• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.230-239
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the dietary patterns (DPs) of women during pregnancy. The present study aimed to identify the DPs of pregnant Malaysian women and their associations with socio-demographic, obstetric, and anthropometric characteristics. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 737 participants enrolled in Seremban Cohort Study between 2013 and 2015. Food consumption was assessed using a validated 126-food item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SFFQ) at four time-points, namely, pre-pregnancy and at each trimester (first, second, and third). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify DPs. RESULTS: Three DPs were identified at each time point and designated DP 1-3 (pre-pregnancy), DP 4-6 (first trimester), DP 7-9 (second trimester) and DP 10-12 (third trimester). DP 1, 4, and 7 appeared to be more prudent diets, characterized by higher intakes of nuts, seeds & legumes, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, eggs, fruits, and milk & dairy products. DP 2, 5, 8, and 11 had greater loadings of condiments & spices, sugar, spreads & creamer, though DP 2 had additional sweet foods, DP 5 and 8 had additional oils & fats, and DP 11 had additional tea & coffee, respectively. DP 3 and 6 were characterized by high protein (poultry, meat, processed, dairy, eggs, and fish), sugars (mainly as beverages and sweet foods), and energy (bread, cereal & cereal products, rice, noodles & pasta) intakes. DP 9 had additional fruits. However, DP 12 had greater loadings of energy foods (bread, cereal & cereal products, rice, noodles & pasta), sugars (mainly as beverages, and sweet foods), and good protein sources (eggs, nuts, seeds & legumes). Malays were more likely to have lower adherence (LA) for DP 1 and 10 than non-Malays. DP 2, 8, and 11 were more prevalent among Malays than non-Malays. Women with a higher education were more likely to have LA for DP 10, and women with a greater waist circumference at first prenatal visit were more likely to show LA for DP 11. CONCLUSIONS: DPs observed in the present study were substantially different from those reported in Western populations. Information concerning associations between ethnicity, waist circumference and education with specific DPs before and throughout pregnancy could facilitate efforts to promote healthy dietary behavior and the overall health and well-being of pregnant women.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.439-452
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• 2008

This study was conducted to identify major dietary patterns of generally healthy Korean middle-aged women and to examine associations of the dietary patterns with socio-demographic, psychological, and physical characteristics. Data were drawn from the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), which is an ongoing national surveillance system. Healthy female subjects aged 40-64 years and provided the health interview examination and food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data were included. We conducted factor analysis based on daily mean intake frequency of 26 food groups and identified 3 major dietary patterns, healthy, convenient, and alcohol-animal. The healthy pattern was characterized by higher intakes of fish, seafood, poultry, mushroom, seaweed, vegetable, tomato, potato, and fruit, the convenient pattern by processed meat and fish, ramen, noodle and rice cake, sweet snack, egg, bread, and fast food, and the alcohol-animal pattern by alcohol, poultry, meat, and fish. The healthy pattern was significantly related with higher socio-economic status, more stable family structure, healthier mentality, and sounder status of anthropometric and biochemical variables. Those with higher factor scores for the convenience pattern were found to be younger and having higher socio-economic status, higher subjective levels of health, and lower subjective levels of worry on health. Several physical characteristics significantly improved as the levels of the convenience pattern increased. The alcohol-animal pattern was significantly associated with several socio-demographic characteristics including a low education level, a young age, a small family size, and blue-collar jobs. Public health policy makers can utilize the study findings to select prior target populations with higher needs and to tailor dietary behavioral messages to lower chronic disease risks among Korean middle-aged women.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.407-418
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to identify dietary factors related to the incidence of diabetes mellitus in Korea. The study consisted of 165 diabetic patients, male and female, aged 30 to 70 years and 198 healthy persons as controls. Diabetic patients who had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus for less than five years before the study period were recruited from eight different hospitals located in Seoul, Korea. Socioeconomic status, state of illness, physical activity, food habits and food intake were assessed. Food intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire method using a 105-food frequency questionnaire developed for diabetic patients. The stress and activity indices of diabetic patients were not significantly different from control, but alcohol consumption and smoking levels were higher in diabetics than controls. Other diseases of male diabetic patients included liver diseases, digestive system diseases, and hypertension, while those of female diabetics were hypertension, neuralgia, arthritis and digestive system diseases. These disease patterns are different from Western countries whose most common complications are hypertension and hyperlipidemia. More irregular and less varied meals were found in the diabetic group compared to the control group, suggesting that diabetic patients have generally undesirable food habits. Otherwise, food and nutrient intake of diabetics did not differ greatly from the control group. It was found that diabetic patients consumed more cereals and less fruit than the control group, and also that male diabetics consumed more alcohol. The carbohydrate : protein : fat energy distribution ratio was 61.7 : 15.8 : 22.5 in male patients and 65.1 : 14.9 : 19.7 in female patients. Discriminant analysis showed that diabetes risk factors differed with sex. In male patients, the important factors were body mass index(BMI), vitamin C intake, family diabetic history and vegetable intake, while in female patients they were BMI, cereals intake, carbohydrate intake, vitamin C intake, stress, food habits and Ca intake. These results show that excessive intake of energy and fat are not the major causal factors in Korean NIDDM. Therefore, the diabetes risk factors of Western countries may not directly apply to Koreans. Mors study is needed to clarify the risk factors of Korean NIDDM.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.119-132
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to identify sushi choices underlying food-related lifestyle and to study the sushi attribute. The Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ), the most popular tool for lifestyle research, which measures the relative importance of nine factors important in food choice, and food-related lifestyle was administered to 200 Americans (over 20 years of age) residing in Korea. From an analysis of food-related lifestyle through factor analysis, four factors emerged: health, taste, economy, and convenience. The Food Choice Questionnaire (FCQ) structure was verified using factor analysis, and eight factors were found: mood, natural content, health, sensory appeal, convenience, weight control, familiarity and price. These data are important in demonstrating the different motives underlying sushi choice. Moreover, the results suggest that an American's food-related lifestyle is considerably different in consumer behavior and sushi choice. Further research is needed to test our hypotheses.

• Journal of Korean Home Economics Education Association
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.63-77
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• 2015

Green dietary education emphasized environmental protection and humanity being conducted in middle schools. To develop effective green dietary education program for adolescents, the factors that affected their green dietary practices has been identified. This study aims to identify psychological factors that drive green dietary practices and effect of dietary education that targets middle school students. Data was collected twice from 242 middle school students in Daegu using a self-administered questionnaire in March and June, 2014. There were significant differences in school achievement, economic level and allowance a month (p<0.05) in the green dietary practices and efficacy of students. Three areas (environment, health and traditional, and appreciation & consideration) which were subgroups of green dietary practices were associated with factors such as family relations, peer relationships, self-competence of self-esteem (p<0.05), and positive and negative feelings of happiness (p<0.001). Green dietary practices efficacy was significantly affected by family relations, peer relationships, self-competence of self-esteem (p<0.05), and positive feeling, negative feeling, and negative relationships of happiness (p<0.001). After green dietary education, interests in green dietary, green dietary practices score, the score of health and environment factors of green dietary practices efficacy significantly higher than before education (p<0.05), but all the factors of self-esteem and happiness did not have any significant changes. This study suggests that green dietary education programs for middle school students could account for psychological factors such as self-esteem, happiness according to gender, school records, economic level and allowance a month to be effective.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.247-261
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• 2021

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify the association between insulin resistance and the major dietary patterns of Korean adults. Methods: This study used data from the 2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The subjects were 2,276 adults aged 19 to 64 years old. Based on the food frequency questionnaire data, 112 food items were reclassified into 30 food groups. The principal component analysis method was applied to identify major dietary patterns. We used homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) value as indicators of insulin resistance. The association between major dietary patterns and insulin resistance was investigated using logistic regression analysis. Results: Three major dietary patterns were identified and assigned descriptive names based on the food items with high loadings: 'healthy Korean meal pattern', 'western meal pattern', and 'white rice, alcohol, meat pattern'. As the 'white rice, alcohol, meat pattern' score increased, significant increasing trends for fasting glucose concentration and HOMA-IR and a significant decreasing trend for QUICKI were observed after adjusting for age and sex. The odds ratio of insulin resistance according to the 'healthy Korean meal pattern' and the 'western meal pattern' were not statistically significant. the 'white rice, alcohol, meat pattern' showed a significant positive association with the risk of insulin resistance after adjusting for covariates. Conclusion: These results suggest that the 'white rice, alcohol, meat pattern' is positively associated with the risk of insulin resistance. The white rice, alcohol, meat pattern was related to the high consumption of alcohol together with rice or meat. This pattern was also associated with the high intake of sodium and low intakes of vitamin C, calcium, potassium, and dietary fiber. To confirm the association, further longitudinal studies are required.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.7
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• pp.303-307
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• 2016

Purpose: To identify the relationship between dietary habits and childhood gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in preschool children. Methods: We performed a questionnaire study to analyze the relationship between dietary habits and GERD in 85 preschool children with GERD and 117 healthy children of the same age. Results: Irregular and picky eating were more p-revalent in the GERD group than in the control group (odds ratio [OR], 4.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37-12.54 and OR, 4.96; 95% CI, 1.88-13.14, respectively). The snack preferences and the late night eating habits were significantly more prevalent in the GERD group than in the control group (OR, 3.83; 95% CI, 1.23-11.87 and OR, 9.51; 95% CI, 2.55-35.49, respectively). A preference for liquid foods was significantly more prevalent in the GERD group (OR, 9.51; 95% CI, 2.548-35.485). The dinner-to-bedtime interval was significantly shorter in the GERD group than in the control group ($157.06{\pm}48.47$ vs. $174.62{\pm}55.10$, P=0.020). In addition, the time between dinner and bedtime was shorter than 3 hours in 47 children (55.3%) of the GERD group and 44 (37.6%) of the control group. This difference was statistical significance (P=0.015). Conclusion: Dietary habits such as picky and irregular eating, snack preference, a preference of liquid foods, late night eating, and a shorter dinner-to-bedtime interval had a significant correlation with GERD. Further large-scale studies are necessary to confirm our results.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.155-165
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• 1999

The issue of health and nutritional wellbeing becomes one of the utmost concerns for the welfare of the elderly in a society of increased aging populations. This study was conducted to assess nutritional state and to identify possible dietary factors that might influence health and nutritional state of the free living elderly women. Two hundred sixty two elderly women, aged 60-90 who are actively participating in a continuing education program for the elderly in Seoul area, were interviewed using a dietary habit questionnaire and a 24-hour recall. Anthropometric measurements such as heights, weights, body mass index, and tricep skinfolds and dental status were significantly different between the two age groups, <75 and ${\geq}$ 75 years of age. Sixty eight percent of the subjects were using nutritional supplements regularly, in the descending order of vitamin-mineral supplements(40%), botanicals(27.6%), tonic drinks(16%), and health foods(13.2%). For hot beverages, our study subjects drank coffee (33.6%) and green tea (17.9%) frequently, followed by doongulae, job's tears, citron and kyulmyung tea. With regard to micronutrients, vitamin C intake was found to be lower in the group aged over 75 compared to that below 75 (p<0.05). Calcium intake was significantly higher among the elderly with good dental status followed by the groups with gingivitis, denture, and missed teeth with poor chewing abilities (p<0.05). The amount of personal spending money was found to be a significant contributing factor (p<0.05) to the energy and nutrient intake in an individual. The results of the present study can be applied to the identification of the possible factors that might intervene the aging process, to the planning of the nutrition education program, and to the development of health food products for the promotion of health and nutrition of the elderly women.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.246-253
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• 2012

The Framingham risk score (FRS) has been used to assess the risk of a cardiovascular event and to identify patients for risk factor modifications. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of the FRS with dietary intake and inflammatory biomarkers. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 180 men ($49.2{\pm}10.2$ years) with MS. Serum levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and adiponectin were examined. Participants were asked to complete the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) using the previous 1 year as a reference point. The absolute cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk percentage over 10 years was calculated to estimate the FRS, which was classified as low risk (< 10%), intermediate risk (10-20%), and high risk (> 20%). Mean intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids was lower in subjects who had > 20% FRS than in subjects who had < 10% FRS ($3.7{\pm}1.9$ g/day vs. $4.7{\pm}1.9$ g/day; P < 0.05). Significant differences in the Index of Nutritional Quality of protein, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, vitamin $B_1$, niacin, vitamin $B_6$, and vitamin C were observed between the > 20% FRS group and the < 10% FRS group (P < 0.05). IL-6 concentrations were significantly lower in subjects with a < 10% FRS than in subjects who were 10-20% FRS or > 20% FRS ($0.91{\pm}0.26$ vs. $1.48{\pm}033$ vs. $2.72{\pm}0.57$ pg/mL, respectively; P < 0.05). IL-6 and dietary intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids together explained 6.6% of the variation in FRS levels in a stepwise multiple regression model. Our results provide some evidence that dietary intake in the higher CVD risk group was inferior to that in the lower risk group and that dietary fat intake and IL-6 were associated with FRS and MS in Korean men.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.1132-1146
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to identify the eating habits and dietary consciousness of urban residents according to socioeconomic characteristics. The survey was administered by the nationwide 690 adults in February 2001. The survey was conducted by a questionnaire that was composed of 20 items. The results of this study show that 56.8% of the subjects had breakfast everyday and majority of them ate cooked rice (57.4%) or rice with mixed grain and bean (33.0%) as stable food for breakfast. 73.6% of the subjects ate out less than 5 times a month and, most of them preferred Korean dishes to Western dishes. The majority of the subjects had a meal regularly and they ate dinner abundantly with gusto compared to breakfast and lunch. Mean values of preference (5 point scales) for snack, salty and hot taste, and processed food were 3.07±0.89, 2.75±0.83, 3.28±0.90, 2.69±0.84 respectively. Interest (4 point scales) in eating safe and fresh food, balanced diet, and overeating calorieㆍsugarㆍsaltㆍfat were 3.26±0.66, 2.83±0.70, 2.89±0.75, respectively. As the purpose of eating, 44.8% of the subjects placed emphasis to supply nutrition but 16.6% put emphasis on physiologic desire. About half of the subjects needed to change their own eating habits. As improvement of their eating habits, the majority of them answered ‘balanced diet’. There were significant differences in eating habits and dietary consciousness of the subjects by socioeconomic characteristics. As the age goes down and education level goes up, they had wrong eating habits generally. For occupation, housewives had right eating habits but students were not. For interest in food and nutrition, male, 20' age-group, students and over college graduation group were worse than the other groups within each socioeconomic characteristic. Consequently, nutrition education for them is needed preferentially, also their socioeconomic characteristics must be considered in nutrition education.