrients. Further research is needed to understand processes of food choice and consumption among NKRs to provide appropriate support aimed at improving diets.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.2555-2558
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• 2014

Pirpose: The aim of this study to analyze the association between history of diabetes mellitus (DM) with risk of prostate cancer (PCa) and cancer grade among men undergoing radical prostatectomy for PCa. Materials and Methods: 50 patients with DM and 50 patients without DM who undervent radical prostatectomy (RP) were included in the study. Age at biopsy, height, weight, digital rectal examination (DRE), pre-biopsy PSA levels, prostate volume, histopathologic diagnosis after surgery and gleason scores were collected data from all patients. Histologic material obtained at biopsy was given a Gleason score; tumours with a Gleason score ${\geq}7$ were considered high grade and <7 were considered low grade. Results: The mean age at the time of biopsy was 63.7 in patients with DM and 61.6 in patients without DM. Diabetic men had significantly lower PSA levels (p=0.01). Mean PSA level $7.04{\pm}2.85$ in patients with DM and $8.7{\pm}2.86$ in patients without DM, respectively. Also, diabetic men had higher RP tumor grade than men without DM (p=0.04). We found that HbA1c levels were higher in patients who have high grade prostate cancer (p<0.05). Conclusions: Diabetic men undergoing RP have lower PSA levels and have significantly higher grade PCa. We must be careful for screening PCa in patients with DM. Although the patients had lower PSA levels, they might have high grade disease.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.50-55
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• 2015

Background: Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors (PDE5Is), which are prescription drug in South Korea, have been concerned about misuse, overuse and illegal provision of the drugs. This study was performed to investigate utilization and safety of illegal Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors (PDE5Is), and related factors among South Korean men. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted from May to July in 2013 among 1,500 nationally representative general males using computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI). The questionnaire included the characteristics of population, the characteristics of PDE5Is use, the experience with the use of illegally obtained PDE5Is, and adverse events after PDE5Is use. Results: Among study population, the 1,015 (67.7%) men answered that they have used the illegally obtained PDE5Is. Younger age, single, lower frequency of PDE5Is use in a lifetime was associated with an increased use of illegally obtained PDE5Is. The men experienced adverse events after PDE5Is use is 528 (35.2%). The most common adverse event was mild to moderate hot flashes. Conclusion: We need to enhance awareness about the risk of illegally obtained PDE5Is use, especially in younger men and single. Proactive educations and public relations on safe use of PDE5Is for proper patients are needed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.394-405
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• 2011

Osteoporosis is a rising problem, as the older age population is increasing due to prolongation of life. Genetic and environmental factors play key roles in bone metabolism, and diet is also an important factor. We investigated the relationship among factors affecting bone mineral density (BMD), including daily food intake and nutrient intake in men aged >50 years. Seventy-eight men, who visited the health promotion center at one of the university medical centers, were divided into normal and osteopenia groups according to their BMD. The body weight of the normal group was significantly higher than that of the osteopenia group. The osteopenia group showed significantly higher carbohydrate intake and lower calcium and vegetable calcium intake compared to those in the normal group. Lumbar spine BMD was negatively correlated with energy, fat, vitamin B1, and sodium intake in the normal group. Additionally, femoral neck BMD was negatively correlated with total animal protein, energy, protein, fat, phosphorous, iron, animal iron, potassium, vitamin B1, B2, B6, and niacin intake. Lumbar spine BMD was positively correlated with fruit, calcium, vegetable calcium, animal calcium, and vitamin C intake in the osteopenia group. Femoral neck BMD was negatively correlated with meat, dairy product, total animal protein, plant protein, animal protein, vitamin A, and cholesterol intake. A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that several dietary factors affected BMD, including energy, fat, vitamin B1, B2, B6, niacin, sodium, protein, iron, animal iron, phosphorous, potassium, and animal protein in the normal group and zinc, calcium, vegetable calcium, animal calcium, vitamin C, fruit, protein, animal protein, meat, dairy product, carbohydrates, cholesterol, vegetables, mushrooms, and seasonings in the osteopenia group. These results indicate that adequate nutrient intake plays an important role maintaining optimum bone health in middle aged men.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2004

Dietary intakes and sources of vitamin B$_{6}$ in 72 healthy Korean elderly subjects (29 men,43 women, $\geq$57 years of age) living in the Seoul area were estimated using a modified Korean vitamin B$_{6}$ database. The dietary vitamin B$_{6}$ intake and food sources were estimated by the three day recall method with the help of a trained interviewer. Food portion sizes were estimated using standard household measures and published average portion sizes. The average daily vitamin B$_{6}$ intake was 2.06$\pm$0.46 mg/d in elderly men, and 1.94$\pm$ 0.47 mg/d in elderly women. Less than 5% of elderly men and 15% of elderly women consumed less than the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of vitamin B$_{6}$. The average ratios of vitamin Be intake to daily protein intake were 0.03 $\pm$ 0.01 mg/g in both elderly men and women. The intake of vitamin B$_{6}$ was significantly (p <0.01 ∼ p<0.001) and positively correlated to intakes of all other nutrients in elderly women, but was not significantly correlated to intakes of several nutrients in elderly men. Foods from animal and plant sources provided 24% and 76%, respectively, of the total vitamin B$_{6}$. Major dietary sources of vitamin B$_{6}$ in Korean elderly were rice, soybean sprout, kimchi, pork, beef, potatoes, garlic, onion, anchovy and kochujang. The major sources accounted for most of the vitamin B$_{6}$ intake with the top 20 foods providing nearly 75∼76% of the total vitamin B$_{6}$ in Korean elderly./ in Korean elderly.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.39-49
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• 1998

This paper is conducted to find out the current status of farmers's syndrome and injuries due to agricultural machines and pesticides by questionnaire during 4 days from July 31 to August 2, 1996. The subjects were 706 people, 332 of men and 384 of women those who live in a rural area in Yungduk-gun, Kyungsangbuk-do, Korea. The results obtained are as follow. 1. The rate of farmer's syndrome like that shoulder pain, lumbago, numbness, nocturia, dyspnea, insomnia dizziness and abdominal pain were generally higher in women than men except shoulder pain. Of them, lumbago was highest, 61.2% in men, and 78.1% in women respectively. It was higher in rate and older in age. 2. In the score of farmer's syndrome classified by Kumagai(1943) in Japan, the suspected cases with three points over 60.6% in men and 81.8% in women. 3. The prevalence of injuries by agricultural machine was 31.2% for a year from August 1995 to July 1996. The cumulative rate was 6.66%(11.8% in men and 2.34% in women) with previous cases from the before years. The major sites of injuries were arm, leg and chest in order. Among the injuries cases, 55.32% had been physical impediment. 4. The experience rate of intoxication by pesticides was 24.9% to total subjects. And dermatologic sign was 7.0%. Experience of treatment with only one time was 60.0%, and that with five times over, 20.0% Of them 18 cases had been administered in hospital.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.110-118
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• 2000

One-hundred thirty-six Chinese men and women who are members of the Malaysian Confucian Association from Kuala Lumpur city and suburbs were included in the study. They have been vegetarians for a mean period of about 6 years with the majority of them(91.2%) at lacto/ovo vegetarians. The average age of the male and female subjects in 33 and 34 years respectively. The mean BMI for the men and women are 22.5$\pm$2.4kg/$m^2$ respectively. The mean levels of serum total cholesterol, HDL-chol and LDL-chol for men are 4.27$\pm$0.77, 1,11$\pm$0.26 and 2.60$\pm$0.54mmol/L, while the corresponding values for women are 4.24$\pm$081, 1.34$\pm$0.29 and 2.41$\pm$0.28 mmol/L, All the respondents showed TC/HDL-chol levels within the normal cut-off point of <5.8mmol/L. Majority of the subjects showed normal range levels for serum retinol, carotenoids and $\alpha$-tocopherol. The mean systolic blood pressure for men and women are 122$\pm$16mmHg and 115$\pm$13mmHg, while their diastolic blood pressure are 82$\pm$7mmHg and 79$\pm$7mmHg respectively. Hypertension was found at a higher prevalence in men(17.6%) than among the women(7.1%). None of the respondents smoke cigarettes while approximately two-thirds of them carry out physical exercise at least once a week. their usual dietary intake includes frequent consumption of a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, nuts and legumes. In summary, Malaysian vegetarians have a low cardiovascular risk based on their health-oriented lifestyle.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.1048-1057
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to compare nutrient intake, health-related factors, and risk factors for metabolic syndrome and to investigate the prevalence odds ratio according to fruit and vegetable intake among middle-aged Korean men. Subjects included 1,677 men aged 40 - 64 years. The average intake of fruits and vegetables was $578.48{\pm}5.90g/day$. Forty-nine percent of the subjects were categorized into the deficient group based on the intake of fruits and vegetables, and the other subjects were categorized into the adequate group. There was a significant difference in the nutrient density per 1,000 kcal of energy, minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber between the fruit and vegetable intake groups (p<0.001). In terms of health-related factors, only the current smoking rate in the deficient group (57.9%) was higher than that in the adequate group (45.4%) (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the risk factors for metabolic syndrome between the fruit and vegetable intake groups. Proportion of serum triglycerides (42.6%) was the highest at a rate that exceeded the criteria for risk factors for metabolic syndrome, but systolic blood pressure (21.7%) showed a very low rate. The fasting blood glucose, serum triglycerides, and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in the deficient group than in the adequate group (p<0.05). Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 31.2%. OR for prevalence of metabolic syndrome related to fruit and vegetable intake was 1.270 times higher in the deficient group than in the adequate group (p<0.05). Also, when the daily fruit intake was increased by 100 g, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was reduced by 0.948 times but it was not related to the vegetable intake. The results of this study can be used as the basic data to establish the guidelines for fruit and vegetable intake for prevention of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged men.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.984-996
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Prior studies, mostly conducted in Western countries, have suggested that the low cost of energy-dense foods is associated with an increased risk of obesity. This study aimed to investigate the association between food costs and obesity risk among Koreans who may have different food cost and dietary patterns than those of Western populations. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We used baseline data from a cohort of 45,193 men and 83,172 women aged 40-79 years (in 2006-2013). Dietary intake information was collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Prudent and Western dietary patterns extracted via principal component analysis. Food cost was calculated based on Korean government data and market prices. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association of daily total, prudent, and Western food cost per calorie with obesity. RESULTS: Men in the highest total food cost quintile had 15% higher odds of obesity, after adjusting for demographic characteristics and lifestyle factors (adjusted odds ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.22; P-trend < 0.001); however, this association was not clear in women (P-trend = 0.765). While both men and women showed positive associations between prudent food cost and obesity (P-trends < 0.001), the association between Western food cost and obesity was only significant in men (P-trend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In countries in which consumption of Western foods is associated with higher food costs, higher food costs are associated with an increased risk of obesity; however, this association differs between men and women.