• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.287-295
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• 1999

This study was conducted to observe the effect of vitamin K on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women. Twenty-four healthy postmenopausal women recruited for this one-month, double-blind controlled study. Before and after daily administration of 1.0mg of phylloquinone the levels of serum vitamin K, osteocalcin, under-carboxylated osteocalcin, and urinary deoxy-phyidinoline were measured. The serum vitamin K concentration of Koran women as well as the average dietary intake of vitamin K was shown to be higher than the average levels of foreign women. However, no correlation between serum vitamin K concentration and vitamin K intake was found. Also, serum vitamin K concentration showed no special correlation with either bone mineral density or bone turnover markers in the study group. However, women with low serum vitamin K concentration(vitamin K-low group)had lower bone mineral density levels. After supplementation with 1.0mg/day of vitamin K, there were no changes in the levels of serum vitamin K, osteocalcin, ucOC, or u-DPD. Vitamin K supplementation did not seem to have any positive effects on bone metabolism through carboxylation. It can, however, be expected that vitamin K supplementation has a positive effect on bone metabolism in postmenopausal women with especially low serum vitamin K concentrations.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 1987

This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary vitamin E supplement and kinds of lipid on the vitamin E concentration and lipid composition in serum of the rats fed fro seven weeks. Supplemented vitamin E was 300mg/kg diet as DL-α-tocopherol acetate, and 15% of corn oil or beef tallow was added to standard diet. The results were as follows ; 1) Body weight and feed efficiency ratio were significantly increased by supplement with vitamin E, corn oil and beef tallow. 2) Serum vitamin E concentration increased significantly by supplement of vitamin E and beef tallow on the diets, while one of corn oil fed group decreased significantly . 3) The contents of triglyceride, total cholesterol, phospholipid in serum were significantly increased in the beef tallow group, and the vitamin E only -supplemented group showed significantly lower serum cholesterol in serum increased significantly in the vitamin E only -fed group and vitamin E plus corn oil-fed group. 4) The content of HDL-cholesterol in serum increased significantly in the vitamin E only -fed group and vitmain e plus corn oil -fed group. 5) The ratio of VLDL, LDL-cholesterol content to HDL-cholesterol one in serum was significantly low in the vitamin E only-supplemented group and corn oil group, and was significantly higher in the beef tallow group than in the corn oil group.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.122-133
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• 1996

As ciarette smoking adversely affects vitamin C metabolism in humans, smokers need substantially more vitamin C intake than do non-smokers to achieve similar serum vitamin C concentration. To provide the basic information currently available for the determination of vitamin C requirement for Korean smokers, we investigated the differences the serum vitamin C values between smokers(n=53) and non-smokers(n=62) in relation to their intake of the vitamin through diet in 115 male college students, who had not been using vitamin C supplements. Dietary intakes of vitamin C were determined by a 24-hour recall, and serum vitamin C was determined using the 2, 4-dinitrophenylhydrazine method. The mean vitamin C intakes of smokers and non-smokers were consuming less than 75% of the Koeran RDA for vitamin c in their diet. Smokers consumed yellow and green leafy vegetables more often (P=0.02) and fresh fruits less often(P=0.006) than non-smokers. The mean serum vitamin C concentration of smokers consuming the same amounts of vitamine C as non-smokers, 64.3 umol/1, were 20% lower than for non-smokers, 80.1 umol/l(P<0.05). The risk of low serum vitamin C concentration (LoC) among smokers were 3.8% compared with 1.6% in non-smokers, and the odd ratio for LoC risk was 2.43. There were no correlations between dietary and serum vitamin C for smokers and non-smokers. It was concluded that smokers might require at least 20% more vitamin C to reach the same concentration comparable to non-smokers.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.429-435
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• 2012

Atopic dermatitis (AD) has become a serious epidemic in Korean children. We aimed to investigate the association between vitamin C, E and other nutrients, and serum total IgE/specific IgE levels in children with AD. A total of 119 children (0-24 mo) diagnosed with AD were recruited for this cross-sectional study from a medical center in Seoul. A 24 h recall was used to assess dietary intakes. Serum total and six food-allergen specific IgE levels were measured by CAP-FEIA. Serum vitamin E was also measured but only in 25 out of the total 119 participants. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to estimate the coefficients between serum IgE levels and dietary intake as well as serum vitamin E. Serum vitamin E levels showed a significantly inverse association with serum total IgE and all specific IgE levels (P < 0.05). Fat intake was inversely related with specific-IgEs for egg whites, milk, buck wheat, soy, and peanuts (P < 0.05). Positive associations were found between carbohydrate (CHO) intake and total IgE and specific IgEs to egg whites, milk, soy, and peanuts (P < 0.05). Vitamin C, E and n-3/n-6 fatty acids were not related with serum total IgE and specific IgE levels except for the association between buck wheat and vitamin E. In addition, there were no significant differences between males and females in dietary intake and serum IgE levels by student's t-test. Although dietary vitamin E showed no association with serum IgE levels, serum vitamin E drew a significant inverse relationship with serum IgE levels. The evidence seems to suggest that vitamin E may possibly lower total and specific-IgEs in children with AD, and that it is important to maintain a relatively high serum vitamin E level in children with AD.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.3
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• pp.153-157
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• 2016

Background: Vitamin D is known to have diverse effects on various systems in the body. There is evidence to suggest that a link exists between the serum vitamin D status and tuberculosis. The present study was designed to assess the alterations in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in newly diagnosed sputum acid fast bacilli (AFB) positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients and to study the association, if any, between serum vitamin D levels and different levels of sputum smear positivity. Methods: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels were estimated in 65 sputum AFB positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 65 age and gender-matched healthy controls. Results: The levels of serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D in tuberculosis patients were not statistically different from the levels of serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D in healthy controls. However, among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, there was a significant negative correlation between the levels of serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D and levels of sputum positivity. Conclusion: Serum vitamin D levels negatively correlates with bacterial load in patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.115-122
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• 2004

Adequate vitamin B$_2$ vitamin B$_{6}$, folate and vitamin B$_{12}$ nutrition is known to be important for reproductive function in women of childbearing age. The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum vitamin B$_2$ vitamin B$_{6}$, folate and vitamin B$_{12}$ status and serum homocysteine levels in 115 women aged 33.2$\pm$4.0 years, who had been diagnosed with infertility, and 49 women aged 34.5$\pm$3.8 years having at least one born child. Total vitamin B$_2$ and vitamin B$_{6}$ intakes in infertile women were significantly lower than those in control. Serum vitamin B$_2$ vitamin B$_{6}$, folate and vitamin B$_{12}$ concentrations were significantly lower in infertile women than those in control and serum homocysteine levels were significantly higher in infertile women than those in control. Thirteen percent in infertile women and zero percent in control were assessed as hyperhomocysteinemic and there was a significant difference in the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia between infertile women and control. 41% infertile women were assessed as folate deficiency. Serum folate concentrations was negatively correlated with serum homocysteine of the infertile women and control. Total vitamin B$_2$ intakes was negatively correlated with serum homocysteine of the infertile women and control. Total vitamin B$_{6}$, folate intakes were negatively correlated with homocysteine of infertile women only. In conclusion, infertile women are needed to intake more B vitamins intakes. Furthermore researches are needed to estimate adequate B vitamin supplementation in infertile women. (Korean J Nutrition 37(2): 115-122, 2004): 115-122, 2004)

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.713-722
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• 2009

Vitamin D levels have been reported to be associated with diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome. There have been studies on the nutritional status of vitamin D in postmenopausal women at Seoul and premenopausal women at Busan, and these studies showed that nearly no relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the obesity index existed. However, there have been no studies that examined about the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and insulin resistance in Korea. In this study, we investigated serum vitamin D levels and the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance), obesity index (body mass index, percentage of body fat and waist circumference) in 180 premenopausal women (non-obese women 87.8%, obese women 12.2%) in spring (March~April), fall (September~October) and winter (January~February) at Daejeon. Serum vitamin D levels were lower in winter than in spring-fall, after adjusting for age and the obesity index. The frequency of vitamin D inadequacy (serum vitamin D levels were $\leq$ 20 ng/mL) was 45.5% in winter and, 23.5% in spring-fall, and which showed that vitamin D inadequacy was higher in winter than in spring-fall. Multiple regression analysis showed that serum vitamin D levels had no relationship with the obesity index or insulin resistance. There was no difference in the obesity index or insulin resistance between the vitamin D inadequacy and normal group, and there was no relationship between serum vitamin D levels and the obesity index or insulin resistance in non-obese and obese premenopausal women, respectively. In conclusion, serum vitamin D levels in premenopausal women at Daejeon were lower in winter than in spring-fall, and the frequency of vitamin D inadequacy was higher in winter than in spring-fall. Serum vitamin D levels had no relationship with the obesity index or insulin resistance in premenopausal women, most of whom were not obese.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.330-337
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional status of antioxidant vitamins in relation to serum malondialdehye(MDA) level in postmenopausal women with common occurance of cardiovascular disease(CVD). Data about general characteristics including smoking, drinking and exercise status, dietary intake and serum level of antioxidant vitamins, and serum MDA level were collected from eighty-five postmenopausal women. Mean serum MDA level was 1.62$\pm$0.03nmol/ml, and general characteristics and serum lipid profiles were not significantly different among the three group: low MDA(<1.45nmol/ml), midium MDA(1.45-1.74nmol/ml) and high MDA($\geq$1.74nmol/ml). Total mean vitamin A intake was 472.8$\pm$37.7RE, 68% of RDA, vitamin C intake was 134.3$\pm$8.7mg, 192% of RDA and vitamin E intake was 8.6$\pm$0.5mg, 86% of RDA for Korean. In takes of antioxidant vitamins from the diet were not significantly different among the three groups. However significant negative correlation(r=-0.242, p<0.05) was observed between vitamin E intake and serum MDA level in total subjects. Total mean serum vitamin A, $\beta$-carotene and vitamin C level were 0.59$\pm$0.01$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, 0.25$\pm$0.01$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and 9.02$\pm$0.28$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, respectively. Total mean serum vitamin E and vitamin E/total cholesterol level were 9.15$\pm$0.42$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and 4.09$\pm$0.17$\mu\textrm{g}$/mg, respectively. Serum antioxidant vitamins levels were not significantly different among the three groups. However serum vitamin C and E level were negatively correlated to serum MDA level. We can conclude that it will be helpful for postmenopausal women with common occurance of CVD to improve nutritional status of antioxidant vitamins by increasing intakes of antioxidant vitamins, especially vitamin C and E. (Korean J Nutrition 34(3) : 330~337, 2001)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1226-1234
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• 1998

The aim of the study was to determine whether vitamin E supplementation in three experimental model rats with impaired glucse tolerance could change serum insulin concentration and lipid distribution. The three groups were adult(AS) and neonatal (NS) streptozotocin-induced groups, and a high sucrose diet(HS) group. Each group was divided into control and vitamin E supplementatino groups at the age of 9 weeks. The level of vitamin E supplementation was 5g/kg diet. Blood and organ samples were taken at 5 and 10 weeks and were examined for changes in the level of serum insulin, glucose, lipids, liver lipids, and oxidative status. Vitamin E supplementation significantly reduced serum insulin in the HS group and caused the significant beneficial changes in serum lipids and triglycerides in As grouop at 10 weeks . In all groups, serum vitamin E was increased and malondialdehyde(MDA) in serumand liver were decreased significantly by vitamin E supplementation. The results suggest that vitamin E supplementation improves lipid distribution in adult streptozotocin-induced rats and serum insulin concentration in high sucrose diet-induced rats. Vitamin E might prevent on reduce oxidative injury in all experimental model rats with impaired glucose tolerance.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.729-738
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• 1998

Antioxidants such as vitamin C and E may play a preventive role in the development of cancer and coronary heart disease. The status of vitamins C and E may be affected by lifestyle habits such as smoking , drinking, and exercise. These habits can modify the dietary requirements of vitamin C and vitamin E. the purpose of this study was to determine whether Korean young healthy men and women consume vitamins C and E in sufficient quantities relative to their lifestyle habits. Among the participants in this study, 52% of the men and none of the women were smokers. ; 84% of all subjects drank alcohol more than once a week ; and the men exercised more often than the women. The concentrations of serum total , HDL-, and LDL- cholesterol were higher in the women than in the men, but the serum triglyceride concentrations were higher in the men than in the women. The men consumed less satuated fat than the women (p<0.05) . The daily intakes of vitamin C for the men and the women were 47.1mg and 65.6mg, respectively. On the other hand , the daily vitamin E intake was higher in the men (11.8mg) than women(6.9mg). The serum $\alpha$-tocopherol concentrations of all subjects were in a normal range, and in no subjects were they below the minimum value of ranges. However, about 19% of male subjects and 10% of female subjects showed deficient status, although the mean serum vitamin C levels were normal . Lifestyle habits fo the sort mentioned above have little influence on the serum vitamin C and $\alpha$-tocopherol concentrations. The serum $\alpha$-tocopherol concentration had a positive correlation with total fat and alcohol consumption. The serum vitamin C concentration was positively associated with regular exercise, but it was negatively correlated with the number of cigarettes smoked. Meanwhile, the serum lipid persoxide concentration , the indirect index of oxidative stress, was influenced by certain variable such as body mass index , the number of cigarettes smoked , alcohol consumption, energy expenditure, vitamin C intake, and serum ${\gamma}$-tocopherol concentration. Serum lipid peroxide concentration was positively associated with body mass index, the number of cigarette smoked , serum triglyceride , and HDL-cholesterol concentration. In conclusion , the vitamin E requirements of the subjects were met by the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) regardless of lifestyle habits. However, serum vitamin C concentrations showed individual variation and was below the normal ranges. Smoking and exercise influenced serum vitamin C concentration. Therefore, a reevaluation of the requirements of vitamin C relative to lifestyle habits is necessary.