• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.311-327
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• 2009

This study was performed to determine the health and nutritional risk factors associated with hypertension in Koreans over the age of 50 in a high-income class (more than twice as much family income as the 2005 Korean minimum cost of living, 668,540 Won). A total of 505 subjects aged over 50 from the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were divided into two groups: A hypertension group (HG) (N=151, Systolic Blood Pressure ${\geq}$140 mmHg or Diastolic Blood Pressure ${\geq}$90 mmHg) and normal group (NG) (N=354). Subjects who took hypertension medicines or underwent diet therapy were excluded. In HG, mean daily alcohol intake and the amount of alcohol consumption per one occasion were significantly higher than in NG, respectively. A greater number of hypertension subjects answered that they drank alcohol to reduce stress as compared to normal subjects. HG also took fewer dietary supplements than NG. Mean body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, fasting blood sugar level, and 2 hour postprandial blood sugar following a glucose load were significantly higher in HG than in NG, respectively. Also, iron, thiamin, and niacin intakes and the consumption frequency of seaweeds were significantly lower in HG than in NG, respectively. Finally, obesity (BMI ${\geq}$25 $kg/m^2$), abdominal obesity (waist circumference ${\geq}$90 cm for males, ${\geq}$ 80 cm for females), high blood sugar level 2 hours after an oral glucose load (${\geq}$140~200 mg/dl), and hypertriglyceridemia (serum TG ${\geq}$200 mg/dl) were related to a significantly higher risk of hypertension in the subjects (odds ratio: 1.884~3.040). In conclusion, dietary factors such as higher alcohol consumption; lower intakes of iron, thiamin, and niacin; lower consumption frequency of seaweeds; and metabolic syndrome were associated with hypertension in the study subjects.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.61-72
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to examine nutrition problems and causes/contributing risk factors. Methods: This study was conducted using data 1,863 adults visited Asan health screening & promotion center located in Seoul, Korea during May to June of 2013. We used Nutrition Care Process Model developed by the International Dietetics & Nutrition Terminology (IDNT). Results: The most frequent nutrition problem in male subjects was excessive alcohol intake. Men in fifties showed the highest rate of excessive alcohol intake among the age groups examined (22.4%). By comparison, the most frequent nutrition problem in women was inadequate protein intake. Women in fifties exhibited the highest rate of inadequate protein intake (22.5%). The most common contributing factors for these observations were a low preference for dairy products followed by high preference for alcohol and a deficit in food-and nutrition-related knowledge, regardless of the sex and age. The most common nutrition problem observed among the group diagnosed with hyperglycemia or hypertriglyceridemia or hyperuricemia or fatty liver was excessive alcohol intake (p < 0.001), whereas the group diagnosed with hyperglycemia or hypercholesterolemia showed significantly higher rate of inappropriate intake of carbohydrate (fructose) compared to the group not diagnosed with such disease conditions (p < 0.05). The group diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia, hyperuricemia and fatty liver showed significantly higher occurrence of inappropriate intake of fat (saturated fat) than the group free of such diseases (p < 0.001). The osteopenia group showed higher rate of inadequate protein intake (p < 0.001) and the fatty liver group with excessive energy intake (p < 0.001). Overall, the results suggest that there is a significant relationship between nutrition problems and health conditions found in groups diagnosed with a diverse array of medical conditions. Conclusions: Therefore, we strongly suggest that dieticians should implement nutrition interventions with people visiting health screening & promotion center based on nutrition problems and the contributing factors diagnosed by dietitions in order to prevent chronic diseases in this population.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.580-586
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• 2019

This study selected 2,134 fertile women aged 20 to 44 years as the final study subjects using the 6th source data of the National Health and Nutrition Survey. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between female characteristics, chronic diseases and oral health behavior, and the effects of each factor on periodontal diseases. There were statistically significant differences in age(p<0.001), education level(p<0.001), income(p<0.05), marital status(p<0.001), smokes(p<0.05) and pregnancy(p<0.001). Chronic disease factors showed statistically significant differences in hypertension(p<0.001), obesity(p<0.001), diabetes(p<0.001), hypercholesterolemia(p<0.05), hypocholesterolemia(p<0.001) and hypertriglyceridemia(p<0.001). Oral health behaviors were statistically significant in terms of toothache(p<0.05), orthodontic treatment(p<0.05) and chew discomfort(p<0.05). As a result of examining the risk factors affecting periodontal disease, the risk of chronic disease was 1.576 times higher in the obese group, and 2.569 times higher in the diabetic group than in the normal group. The subjective oral health status was 1.372 times higher for normal women and 1.614 times higher for bad women than for good ones. As a result, diabetes has shown the greatest risk among chronic diseases in women, and diabetes and obesity are highly relevant and therefore are considered important variables for the risk factors of dementia. In this regard, it is necessary to examine the risks of chronic and periodical diseases, expand oral health education programs for women's dental disease, and prepare oral health policies.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 2021

Hypertriglyceridemia is the main risk factor for atherosclerosis. It is reported that triglyceride (TG) induces macrophage cell death, and is involved in the formation of plaques and development of atherosclerosis. We previously reported that TG-induced cell death of macrophages is mediated via pannexin-1 activation, which increases the extracellular ATP and subsequent increase in potassium efflux, thereby activating the caspase-2/caspase-1/apoptotic caspases, including the caspase-8 pathway. Contrarily, some studies have reported that caspase-8 is an upstream molecule of caspase-1 and caspase-2 in several cellular processes. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate whether caspase-8 influences its upstream molecules in TG-stimulated macrophage cell death. We first confirmed that caspase-8 induces caspase-3 activation and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage in TG-treated macrophages. Next, we determined that the inhibition of caspase-8 results in reduced caspase-1 and -2 activity, which are upstream molecules of caspase-8 in TG-induced cell death of macrophages. We also found that ATP treatment restores the caspase-8 inhibitor-induced caspase-2 activity, thereby implying that caspase-8 affects the upstream molecules responsible for increasing the extracellular ATP levels in TG-induced macrophage cell death. Taken together, these findings indicate that caspase-8 potentiates the TG-induced macrophage cell death by activating its upstream molecules.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.377-383
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• 2021

Purpose: We investigated the association of effector memory (EM) CD8⁺ T cell and CD4⁺ T cell immunity with metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods: Surface and intracellular staining of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed. Anti-interleukin-7 receptor-alpha (IL-7Rα) and CX3CR1 antibodies were used to stain the subsets of EM CD8⁺ T cells, while anti-interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-17 (IL-17), and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) antibodies were used for CD4⁺ T cell subsets. Results: Of the 47 obese children, 11 were female. Children with MS had significantly higher levels of serum insulin (34.8±13.8 vs. 16.4±6.3 µU/mL, p<0.001) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (8.9±4.1 vs. 3.9±1.5, p<0.001) than children without MS. Children with MS revealed significantly higher frequencies of IL-7Rα^low CD8⁺ T cells (60.1±19.1% vs. 48.4±11.5%, p=0.047) and IL-7Rα^lowCX3CR1⁺ CD8⁺ T cells (53.8±20.1% vs. 41.5±11.9%, p=0.036) than children without MS. As the serum triglyceride levels increased, the frequency of IL-7Rα^lowCX3CR1⁺ and IL-7Rα^highCX3CR1^- CD8⁺ T cells increased and decreased, respectively (r=0.335, p=0.014 and r=-0.350, p=0.010, respectively), in 47 children. However, no CD4⁺ T cell subset parameters were significantly different between children with and without MS. Conclusion: In obese children with MS, the changes in immunity due to changes in EM CD8⁺ T cells might be related to the morbidity of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.48-60
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the sex-associated differences in the dietary intake of gastric cancer patients in Korea. Methods: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) the 7^th (2016-2018) were analyzed in the present study. The subjects included 122 gastric cancer patients aged over 40 years (75 male, 47 female). General characteristics (age, marital status, household income, education, food security, comorbidities, alcohol drinking, and smoking), anthropometric characteristics (height, weight, body mass index, and blood pressure), blood biochemical characteristics [fasting plasma glucose (FPG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, triglyceride, total cholesterol, and HDL-cholesterol)], and quantity and quality of dietary intake were compared between male and female participants. Results: Males had higher rates of having a spouse, prevalence of hypertension, alcohol drinking, and smoking than females. The proportion of males with a normal range of FPG, BUN, and HDL-cholesterol was lower than that in females. The total cholesterol levels above the normal range were higher in females than in males. We also found that females had a higher percentage of intakes below the estimated energy requirement (EER) and intakes below the estimated average requirement (EAR) for carbohydrates, niacin, phosphorus, and iron than males. The index of nutritional quality (INQ) for phosphorus and folate, nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) for vitamin C, thiamine, niacin, folate, calcium, and phosphorus, and the mean adequacy ratio (MAR) were lower in females than males. Conclusions: In Korean gastric cancer patients, management of comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertriglyceridemia, lowering FPG, and raising HDL-cholesterol level management is required for males, whereas management of lowering total cholesterol and raising hematocrit is required for females. The quantitative and qualitative nutritional intakes were poor in gastric cancer patients, especially in females, who had a lower nutritional intake than males. We suggest that nutritional interventions are needed to improve the overall nutritional intake in both male and female gastric cancer patients. In particular, we propose that support is urgently needed for females whose nutritional intake is lower than that of males. In addition, family, social, and national support for nutritional management of female gastric cancer patients is highly necessary.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2023

The hypertriglyceridemic-waist (HTGW) phenotype can predict the risk of coronary artery disease. This study evaluated the relationship between the HTGW phenotype and metabolic abnormalities in hypertensive adults. The test was conducted on adult hypertension patients aged 20 or older who underwent health checkups from January 2018 to December 2021 at general hospitals in Gyeonggi Province. The HTGW phenotype was triglyceride ≥150 mg/dL and waist circumference ≥90 cm for men and ≥85 cm for women. The prevalence of the HTGW phenotype in the study subjects was 17.9%. After adjusting for age, gender, and BMI, the odds ratio of the HTGW group was 5.09 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.545~7.309) for low HDL-cholesterol, 1.68 (95% CI: 1.176~2.411) for high LDL-cholesterol, was 2.92 (95% CI: 2.009~4.235) for high total cholesterol, 3.39 (95% CI: 2.124~5.412) for diabetes and 1.85 (95% CI: 1.286~2.674) for hyperuricemia compared to the normal triglyceride levels with the normal waist (NTNW) group. The area under curve values of the HTGW phenotype for diagnosing metabolic syndrome were 0.849 for all subjects, 0.858 for men, and 0.890 for women. In conclusion, the HTGW phenotype is closely related to metabolic abnormalities and is a useful indicator for monitoring adult hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.307-319
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• 2024

Purpose: This study compared the differences in health and dietary characteristics between middle-aged men and women according to their health-related quality of life. Methods: This study used the data from the 2019 and 2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). The participants were men (n = 1,571) and women (n = 2,179) aged 40-59. A health-related Quality of Life Instrument with eight items (HINT-8) was used to measure the health-related quality of life. The participants were divided into four groups based on their HINT-8 total scores (high, mid-high, mid-low, and low). The general and health characteristics, mental health, and dietary behaviors were compared according to the quality of life. Results: Men with a lower quality of life had lower incomes, were more likely to be single, smoked and drank more, and perceived themselves as slim or obese. Women with a lower quality of life had a higher proportion of older age, obesity, lower education and income, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. Both men and women with a lower quality of life had higher proportions of subjectively perceiving poor health, weight gain over the past year, and considering themselves as obese. Both men and women with a lower quality of life had lower consumption frequencies of vegetables/mushrooms/seaweed and fruits. Conclusion: Both men and women with lower health-related quality of life had lower incomes, higher rates of perceiving their health as poor, and consumed vegetables/ mushrooms/seaweed and fruits less frequently, but they showed different characteristics in other aspects. Therefore, policy development tailored to men and women is necessary.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5271-5283
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to provide fundamental materials for improving school health promotion programs by investigating the relationships between the change in obesity rate and risk factors of metabolic syndrome among middle school students in Ulsan. We analyzed the routine health check-up data in 58,298 2nd-year middle school students in Ulsan, which conducted by the Planned Population Federation of Korea from 2007 to 2011. The overall and girls obesity rates gradually decreased throughout the first four years but increased again in 2011. The boys obesity rates were highest in 2008 and lowest in 2010. Throughout the research years, the incidence rates of over-weight and obesity were statistically significantly higher in boys compared to girls(P<0.05). Prevalence rates of the metabolic syndrome, assessed with the modified Cook criteria except high blood pressure, were 0.58%, 0%, 0.01%, 0.31% and 4.53%, respectively in total, low, normal, over-weight, and obese groups. It indicates that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing and directly related to the obesity rate among adolescents. Hypertriglyceridemia was the most common component (36.58%) of the metabolic syndrome among the middles school students followed by low HDL cholesterol (6.47%), abdominal obesity (3.72%), and high blood sugar (0.47%). Prevalence of the various components of the metabolic syndrome were significantly higher in the obese group compared to other groups. In this study we observed the decrease in obesity rates between 2007 and 2010, and developing obesity prevention programs is essential in order to maintain the trend. Additional study should be necessary to find the cause of increase of obesity rate in 2011 and so to create more effective school health promotion programmes.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.228-238
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• 2004

Purpose: Obesity is rapidly increasing in Korean children. Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and is frequently associated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. This study was designed to evaluate risk factors of the metabolic syndrome in obese children. Methods: From February 2000 to June 2004, eighty eight obese (body mass index ${\geq}95th$ percentile) children aged 4 to 15 years were included. We measured serum lipid levels (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol), fasting sugar levels and insulin levels. Insulin resistance was determined by homeostasis model assessment, fasting insulin/glucose ratio and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. Results: Clustering of risk factors for the metabolic syndrome in obese children demonstrated that 60.2% had more than one risk factors. Hypertension (14.8%), hypertriglyceridemia (14.8%), HDL-hypocholesterolemia (14.8%), LDL-hypercholesterolemia (12.5%) and hyperinsulinemia (12.5%) were observed. As BMI increased, there was statistically significant increase in systolic blood pressure, insulin and insulin resistance values. Insulin resistance was correlated to systolic blood pressure, serum lipid and insulin levels. The more risk factors for the metabolic syndrome obese children had, the higher was their insulin resistance. Conclusion: The increase in insulin resistance and clustering of risk factors for the metabolic syndrome are already apparent in obese children. Monitoring these risk factors for the metabolic syndrome should become a part of routine medical care for obese children.