• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.464-473
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• 2009

The serum levels of antioxidant materials (${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin, lutein, lycopene, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, ${\gamma}$-tocopherol, retinol) of the healthy Korean middle-aged adults (n = 373) were measured and their relationships with the serum lipids and anthropometric indices were analyzed. The serum levels of ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin, ${\beta}$-carotene, lutein were higher than those of lycopene and ${\alpha}$-carotene. The levels of all measured carotenoids except lutein were significantly higher in females than in males, but retinol level was vice versa. There was a tendency of increase in serum levels of antioxidant vitamins with increasing age. The serum carotenoid levels had a positive correlation with serum cholesterol and a negative correlation with serum triglyceride. The serum levels of tocopherols or retinol showed a significantly positive relationship with blood cholesterol or triglyceride. In overall, anthropometric indices showed negative relations with serum carotenoids levels, but vice versa with serum tocopherol or retinol levels. Particularly, ${\beta}$-carotene and lutein levels showed a significantly negative relation with blood pressure in male subjects. The serum levels of ${\alpha}$-carotene, ${\beta}$-carotene and ${\beta}$-cryptoxanthin had significantly negative relations with body fat-related indices in female subjects. The results demonstrated that blood antioxidants levels differed by sex and age, and had significant relations with blood lipid levels and anthropometric indices. Therefore, the rationale and significance of the relationships need to be elucidated in the future study related to dietary intakes and life style.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.518-531
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• 2020

Purpose: This study examined the association between fruit and vegetable intake and mental health in Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used the data from the 2014-2017 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a national cross-sectional survey on 137,101 boys and 130,806 girls aged 12-18. Fruit and vegetable intake was assessed based on the frequency of consumption. The outcome variables were the perceived happiness, perceived stress, depressive symptom and suicidal ideation over the previous 12 months. Logistic regression models were used after adjusting for the demographic, life style and other dietary factors. Results: Only 34% and 29% of Korean adolescents consumed fruits more than 5 times/week and vegetables more than 2 times/day, respectively; whereas 37%, 25% and 12.2% of Korean adolescents had perceived stress, depressive symptom and suicidal ideation, respectively. After adjusting for the confounding variables, the greater consumption of fruit and vegetable were all associated with a higher odds of perceived happiness; the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) (95% CI) were 1.53 (1.46-1.60) in boys and 1.82 (1.73-1.90) in girls who consumed fruit ≥ 5 times/week, and 1.65 (1.54-1.76) in boys and 1.62 (1.51-1.72) in girls who consumed vegetable ≥ 2 times/day. In contrast, the consumption of fruit or vegetable were all significantly associated with a lower odds of perceived stress, depressive symptom, and suicidal ideation; the AOR (95% CI) were 0.70 (0.67-0.73), 0.88 (0.84-0.93), and 0.78 (0.73-0.83) in boys who consumed fruit 3-4 times/week, and 0.71 (0.67-0.76), 0.88 (0.81-0.94), and 0.68 (0.62-0.74) in boys who consumed vegetable 5-7 times/week. Similar associations of fruit or vegetable consumption with perceived stress, depressive symptom, or suicidal ideation were found in girls. Conclusion: These findings provide evidence that increasing fruit and vegetable intake is important for better mental health among adolescents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.103 no.1
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• pp.65-71
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• 2014

Cacalia firma is a perennial plant in Asteraceae, Parasenecio that distributed in Korea, China, and Japan. As dietary style changes for well-being life, consumer's demand of functional food and organic vegetables is getting increased. This study was conducted to investigate the optimum light conditions of P. firmus in forest farming. One year old seedlings were grown under four different light conditions 10%, 20%, 30%, and 50% of sunlight by shading (equals 50%, 30%, 20%, and 10% relative brightness respectively) and non-treated control under full sunlight. They were analyzed for early growth and physiological response. Seedlings grown under 75% shading showed similar height, root growth, and leaf water content to control. However, their leaf length, width, and total leaf area were increased, which caused increased leaf dry weight and total dry weight. Especially, seedlings under 95% shading showed 40% increase in height and more leaf growth and leaf water content, although they had shorter main root length and root collar diameter than control. In addition specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf area ratio (LAR) were higher than control and indicated that they were statistically significant difference from control. Higher SLA refers thinner leaf thickness, higher LAR means larger leaf area. The results indicate seedlings under 95% shading have higher water content, thinner leaf, and wider lightinterception areas. It is plausible that P. firmus is active in chlorophyll activities and carbon dioxide assimilation at even lower light conditions. These results suggest that the optimum light level of P. firmus for artificial cultivation in forest farming ranges from 75~95% shading (20%-10% of relative brightness). When salability as 'sanchae' (wild edible greens) is considered, P. firmus could be cultivated under 75% shading in forest farming and expected to have better taste and higher yield. We suggest these results as basic data of P. firmus for possible forest farming.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.65-76
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• 2008

This study was performed to identify association between nutritional status and health risks of the elderly. This was a cross-sectional study involving low income elderly women in Gwangju, Korea (${\geq}$65y, n = 92). Socio-demographics, life style characteristics, health conditions, dietary intakes based on 24h-recall method, anthropometric measures, and clinical biochemistry parameters were examined. Anthropometric and clinical parameters included wt, ht, waist, hip, body protein, body fat, abdominal fat, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, fasting blood glucose, ferritin, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, CRP, TAS, TBARS, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. The subjects were divided into three groups based on age (65-74y, 75-84y, 85y${\leq}$) and were divided into two groups according to the sum of the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) checklist score (adequate nutritional status, NSI score ${\leq}$3; at risk of malnutrition, NSI score >3). Mean and frequency of variables were estimated. Analysis of Variance, Tukey test, Chi-square test, and Multiple linear regression analyses were performed. Mean BMI and body fat were 25.1 $kg/m^2$ and 40.0%, respectively. However, for over 80% of subjects, the intakes of energy, fiber, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, Ca, K, and Zn were less than the Korean DRI (EAR or AI). The subjects who had lower NSI score tended to have better health status, eat meals frequently, have less depression, and exercise regularly. The subjects who had higher NSI score tended to have tooth problems, to eat alone most of time, and to be physically unable to cook or feed. Serum IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$ were significantly related with nutritional status which suggested higher tendency of inflammatory response. Serum IL-2, TAS, and glucose were significantly correlated with body fat (%) or abdominal fat (%). These results suggest that improving the nutritional status, increasing regular exercise, maintaining normal weight are beneficial to health care of low income elderly women.