• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.40-48
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• 2010

Objectives The purpose of this study is to get the basic information about the actual amount of consumption of the Health supplements and Herbal Medicines. Also, we investigated the consumption differences according to the regions. Methods 500 questionnaires were handed out to parents of elementary students in O O, Gyeonggi-do province, and 331 questionnaires were collected and evaluated for this study. Results Among the 331 students, 58.4% were female, and 41.6% were male. The percentages of the subjects consuming health supplements and herbal medicines were 67.4% and 59.2% respectively. The maximum period of taking the health supplements were from 1 month to 6 month (49.5%), and the maximum period of taking the herbal medicine was within one month (55.6%). The total cost of the health supplements was less than 100,000won (43.7%), which was the most common while herbal medicine cost was between 100,000won and 200,000won (40.6%). The most common age of consuming the health supplements and herbal medicine for the first time was six to ten years old (47.3%); the case of herbal medicine was one to six years old (64.0%). Most of people purchased health supplements from pharmacy (48.0%), and purchased the herbal medicine from the oriental medical clinic (61.8%). Among those people who purchased health supplements, they bought nutritional supplements (82.8%), red ginseng or ginseng products (43.4%), plum extract products (10.9%), and chlorella products (6.8%). The reason for consuming health supplements was to be healthier even though there is no ongoing illness (47.1%), which was the most common reason. The reason for consuming herbal medicine was to cure weakness (39.3%). For the responses about effectiveness after taking medications, people thought herbal medicine seemed to be more effective compare to health supplements (72.3%, 63% respectively). Only 1.4% of the subjects consuming the health supplements showed adverse effects while herbal medicine showed 4.6%. The most common adverse effects were 'general reaction' caused by the health supplements and dermatologic problems caused by the herbal medications. Conclusions Among 331 subjects, the percentage of consuming the health supplements (67.4%) was higher than the Herbal Medicine (59.2%). The total consuming cost of the herbal medications was higher than general health supplements. Also, the maximum period of consuming the health supplements was longer than herbal medications. Therefore, it is shown that herbal medications have no price competitiveness compare to health supplements. The age of using the herbal medicine for the first time was younger than the health supplements. Even though many people can purchase both health supplements and herbal medication from pharmacies and local oriental medical clinic, it is also shown that some people thought that the health supplements should be purchased from oriental medical hospital (13.9%). The most commonly taken forms of the health supplement was nutrition-supplying products, and the second common health supplements were ginseng and red ginseng. The health supplements were commonly consumed for preventing illness and for maintaining healthy life rather than for cure diseases. On the other hand, the herbal medicine was more commonly consumed to be taller or to treat diseases. More than half of the entire people replied as 'satisfied' for their purchase. Some adverse effects and general reaction were common with the subjects consuming health supplements while dermatological adverse reaction was common with the subjects consuming herbal medications.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.323-334
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate intakes of macronutrients and antioxidant vitamins according to the Hansik consumption rate among Korean adults. Methods: Using data from the 2007~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 33,069 subjects aged over 19 years old were included in this study. We estimated individual daily Hansik consumption rates and intakes of macronutrients and antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin A and its subgroup such as retinol, ${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene, and ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin, vitamin C, and vitamin E, by linking food consumption data with the nutrient and antioxidant vitamin database of commonly consumed foods. Results: Around 75% of subjects consumed Hansik in over 75% of their daily total consumed food. The most frequently consumed Hansik was cabbage kimchi (1.57 times/day), followed by multigrain rice (0.86 times/day) and white rice (0.80 times/day). The household income level and education level was inversely associated with the Hansik consumption rate. There was a positive relationship between Hansik consumption rate and vitamin A, ${\beta}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin, and vitamin C intakes. On the other hand, Hansik consumption rate was inversely associated with energy and fat intake. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that Hansik consumption could provide more antioxidant vitamins and less energy and fat. Thus, further research will be needed to analyze the association between Hansik and health effects.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.268-276
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• 2014

Purpose: The aim of this study is to estimate total sugar intake and identify major food sources of total sugar intake in the diet of the Korean population. Methods: Dietary intake data of 33,745 subjects aged one year and over from the KNHANES 2008-2011 were used in the analysis. Information on dietary intake was obtained by one day 24-hour recall method in KNHANES. A database for total sugar content of foods reported in the KNHANES was established using Release 25 of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, a total sugar database from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and information from nutrition labeling of processed foods. With this database, total sugar intake of each subject was estimated from dietary intake data using SAS. Results: Mean total sugar intake of Koreans was 61.4 g/person/day, corresponding to 12.8% of total daily energy intake. More than half of this amount (35.0 g/day, 7.1% of daily energy intake) was from processed foods. The top five processed food sources of total sugar intake for Koreans were granulated sugar, carbonated beverages, coffee, breads, and fruit and vegetable drinks. Compared to other age groups, total sugar intake of adolescents and young adults was much higher (12 to 18 yrs, 69.6 g/day and 19 to 29 yrs, 68.4 g/day) with higher beverage intake that beverage-driven sugar amounted up to 25% of total sugar intake. Conclusion: This study revealed that more elaborated and customized measures are needed for control of sugar intake of different subpopulation groups, even though current total sugar intake of Koreans was within the range (10-20% of daily energy intake) recommended by Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans. In addition, development of a more reliable database on total sugar and added sugar content of foods commonly consumed by Koreans is warranted.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.258-268
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate dietary vitamin A intake and examine major food sources of vitamin A in Korean adults. Methods: Using data from the 2007~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 33,069 subjects over 19-years-old were included in this study. We estimated individual daily intakes of retinol, carotenoids such as ${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene, and vitamin A by linking food consumption data with the vitamin A database of commonly consumed foods. We compared individual vitamin A intakes with the reference value of Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans. Results: Average dietary vitamin A intakes of study subjects were $864.3{\mu}g$ retinol equivalent/day ($495.7{\mu}g$ retinol activity equivalent/day) in men and $715.0{\mu}g$ retinol equivalent/day ($403.6{\mu}g$ retinol activity equivalent/day) in women. Exactly 42.9% and 70.6% of total subjects consumed less vitamin A than the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) based on retinol equivalent and retinol activity equivalent, respectively. The major food sources of vitamin A were Korean radish leaves, carrot, red pepper, and laver, and the top 20 foods provided about 80% of total vitamin A intake. Conclusion: This study provides basic data for estimation of vitamin A intake in Korean adults. Further research will be needed to analyze the association of insufficient or excess intakes of vitamin A and health problems in the Korean population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.483-493
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine trends in dietary vitamin E intakes and contributing food groups among Korean adults. Methods: This study included 66,695 subjects aged ${\geq}19years$ who completed a nutrition survey as part of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1998, 2001, 2005, 2007~2009, 2010~2012, 2013~2015). We estimated individual daily intakes of ${\alpha}-$, ${\beta}-$, ${\gamma}-$, ${\delta}-tocopherol$, and total vitamin E by linking food consumption data with a vitamin E database of commonly consumed foods. Results: Daily vitamin E intake significantly increased from $6.4mg\;{\alpha}-TE/d$ in 1998 to $7.7mg\;{\alpha}-TE/d$ in 2013~2015 (p for trend < 0.0001) among men as well as from $5.4mg\;{\alpha}-TE/d$ in 1998 to $6.5mg\;{\alpha}-TE/d$ in 2013~2015 among women (p for trend < 0.0001). However, the intake of vitamin E was lower than the adequate intake (AI) of Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans 2015 (2015 KDRI). In 2013~2015, men consumed 6.5 mg/d of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$, 0.5 mg/d of ${\beta}-tocopherol$, 6.0 mg/d of ${\gamma}-tocopherol$, and 3.9 mg/d of ${\delta}-tocopherol$, whereas women consumed 5.7 mg/d of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$, 0.4 mg/d of ${\beta}-tocopherol$, 4.8 mg/d of ${\gamma}-tocopherol$, and 2.8 mg/d of ${\delta}-tocopherol$. The major food groups contributing to vitamin E intake were vegetables (men: 23.3%, women: 22.7%), grains (men: 14.5%, women: 13.9%), and eggs (men: 13.0%, women: 12.5%). Conclusion: This study provides scientific evidence for vitamin E intake in Korean adults. Since the current intake of vitamin E was lower than the reference intakes set by 2015 KDRI, dietary vitamin E intake should be monitored regularly among Korean adults.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1529-1536
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• 2004

This study was designed to determine total trans fatty acids (tFAs) content of processed foods commonly consumed in the Korean diet and to prepare the database for the estimation of tFAs intake in Koreans. Total fat and tFAs content was determined by Soxhlet extraction method and attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATR-IR), respectively. The tFAs positional isomers were analyzed using GC/MS spectrometer. In margarines, the content of tFAs ranged from 8.27% to 28.53%. Shortenings contained higher levels of tFAs (1.98~11.33%) than lards (1.83~1.96%). The content of tFAs in grilled confectioneries was wide (7.37~26.54%). Instant popcorns contained the highest amount of tFAs. Fried chickens had 0.44 to 14.85% of tFAs and french fries had 5.18 to 27.01% of tFAs. In fried snacks (crispy) and chocolates, tFAs were not detected. The amount of tFAs per serving size was the highest in instant popcorn, followed by french fries, fried snack (tortilla), doughnuts, and grilled confectioneries. TFAs isomer of margarines was mostly C18:1${\Delta}$9t. In shortenings and lards, the most abundant positional isomer of tFAs was C18:1${\Delta}$9t and C18:2${\Delta}$9t ${\Delta}$12t. Correlation coefficient of tFAs content between IR and GC/MS method was $r^2$=0.91.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.540-544
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant activity, total phenolics, flavonoids, and vitamin C contents in peels of 11 commercial fruits commonly consumed in the Republic of Korea. The antioxidant activities were evaluated by ABTS, DPPH radical scavenging methods and reducing power. The peels of plum (Prunus spp.) and golden kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) exhibited the highest values of antioxidant activity and total phenolics, while the highest level of ascorbic acid was recorded in the peel of citrus fruit (p<0.05). There were positive correlations between the antioxidant activity assessed by both reducing power and ABTS methods and total polyphenol content ($R^2$=0.6356), suggesting that phenolic compounds are the major contributors to these activities. The results indicate that plum and golden kiwifruit peels can be used as natural antioxidant ingredients and in production of functional foods in the Korean diet.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.491-500
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• 2020

Lactic acid bacteria are widely known to prevent and treat intestinal health conditions, heart disease, depression, and obesity. In Korea, such bacteria are commonly consumed through various fermented foods, although most are isolated from kimchi, and research on the lactic acid bacteria in fermented seafood is insufficient. This study was therefore conducted to observe changes in bacterial flora according to the culture date of lactic acid bacteria in the fermentation of traditional Korean Gajami Sikhae produced in Pohang and to isolate the bacteria of probiotic value. The bacteria were periodically isolated and identified from date of preparation to 50 days after preparation to investigate which Lactobacillus are involved in Gajami Sikhae. As fermentation progressed, it was confirmed that Pediococcus sp. and Lactobacillus sp. participate predominantly in the early and later periods of fermentation, respectively. During the entire fermentation period, 170 isolates were screened, and the following five species were found to be involved: Pediococcus pentosaceus, Pediococcus inopinatus, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillus brevis, and Lactobacillus plantarum. Five strains of these species were selected through acid and bile tolerance tests, and their coaggregation, autoaggregation, hydrophobicity, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities were then evaluated. As a result, it is thought that L. brevis GS1022, which has excellent digestive fluid resistance, and P. inopinatus GS316, which has excellent cohesiveness, may be useful as probiotic strains.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.356-361
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• 2012

Caffeine is a xanthine alkaloid derivative found in many foods and beverages. Dietary caffeine may interact with commonly-consumed over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in body. In this study, cytotoxic effects on the intestinal cells by combined treatment of caffeine with several OTC drugs, including ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen. Cytotoxic effect of caffeine was more potent in normal intestinal INT 407 cells than in colon cancer HCT 116 cells. Relative toxicity of caffeine and the OTC drugs was significantly enhanced in INT 407 cells when treated together. Intracellular thiol levels of the cells treated with the OTC drugs increased in the presence of caffeine. When HCT 116 cells were incubated with each OTC drug after or before caffeine treatment, the relative cytotoxicity of the OTC drugs increased. The present study may provide basic information about possible health effects through the interactions between caffeine and OTC drugs in the intestinal cells.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.162-173
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the folate contents and quality characteristics of commercial and fermented Kimchi and compare the correlation between folic acid and quality characteristics. Methods: The contents of total folate and quality characteristics were evaluated in 10 kinds of industrial and local Kimchi and nine kinds of other commonly consumed Kimchi. Changes in folate content and quality characteristics of Kimchi during 14 days of fermentation at $15^{\circ}C$ were compared. Results: Chungnam (L4) Kimchi had the lowest pH of 4.62, and acidity (0.57%) and salinity (3.26%) were highest compared to other areas. The content of total folate of D company (A) was the highest at $73.66{\mu}g/100g$. The content of total folate was significantly higher than those of Sesame leaf Kimchi (O9) and Young leafy radish Kimchi (O5) containing 65.77 and $62.82{\mu}g/100g$, respectively. The pH of fermented Kimchi decreased from 6.09 to 4.11 (p<0.05), and the acidity significantly increased (p<0.001) to 0.32-0.66%. Reducing sugar content decreased rapidly by 4 days and then slowly decreased (p<0.001). Total bacteria and lactic acid bacteria counts significantly increased (p<0.05) with fermentation period. Content of total folate was highest at $69.82{\mu}g/100g$ and $68.16{\mu}g/100g$ on days 0 and 2 of fermentation, after which it decreased to 77.6% at $15.61{\mu}g/100g$ on day 10 of fermentation. Conclusion: As a result, there was no definite trend regarding folate content in commercial Kimchi and other Kimchi. Young leafy radish, Chives, and Welsh onion Kimchi, which are rich in green leaves, are excellent folate source foods. The highest folate content of fermented Kimchi was identified on day 2 of fermentation. Therefore, it is recommended to use raw or immature Kimchi when using Kimchi as a folate source food.