• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.468-478
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• 2014

Objectives: Intake of fruits and vegetables has protective effects against stroke attack. This study intended to examine the status of consuming fruits and vegetables and to find out which factors may influence the frequency of consumption of fruits and vegetables in individuals with a history of stroke. Methods: The data of 208 subjects from 5th (2010, 2011) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES) who reported a stroke diagnosis was used for analysis. To identify major factors influencing the consumption of fruits and vegetables, a classification-tree analysis was carried out. Results: Among those who reported a stroke diagnosis, the frequencies of consumption of fruits and vegetables were influenced by their age, place of residence (urban or rural), economic status, educational level, occupation, number of family members, frequency of eating out, and having meals (breakfast or lunch) with family members. Two factors from fruits and three factors from vegetables were generated by exploratory factor analyses. Urban residents ate fruits and vegetables more frequently in all factors than rural residents. Eating frequencies of 'seasonal fruits (orange, apple, strawberry, melon, pear and watermelon)', 'easily-accessible fruits (persimmon, tangerine, grape, peach, banana)', and 'Western-style vegetables (cabbage, mushroom, carrot, tomato, spinach)' were influenced by the socioeconomic status. Eating frequencies of 'Korean-style vegetables (bean sprout, radish leaves, pumpkin/squash, sea weed)', 'preserved vegetables (Korean cabbage, radish, laver, cucumber)' were influenced by having breakfast with family members. Conclusions: The results of this study suggested that by eating more fruits and vegetables, more preventive effects against secondary stroke attack are expected in stroke patients who live in the rural areas and who do not eat breakfast with family members. In addition, more outreach and education programs are needed for them.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.39-53
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• 2017

Insufficient vitamin D intake is a major health problem around the world. Recently, many studies have suggested that vitamin D intake may influence insulin resistance. However, little is known about the association between vitamin D and diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and diabetes mellitus in Korean adults. This study was a cross-sectional analysis of 3,686 participants of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2013~2014 aged 19 years and higher. The results showed that the mean serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) level in Korean adults was 16.77 ng/mL, and 74.2% of them had an insufficient serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) level (below 20 ng/mL). In normal and pre-diabetic groups, the serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) level significantly increased with age (P<0.001), but there was no significant difference relative to age in the diabetic group. Low vitamin D levels (25-hydroxy vitamin D < 10 ng/mL) were associated with increased fasting blood glucose levels, compared with optimal vitamin D levels (25-hydroxy vitamin D > 30 ng/mL), after adjusting for variables that may affect fasting blood glucose, but this result was not significant. In conclusion, although no significant association was observed between diabetes prevalence and vitamin D levels in this study, further studies are needed because the effect of vitamin D on diabetes remains controversial. This nutrient plays a crucial role in the body, and levels are insufficient in the Korean population.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2017

Objectives: Dental caries and periodontitis are major oral bacterial infections associated with dental plaque. Infection and inflammation play a role in carcinogenesis, and a significant link has been found between some highly prevalent oral and dental diseases and some types of cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between cancer and oral health among Korean adults. Methods: Data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to analyze the incidence of cancer according to oral health. Demographic and socioeconomic statuses and oral behavior of the participants was analyzed using complex chi-square tests. Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between a high DMFT index and cancer by calculating the 95% confidence intervals. Results: In total, 6,450 case-control subjects were included. Significant difference was observed in the DMFT index, but not in periodontal diseases, between the cases and controls. The odds ratio for cancer was 1.80 (95% confidence interval: 1.18 to 2.73) in the high-risk group. However, no significant difference was observed after adjusting for age, education level, and income. Conclusions: The results provide potential evidence of a significant association between cancer and oral disease.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.347-354
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• 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between pit and fissure sealants of the molars, and caries prevalence and experience to assess the effect of sealants on caries prevention. Methods: Data from 16,119 people were extracted from the seventh Korean national health and nutrition examination survey, which was conducted from 2016 to 2018. Demographic, socioeconomic, oral health-related behavioral, and oral examination survey data were collected as independent variables. SAS statistics for complex samples and multiple logistic regression analysis (Windows ver. 9.4) was used for the statistical analyses. Results: Caries prevalence and experience were significantly associated with age, sex, daily toothbrushing frequency, interdental cleaning, and having molar sealant. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed a significant association between having molar sealants and the caries prevalence and experience among participants under 30 years of age after adjusting socio-economic variables and toothbrushing-related factors. Conclusions: This study confirmed the effect of molar sealants on caries prevention in Korea. Our results support that the application of molar sealants in children, adolescents, and young individuals is effective in preventing caries.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.515-525
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• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the characteristics of nutrient intake according to metabolic syndrome in Korean elderly. Data on 1,200 elderly (men 545, women 655) over 65 years was obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010. The subjects were divided into metabolic syndrome (MetS) and normal groups based on NCEP-ATP III guidelines and by applying the Asia-Pacific definition with waist circumference. The prevalence of MetS was 48.9% in all subjects, 35.6% in men and 58.9% in women, respectively. All nutrient intake was significantly lower in MetS than normal subjects, except iron, vitamin A, carotene, and retinol. In the carbohydrate: protein: fat (C:P:F) ratio, MetS showed a higher rate for carbohydrate, but a lower rate for protein and fat than normal. MetS was lower in calcium, vitamin B1, and vitamin C by the nutrient adequacy ratio than normal. Mean adequacy ratio of MetS (0.69) was lower than that of the normal group (0.72). These results demonstrated that undernutrition, not excess intake of specific nutrients - energy, fat, or cholesterol was associated with the risk for MetS in Korean elderly with MetS. Therefore, it is recommended to have a healthy dietary pattern with diverse nutrients for the prevention of MetS.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.679-690
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Concerns about regional disparities in heathy eating and nutritional status among South Korean adults are increasing. This study aims to identify the magnitude of regional disparities in diet and nutritional status among Korean adults who completed the 2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). SUBJECTS/METHODS: The participants were a nationally representative sample of Korean adults aged 19 years and older from the 2017 KNHANES (n = 6,126). We employed the svy commands in STATA to accommodate the complex survey design. The relative concentration index (RCI), absolute concentration index (ACI) and index of disparity were used to measure regional nutritional inequalities. RESULTS: Overweight and obese adults were more prevalent among the poor than among the rich in urban areas (RCI = -0.041; P < 0.05), while overweight and obese adults were more prevalent among the rich than among the poor in rural areas of South Korea (RCI = 0.084; P < 0.05). Economic inequality in fruit and vegetable intake ≥ 500 g per day was greater in rural areas than in urban areas in both relative size (RCI = 0.228 vs. 0.091, difference in equality = 0.137; P < 0.05) and absolute size (ACI = 0.055 vs. 0.023, difference in equality = 0.032; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides useful information identifying opposite directions in the relative concentration curves between urban and rural areas. Adult overweight/obesity was more prevalent among the poor in urban areas, while adult overweight/obesity was more prevalent among the rich in rural areas. Public health nutrition systems should be implemented to identify nutritional inequalities that should be targeted across regions in South Korea.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.664-675
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the cross-sectional associations between dietary factors and the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in 12,755 subjects (males 5,146, females 7,609) aged 19 years or above using data from the 4th (2007-2009) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The prevalence of MetS in Korean adults was 23.6% (males 26.1%, females 20.9%) with the criteria for modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. While males had a higher prevalence of abdominal obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and high blood pressure than females, the prevalence of low HDL-cholesterol level was higher in females than in males. Among dietary guidelines, the response of 'yes' for asking practice of 'avoiding salty foods', and 'eating moderately and increasing physical activity for healthy weight' were significantly associated with the decreased risk of MetS in both males and in females. Especially, the risk of MetS was significantly lower in the subjects that responded the practice of all items of Korean Dietary Guidelines. Significantly negative associations with MetS were also found in the responding for practice of 'limiting consumption of alcoholic beverages' in males, and taking dietary supplements in females. Skipping breakfast was positively associated with the risk of MetS. In conclusion, dietary behaviors such as having breakfast, practice of dietary guidelines, and food consumption in moderation could modify the prevalence of MetS, and our findings could be useful for establishing guidelines for preventing MetS.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was to investigate how body-shape perception could influence to weight control practice both in normal and obese group. Methods: We used 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to analysis 1) weight control practices of population; 2) consistency between body-shape perception and body mass index; 3) comparison weight control practices between normal group and body mass index (BMI) obese group in perceptional obese group; 4) odds ratio of BMI obese group using herbal drugs for weight control practice in perceptional obese group. Results: We found that study population tends to choose exercise, dietary restriction, meal skip, health functional food, one-food, drug, herbal drug, fasting and self-medication in order of frequency to control weight. The agreement between body-shape perception and BMI within obese group was approximately 64% with 0.40 of Cohen's Kappa coefficient, ranging from 0.384 to 0.423. Within perceptional obese group, choosing each weight control practice methods ratios between normal BMI group and obese BMI group were not significantly different. Within perceptional obese group, obese BMI group showed significant odds ratio (2.58, 95% confidence intervals, 1.38~4.85) than normal BMI group in choosing herbal medication for weight loss when adjusting other variables. Conclusions: We concluded that body-shape perception might be an important factor for choosing weight control program, and roles of Korean medical doctors thought to be enhanced for using herbal medication for weight loss.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.471-481
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• 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the dietary quality of food consumed away from home among Korean children and adolescents. Methods: Data were obtained from the 2010~2012 KNHANES (Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) and included 3,583 subjects aged 7 to 18 years old. The frequency of food consumed away from home was dichotomized into more than once or less than once per day. Results: Thirty percent of subjects were shown to consume food away from home more than once per day, and older children from higher income households showed a higher frequency of food consumed away from home compared to other children. The percentage of children and adolescents cited as regularly skipping breakfast was 19%. Individuals who ate out more than once per day showed higher consumption of energy and sodium than those who ate out less than once per day. Conclusion: Excessive intakes of energy and sodium are associated with obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity-related diseases. Thus, there is a need for nutritional intervention and educational efforts to improve child nutrition and prevent obesity.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.251-258
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine the association nutrition education experience in regards to metabolic risk and nutrition intake in Korean adult male using the 2016~2017 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey as the reference. The study involved a total of 1,978 male subjects aged 40~64 who were classified into the 2 groups based on their nutrition education experience: Educated group (n=88) and non-educated group (n=1,890). The household income and education level of educated group were higher than those of the non-educated group. The two groups showed no significant difference in the level of fasting blood sugar, blood lipid profile including total cholesterol and triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and hypertension. Vitamin C intake of the educated group (127.5 mg) was higher compared to the non-educated group (88.2 mg) (p<0.05). The percentage of the subjects utilizing nutritional labels was higher in the educated group. The nutrition education experience was inversely proportional to lower Odds Ratio in hyperLDL-cholesterolemia (OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.36, 0.84) and HypoHDL-cholesterolemia (OR: 0.57, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.87). This result indicates that nutritional education can be used as an effective tool to avert chronic diseases and develop healthy eating habits.