• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2013

Previous studies have shown that sodium excretion is positively related to calcium excretion in the urine. As excessive sodium intake is a common nutritional problem in Korea, we intended to investigate associations among sodium intake levels and calcium status, evaluated by 24 hour recall method and urinary excretion, and bone status. We collected dietary information for non-consecutive three days from 139 young adult women 19~29 years. After classifying the subjects into 4 groups based on the dietary sodium levels by daily total sodium intake (mg) and sodium density (sodium intake per 1000 kcal energy intake), we compared the bone status, nutrient intakes, urinary calcium and sodium excretions. The results showed a positive association between total daily sodium intake and intake of other nutrients. However, no significant differences in nutrients intakes were observed among subject groups classified by sodium density levels. There were no significant differences of bone density among groups by total daily sodium intake as well as by sodium density. While total daily sodium intake showed significantly positive relationship with urinary sodium (p < 0.05) and calcium (p < 0.05), sodium density was not related to urinary excretion of calcium and sodium. Our results suggested that promoting balanced meals providing appropriate amounts of energy intake is the essential component of nutrition education for improving calcium status of young Korean women with excessive sodium intake.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.303-314
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between dietary fat intake, anthropometric data, blood lipids, C-reactive protein, and adiponectin in Korean male college students. Forty-eight subjects were divided into 2 groups based on dietary fat intake: UERF (under 30% of energy ratio for fat source), AERF (above 30% of energy ratio for fat souce). We collected dietary intake data using 24-hour dietary recall for 3 days. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured by using standard methods. Segmental body composition analysis was carried out using an 8-electrode multifrequency bioelectrical impedance method of body fat estimation. There was no significant difference in anthropometric data and serum lipid profile between UERF and AERF group. Serum C-reactive protein level was significantly higher in the AERF group compared to the UERF group. Although there was no significant difference in serum adiponectin level between UERF and AERF groups, subjects had lower adiponectin levels. Correlation data show that serum adiponectin level was positively correlated with vegetable intake (p < 0.05). In addition, dietary fat intake had a positive correlation with meat (p < 0.01), whereas a negative correlation with grain (p < 0.01), vegetables (p < 0.05), and fish (p < 0.05). These results suggest that the increased fat intake of non-obese Korean male college students is associated with their increased serum C-reactive protein concentration. Therefore, proper guidelines on fat intake and nutrition education are necessary for the prevention and management of metabolic syndromes.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.101-111
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• 2011

It is controversial whether low calcium intake, commonly associated with osteoporosis, results in calcium accumulation in soft tissues. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of low calcium (Ca) and oxalate (ox) intake on soft-tissue Ca deposits and bone metabolism in ovariectomized (ovx) rats. Eight week old female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized and divided into four groups. The rats were fed experimental diets containing low (0.1%, w/w) or normal (0.5%, w/w) Ca with or without sodium oxalate (1%, w/w); Sham/NCa, Ovx/NCa, Ovx/LCa, Ovx/NCa-ox, Ovx/LCa-ox for 6 weeks. All ovx rats showed a remarkable increase in body and tissue weight, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, alkaline phosphatase, and decreases in weight, ash, and Ca contents, as well as bone breaking force compared to those in sham rats. Serum Ca concentration was not significantly affected by dietary Ca levels or ox intake. Kidney Ca, ox acid content, and microscopic Ca deposition increased remarkably in the Ovx/LCa-ox group compared to those in the other groups. Ca content in the spleen and aorta also increased significantly, but the weight contents, Ca, bone breaking force, and Ca and oxalic acid in feces decreased significantly in the Ovx/LCa-ox group. Serum parathyroid hormone levels were not significantly different among the groups. These results indicate that low Ca intake decreased bone mineral content and increased Ca deposits in soft tissues, which was aggravated by ox intake in ovx rats. Thus, high ox intake may result in a kidney disorder in patients with osteoporosis who eat a low Ca diet.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2021

Objectives: This study examined ways to promote desirable eating habits by choosing foods with low sugar contents and provide nutrition education in adolescents. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey. The sugar reduction perception and knowledge, sugary food preference, and intake frequency of 487 male and female high school students in Incheon were analyzed comparatively. Results: Approximately 94.9% and 94.5% of the subjects were unaware of the promotion of a sugar reduction policy and the sugar reduction in the basic guidelines for school meals, respectively. Approximately 95% of them had not received any sugar reduction nutrition education, and 90% were not interested in sugar reduction. The perception for sugar reduction was significantly higher in girls (3.43 out of 5 points) than in boys (3.16 out of 5 points) (P < 0.001). Knowledge about sugar was 3.65 out of 6 points in girls and 3.04 points in boys (P < 0.001). The preference and intake frequency for fruits of the total students were 4.24 out of 5 points and 2.56, respectively. For beverages, the preference was significantly higher in boys (3.97 points) than in girls (3.70 points) (P < 0.001), and the intake frequency was significantly higher in boys (2.26 points) than in girls (2.08 points) (P < 0.001). The preference for snacks was significantly higher for girls (4.19 points) than boys (4.02 points) (P < 0.01), and the intake frequency was 2.22 points in boys and 2.17 in girls, showing no significant difference. Sugar reduction perception and knowledge about sugar showed significant negative correlations with the snack intake frequency (r = -0.11, P < 0.05; -0.13, P < 0.05) after adjusting for gender, grade, and body mass index. Conclusions: The high school students' perception of sugar reduction was very low, and there was a significant correlation with sugary food intake, suggesting that the sugary food intake will decrease as the sugar reduction perception and knowledge about sugar increase.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.396-410
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: High-quality meal intake, including snacks, is necessary for optimal development during adolescence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional intake of adolescents and the quality of their diet according to snack type, eating location, and sleep hours. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A survey of middle school students living in Seoul and Gyeonggi province was conducted using questionnaires and the 24-h recall method to collect data on the 1-day dietary intake of the students from March to May, 2018. The data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and the CAN program. RESULTS: The average nutritional intake status among the respondents showed that the energy intake was lower than the recommended, showing 1,914.8 kcal for middle school boys and 1,752.7 kcal for girls. In terms of the nutritional intake status by gender, only the consumption of protein and niacin were significantly higher in boys than girls (P < 0.05). According to the sleep amounts, vitamin C intake was significantly higher in the sleep-deprived group than in the sleep-moderate or sleep-recommended group (P < 0.05), but the intake did not meet the recommendation in any group. The lower density nutrients found in the index of nutritional quality according to eating places were vitamin C, calcium, iron, and folic acid. School meals showed a higher nutritional density in protein, vitamin B₁, and niacin compared to convenience store meals (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested that sleep amount, and eating place affected the dietary quality of adolescents.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.997-1006
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Asthma and allergic rhinitis (AR) are closely related and considered as allergic respiratory diseases (ARD), and their prevalence has recently increased. Data on the association of dietary antioxidant vitamin intake with asthma and AR in adults are limited. The present study aimed to investigate the associations of vitamin A and C intake with asthma, AR, and all cases of both diseases in young adults who participated in a cross-sectional national survey, with the use of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level as an effect modifier. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study included 6,293 male and female adults aged 20-49 years from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted between 2016 and 2018. The questionnaire-based reports on asthma and AR diagnosis were used to determine outcome variables. Further, 24-h recall data on dietary vitamin A and C, carotene, and retinol intake were acquired. Logistic regression analysis was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Dietary vitamin C intake was inversely associated with asthma prevalence among participants with hs-CRP levels (≥ 1 mg/L); the OR of asthma prevalence was 0.27 (95% CI, 0.08-0.84) for participants with vitamin C consumption ≥ 75 mg/day compared with those consuming < 20 mg/day. Similar association analyses limiting to non-users of dietary supplements were performed to rule out the potential effects of supplement intake on the outcomes; results showed a stronger association. However, the association between vitamin C and asthma was not significant in participants with hs-CRP levels < 1 mg/L; the OR of asthma was 1.44 (95% CI, 0.66-3.16) for participants with vitamin C consumption ≥ 75 mg/day compared with those consuming < 20 mg/day. Vitamin C intake was not associated with AR. Moreover, there was no association between vitamin A intake and neither asthma nor AR. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that higher vitamin C intake may play a potential role in reducing asthma prevalence. Nevertheless, further studies should be conducted to evaluate whether this association is causal.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2003

Iron deficiency and anemia are severe nutrition problems in most of Korea. Iron intake, especially iron with better bioavailability is insufficient over a total age group. Recent changes in diet and life style of Koreans have been repeatedly suggested problems caused by excess nutrient intake rather than under intake. Despite the changes in diet patterns, iron deficient anemia is still prevalent in many parts of Korea. Eight hundred and fifty subjects (323 male and 527 female subjects) in Asan were recruited from farming, factory and urban area. Each subject was interviewed to assess nutrients intakes according to a 24hr-recall method. Twelve hour fasting blood samples were collected to vacutainer with EDTA for hemoglobin (Hb) and separate the tubes for serum iron (SI) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC). The mean serum iron value of female subjects in the factory area was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than that of the female subjects in the urban area although subjects in urban area showed significantly higher the dietary iron intake for both the men and woman (p < 0.05). Dietary iron intake for the younger women was lowest in the farming area and those in the urban area showed the highest dietary iron intake (p < 0.05). When the dietary iron intake was compared by different the age groups, dietary iron intake of the older women from animal sources was less than that of younger women in the urban area (p < 0.05). Dietary iron intake of Asan residents was not sufficient regardless of age, sex and regions and intake of heme iron was especially lower than nonheme iron. (J Community Nutrition 5(1) : 37∼43, 2003)

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.192-198
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• 2013

Dietary sodium intake is considered one of the major causal factors for hypertension. Thus, to control the increase of blood pressure and reduce the risk of hypertension-related clinical complications, a reduction in sodium intake is recommended. The present study aimed at determining the association of dietary sodium intake with meal and snack frequency, snacking time, and taste preference in Korean young adults aged 20-26 years, using a 125-item dish-frequency questionnaire. The mean dietary sodium intakes of men and women were 270.6 mmol/day and 213.1 mmol/day, which were approximately 310% and 245% of the daily sodium intake goal for Korean men and women, respectively. Dietary sodium intake was positively correlated with systolic blood pressure in the total group, and BMI in the total and men-only groups. In the total and men-only groups, those who consumed meals more times per day consumed more dietary sodium, but the number of times they consumed snacks was negatively correlated with dietary sodium intake in the total, men-only, and women-only groups. In addition, those who consumed snacks in the evening consumed more sodium than those who did so in the morning in the men-only group. The sodium intake was also positively associated with preference for salty and sweet taste in the total and women-only groups. Such a high intake of sodium in these young subjects shows that a reduction in sodium intake is important for the prevention of hypertension and related diseases in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.316-327
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• 2017

This study was conducted to compare the nutrient intake, physical characteristics, and health status according to daily fruits and vegetables intake of adolescents using the Korean national health and nutrition examination survey for the sixth period (2013~2015). Subjects were 1,096 adolescents aged 13~18 years. The average daily intake of fruits and vegetables was $518.49{\pm}4.94g$. The two groups (insufficient, sufficient) were divided by fruits and vegetables intake (<500 g/day, ${\geq}500g/day$) and the ratio of the insufficient group was 75.9% while that of the adequate group was 24.1%. The mean of intake of energy, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, iron, thiamin, niacin, vitamin C and dietary fiber differed significantly between the insufficient and sufficient groups (P<0.01, P<0.001). However, there was no significant difference in physical characteristics between groups. The self-perceived health status was better in the sufficient group (P<0.05), while the insufficient group was aware of more stress in their daily life (P<0.05). The serum triglyceride was significantly higher in the sufficient group (P<0.05), while the total cholesterol was lower (P<0.05). As the characteristics of fruits and vegetables are different, it will be necessary to determine standards for consumption of each type. It is also necessary to consider whether a fruits and vegetables intake of 500 g would be a reasonable standard for adolescents. Nevertheless, the results of this study indicate efforts to increase fruits and vegetables intake by young people are necessary.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.969-983
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: We investigated the association of plant and animal protein intake with grip strength in Koreans aged ≥ 50 yrs. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data was collected from 3,610 men and 4,691 women (≥ 50 yrs) from the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We calculated the total energy intake, and the intake of animal and plant protein and collected dietary data using 1-day 24-h dietary recalls. Low grip strength (LGS) was defined as the lowest quintile (men: up to 26.8 kg, women: up to 15.7 kg). The association of protein intake with grip strength was examined using Pearson's correlation and multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The results proved that participants with LGS had lower daily energy, protein and fat intake, and percent energy from protein than those with normal or high grip strength (P < 0.0001). Total energy intake, animal protein, and plant protein were positively associated with grip strength. A higher intake of total plant protein (P for trend = 0.004 for men, 0.05 for women) and legumes, nuts, and seeds (LNS) protein (P for trend = 0.01 for men, 0.02 for women) was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of LGS. However, non-LNS plant protein intake was not associated with LGS (P for trend = 0.10 for men, 0.15 for women). In women, a higher total animal protein intake was significantly associated with decreased LGS (P for trend = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Higher total plant protein and LNS protein intake are negatively associated with LGS.