• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1028-1041
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the potential of school meals in South Korea as a sustainable tool to reduce carbon emissions by focusing on animal- vs. plant-based protein foods. MATERIALS/METHODS: By using a stratified proportional allocation method, 536 out of the 11,082 schools nationwide were selected including 21 kindergartens, 287 elementary-, 120 middle- and 108 high schools. A total of 2,680 meals served for 5 consecutive days (June 21-25, 2021) were collected. We analyzed the average serving amounts of protein foods (animal- vs. plant-based) per meal and then, calculated the estimated average amounts of carbon emission equivalents per meal by applying the conversion coefficients. The t-test and analysis of variance were used for statistical analyses (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The average serving amount of animal-based protein foods per meal was 12.5 g, which was approximately 3 times higher than that of plant-based ones (3.8 g) (P < 0.001); the Meat-group had the highest average amount of 17.0 g, followed by Egg-group (9.6 g), Fish-group (7.6 g), and Beans-and-Nuts-group (3.8 g) (P < 0.05). Specifically, pork (25.1 g) was ranked first, followed by poultry (19.6 g), processed meat products (18.0 g). The estimated average amount of carbon emission equivalents of animal-based protein foods per meal was 80.1 g CO₂e, which was approximately 31 times higher than that of plant-based ones (2.6 g CO₂e) (P < 0.001); the Meat-group had the highest average amount of 120.3 g CO₂e, followed by Fish-group (44.5 g CO₂e), Egg-group (25.9 g CO₂e), and Beans-and-Nuts-group (2.6 g CO₂e) (P < 0.05). Specifically, processed meat products (270.8 g CO₂e) were ranked first, followed by pork (91.7 g CO₂e), and processed fish products (86.6 g CO₂e). CONCLUSIONS: The results implied that school meals with plant-based alternatives could be a sustainable tool to improve carbon footprint.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.138-146
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• 2019

Vitamin $B_3$ (niacin) is essential for all living cells and plays a central role in energy metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation. Vitamin $B_3$, a water-soluble vitamin, is present in the form of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, a monocarboxylic acid derivative of pyridine. While nicotinic acid is commonly effective in lowering cholesterol levels, unlike nicotinic acid, nicotinamide is ineffective on lipids. Presence rates of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, which are the available forms of vitamin $B_3$, are different for each food. However, the studies in the literature are generally based on the analysis of total amount of vitamin $B_3$ in foods and the studies determining the profile of vitamin $B_3$ in foods are limited. The aim of the study was to determine the vitamin $B_3$ profiles of 10 kinds of animal based food and 10 different plant based food samples. In this study, 10 kinds of animal based food samples consisting of veal (veal steak fillet), chicken (breast), turkey meat (thigh), goat meat (leg, belly), lamb (leg, back, arm), mutton (belly), bovine meat (loin) and 10 different plant based food samples namely; barley, rye, wheat (bread), wheat (durum), oat, rice, dried pea, green lentil, red lentil and chickpea were studied by high performance liquid chromatography using post-column derivatization system. The presence rates of nicotinic acid and nicotinamide were determined in the meat samples as 30% and 70% and as 87% and 13% in the cereal and legume samples, respectively. Nicotinic acid levels were found in low amounts in the meat samples. The amounts of nicotinic acid in the cereal and legume samples were significantly higher than the meat samples. Consequently, the plant based foods such as cereals and legumes, with a ratio of 87% nicotinic acid presence, standout as the best source of nicotinic acid and encouraging regular intake of those cereals and legumes containing rich nicotinic acid would remove nicotinic acid deficiency in human.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.99-108
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• 2022

This study identifies the perceptions and choice attributes toward plant-based foods and identifies the differences between vegetarians and omnivores. We conducted an online survey of 245 vegetarians and 246 omnivores. The results reveal a significant difference between vegetarians and omnivores. Compared to omnivores, vegetarians perceived that plant-based food products would be 'good taste', 'animal-friendly', and 'consistent with their personal value'. Omnivore scores were higher in the perception that it would be 'good for health' and 'environment-friendly'. No statistically significant difference was obtained between both diet groups when considering the factor of nutrition. When considering choice as an attribute for plant-based food products, vegetarians responded that 'ingredients' were the most important, while omnivores responded that 'taste' was the most important. These results can be used as basic data for developing and promoting plant-based food products in South Korea.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.242-248
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• 2013

In recent years, manufacturers of animal-based foods with health claims have encountered difficulties in the labeling of their products because of a lack of regulation on defining the functionality of animal-based foods. Therefore, this study was conducted to establish the basic requirements for the development of a definition for functional animal-based foods by investigating consumer and industry awareness. Survey data were collected from 114 industry representatives and 1,100 consumers. The questions of the survey included items on production status and future production plans, functionality labeling, promotion plans, establishment of definition, the role of the government, consumer perception, and selection of products. The results show that both industry representatives and consumers believe that legislation and the provision of scientific evidence should be improved for the development of a functional animal-based foods market. The results obtained from this study will contribute to consumer trust by supplying correct information and can be utilized in the industry as basic data for the development of functional animal-based food products.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.10a
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• pp.21-21
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• 2018

Natural product substances have historically served as the most significant also be prepared by source of new leads for pharmaceutical development. They can chemical synthesis(both semisynthesis and total synthesis) and have played a important role in the field of organic chemistry by providing synthetic targets. Rcently, they have also been extended for commercial purpose to refer to medicinal products, health functional foods, dietary supplements and cosmetics from natural sources. A large number of currently prescribed drugs have been either directly derived from or inspired by natural products. However, with the advent of robotics, bioinformatics, high throughput screening(HTS), molecular biology-biotechnology, combinatorial chemistry, in silico(molecular modeling) and other methodologies, the pharmaceutical industry has largely moved away from plant derived natural products as a source for leads and prospective drug candidates. The strategy for natural prduct industry is now changing from drug approaches to health foods by identifying effective natural products as preparations. In Korea, a lot of development of natural product based drugs have been done, but very few on health functional foods. The concept of natural product based health foods is not active components as lead compounds but standardized extracts or preparation mixed with other medicinal plants. The representative material has been recently known to be a standardized ginseng extract "Ginsana G 115" developed by Swiss Pharmaton company. The purpose of this presentation is to underline how natural products research continues to make significant contributions in the domain of discovery and development of new health functional foods. It is proposed to present the development of high value added health food or health functional foods through scientific investigation on efficacy and standardization of new materials form natural products.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.167-171
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• 2001

The introduction of genetically modified crops has raised concerns regarding safety issues over the insertion of foreign genes into plant genomes using recombinant DNA technology. Since 1991 in Japan, 29 foods and 6 food additives have been evaluated, based on the "Guideline for Safety Assessment", before these foods were marketed. The MHW, however, decided that safety assessment of such foods and food additives should be legally imposed. because soon such foods and food additives are expected to circulate globally and a new system for assessing safety of such foods and food additives at a pre-market stage is necessary, in order to avoid the distribution of any genetically modified foods that have had no safety assessment. The MHW published relevant announcements to amend existing regulations on 1 May 2000. "Standards for safety assessment of seed plant" is established based on a concept of substantial equivalence, and applicable to the products which are regarded as equivalent to the existing products used as foods and food additives. The characterization of the food products entails consideration of the molecular characterization. phenotypic and compositional characteristics, key nutrients and toxicants, and toxicity and allergenicity of the introduced proteins, and if there are indications of unintended effects of the modification, whether further safety testing (animal studies etc.) is needed should be considered. Safety and wholesomeness studies with whole foods should be care fully designed in order to avoid nutritional imbalances causing artifacts and uninterpretable results as was the case of Dr. Pusztaiis report. A case study of genetically modified soybeans (glyphosate-tolerant soybeans) on the immune system of rats and mice is shown. Chemical compositions were also compared with those of the non-GM soybeans. The studies failed to detect any differences in immuno-toxic activity.muno-toxic activity.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.199-217
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• 2023

People with higher genetic predisposition to obesity are more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and healthy plant-based foods may be associated with reduced risks of obesity and other metabolic markers. We investigated whether healthy plant-foods-rich dietary patterns might have inverse associations with cardiometabolic risk factors in participants at genetically elevated risk of obesity. For this cross-sectional study, 377 obese and overweight women were chosen from health centers in Tehran, Iran. We calculated a healthy plant-based diet index (h-PDI) in which healthy plant foods received positive scores, and unhealthy plant and animal foods received reversed scores. A genetic risk score (GRS) was developed based on 3 polymorphisms. The interaction between GRS and h-PDI on cardiometabolic traits was analyzed using a generalized linear model (GLM). We found significant interactions between GRS and h-PDI on body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.02), body fat mass (p = 0.04), and waist circumference (p = 0.056). There were significant gene-diet interactions for healthful plant-derived diets and BMI-GRS on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p = 0.03), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.04), alanine transaminase (p = 0.05), insulin (p = 0.04), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (p = 0.002). Adherence to h-PDI was more strongly related to decreased levels of the aforementioned markers among participants in the second or top tertile of GRS than those with low GRS. These results highlight that following a plant-based dietary pattern considering genetics appears to be a protective factor against the risks of cardiometabolic abnormalities.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.37-42
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• 2004

The relatively new concept of functional foods is supportive of sales of food products that deliver isolated 'nutrient' or 'food compound' substances, much as is done by dietary supplements. Whether such isolated substances have benefit must be investigated in each instance; such investigations can be complex. At the same time, simply prepared natural plant foods contain a myriad of substances that, in accord with the concept of food synergy, are beneficial for health. Whole grain foods are an example of such healthy fare, based on strong epidemiologic and experimental evidence. If the concept of functional foods is to be of use for the public health, it should support the consumption of healthy traditional foods as well as promoting 'novel' foods; in this sense, whole grain foods, which have great functionality, should be regarded as functional foods.

• Food Science and Industry
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.148-165
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• 2020

At beginning the fermentation is naturally occurred by natural microbes. Fermentation techniques apply as two ways, one is fermentation to produce fermented foods and the other is preservation of the foods for longer time for future. They contain various biological active ingredient, like as vitamins. Microorganisms concerning fermentation are well known the functionalities. Each nations in the world have unique and distinct foods and dietary habits on their own specific cultures and accessible edible raw resources of plant or animal origins. Many countries have their unique traditional fermented foods based on their natural conditions. Korea has very famous traditional fermented foods, as Kimchi, fermented soybean products(Jang), fermented fish products(Jeotgal) and vinegar. In this review will discuss the overall fermented foods and typical Korean traditional fermented foods with functionalities, and future effort to enlarge into wide range of new industry.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2021

Vegetarians have claimed and actively promoted the advantages of plant-based alternative milks as the best option for human nutrition and health, compared to the natural dairy milk. However, numerous scientific evidences and reports have demonstrated that the natural milk possesses more beneficial nutrients and bioactive components than artificially manufactured plant-derived milks. The biochemical and nutritional advantages and functionalities of natural dairy milk cannot be replaced by man-made or crafted plant-based beverage products. On the other hand, the tremendous increase in production and consumption of the plant-based alternative milks in recent years has led a serious business downturn in traditional roles and stability of the dairy industry, especially in the major dairy producing Western countries. Although plant-based milk alternatives may have some benefits on nutrition and health of certain consumers, the plant-derived alternative milks may not overshadow the true values of natural milk. Milk is not a high fat and high cholesterol food as animal meat products. Unlike plant-based alternative milks, natural milk contains many bioactive as well as antiappetizing peptides, which can reduce body weight. It has proven that taking low-fat, cultured and lactase treated milk and dairy products with other diversified nutritionally balanced diets have been shown to be healthier dietary option than plant-based milk/foods alone.