• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.313-324
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between intake of antioxidant vitamins and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Korean adults. Methods: A total of 614 subjects aged 30~60 years were recruited from those who received a medical checkup at a general hospital in South Korea between 2009 and 2012. Presence of MetS was determined based on criteria issued by the NCEP ATP III. Intakes of antioxidant vitamins (vitamin A, retinol, carotenoids, vitamin C, and vitamin E) were estimated by combining 3-day diet records with an antioxidant vitamin database for common Korean foods. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the association between dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins and MetS. Results: Men in the highest tertile for retinol (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.23~0.71, P for trend = 0.0009), carotenoids (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.32~1.00, P for trend = 0.0470), and vitamin E (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.30~0.92, P for trend = 0.0190) intakes had a lower likelihood of having Mets than those in the lowest tertile. The OR of high fasting blood glucose among men in the highest tertile for vitamin A (${\mu}g$ RE: OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.32~0.97, P for trend = 0.0417, ${\mu}g$ RAE: OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.29~0.92, P for trend = 0.0211), carotenoids (OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.23~0.73, P for trend = 0.0036), and vitamin E (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.26~0.82, P for trend = 0.0080) intakes was lower than those in the lowest tertile. In women, subjects in the highest tertile of retinol intakes had a lower prevalence of MetS than those in the lowest tertile group (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.30~0.98). The OR for abdominal obesity was lower among women with the highest vitamin A (${\mu}g$ RE) intakes compared to those in the lowest tertile (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.28~0.93, P for trend = 0.0293). Conclusion: These results suggest that dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins might be associated with reduced risk of having MetS among Korean adults.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.55-62
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• 2014

Objective: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes is increasing worldwide. Mitochondrial dysfunction is known to be involved in insulin resistance and obesity, researches have been increasing highly. Astragali Radix extract (ARE) or its main components have been shown to perform comparably to insulin by significantly reducing blood glucose levels in animal models however, the influence on mitochondrial dysfunction are not well understood. Methods: ARE (0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ml) or metformin (2.5 mM) were treated in C2C12 after 6 day-differentiation. The expressions of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and phosphorylation AMPK, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptror ${\gamma}$ coactivator $1{\alpha}$ ($PGC1{\alpha}$), nuclear respiratory factors 1 (NRF1), mitochondrial transcription factor (Tfam) and myosin heavy chain were detected with western blotting or polymerase chain reaction analysis. The morphological changes were also investigated. Results: ARE dose dependently increased phosphorylation of AMPK and respectively activated mRNA expressions of $PGC1{\alpha}$, NRF1 and Tfam which are mitochondrial biogenesis regulators. Furthermore, there were some morphologic differences of differentiated cells between ARE treatment and control. Conclusions: This study suggests that ARE has the potential to increase muscle mitochondrial function by activating AMPK and $PGC1{\alpha}$.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2015

Objectives: The prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome is increasing worldwide. Regulation of cellular energy metabolis has the potential to be manipulated therapeutically to serve as a target for obesity and insulin resistance. Skeletal muscle is regarded as a target for regulation of energy metabolism and insulin resistance. In this study, the authors investigated the regulatory effect of (Cinnamomum cassia Blume, CCB), Aconitum carmichaeli Debx (ACD), and Benth (Pueraria lobata Benth, PLB) on energy and glucose metabolism in C2C12 myotubes. Methods: The water extracts of CCB, ACD, and PLB (0.5 mg/ml) were treated in differentiated C2C12 myotubes. The expressions of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and phosphorylation AMPK were detected with western blotting. Glucose metabolism was investigated with glucose uptake assay and glucose consumption assay, total adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content was also analyzed. Results: CCB, ACD, and PLB activated the phophorylation of AMPK, they also increased the glucose metabolism and total ATP contents in C2C12 myotubes. Conclusions: This study suggests that CCB, ACD, and PLB have the potential to increase energy and glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2024

The prevalence of obesity in children and adolescents is increasing worldwide. Obesity in children and adolescents not only increases the risk of transitioning to obesity in adulthood but also increases the risk of cardiometabolic diseases such as high blood glucose, high blood pressure, dyslipidemia, fatty liver, and hyperinsulinemia during childhood. The goal of treating obesity in children and adolescents is not to focus on weight loss but to help children reach a healthy weight while maintaining normal growth appropriate for their age and sex. To achieve this goal, regular physical activity and exercise, dietary modification, improvement of obesity-prone environmental factors, and behavioral changes are required for a healthy lifestyle. If appropriate weight control is not achieved through lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy may be considered for adolescents with severe obesity aged 12 and above. Recent clinical trials have reported the efficacy and safety of pharmacotherapy in severely obese adolescents. Currently, two medications can be prescribed in Korea for patients with obesity aged 12 and above: Orlistat and Liraglutide. However, despite effective weight control through drug treatment, body weight may increase again after treatment discontinuation. Therefore, it is crucial to evaluate adherence to health behaviors during visits and continue to educate on lifestyle modifications, even during pharmacotherapy, to minimize weight regain.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.402-411
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• 2023

Background: We hypothesized that fatty liver disease (FLD) is associated with a high prevalence of hearing loss (HL) owing to metabolic disturbances. This study aimed to evaluate the association between FLD and HL in a large sample of the Korean population. Methods: We used a dataset of adults who underwent routine voluntary health checkups (n=21,316). Fatty liver index (FLI) was calculated using Bedogni's equation. The patients were divided into two groups: the non-FLD (NFLD) group (n=18,518, FLI <60) and the FLD group (n=2,798, FLI ≥60). Hearing thresholds were measured using an automatic audiometer. The average hearing threshold (AHT) was calculated as the pure-tone average at four frequencies (0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kHz). HL was defined as an AHT of >40 dB. Results: HL was observed in 1,370 (7.4%) and 238 patients (8.5%) in the NFLD and FLD groups, respectively (p=0.041). Compared with the NFLD group, the odds ratio for HL in the FLD group was 1.16 (p=0.040) and 1.46 (p<0.001) in univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, respectively. Linear regression analyses revealed that FLI was positively associated with AHT in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Analyses using a propensity score-matched cohort showed trends similar to those using the total cohort. Conclusion: FLD and FLI were associated with poor hearing thresholds and HL. Therefore, active monitoring of hearing impairment in patients with FLD may be helpful for early diagnosis and treatment of HL in the general population.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.249-258
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to compare the factors of dietary and health behavior according to the employment in women in early adulthood and to analyze their relationship. Methods: In this study, adult women aged 20~29 who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016~2019 were classified into two groups depending on their permanent worker status, namely tenured employees (n = 254) and temporary employees (n = 377). Dietary habits (prevalence of skipping meals, food nutrition label use, etc.), nutrient intake, and metabolic syndrome factors were analyzed. Results: The tenured employees' group showed a significantly lower proportion of subjects who skipped breakfast (P = 0.0254) and significantly higher daily energy intake (P = 0.0264) than the temporary employees' group. However, there were no significant differences in the intake of energy nutrients and most of the micronutrients per 1,000 kcal of energy intake between the two groups. The proportion of subjects who consumed energy nutrients under 75% of the estimated energy requirement (EER) was 38.11% in the tenured employees' group, which was significantly lower than the 48.30% in the temporary employees' group (P = 0.0159). In economically active women aged 19~29 years, the odds ratio of low HDL-cholesterolemia prevalence was 1.80 times higher (95% CI, 1.06-3.06) in the temporary employees' group compared to that in the tenured employees' group after adjustment for confounding factors (P = 0.0295). Conclusions: In conclusion, among Korean adult women in their twenties, temporary employees showed inappropriate eating habits such as skipping breakfast, and had abnormal blood lipid levels.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2024

Background: This study investigated the association between obesity and cardiometabolic disease clusters in Korean adults aged 19-39 years. Methods: We included 3,785 participants (1,767 men and 2,018 women) aged 19-39 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2020-2022). The risk factors for cardiometabolic disease were defined as follows: high blood pressure; hypertriglyceridemia; hyperuricemia; and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high fasting plasma glucose, elevated alanine aminotransferase levels. Results: The prevalence of participants with ≥ 1, ≥ 2, and ≥ 3 cardiometabolic disease risk factors was 95.2%, 84.2%, and 65.6% in men and 90.0%, 70.5%, and 43.0%, in women with class 2-3 obesity, respectively. Compared to those for young adults with underweight/normal weight, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors were 17.26 (8.32-35.80) for ≥ 1; 19.43 (12.18-31.00) for ≥ 2; and 22.93 (14.15-37.15) for ≥ 3 factors in men with class 2-3 obesity and 14.67 (8.00-26.91) for ≥ 1; 20.88 (12.15-35.88) for ≥ 2; and 36.26 (20.20-65.09) for ≥ 3 factors in women with class 2-3 obesity. Conclusion: Although the patients were young, the prevalence and ORs for cardiometabolic disease risk factor clusters in young adults with obesity were prominently high. Prevention and management of obesity in young Korean adults are urgently needed at both individual and public levels.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.205-212
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and assess nutrient intake levels for the purpose of improving MS risk factors. The participants in this study were 512 adults consisting of 271 men and 241 women aged 30 and over, who visited a public health center for a medical check up. The diagnosis of MS subjects was adapted from the NCEP-ATPIII guidelines and the WHO Asia-Pacific Area criteria for obesity. The MS group was defined as subjects displaying three or more risk factors, and the non MS group was defined as those displaying two or less risk factors. A dietary survey was conducted using the 24-hour recall method. The number of subjects displaying MS syndrome factors was 158 (30.9%), broken down into, 89 men and 69 women. Regarding risk factors in the MS group, the prevalence of waist circumference was 40.5%, hypertension 34.2%, hyperglycemia 31.0%, low HDL-cholesterol 24.7%, and hypertriglycemia 19.6%. BMI, sistolic blood pressure, blood glocose, blood triglyceride, and blood HCL-cholesterol of the MS group were significantly higher compared to the non MS group. Male subjects in the MS group reported high intakes of cereals, sugar, fruits, meat and poultry, oil and fats, and beverages and total food intake was significantly higher compared to the non MS group. Women in the MS group reported high intakes of meat and poultry, milk and dairy products, beverages, and seasonings, and total food intake was higher compared to the non MS group. Dietary diversity score (DDS) was 3.82~4.04, which was not significant among the groups. In men, dietary variety score (DVS) was 16.3 in the MS group and 19.4 in the non MS group, whereas in women, the DVS was 15.2 in the non MS group and 17.0 in the MS group. In GMVDF pattern, 11111 pattern was 30.7%, followed by 01111 for men and 11101 for women. Calorie, fat, and cholesterol intakes in men as well as, calorie, fat, and folate intakes in women in the MS group were higher compared to the non MS group. Intakes of protein, P, Fe, Na, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, niacin, vitamin E, and Zn were higher than the KDRIs. On the other hand, intakes of Ca, K, fiber, vitamin $B_2$, and vitamin C were below the KDRIs. Intakes of lipids, animal food, Na, and cholesterol in the MS group were higher compared to the non MS group, whereas intake of dietary fiber was lower. Our results indicate that continuous, systematic nutritional education program must implemented to reduce the risk factors associated with MS.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2005

Purpose : Metabolic bone diseases have been mai or problems in children with renal diseases and steroid treatment is the main precipitating factor reducing bone mineral density(BMD). This study was performed to assess the prevalence of osteoporosis and to evaluate the clinical factors associated with decreased BMD in children with renal diseases. Methods : Forty-four children with renal diseases who were diagnosed at the Pediatric no phrology division of Ajou University hospital since Oct. 1994 were included. Using a new quantitative ultrasound device, BMD and the prevalence of osteoporosis were evaluated. The clinical and serological data were analyzed in association with decreased BMD. Results : A total of 44 patients were evaluated. The age at initial diagnosis was 6.7$\pm$4.2 years. At the time of evaluation, the chronological and bone age was 9.3$\pm$4.2 years and 8.2 $\pm$ 4.6 years, respectively. The renal diseases included nephrotic syndrome 24(54.5%), Henoch Schonlein purpura nephritis 7(15.9%), IgA nephropathy 6(13.9%), reflux nephropathy(RN) 2 (4.5%), and other renal disease 5(%). The prevalence of osteoporosis was 11%. There was no difference in the clinical factors between the long-term and the short-term treated steroid groups. Conclusion : The prevalence of osteoporosis was 12% in 44 children with renal diseases No significant factor was found in association with decreased BMD and there was no relationship between osteoporosis and steroid usage duration or cumulative dose. A new quantitative ultrasound, which is relatively easy to perform, especially in children, is expected to be in common use and will enable clinicians to evaluate metabolic bone disorders with ease.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2007

Purpose : Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is effective screening test for inherited metabolic diseases. In this study, we estimate potential costs and benefits of using tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to screen new borns for inherited metabolic diseases (phenylketonuria, BH4 deficiency, citrullinemia, maple syrup urine disease, propionic aciduria, isovaleric aciduria, glutaric aciduria type 1, LCHAD deficiency) in Korea. Methods : From April 2001 to March 2004, 79,179 new borns were screened for amino acid disorders, organic acid disorders, and fatty acid oxidative disorders. Twenty-eight new borns were diagnosed with one of the metabolic disorder and the collective estimated prevalence amounted to 1 in 2,800 with a sensitivity of 97.67%, a specificity of 99.28%, a recall rate of 0.05%, and a positive preditive value of 6.38%. We calculated and compared the total costs in case when neonatal screening on pheny lketonuria, BH4 deficiency, citrullinemia, maple syrup urine disease, propionic aciduria, isovaleric aciduria, glutaric aciduria type 1, LCHAD deficiency is implemented, and when not. Results : If the neonatal screening on pheny lketonuria, BH4 deficiency, citrullinemia, maple syrup urine disease, propionic aciduria, isovaleric aciduria, glutaric aciduria type 1, LCHAD deficiency is implemented, total benefits far exceed costs at a ratio of 1.40:1. Conclusion : Although, this study only concerns the monetary aspects of the neonatal screening, tandem mass spcetrometry for neonatal screening is cost-effective compared with not screening. The study appears to support the introduction of tandem mass spectrometry into a Korea neonatal screening programme for inherited metabolic diseases.