• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2022

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to compare the degree of sodium reduction practice and estimate sodium intake by salty food preference. Methods: Sodium reduction practices, salty food preferences and estimated sodium intake were surveyed for restaurant owners (n = 80), employees (n = 82) and customers (n = 727) at the restaurants participating in the sodium reduction project in Daegu, Korea. Estimated sodium intake was performed by examining sex, age, body mass index (BMI), salty eating habit and dietary behaviors. Results: The degree of sodium reduction practice was significantly higher in salinity meter use (P < 0.001), low salt seasonings (P < 0.001) and efforts to make the foods as bland as possible overall (P < 0.001) in the restaurants participating in sodium reduction project than in homes (P < 0.001). The degree of sodium reduction practice appeared lower in the high salty food preference group than in the low-preference group in such items as efforts to make the foods as bland as possible overall (P < 0.05) and washing the salty taste and then cooking (P < 0.05). The high-preference group showed high-salt dietary behavior, including eating all the soup until nothing was left (P < 0.05) more than the low-preference group, but low-salt dietary behavior included checking the sodium content in processed foods (P < 0 .0 5) less than the low-preference group. The high-preference group was higher in the soup and stew intake frequency than the low-preference group (P < 0.05) and much lower in nuts (P < 0.05) and fruits (P < 0.05) intake frequency. The high-preference group had a higher salty eating habit (P < 0.05), salty taste assessment (P < 0.05) and estimated sodium intake (P < 0.05) than the low-preference group. Conclusions: The present study showed that the salty food preference was strongly associated with lower sodium reduction practice and higher estimated sodium intake.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.644-649
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Targeting consumers who consume lunches at their worksite cafeterias would be a valuable approach to reduce sodium intake in South Korea. To assess the relationships between socio-demographic factors, consumer satisfaction, attitudes, barriers and the frequency of sodium-reduced meal intake. SUBJECTS/METHODS: We implemented a cross-sectional research, analyzing data from 738 consumers aged 18 years or older (327 males and 411 females) at 17 worksite cafeterias in South Korea. We used the ordinary least squares regression analysis to determine the factors related to overall satisfaction with sodium-reduced meal. General linear models with LSD tests were employed to examine the variables that differed by the frequency of sodium-reduced meal intake. RESULTS: Most subjects always or usually consumed the sodium-reduced meal (49%), followed by sometimes (34%) and rarely or never (18%). Diverse menus, taste and belief in the helpfulness of the sodium-reduced meal significantly increased overall satisfaction with the sodium-reduced diet (P < 0.05). We found importance of needs in the following order: 1) 'menu diversity' (4.01 points), 2) 'active promotion' (3.97 points), 3) 'display of nutrition labels in a visible location' (3.96 points), 4) 'improvement of taste' (3.88 points), and 5) 'education of sodium-reduction self-care behaviors' (3.82 points). CONCLUSION: Dietitians could lead consumers to choose sodium-reduced meals by improving their taste and providing diverse menus for the sodium-reduced meals at worksite cafeterias.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.212-221
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• 2014

Korean style DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) and a dietary education program for sodium reduction were developed. Reduced sodium diets (15 and 30% reductions) were developed from general diets for 3 consecutive weeks from Monday through Saturday. Subjects (19 total) were classified into two groups according to dietary education. Experimental period was from June 24 to July 23, 2012. Total sum of adaptation scores for low sodium diets significantly increased in the group that underwent dietary education compared to that without (p<0.05). After the experiment, both groups showed significantly increased values in terms of food group balance, sodium-related nutrition knowledge, attitude, and practice by paired t-test. Especially, group that underwent dietary education showed significantly higher values for attitudes by ANCOVA pre-test as a variation (p<0.01). For the results of the nutrient intake survey, group that underwent dietary education showed significantly increased values for dietary fiber (p<0.01), vitamin A (p<0.001), vitamin K (p<0.001), vitamin C (p<0.01), Folic acid (p<0.001), vitamin B12 (p<0.01), calcium (p<0.01), iron (p<0.05), and zinc (p<0.05) and significantly decreased values for sodium (p<0.05) and chloride (p<0.005). Subjects adapted to reduced sodium diets showed apparent improvements in sodium-related knowledge, attitude, practice and intake of nutrient, and these improvements were even higher in the group that underwent dietary education compared to that without. Thus, adaptation to low sodium diet combined with dietary education can improve dietary habits.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.166-174
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to compare dietary self-efficacy for sodium intake reduction and dietary behaviors by eating areas. Subjects (797 males and 767 females) were classified according to perceived dietary habit levels related to sodium intake (lowest: ${\leq}10$ (n=434), low: $11{\sim}{\leq}13$ (n=471), high: $14{\sim}{\leq}15$ (n=360), highest: $16{\leq}$ (n=299)) using an online survey with a sample that was geographically representative of the population. The highest group was significantly younger and had a higher student proportion than the lowest group. Dining contexts regarding home led to a significantly higher sodium intake in the highest group, but it was eating out for the lowest group. The highest group had a significantly lower intention to reduce sodium intake compared to the lowest group. In the home cooked meals, the highest group displayed a significantly lower cooking frequency, less effort with respect to a low sodium diet and cooking habits related to sodium intake as compared to the lowest group. Also, regarding eating out and food service, the highest group exhibited significantly lower efforts and dietary behaviors to reduce sodium intake than the lowest group. The dietary score for sodium reduction behavior in the highest group was significantly lower compared to the lowest group, for home cooked meals, eating out, as well as food service. Thus, dietary guidelines and nutrition education for the reduction of sodium intake by eating areas need to be developed and provided.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.550-558
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• 2016

This study was conducted to provide guideline data for future instructional materials and practice guidelines on reforming the dietary life of military personnel in terms of lowering sodium intake. A total of 264 persons were surveyed to obtain basic data on sodium intake and understanding of sodium. The study also examined the practice that is carried forward in this endeavor. The subjects liked 'kimchi' and 'rice with topping', and these could be the reason for higher salt intake. Career soldiers scored higher in terms of nutrition knowledge than enlisted soldiers (p<0.01). Nutrition education concerning sodium intake was statistically insignificant between the two, whereas career soldiers showed a higher experience rate at these nutrition educational events. Career soldiers also had with higher sodium intake than enlisted soldiers, and this difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). In terms of practice, officers were more likely to experience difficulty in putting the theory of less sodium into practice than their enlisted soldiers counterparts (p<0.05), and the main reason behind this difficulty was that they did not feel the need to lower their sodium intake. Soldiers should be well educated about sodium and healthy diet during their service. Education should focus on lowering sodium intake and changing their attitudes and awareness of this issue in order to elicit behavioral changes.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.225-232
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to expand sodium reduction practices by analyzing the awareness, practice, and obstruction of sodium reduction by middle school dietitians. Questionnaires were administered to 146 dietitians in the Busan area. The average score for the dietitians' awareness of low-sodium diets was 4.21/5.00, and dietitians in their 30s and over 40 reported significantly (p<0.05) higher awareness than those in their 20s The average practice scores for low-sodium diets was 3.74/5.00, 3.80/5.00 for cooking, 3.77/5.00 for food choice, and 3.60/5.00 for action. The average scores of obstruction for low-sodium diets was 3.58/5.00, 3.93/5.00 for low-sodium products, 3.88/5.00 for students, 3.71/5.00 for dietitians, 3.12/5.00 for facilities, 2.86/5.00 for cooks. Dietitians over 40 and those with graduate school degrees had significantly (p<0.05) higher scores for low-sodium products. Regarding practice and obstruction for low-sodium diets, dietitians with high awareness scores had significantly (p<0.01) higher scores for practice and lower scores for obstruction of low-sodium diets. These findings suggest that it is critical to develop diverse low-sodium products and recipes, and that dietitians should educate students about the necessity and the practice of reduced sodium diets.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.719-723
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: South Korean's sodium consumption level is more than twice the upper limit level suggested by the WHO. Steep increases in the prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease in Korea necessitate more effective sodium reduction programs. This study was conducted in order to compare sodium intake-related eating behaviors and key psychosocial factors according to age group and gender. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Using an online survey, a total of 1,564 adults (20-59 years old) considered to be geographically representative of South Korea were recruited and surveyed. The major outcomes were perceived behaviors, knowledge, intentions, and self-efficacy related to sodium intake. RESULTS: The results show that perceived behavior and level of self-efficacy related to low sodium consumption differed by age and gender. Female participants showed better behavior and intention towards low sodium intake than male counterparts. Young participants in their 20s showed the lowest intention to change their current sodium intake as well as lowest self-efficacy measures. CONCLUSIONS: Future sodium reduction interventions should be developed with tailored messages targeting different age and gender groups. Specifically, interventions can be planned and implemented at the college level or for workers in their early career to increase their intention and self-efficacy as a means of preventing future health complications associated with high sodium intake.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.350-357
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• 2009

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the effectiveness of a salt reduction education program. Subjects participating in this study were 251 employees (166 in the "educated" group, 85 in the "non-educated" group) at 8 hospital and industry food service operations in Daegu. After the salt reduction education program was carried out, a salty taste assessment of both groups was conducted. The educated group had statistically significant differences and the noneducated group did not have statistically significant differences. In terms of nutrition knowledge, while the nutrition knowledge of the educated group was increased (p < 0.001), that of the non-educated group rose at a rate of 0.92. In terms of dietary attitude, the educated group exhibited increased preference toward less salty foods when compared to the noneducated group (p < 0.001). Regarding dietary behavior, the score of the educated group was improved (p < 0.001), thereby indicating a preference for less salty taste. This means that nutrition education had influence on dietary behavior. However, after education, sodium excretion for the educated group was not significantly decreased, compared to before education. The results show that there was a positive correlation between salty taste assessment and dietary attitude and behavior for a high-salt diet. There was a positive relationship between attitude for a high-salt diet and sodium intake; when people prefere a more salty taste, they eat more sodium. Therefore, in order to change dietary preference away from salty taste and to decrease sodium intake, a nationwide, systematic and continuous salt reduction education program is needed.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.648-662
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• 2020

Purpose: Sodium intake is persistently decreasing because of the government's sodium reduction policy. This study aimed to identify foods and dishes that contributed to the reduction of sodium intake and evaluate the effects of the sodium reduction policy. Methods: The subjects were 57,809 participants in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey from 2010 to 2017. To identify food and dish sources of sodium intake, the food and dish groups were classified into 23 and 21 groups, respectively. Foods and dishes that contributed to sodium intake were categorized according to the production and cooking venues: production by manufacturers, home cooking, cooking at catering service, and restaurant cooking. Results: Sodium intake was 4,876 mg in 2010 to 3,477 mg in 2017, showing a 29.7% decrease in intake in 2010. Sodium intake was decreased mainly in foods produced by manufacturers and home-cooked foods. The main contributory factors to sodium from the food and dish groups differed according to the food manufacturer and cooking venue. The kimchi produced by manufacturers, cooked soup/tang/jjigae/hotpot at home and catering services, and cooked noodles/dumplings in restaurants were the main contributors to the sodium intake. Conclusion: The type of foods and dishes that contribute to sodium intake tended to expand over the years from specific foods and dishes to various groups of foods and dishes. These results provide evidence for the development and production of low-salt foods and dietary education related to low-salt intake.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.1243-1252
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• 2017

There are limited programs for low sodium intake based on the nutrition education model for housewives who cook family meals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of model-based nutrition programs for low sodium intake among housewives residing in Seoul by incorporating social cognitive theory. A questionnaire survey before and after education was conducted on 140 housewives who participated in the 'Low Sodium Nutritional Education Program' delivered by a district public health center for 12 weeks from November 2015 to January 2016. The contents of the nutrition education program and program evaluation items were based on the action plans for 'Less Sodium Healthy Practice' suggested by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. The results show that program participants showed a lower preference for sodium, higher selection of low sodium dishes from restaurants or cafeteria if available, and increased awareness of the need of restaurants to serve low sodium dishes compared to before. In terms of behavioral changes, there were significant improvements in checking nutrition labeling and selection of foods with low sodium, use of low sodium food products, use of natural seasonings to reduce salt intake, and consumption of fast foods and processed foods. On the other hand, requesting less salty meals when ordering and introducing restaurants or cafeterias with healthy and low sodium menus turned out to be difficult to put into practice. In conclusion, the nutrition education program for sodium intake reduction for housewives was effective in increasing knowledge, environment recognition, and behaviors related to low sodium intake but not behaviors related to physical environmental factors. Therefore, further nutrition education programs and practices for sodium intake reduction should be comprehensively implemented with improvement of physical environments for low sodium intake.