• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.763-771
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between dietary sodium intake and prevalence of abdominal obesity in Korean adults. We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V-1 and analyzed data on 4,475 Koreans (${\geq}30$ years old). Subjects were divided into three groups according to fasting plasma glucose (FPG): 1) normal (FPG <100 mg/dL), 2) pre-diabetes ($100mg/dL{\leq}FPG{\leq}125mg/dL$), and 3) diabetes (FPG ${\geq}126mg/dL$ or subjects diagnosed with diabetes). The subjects in each category were stratified by dietary sodium intake as well as index of abdominal obesity. We found that dietary sodium intake was positively correlated with waist circumference (WC) (P=0.002) and was particularly high in the pre-diabetes group. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the normal and diabetes groups showed no association between dietary sodium intake and WC, whereas the pre-diabetes group with a high sodium intake exhibited a significant association (odds ratio (OR)=1.479, P=0.029) between dietary sodium intake and WC. Further, the OR for abdominal obesity in the high sodium intake group with pre-diabetes was 1.590 after adjusting for age and sex (P=0.012). In addition, the ORs for the prevalence of abdominal obesity with fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance were significantly higher in the pre-diabetes group with high sodium intake compared with low sodium intake. Moreover, these associations were significant even after adjusting for confounding variables (model 2: age and sex; model 3: age, sex, and total energy intake). Our results suggest a strong association between sodium intake and abdominal obesity in pre-diabetes Korean adults.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.116-127
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the coverage of the current mandatory nutrition labeling system on the nutrient intake of Koreans. Methods: KNHANES dietary intake data (2013) of 7,242 subjects were used in the analysis. KNHANES dietary intake data were collected by a 24-hour recall method by trained dietitians. For analysis, all food items consumed by the subjects were classified into two groups (foods with mandatory labeling and other foods). In the next step, all food items were reclassified into four groups according to the food type and nutrition labeling regulations: raw material food, processed food of raw material characteristics, processed foods without mandatory labeling, and processed foods with mandatory labeling. The intake of energy and five nutrients (carbohydrate, protein, fat, saturated fat, and sodium) of subjects from each food group were analyzed to determine the coverage of the mandatory nutrition labeling system among the total nutrient intake of Koreans. Results: The average intake of foods with mandatory labeling were 384g/day, which was approximately one quarter of the total daily food intake (1,544 g/day). The proportion of energy and five nutrients intake from foods with mandatory labeling was 18.1%~47.4%. The average food intake from the 4 food groups were 745 g/day (48.3%) for the raw food materials, 54 g/day (3.5%) for the processed food of raw material characteristics, 391 g/day (25.3%) for the processed foods without mandatory labeling, and 354 g/day (22.9%) for the processed foods with mandatory labeling. Conclusions: Although nutrition labeling is a useful tool for providing nutritional information to consumers, the coverage of current mandatory nutrition labeling system on daily nutrient intake of the Korean population is not high. To encourage informed choices and improve healthy eating habits of the Korean population, the nutrition labeling system should be expanded to include more food items and foodservice menus.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 2013

This study was conducted to investigate the nutrient intakes of subjects by quartile of percent energy intake from cooked rice, consumption of cooked rice mixed with multi-grains and to evaluate rice consumption in relation to the risk of metabolic syndrome. The subjects were 5,830 males and females aged between 20~64 years based on 2007-2008 KNHNES data. Levels of percent energy intake from cooked rice were classified into 4 groups (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 groups: 25% of each) using data of 24-hour recall method from KNHNES. Using medical examination and questionnaire, subjects were classified according to diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome. The subjects with higher age, being married, lower education, lower economic level were more likely to take higher percent energy intake from cooked rice. Quartile Q3 of percent energy intake from cooked rice tended to show higher Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) for fiber, calcium, iron, potassium and vitamin A. INQ of protein, dietary fiber, calcium, thiamin, phosphorus, potassium, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C by consumption of cooked rice mixed with multi-grains was higher than that by consumption of cooked white rice when adjusted for age. No association with a risk for metabolic syndrome was found for quartile of percent energy intake from cooked rice or cooked rice mixed with multi-grains compared to cooked white rice after adjusting for energy, gender, age, BMI, alcohol, smoking, income and physical activity. In conclusion, consumption of over 54% energy intake from cooked rice or only cooked white rice showed relatively low INQs, but was not associated with a higher risk for metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.73-86
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to design optimized food intake patterns that meet the nutritional recommendations with minimal changes from the current food intake patterns among Korean adults using linear programming. Methods: Data of a one day 24-hour dietary recall from the 2010 ~ 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey were used to quantify the food items that Korean adults usually consumed. These food items were categorized into seven groups and 24 subgroups. The mean intakes and intake distributions of the food groups and the food subgroups were calculated for eight age (19 ~ 29, 30 ~ 49, 50 ~ 64, and over 65 years old) and gender (male and female) groups. A linear programming model was constructed to minimize the difference between the optimized and mean intakes of the food subgroups while meeting the Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) for energy and 13 nutrients, and not exceeding the typical quantities of each food subgroup consumed by the respective age and gender groups. Results: The optimized food intake patterns, which were a set of quantities of 24 food subgroups, were obtained mathematically for eight age and gender groups. Overall, major modifications of current diet were required to increase the intake of vegetables and milk/dairy products and decrease the Kimchi intake. The optimized intake of seasonings, including salt, was calculated to be 0 g for all the age and gender groups. Conclusion: The optimized food intake patterns designed using linear programming in this study lack feasibility because they suggest a seasoning consumption of 0 g. Modification of intake goal for sodium is needed to obtain optimized food intake patterns with improved feasibility.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.92-102
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• 2021

There is little information on the nutrient intake according to the city size and small town in Korean elderly. This study analyzed the nutritional consumption of older people in metropolitan, middle and small cities, and rural areas according to four income levels. The recent data from the 2016~2018 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used. The final analysis included 4,325 individuals (Male: 1,856, Female: 2,469) over 65 years old. Multivariable regression with a complex sample design was conducted to compare the nutrient intake among the groups. In a comparison within regions, the nutrition status of the elderly in small towns was more vulnerable than metropolitan and middle & small cities. The energy intakes were similar between the groups. The carbohydrate intake of middle & small cities was significantly higher than the other regions. The intake of other nutrients in metropolitan and middle & small cities appeared to be higher than in rural areas. The number of nutrients with statistical significance between low and high-income levels were 19 in metropolitan, 11 in middle & small cities, and 5 in rural areas. Each contribution of carbohydrate, fat, and protein to the total energy intake was lower in the low-income level than the high-income level in metropolitan and middle & small cities. On the other hand, in rural areas, only the contribution of protein to energy intake was lower in the low-income level than the high-income level. Cities with higher levels of urbanization had more severe nutritional inequality in relation to the income level. There was also nutritional inequality present in rural areas but it was to a lesser extent. Moreover, the generally low level of nutrient intake was problematic in rural areas. These findings could be used as fundamental evidence for developing community nutritional policies for the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.302-316
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• 2023

Objectives: The study aim was to identify changes in the nutritional status of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic according to household income and demographic characteristics. Methods: Study participants were 2,408 adults aged 65 and over who participated in the 2019-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). To examine changes in nutrient intake levels resulting from COVID-19, data of 2019 and of 2020 were compared. Study participants were divided into three groups based on household income level to compare these changes. The changes were compared according to household income level, age group, and household type. Results: Percentages of recommended intakes for energy, protein, and most micronutrients were the lowest for the low-income group of both males and females in 2020. The Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR) score was the lowest for the low-income group in both years. When comparing nutrient density for 2019 and 2020 by income group, the male low-income group experienced a decrease in nutrient densities of vitamin A, thiamine, calcium, and iron. For the same group, a decreased percentage for energy intake from protein was noted. Fruit intake was lowest in the low-income group for both males and females. Low-income males had the lowest intake levels for meat, fish, eggs, and legumes in both 2019 and 2020 and the lowest milk and milk product intake levels in 2020. Older adults living alone or single older adults with children had lower MAR scores than those living with a spouse. Older adults living alone experienced decreases in energy and thiamine and iron intake levels in 2020 compared to their intake levels in 2019. Conclusions: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, nutrition intake levels worsened for older adult males in the low-income group and older adults living alone. This finding shows the need for a more systematic nutritional support strategy for the vulnerable older adults population in national disaster situations.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.88-104
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• 2024

Purpose: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is primarily synthesized in the liver upon stimulation of infectious disease cytokines, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), and is used as a biological marker of systemic inflammation. Previous studies reported that hs-CRP is closely related to diet and abdominal obesity. Furthermore, a dietary score favoring the consumption of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains over meat and saturated fat reduced inflammation and decreased the prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity. Nevertheless, no studies have examined whether hs-CRP mediates the relationship between dietary scores and abdominal obesity, and research on the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) is lacking. Therefore, the present study examined the association between the KHEI and abdominal obesity and the mediating effect of hs-CRP. Methods: In total, 17,770 adults aged ≥19 years were included in the study using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2015-2018. KHEI was developed to assess the overall diet quality of Korean adults. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses assessed the relationship between KHEI, hs-CRP, and abdominal obesity. The mediation analysis with the bootstrapping method was performed using SAS MACRO. Results: Among women, the odds ratio (OR) of abdominal obesity prevalence was lower in the highest KHEI compared to the lowest KHEI after adjusting for age, body mass index, educational level, income level, occupational status, marital status, household type, region type, alcohol consumption, smoking status, physical activity, total energy intake, and hsCRP (OR 0.744, 95% confidence interval 0.598-0.926). The association between KHEI and abdominal obesity was partially mediated via hs-CRP, and the mediated proportion was 68.7% in men and 38.1% in women. Conclusion: A substantial relationship was observed between the KHEI and abdominal obesity among females. Moreover, according to the KHEI, abdominal obesity may be mediated partially by hs-CRP.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.7
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• pp.443-452
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the utilization behavior of medical services according to the characteristics of socioeconomic status (SES) and prevalence by using the 6th National Health and Nutrition Survey data for adults over 25 years old. Frequency and technical statistical analysis, ANOVA, ${\chi}^2$-test, and regression analysis were performed using SPSS 23.0. The results were as follows: more female than male, 65 years old and over, high school graduate, and unemployed and income quintiles were similar. The SES score considering education level, function, and income quintiles was the highest at 7-8, and most of the respondents felt moderate about their subjective health condition. The mean number of prevalence was $1.07{\pm}1.497$, the mean utilization of outpatient services was $0.50{\pm}0.045$, and the mean number of inpatient services use was $0.12{\pm}0.454$. Depending on general characteristics, there was a significant difference between subjects with prevalence and subjective health conditions. Higher age was associated with lower education, skill level, income, and SES score, and average prevalence was associated with poor subjective health conditions. More serious prevalence was associated with greater utilization of inpatient services. More chronic prevalence was associated with utilization of outpatient services. In other words, higher SES score was associated with lower overall use of medical services. Lower SES score was associated with higher use of medical services. In conclusion, we must develop appropriate health education programs that can prevent diseases in groups with low socioeconomic characteristics. There is the need to construct and implement a community-based appropriate health service system so that proper medical services can be used.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.3751-3758
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• 2014

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of arthritis and comorbid chronic conditions on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the Korean older population. The study subjects were 2,708 Korean adults aged 65 and older from the $3^{rd}$ Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys data: 1,357 persons with a single chronic condition, such as arthritis, herniations of the intervertebral disc, osteoporosis, asthma, peptic ulcers, stroke, or cataract; 886 persons with arthritis and a second chronic condition described above; and 465 persons with no chronic condition. An analysis of covariance was performed to compare the EQ-5D index among the groups. The effects of arthritis, second chronic condition and their interactions were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis. The results are as follows. Compared to men with arthritis only, men with stroke only, stroke and arthritis, or cataract and arthritis had a lower age adjusted EQ-5D index. Women with a stroke only, asthma only, cataract only, osteoporosis and arthritis, peptic ulcer and arthritis, stroke and arthritis, or cataract and arthritis had a lower age adjusted EQ-5D index than women with arthritis only. Arthritis and comorbid conditions had additive effects on the HRQol in both genders except for arthritis and stroke in women. In conclusion, comorbid chronic medical conditions in older people with arthritis may reduce the HRQoL in an additive manner.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.529-536
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• 2020

This study aims to provide the basic data for coffee intake and health promotion by examining the conditions in which Korean adults consume the most coffee. The study used raw data from the second year of the 7th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017), and 3,325 subjects who were 19 years of age or older and who were not missing the required values. This number used as the average amount of coffee drank per day in the past year is at least one cup. In order to identify factors that affect coffee intake, the model included general characteristics such as gender, age, household income, education level, occupation, health behaviors such as smoking, drinking, high intensity and moderate intensity exercises, walking, physical activity during work and leisure, sleep time, stress and depression. The results showed that coffee intake was lower among women than men, coffee intake was higher for people 40-64 years than people 20-39 years old, physical occupations rather than non-physical occupations, smokers rather than non-smokers, and for high stress rather than low stress in life. Subjects with these factors are considered to be at risk of excessive caffeine intake from coffee. The risk group of this study should be studied for the effect of excessive consumption of coffee on personal health.