• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2003

Iron deficiency and anemia are severe nutrition problems in most of Korea. Iron intake, especially iron with better bioavailability is insufficient over a total age group. Recent changes in diet and life style of Koreans have been repeatedly suggested problems caused by excess nutrient intake rather than under intake. Despite the changes in diet patterns, iron deficient anemia is still prevalent in many parts of Korea. Eight hundred and fifty subjects (323 male and 527 female subjects) in Asan were recruited from farming, factory and urban area. Each subject was interviewed to assess nutrients intakes according to a 24hr-recall method. Twelve hour fasting blood samples were collected to vacutainer with EDTA for hemoglobin (Hb) and separate the tubes for serum iron (SI) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC). The mean serum iron value of female subjects in the factory area was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the female subjects in the urban area although subjects in urban area showed significantly higher the dietary iron intake for both the men and woman (p < 0.05). Dietary iron intake for the younger women was lowest in the farming area and those in the urban area showed the highest dietary iron intake (p < 0.05). When the dietary iron intake was compared by different the age groups, dietary iron intake of the older women from animal sources was less than that of younger women in the urban area (p < 0.05). Dietary iron intake of Asan residents was not sufficient regardless of age, sex and regions and intake of heme iron was especially lower than nonheme iron. (J Community Nutrition 5(1) : 37∼43, 2003)

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 1998

The present study was designed to compare the nutrient intake and iron status of athletic female students majoring in aerobics (n=18) to those of age-matched(20-22 yr) sedentary controls (n=19). The athletic students were exercising regularly for 9.1$\pm$1.4 hrs/wk and the mean training period of aerobics was 2.9$\pm$0.2 years. Means of height, weight, and body mass index calculated as the Quetlet index were similar between athletic and sedentary students. However, mean body fat % of the athletic students (22.3$\pm$1.0%) was significantly lower than that of the sedentary controls (25.8$\pm$0.6%), indicating the effects of routine exercise. Mean daily iron intake was not significantly different between groups (9.9$\pm$0.7 mg vs. 10.9$\pm$0.8 mg), but much lower than the Korean RDA (18 mg/d) in both groups. Dietary calcium intake of the athletic students was significantly lower than that of the sedentary controls. Hematocrit (Hct) and hemoglobin (Hb) values were significantly lower in the athletic students than in the sedentary students (Hct : 40.0$\pm$0.7% vs. 43.8$\pm$0.5% ; Hb : 12.6$\pm$0.3g/dl vs. 14.8$\pm$0.3 g/dl). However, other iron status values such as serum iron, TIBC, and transferrin saturation were not significantly different between groups. Therefore, the low hemoglobin levels in the athletic group are probably due to plasma dilution in endurance-trained individuals. Serum ferritin level was a little lower in the athletic group, but no significant difference between groups was found. Serum triglyceride concentration in the athletic students was significantly lower than that in the control students. In conclusion the findings suggest that regular training of female athletes majoring in aerobics is associated with an increased risk of pseudoanemia due to plasma volume expansion and a decreased risk of coronary heart disease by decreasing body fat and blood lipid level.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.90-101
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• 2002

This study was undertaken to investigate the nutrient intake, dietary behavior, perception of body image and iron deficiency of high school adolescent girls. The subjects were 463 high school girls in Inchon. This cross-sectional survey was conducted by questionnaires and data were analysed by SAS program. Nutrient intakes collected from 3 day-retails were analyzed by the Computer Aided Nutritional Analysis Program. The following anthropometric measurements were made on all participants height, weight, body fat (%), skinfold thirkness, subscapular skinfold thickness, mid-upper arm circumference and waist-hip circumference. Blood samples were obtained and analyzed for iron nutritional status. The mean obesity index of rural students were highest among students. However, over 18% of the urban and rural students belonged to the low-weight group. Proportions of skipping meals were most high in urban vocational students and the main reason was lack of time for meal. Most nutrient intakes of the students were below the RDA, in particular calcium, iron, vitamin A and vitamin B$_2$. Most of the students were concerned with body image and weight control. Also they were not satisfied with their body image. The mean fell hemoglobin and transferrin saturation of rural students were lowest among students. The total binding capacity of urban vocational student\ulcorner were Invest among students. Prevalence of iron deficiency was most high in urban general students when judged by Hb, MCV and serum ferritin. In conclusion, this study indicates that nutrient intake in the female high school students was considerably lower than RDA. They should also be notified that severe weight control is very harmful for health. And they had lower self -satisfaction for their body image and undesirable flood habits. Therefore, prefer nutrition education is required to maintain desirable flood habits and improve their iron status in female high school students.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.483-489
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate dietary habits, and to evaluate the relationship between nutritional status and certain blood parameters in premenopausal and postmenopausal women living in Daejeon. Adult Korean females(n=110) that had visited the Health Promotion Center of Eulji University Hospital were analyzed. We examined blood parameters, body composition, and life style factors such as food habits and physical activity in pre- and post-menopausal women. The collected data were then analyzed to evaluate the various items. Overall, there were no differences between the pre- and post-menopausal women for food habit score, or for intakes of energy, protein, Int, iron, vitamin A, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, vitamin C, and calcium. However, carbohydrate intake was significantly higher in the postmenopausal women than in the premenopausal women. The Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans(KDRIs), in terms of energy, fat, calcium, vitamin A and vitamin $B_1$, were less than 100% in both the premenopausal women and postmenopausal women. All intakes of protein, iron, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, and vitamin C satisfied the KDRIs in both groups. Finally, the postmenopausal women had higher serum fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and alkaline phosphatase levels than the premenopausal women.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.226-231
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• 2005

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of supplementary diet in infants. Influence of appropriate dietary habits on infants was also examined by being applicable to diets fortified chewiness as a means of intervention. The iron supplementary diet was supported to the healthy infants twice a day for three months. Measures of hemoglobin, hematocrit, RBC count, serum iron, TIBC, ferritin, development examination, and dietary intake patterns of experimental group (n = 25) and control group (n = 20) were performed before and after the intervention. The amount of iron intake from the supplementary diet in the experimental group was $1.77{\pm}0.80 {\cal}mg/day$. After the intervention period, the experimental group not only had increased intakes of grains also decreased intakes of milk. Outcomes observed in infants receiving iron intervention showed that the improved trend of excessive milk intakes and the possibility as a regular diet by serving the iron supplementary diet which can apply to main dish. All measures in blood did not provide significant differences except TIBC between the experimental and the control group before the intervention. But, after the intervention, the experimental group improved most levels of measures, especially significance in hemoglobin, but serum iron. Development of two groups did not differ significantly and both groups were in the range of normal infants' development. However, the levels of MDI and PDI evaluated by BSID-II in the experimental group were slightly higher than the control. Furthermore, the development of cognitive and languistic function was associated with infant growth in the experimental group. In conclusion, this research demonstrated that the iron supplementary diet could affect the iron status and the development of infants despite low-dose supplementation of iron.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2003

This study was designed to assess the nutritional iron status and anemia of middle school girls. Three-hundred-fifty- three female subjects in Ulsan metropolitan city were evaluated using a questionnaire, and hematological indices. The average height and weight of the respondents were 157.19 $\pm$ 5.57 cm and 51.06 $\pm$ 9.42 kg respectively. The average Body Mass Index (BMI, $kg/m^2$) was 20.63 $\pm$ 3.23, which was within the normal range. With regard to clinical symptoms, the greatest number of respondents reported that they experienced 'decreased ability to concentrate'. The total caloric intake of each subject was 1743.28 $\pm$ 343.47 kcal(83.01% of the Korean RDA) and the calcium intake was 634.98 $\pm$ 201.43 mg (79.37% of the Korean RDh) . The mean daily intake of iron was 14.76 : 4.36 mg (92.25% of the Korean RDh) and the heme iron intake was 6.12 $\pm$ 2.30 mg, which was 41.5% of the total iron intake. The average hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of the subjects was 13.24 $\pm$ 1.01 g/dl, and the average hematocrit (Hct) level was 37.79 $\pm$ 4.10%. The transferrin saturation {TS (%)} was 19.41 $\pm$ 9.21%, and the ferritin level was 26.26 $\pm$ 18.60 ng/ml. The iron deficiency anemia among the subjects was estimated at 6.1% by using Hb (< 12 g/ml), 20.5% by using Hct (< 36%), 30.8% by using 75 (< 14%) , and 23.1% by using ferritin (< 12 ng/ml) The total iron binding capacity (TIBC) showed a negative correlation with the Hb, iron, ferritin and 75. With regard to the correlation between blood biochemistry and clinical symptoms related to anemia, the Hb concentration was negatively correlated with 'pale face'(p < 0.05) . In addition, the level of iron was significantly and negatively correlated with 'poor memory' (p<0.01) and the ferritin concentration was negatively correlated with 'no appetite '(p < 0.05) ,'pale face (p < 0.05) . These results suggest that the prevalence of iron deficiency among middle school girls is very high; therefore, guidelines on dietary support and nutritional education to improve their dietary iron status should be provided.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.750-755
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• 2005

Hepcidin, a peptide hormone synthesized mainly by the liver, has been implicated as a key regulator of iron homeostasis. Results from studies with experimental animal models suggested that hepcidin levels are related with body iron status, but little data is available in human subjects. This study was conducted to determine the relationship between serum pro-hepcidin levels, blood indexes of anemia, and dietary iron intake in female college students. Serum pro-hepcidin concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in eighty-two women with $22.1\pm0.2$ years old. Dietary intake data were collected by using the 24-hour recall method for 3 days. Mean concentrations of serum pro-hepcidin were 85.1 ng/ml$\pm$6.1(s.d.) with the range of 13.6-295.7 ng/ml. The median value of serum pro-hepcidin in the study subjects was 70.3 ng/ml. Serum pro-hepcidin concentrations were positively correlated with hemoglobin concentrations (r=0.273, p=0.013), and also with hematocrit (r=0.291, p=0.008). To examine whether the level of dietary iron intake affects serum pro-hepcidin levels, study subjects were divided into two groups according to the amounts of daily iron intake. Serum pro-hepcidin concentrations were $22\%$ lower in groups with low iron intake (${\leq}10.1$ mg/day), compared to high-iron intake group (>10.1 mg/day) . In conclusion, these data, as in agreement with findings in mice, suggest that hepcidin plays an important role in regulating iron metabolism in the human body.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2001

This study was designed to assess the iron nutritional status and anemia of high school students. 383 female subjects in Ulsan Metropolitan city were evaluated using a questionnaire, and a measurement of hematological indices. The average height and weight of the respondents were 161.24$\pm$4.90 cm and 53.12$\pm$6.37kg, repectively. The average BMI(body mass index) was 20.43$\pm$2.26 which was in the normal ramge. The average hemoglobin(Hb) concentration of the subjects was 13.14$\pm$0.97g/dl, and the average hematocrit(Hct) level was 40.84$\pm$17.40%. Transferrin saturation{TS(%)} was 20.86$\pm$10.32%, and the ferritin by Hct(＜36%), 27.2%by TS(＜14%),26.6% by ferritin(＜12 ng/ml). As for clinical symptoms, the greatest number of respondents reported that they experienced ‘decreased ability to concectrate’. Mean daily intakes of iron were 14.89$\pm$4.48 mg and heme iron intakes were 5.04$\pm$2.13 mg, which was 29.6% of total iron intake. The total iron binding capacity(TIBC) was negatively correlated with Hb concentration(r= -0.222, p＜0.01). Serum ferritin was positively correlated with Hb concentration(r= - 0.323, p＜0.05) and negatively correlated with TIBC(r= -0.367, p＜0.01). TS(%) was positively correlated with Hb concentration(r= 0.402, p＜0.01) and positively correlated with serum ferritin(r=0.413, p＜0.01). As for the correlation between blood biochemistry and clinical symptoms related to anemia, the Hb concentration was negatively correlated with ‘shortening of breath when going upstairs(p＞0.05)’ and ‘cold hands and feet’ significantly(r= -0.109, p＜0.05). The level of Mean corpuscular volume(MCV) was negatively correlated with ‘feel dizzy when standing up’,‘tired out easily’, and ‘decrease ability to concentrate’ significantly(p＜0.05). In particular, the level of Fe was negatively correlated with ‘shortening of breath when going upstairs’ and ‘feeling blue’ significantly(p＜0.01). These results suggest That the prevalence of iron deficiency of female high school students is very high, therefore guidelines for diet supports and nutrition education to improve their iron status should be provided.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.203-211
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• 2011

Previous studies have shown that plant-based vegetarian diets, which typically contain a variety of antioxidants and dietary fiber, help reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and cancer. However, some studies have reported that vegetarian diets can lead to deficiencies in protein and trace minerals compared to non-vegetarian diets. This study was conducted to compare anthropometric measurements, blood parameters, dietary intake, and hair mineral status in long-term vegetarians (MV; moderate vegan, LV; lacto-ovo vegetarian) and non-vegetarians (NV). Thirty MV (12 males, 18 females; mean age, $50.58{\pm}5.05$ years), 15 LV (11 males, four females; mean age, $49.45{\pm}4.97$ years), and 30 NV (15 males, 15 females; mean age, $48.90{\pm}3.62$ years) participated. No significant differences were observed for age, height, weight, or body mass index, but body fat was significant lower in MV and LV males than that in NV males. White blood cell counts of MV, LV, and NV male subjects were significantly different. Dietary intake data showed that plant protein and plant iron intake were significantly higher in MV and LV than those in NV. Animal protein, animal fat, and animal iron intake were significantly higher in NV than those in MV and LV. A hair mineral analysis showed that calcium and iron were higher in the hair of MV and LV than those in NV. Zinc concentration in hair was not significantly different among the groups. The results suggest that vegetarian diets are adequate to sustain mineral status to at least the same degree as that of non-vegetarian diets.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1112-1120
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• 1996

This study was carried out to estimate the relationship between dietary intakes, blood levels, and urinary excretions of zine, copper, and iron and serum lipids in 30 healthy adults living in Korean rural area. Analyses for the nutritional status of the subjects were performed by 3-day intake recored, duplicated diet collections, 24-hour urine collection, and venous blood sampling before measuring of blood pressure. The daily intakes of zinc, copper, and iron estimated for 3 days were 8.2mg, 3.0mg, and 12.7mg in men and 8.4mg, 3.7mg, and 12.3mg in women, respectively. The serum contents of cholesterol, triglyceride, and HDL-cholesterol were 165.9mg/dl, 119.4mg/dl, and 43.7mg/dl in men and 154.1mg/dl, 88.2mg/dl, and 47.1mg/dl in women, respectively. The serum levels of zine, copper, and iron were 146.0ug/dl, 120.3ug/dl, and 131.1ug/dl in men and 140.6ug/dl, 117.3ug/dl, and 112.2ug/dl in women, respectively. In the relation between dietary intakes, serum levels, and urinary excretions of these minerals, there were significantly positive correlation between zine intake and copper intake(p<0.05), copper intake and urinary excretion(p<0.001), and iron intake and serum zine level(p<0.05). In the relation between these minerals and serum lipids, dietary zine showed positive correlation with triglyceride(p<0.05), and serum zine/copper ratio showed negative correlation with HDL-cholesterol (p<0.05).