• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.106-112
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• 2003

To investigate the association between breast cancer risk and nutrient intake in Korean women, a case-control study was carried out. Incident cases (n=224) were identified through cancer biopsy between february 1999 and December 2000 at two university hospitals in Seoul. Hospital-based controls (n=250) were selected from patients in the same hospitals, during the same periods. food intake was investigated with semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (98 items) by a trained dietitian. Subjects were asked to indicate the average intake, for a 12-month period of three years prior to the baseline phase. In this study, no apparent association was found between fat intake level and breast cancer risk. High fiber intake showed a significant inverse association only among premenopausal women. In terms of antioxidant vitamins, $\beta$-carotene and vitamin C among premenopausal women and vitamin C intake among postmenopausal women was significantly associated with a decreasing risk of breast cancer. A protective effect of high calcium consumption was observed among postmenopausal women. In conclusion, our findings support epidemiological evidence that antioxidant vitamin intake could lower the breast cancer risk in Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.157-171
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• 1985

An attemption was made to estimate the effect of menopause on the mental health of climacteric women. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) were questioned to 278 premenopausal women and 302 postmenopausal women. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance in each variable of menopause, age, educational level, religion and partnership of husband, and two-way analysis of variance in two variables of menopause and one of other variables. The results were summarized as follows. 1. Menopause increased the scores of validity, psychopathic deviate, hypomania and paranoia scale, but conversely decreased the score of masculinity-femininity scale. 2. The older the climacteric women were, the lower scores of masculinity-femininity scale were observed. 3. The older the premenopausal women were, the higher scores of depression, hysteria, psychopathic deviate, psychasthenia and schizophrenia scale were observed, on the contrary, all scores of the postmenopausal women were decreased by the increment of their ages. 4. The higher the educational level of climacteric women were, the higher scores of correction and masculinity-femininity scale were observed, but the scores of hypochondriasis, hysteria, schizophrenia and social introversion scale were decreased by the increment of their educational level. 5. The scores of hypomania scale were higher in women of Buddhism than other religions. 6. The scores of validity, paranoia, psychasthenia, schizophrenia and social introversion scale were higher in widows than women with husband.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.634-643
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• 2007

This study was performed to develop a tailored multi-disciplinary obesity management program, as well as an obesity assessment sheet identified the general characteristics and psychological and environmental factors related to weight loss success for obese premenopausal women participating in obesity management programs performed at weight reduction health centers. The results are as follows. The primary general characteristics related to successful weight reduction in the obesity management programs were education level, occupational status, reason for obesity onset, aids used in weight control, basis of frequency, and reason for weight reduction. The initial psychological factors related to successful weight reduction were less stress and disordered eating. The initial environmental factors included an expression of ones opinion and the eating environment. Animal protein and animal fat consumption were significantly less in the unsuccessful group than in those who were unsuccessful at weight loss. The consumption of crude fiber was significantly greater in the successful group than in the unsuccessful group. Psychological factors such as stress, depression, and disordered eating, and the environmental factor of eating environment were significantly better in the successful group than in the unsuccessful group. In conclusion, we have found evidence to suggest what is required in determining the types of programs most suitable for obese women prior to starting an obesity management program.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.268-281
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• 1997

This study was done for the purpose of analysing the relationship between menopausal syndrome and depression in the pre and post menopausal women's group. Data were collected by a questionnaire from November, 1995 to December, 1996. The subject were 244 midlife women(94 subjects were in pre-menopausal period, 150 subject were in post-menopausal period). The instruments used for this study were the menopausal syndrome scale by Neugarton and depression scale by Zung. Data were analyzed with the SPSS/PC using frequency, t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients. The results of this study were as follows ; 1. The most serious menopausal symptom in the midlife women was 'back pain and joint pain'. 2. The item of 'Hot flush'(t=-2.78, p<0.01), 'sweating'(t=-2.31, p<0.05) and 'nervousness'(t=-2.13, p<0.05) as menopausal syndromes were statistically significant in the two groups ; Post menopausal group were higher then premenopausal group. 3. Postmenopausal group were a little higher then premenopausal group as depression level. It was none statistically significant in the two groups. 4. The relationship between menopausal syndromes and the level of depression was statistically significant in the group of post-menopausal group(r=0.2083, p<0.01).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3469-3476
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• 2016

Background: The cancer research literature suggests that women, especially premenopausal women, have lower cancer mortality rates than men. However, it is unclear if that is true for populations at all age levels in all countries and what factors affect such sex differences. This paper attempts to fill that gap. Materials and Methods: Sex- and country-specific cancer mortality data were statistically analyzed with particular attention to geographic, social, and economic factors that may affect the sex differences. Results: The sex differences were age and country specific, rather than universal. Premenopausal women actually tend to have a disadvantage compared to men or postmenopausal women. Male cancer mortality appears to be the affecting factor in explaining variations in sex differences. Latitude of residence and literacy rate are the affecting factors in cancer mortality and sex differences. African and Latin American countries tend to have a female disadvantage, while East Asian and Eastern European countries are more likely to have a female advantage. Conclusions: The findings challenge the cancer mortality literature and indicate that the sex differences and their possible causes are more complicated than the current literature suggests. They also highlight the urgency of adapting age- and country- specific health systems and policies to better meet the needs of younger women.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.683-694
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• 2004

The objective of this study is to improve the health related quality of life through the efficient weight reduction by analyzing the ecological factors related to completion of weight reduction program in the obese premenopausal women aged 20-29 years. The factors influencing completion of obesity management programs in the obese women were the preferences of sweet and salt taste, health related quality of life (general health, role emotional), eating attitude scores, and regularity of mealtime scores. The finding that the completion of obese management programme were improved if the health-related quality of life was high and the physiological status related symptoms of stress, depress, and eating disorder were good has implications for the treatment of obesity. The questionnaire used this study can be available to develop the obesity assessment sheets which is required the exploration of the characteristics of obese women and the tailored multi-disciplinary obesity management program. Moreover, the obesity assessment sheets will make a contribution to determine types of the programs that is suitable for obesity women before starting an obesity management program.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships among menopausal symptoms, functional status, and distress and to identify factors influencing distress in premenopausal breast cancer patients who had been on endocrine therapy. Methods: A descriptive correlational study was conducted. Data were collected using questionnaires from 140 patients with breast cancer undergoing endocrine therapy at a general hospital. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Tukey HSD test, Pearson's correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis. Results: The mean scores for menopausal symptom, functional status, and distress were $19.65{\pm}7.86$, $2.67{\pm}0.33$ and $3.69{\pm}2.19$, respectively. The menopausal symptoms and distress were positively correlated (r=.76, p<.001). The menopausal symptoms and functional status (r=-.43, p<.001) and functional status and distress (r=-.31, p<.001) were negatively correlated. The most influential factor for distress was menopausal symptoms (${\beta}=.79$, p<.001). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, developing nursing intervention programs focusing on decreasing menopausal symptoms and distress are recommended.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.1490-1500
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• 2021

Various microorganisms reside in the human vagina; the vaginal microbiome is closely linked to both vaginal and general health, and for this reason, microbiome studies of the vagina are an area of research. In this study, we analyzed the vaginal microbiome of women before and after menopause to further increase our understanding of the vaginal microbiome and its contribution to general health. We did a 16s rRNA gene-based metagenomic analysis on the vaginal fluids of 11 premenopausal and 19 postmenopausal women in Korea. We confirmed that the taxonomic composition was significantly different between the two groups. In postmenopausal women, species richness was significantly decreased, but species diversity was significantly increased. In particular, among the taxonomic components corresponding to all taxon ranks of the vaginal microbiome, a reduction in Lactobacillus taxa after menopause contributed the most to the difference between the two groups. In addition, we confirmed through metabolic analysis that the lactic-acid concentration was also decreased in the vaginal fluid of women after menopause. Our findings on the correlation between menopause and the microbiome could help diagnose menopause and enhance the prevention and treatment diseases related to menopause.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.473-479
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• 2002

This study investigated associations between calcium intake, exercise behaviors, lumbar bona mineral density (BMD), and bone mineral content (BMC) among 79 premenopausal women (mean age = 41yr). The BMD and BMC of the lumbar spine (L$_2$-L$_4$) were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Nutrient intake was estimated by the convenient method and a quantitative food frequency questionnaire was designed for this study that included the most commonly consumed floods sources of Ca. Participants were asked to identify all activities of exercise they had participated in including estimation of number of years of participation, number of weeks per year, number of times per week, and the number of hours per session. Participants were then categorized into the exercise group or nonexercise group (control). To meet the criteria for inclusion in the exercise group, the subjects participated more than 3 sessions per week and more than 30 minutes per session and the length of the exercise participation was at least more then 6 months. The participants were also grouped by calcium intake. The total calcium intake of all participants was estimated by dietary calcium intake and then the subjects were divided into quartiles to assess the lumbar BMD and BMC of the upper 25% (average calcium intake = 910 mg) and the lower 25% (average calcium intake = 414 mg). Results indicated that there were no significant differences in energy and calcium intake, and that there were no significant differences in lumbar BMD and BMC between participants in exercise group and the nonexercising control group. However, the exercise group had significantly lower ALP concentration than the nonexercise group. The upper 25% calcium intake group had significantly greater lumbar bone mineral density and bone mineral content than the lower 25% calcium intake group. Also the upper 25% calcium intake group had significantly lower ALP concentration than the lower 25% calcium intake group. Correlation analysis revealed that the spinal BMB was positively associated with body weight, while calcium intake was negatively associated with ALP concentration in nonexercising women. However, neither body weight nor dietary calcium intake were associated with both spinal BMD or ALP concentration in exercising women. These results suggest that calcium intake positively influence bone mineral density and bone mineral content in nonexercisulg premenopausal women. Exercise group did not affected by body weight and dietary calcium, but decreased ALP concentration than nonexercising group. Both exercise and calcium intake positively influence bone mineral density and bone mineral content in premenopausal women.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2005

This study was performed to investigate the effects of very low calorie diet (VLCD) using meal replacements that contain the wild grass extracts that are consisted of mainly Samul-tang ingredients on weight reduction and health promotion in the obese women (BMI$\geq$25 kg/$m^2$) for four weeks. Fifty six premenopausal women participated in this experiment. Each subject was either classified as part of the control group (C group, n=28) that consumed 3 regular meals a day or the meal replacement group (MR group, n=28) that consumed 1 regular meal and 2 meal replacements within 600 kcal/day. Anthropometric measurements, body composition, health related factors, and psychological factors were assessed before (the initial) and after (the 4$^{th}$ week) the study. Obesity was significantly decreased after the diet intervention. Anthropometric measurements such as weight, waist and hip circumference, and BMI and body composition such as body fat, and fat mass were significantly decreased in all groups after the diet intervention. Anthropometric measurements and body composition of the MR group were significantly decreased more than those of the C group. Serum total cholesterol was significantly decreased in the MR groups but not in the C group and serum triglyceride concentration was significantly decreased in all groups after the diet intervention. All the biochemical measurements were within normal ranges after the diet intervention. Psychological factors such as stress and depression were significantly decreased in two groups after the diet intervention. Therefore, VLCD using meal replacements is very effective for weight reduction in the obese premenopausal women.