• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.673-684
• /
• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although adherence to a higher diet quality may help prevent cognitive decline in older adults, literature for this in a Korean population is limited. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the association between diet quality indices and the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in Korean older adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 806 community-dwelling people aged 60 yrs and over in Korea. Diet quality was assessed via the revised Recommended Food Score (RFS) and alternate Mediterranean Diet Score (aMDS). Cognitive function was measured using a Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-KC). Associations between diet quality indices and MMSE-KC score were assessed with a general linear model after adjusting for covariates. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between diet quality indices and the risk of MCI. RESULTS: The prevalence of MCI was 35.3%. There were no significant trends between MMSE-KC scores and RFS and aMDS after adjusting for age, gender, education, exercise, living status, social activity, and alcohol drinking. Among total subjects, RFS was inversely associated with the risk of MCI after adjusting for covariates (Q5 vs. Q1; odds ratio [OR], 0.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.83). Among total subjects and men, aMDS was inversely related to the risk of MCI after adjusting for covariates (Q5 vs. Q1; OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.29-0.89 for total subjects; Q5 vs. Q1; OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.15-0.83 for men). CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that high diet quality evaluated by RFS and aMDS is inversely associated with the risk of MCI. Thus, high quality diet may reduce or retard cognitive decline in the old population. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the causal relationship between diet quality and the risk of MCI in the elderly.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.314-324
• /
• 2000

Evaluation of nutritional status of the elderly imposes different problem from the other age groups. It is essential to use right instrument to assess food consumption. In Korea, the food frequency questionnaire has not been applied widely to elderly people. The purpose of this study is to assess the possibility of employing a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire(FFQ) for the Korean elderly to estimate nutrient and/or food intakes. In this study the FFQ for the elderly was developed and validated. The subjects were 144 free-living old women aged from 65 to 90. The FFQ was designed with 4 items for cereals and 86 items for other foods and with frequency of 12 intervals. Three portion sizes were given to select : 1/2 of standard amount, standard amount, and 11/2 of standard amount. ach subject was interviewed with newly developed FFQ form and same subjects were also involved to complete 3-day diet record. Nutrient intake was calculated using software program developed by our group. The nutrient intakes by the FFQ was validated by comparing the results with 3-day diet record. The FFQ estimated significantly higher mean intakes of energy, carbohydrate, protein, fats and vitamin C than did the diet reconrds(p<0.05). Pearson's correlation coefficients between two methods ranged from 0.21 for vitamin Q to 0.69 for alcohol(mean r=0.53). From 32% to 42% of the subjects were classified in the same quintile of nutrient intake by two methods, and 63% to 84% were classified in the same or adjacent quintile. On average, only 4% of the subjects were misclassified into extreme quitiles. The results indicate that the FFQ developed for the elderly in this study is useful for classifying individuals by rank and identifying groups at extremes of nutrient intakes.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.256-264
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the diet and health status of elderly women according to the family type. Methods: A total of 307 elderly women participated in this study were divided into one of three groups according to their family type: residing with spouse (RSP; n=88), residing with son or daughter (RSD; n=119), and residing alone (RAL; n=100). Chisquare test was used to assess dietary habits and health status of the subjects by the family types. Results: Results demonstrated significant associations between eating regular meals, person preparing meals, coffee intake, and bone fracture experience and family type. Among the three groups, the RSP and RAL groups had a higher percentage for preparing meals by themselves (p<0.001) than the RSD group. The RAL group had a lower percentage for eating regular meals (p<0.01) but a higher percentage for bone fracture experience (p<0.05) than the other groups. There were no significant differences in monthly allowance, self-estimated health status, physical activity, exercise, drinking, and dietary habits such as frequency of consumption of dairy, beans, eggs, fish, meat, fruits, and vegetables among the three groups. Conclusions: The results showed that elderly women residing alone without a son, daughter, or spouse had more diet-related and health problems such as irregular meals and high bone fracture experience. These findings suggested that elderly women residing alone need more attention and support.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
• /
• v.23 no.6
• /
• pp.779-792
• /
• 2008

The consumption of a wide variety of food groups is considered one of the key components of nutritional adequacy. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Koreans includes the consumption of a variety of foods from diverse food groups as a component of a normal diet. A survey was conducted to evaluate the relationship between the dietary diversity of food groups and nutrient intake in elderly patients (age 65 and above) at a rural area in Korea (Inje). 296 subjects (111 male and 185 female) were probed in a 3 day 24-recall dietary survey. Subjects were grouped according to food group intake frequency, based on six food groups (grain, meat/fish/legume/egg, vegetable, fat/oil, dairy, fruit). Nutritional quality was evaluated according to the numbers of nutrients under EAR (Estimated Average Requirements), and MAR (mean adequacy ratios). The frequency of elderly subjects consuming a meat/fish/legumes/egg food group less than once per day was 29.4%. The frequency of elderly subjects consuming fat/oil food group less than once per day was 65.8%. The percentage of subjects who did not eat dairy food was 88.8%, and that of subjects who did not eat fruit was 57.5%. A stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to develop models relating nutritional quality to possible food group intake frequency factors. Using the number of nutrients under EAR as a dependent variable, the meat/fish/legume/egg food group intake frequency explained 9.9% of variance, followed by the grain group, fat/oil group, dairy group, and vegetable and fruit group (Model $R^2$=0.260). For mean nutrient adequacy ratio as a dependent variable, the model $R^2$ was 0.326. The results of this study suggest that a highly varied diet in elderly might be associated with better nutritional quality, as assessed by nutrient intake. Accordingly, dietary guidelines should take into consideration nutritional characteristics in order to improve intake from all major food groups and to provide a variety of foods in the diet.

• Nutritional Sciences
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.83-87
• /
• 2004

To investigate the effects of dietary phytate reduction and zinc supplementation on biochemical iron parameters in elderly Korean women consuming inadequate iron, fifteen healthy women aged 64-75 years were recruited for a feeding study. A high-phytate diet (27.8 phytate:zinc molar ratio) was provided for 9 days, followed by a nine-day low-phytate diet(12.3) and a subsequent 28-day period of unregulated meals with zinc supplementation (22 mg/d as zinc gluconate). Serum iron increased significantly with the low-phytate diet (130.4 $\mu g$/L) but returned to the level observed during the high-phytate diet (113.0 $\mu g$ /L) period when subjects were taking zinc supplements (105.8 $\mu g$ /L). However, serum ferritin in the subjects decreased significantly with the low-phytate diet (73.8 $\mu g$ /L) as well as with zinc supplementation (57.2 $\mu g$ /L), compared to levels following consumption of the high-phytate diet (89.6 $\mu g$ /L). Transferrin receptor and transferrin saturation were unchanged with the treatments. In summary, zinc supplementation might result in deteriorated iron status in elderly Korean women who consume inadequate iron, while there was no significant effect from reducing dietary phytate.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.9-14
• /
• 2009

The effects of a hypocaloric diet with or without strength training on body fat distribution and serum lipid concentrations in obese elderly women were investigated. Twenty-six healthy women (age 66±4.6 yr; body mass index 32.3±2.9 kg/m²) were randomly assigned to 3 groups: control (C; n=8), hypocaloric diet (DO; n=9) or hypocaloric diet with strength training (DST; n=9). Subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and inter and intra muscular adipose tissue (IMAT) were measured using magnetic resonance imaging. Serum lipid concentrations including total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC), and triglycerides (TG) were measured. No significant changes occurred in body weight and percent body fat in the C group over the 16-week period. The DO and DST groups lost similar amounts of weight and fat after 16 weeks. SAT and VAT decreased after weight loss in the DO and DST groups but not in the C group. IMAT was significantly reduced in the DO and DST groups, whereas in the C group IMAT increased. The loss in IMAT mass was similar in the DO and DST groups. TC and LDLC decreased in the DO and DST groups but not in the C group. There were no differences between the DO and DST groups in decrease in TC and LDLC. HDLC decreased in the DO group but not in the C and DST groups. TG tended to decrease in the DST group. In conclusion, body fat distribution including SAT, VAT, and IMAT and serum lipid concentratons were modulated by weight loss resulting from the hypocaloric diet with or without strength training in obese elderly women. Strength training did not enhance the improvement in body fat distribution and serum TC and LDLC concentrations by the hypocaloric diet.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.95-107
• /
• 2006

This study was explore the level of Yangseng by certain elderly people in Dalian, china. The subject of this study is(randomly) selected Dalian residents over 65 years-old. We used a formultaed questionnaire for this research during the period from October 2004 to November. 266 subjects in total answered to the questionnaire. The analyses are as follows: 1. Man does more Exercise Yangseng than woman. Elderly with spouse has better Total of Yangseng, Exercise Yangseng, Seasonal Yangseng, Sex life Yangseng than single elderly. Compare to elderly living with family other than their spouse, single elderly has better Total of Yangseng, Diet Yangseng, Activities and rest Yangseng, Exercise Yangseng, Sex life yangseng. 2. Educated elderly has better life than illiterate in every aspects except Diet Yangseng and Seasonal Yangseng. Elderly who does not belive in any religion has better Activities and rest Yangseng and Seasonal Yangseng. Religious elderly has better sleep yangseng than irreligioius elderly. Elderly with occupation has better Total of Yangseng, Activities and rest Yangseng, Exercise Yangseng and Sex life Yangseng. 3. Elderly who support himself of the living expense has better Sleep Yangseng, and elderly who support himself with his sons and daughters has better Morality Yangseng, Exercise Yangseng, Seasonal Yangseng and Sex life Yangseng. Elderly who has time to spare has better life than elderly who has bo leisure in Total of Yangseng and other 8 sub-factors.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.530-535
• /
• 2008

Evidence for the effects of different health behaviors, including diet, in elderly diabetes is currently limited. The aim of this study was to compare the quality of diet and health behaviors in Korean elderly T2DM patients, using a glycemic control. T2DM elders(>65 yr, n=48) were recruited and categorized by the concentration of glycated-hemoglobin HbA1c; subjects with HbA1c<7% were the good control(GC) group, and subjects with $HbA1c{\geq}8%$ constituted the poor control(PC) group. General characteristics, self-management behavior questionnaires, and 3-d diet records were all collected and assessed. No significant differences in general characteristics between GC and PC were detected, with the exception of a higher level of education in GC(p<0.05). A twofold longer duration of diabetes was observed in PC as compared to GC(p<0.01). The GC group did exercise for a longer time(p<0.001), and had an earlier beginning of diabetes self-management education (DSME) by healthcare practitioners using a team teach as compared with the PC group(p<0.05). The total dietary quality index(p<0.001) and individual index for carbohydrate(p<0.001) or vegetables and fruit(p<0.05) were better in GC than in PC. Therefore, the earlier DSME including intensive exercise and balanced diet selection should be expected to improve glycemic control in diabetic Korean elders.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.37-42
• /
• 2016

To develop an elderly diet food that can easily be chewed and swallowed, we manufactured elderly diet food using chicken breast meat with various amounts (0.9, 1.1, 1.3 and 1.5 g) of gelatin used as a viscosity agent, and evaluated their physico-chemical and sensory properties. As the amount of gelatin decreased, the lightness were increased, but the redness and yellowness were decreased. In the texture profile analysis, hardness, springiness, gumminess and chewiness were significantly increased with increased amounts of gelatin, but adhesiveness gradually decreased. Cohesiveness was no significantly difference. Free amino acid contents in elderly diet food using chicken breast meat did not show trend to increase or decrease, but the tyrosine contents were significantly decreased with increased amounts of gelatin. The sensory evaluations including taste, flavor and color were not significantly different. However, the texture and overall acceptance of elderly diet food using chicken meat containing 1.3 g of gelatin had the highest acceptance.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.525-534
• /
• 2019

Objectives: Reduced glucose utilization in the main parts of the brain involved in memory is a major cause of Alzheimer's disease, in which ketone bodies are used as the only and effective alternative energy source of glucose. This study examined the effects of a low-carbohydrate and high-fat (LCHF) diet supplemented with a ketogenic nutrition drink on cognitive function and physical activity in the elderly at high risk for dementia. Methods: The participants of this study were 28 healthy elderly aged 60-91 years showing a high risk factor of dementia or whose Korean Mini-Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) score was less than 24 points. Over 3 weeks, the case group was given an LCHF diet with nutrition drinks consisting of a ketone/non-ketone ratio of 1.73:1, whereas the control group consumed well-balanced nutrition drinks while maintaining a normal diet. After 3 weeks, K-MMSE, body composition, urine ketone bodies, and physical ability were all evaluated. Results: Urine ketone bodies of all case group subjects were positive, and K-MMSE score was significantly elevated in the case group only (p=0.021). Weight and BMI were elevated in the control group only (p<0.05). Grip strength was elevated in all subjects (p<0.01), and measurements of gait speed and one leg balance were improved only in the case group (p<0.05). Conclusions: We suggest that adherence to the LCHF diet supplemented with a ketogenic drink could possibly influence cognitive and physical function in the elderly with a high risk factor for dementia. Further, we confirmed the applicability of this dietary intervention in the elderly based on its lack of any side effects or changes in nutritional status.