• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.237-256
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to verify whether Mediterranean diet, which proved to have a significant effect on preventing dementia for people aged 65 or older, could be well modified to be a Korean-style Mediterranean diet. This study was performed as a randomized-controlled trial for 6 weeks. Functional physical changes, cognitive scores, depression scores and dietary changes were all assessed. The walking speed (P<0.001) and the cognitive scores were statistically improved in only the experimental group (P<0.001), and the depression scores were also significantly improved in only the experimental group (P<0.01). The dietary intake showed a 30% improvement for consuming more than 7 cups per day of vegetables and fruits. When the participants were contacted four months after the end of the study, 90% of them said that the Korean-style Mediterranean diet was feasible and 100% said the nutrition interventions helped them maintain the diet during their daily lives. The results suggest that although the Mediterranean diet can be difficult to apply, any limitations of this healthy diet can be overcome.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.276-287
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• 2008

Diabetic mellitus in an older population is associated with increased basal oxidative stress and free radical accentuated by hyperglycemic challenge. Enhanced free radical in diabetic elderly can cause the oxidative damage and such damage can be protected by antioxidant defense system. It is believed that vitamin C, A and E are the most abundant and effective antioxidants in human plasma. The purpose of this study was to determine the antioxidant status in Korean diabetic elderly using the case-control study. The antioxidant status was examined by determining plasma levels of antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C, A, E, ${\beta}$-carotene), total antioxidant status (TAS) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and intakes of vitamin C, A, ${\beta}$-carotene and retiol. Fasting glucose and HbA1c levels and serum lipid profiles (triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol) were also determined. Diabetic subjects were 122 elderly persons over 60 years old, visiting public health center, and control subjects were 96 healthy elderly persons living in Ulsan, Korea and they were matched by age, gender, smoking and drinking status. The diabetic and control subjects were divided into sub-groups according to the status of using diet therapy and vitamin supplement. The subjects were interviewed to collect data on their general characteristics, disease history, vitamin supplement, diet therapy and health-related habits by questionnaires. Their dietary intakes were obtained by means of semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaires (SQFFQ). Fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c levels were significantly higher in diabetes than in control subjects, and plasma total cholesterol level of diabetes was not significantly different from that of control subjects. However serum HDL cholesterol level of diabetes was significantly lower and serum TG level of diabetes was significantly higher than those of control group. The average vitamin A and ${\beta}$-carotene intakes of diabetes were significantly higher than those of control subjects. There was no significant difference in plasma vitamin C, ${\beta}$-carotene, and TBARS levels between two groups, but plasma vitamin A, E and TAS levels were significantly higher in diabetes than those in control group. Plasma vitamin A and TAS levels of diabetic subjects using diet therapy were higher than those of control using diet therapy, and plasma vitamin E, ${\beta}$-carotene and TAS levels of diabetic subjects using vitamin supplements were significantly higher than those of controls using vitamin supplements. These results suggested that diabetic mellitus could enhance antioxidant defences against reactive oxygen species and interest in healthy eating such as consumption of more antioxidant nutrients.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.332-341
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with oral health-related quality of life among elderly women living in the community. Method: The participants were 162 elderly women aged 65 and older who lived in D city. Descriptive statistics, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and stepwise multiple regression were used with SPSS/PC windows program to analyze the data. Results: The major findings of this study are as follows: 1) there were statistical differences in OHQoL for spouse presence, educational level, monthly income, self-rated health, number of teeth and chronic disease, and types of denture. 2) OHQoL was positively related to age, number of chronic disease and nutrition. Also, OHQoL was negatively related to educational level, monthly income, number of teeth, and diet habit. 3) Significant factors influencing OHQoL were self-rated health and nutritional status. Conclusion: Based on these results, it is necessary to do further study on oral health of those who have 20 or more teeth. Oral health promotion programs focusing on prevention are necessary for elderly women in the high risk group.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2014

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the levels of Yangseng (Traditional Health Behavior), depression, anxiety, cognitive function between the elderly women living alone and the aged in the living with family. Methods: The subjects of this study were 137 elderly women aged between 65 and 80. They were evaluated with the Tool in Measuring Yangseng (TMY), Korean Geriatric Depression Scale (KGDS), State-Trait Anxiety Inntory (STAI) and Korean of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMES-K). Depending on whether or not they lived alone, they were divided into two groups; group living alone (L.A.) and group living with family (L.F.). Results: In TMY score, there were statistically significant differences in characteristics of Mind, Diet, Sleep and total score between L.A. (63 persons) and L.F. (74 persons). Group living alone (L.A.) had significantly higher score in KGDS and STAI compared with other group (L.F.). The values of KGDS and STAI comparing to the values of Mind, Diet, Sleep, Exercise and total score in this study resulted in negative correlations which showed statistically significant. Conclusions: Above results suggest that between L.A. and L.F, there are significant difference in physical and mental health. TMY is enough to estimate health of the aged. These results can be used for Yangseng health promoting program based on Korean traditional medicine.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.139-146
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• 1997

Use of the viamin-mineral supplements markedly increased with the awareness of diet and health. Data were collected from the self-administered questionnaire of 450 free living elderly, 60 to 94 years old, in Korea, to assess the relationships between socioeconomic variables, beliefs about nutrition, and the factors affecting gupplements usage. In addition, vitamin-mineral intakes through the supplements were calculated, and compared with RDA. 44.9% of the subjects took the vitamin-mineral supplements, and significantly higher percentage of women(49.3%) than men(38.1%) took supplements(p<0.05). The higher the education level, monthly pocket money, the percentage of supplements consumption was higher. People living in large cities took more supplements than those in small cities. One of the mainly cited reasons for taking supplements was to maintain health. The most favored nutrient supplements used by the subjects were in the order of vitamin B complex, vitamin E and Calcium, and vitamin-mineral intake through the supplements were much greater than RDA and ranges of their intakes were very wide. Vitamin B1 and vitamin E were observed to consume excessive amount(63 times of RDA and 40 times of RDA, respectively). The reasons for supplementation were often inappropriate and unreliable sources of information were used. Thus nutritional understanding and education of the elderly peopled are needed in regard to the use of vitamin-mineral supplements, and the relationship between adequate diet and good health.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to research the health status of the elderly population and their perception and compliance to cook medicated juk. The results from this research will be used as basic data for medicated juk development. In addition, the purpose of this study was to find a way to popularize the juk and improve their usage as medicated juk in communal feeding and convalescent hospital for elderly. The study surveyed 300 elderly residents of age over 65, in Daejeon. The following data were collected: general characteristic, health status, perception of medicated juk, and preferred kind of juk for cooking. Moreover, the study researched the constraints in cooking the juk. Data were analyzed by SPSS Windows V. 18.0 and t-test verified the differences among the questions, according to frequency analysis of each item and characteristics of the aged. You might want to specify this characteristic. Within the surveyed elderly population, 80.6% had various existing diseases with circulatory diseases being the most prevalent with 68.9%. This emphasizes on the significance of proper diet, but this recognition is not put into practice. The survey also showed that as the individuals age, they tend to care less about the necessity of proper diet. Despite of this lack of perception, 84.5% of the elderly population responded positively to the question, "Would you like to have medicated juk for curing diseases, if such juk is available?" In addition, the elderly population was in favor of developing the juk that helps to prevent and cure diseases, and many were willing to cook them. The reasons behind their will to cook are arranged in the following order: higher efficacy in curing disease than regular juk, excellence in nutrition, and unavailability of the medicated juk in the stores that requires them to cook. The sources constraining the elderly population in cooking are arranged in the following order: not knowing how to cook the juk, lack of physical strength, financial burden, and lack of information order. Please clarify this part. Suggested change: not knowing what medicated juk is. Furthermore, the main obstacle in cooking the juk is lack of cooking technique, followed by inaccessibility to the ingredients and the financial burden to purchase the ingredients.

• Journal of Korean Medical Ki-Gong Academy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.115-127
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• 2005

The present study aims to provide efficient regimen by means of the Oriental medicine tool to measure Yangseng developed to fit the situation of Korea. For this purpose, the elderly people aged older than 65 were selected and their level of Yangseng was compared and analyzed depending on their perception of health. From the study, following conclusions could be drawn: 1. The total subject of study were 763 consisting mostly of the illiterate and spoused with disease but without leisure activities. 2. Most of the subjects were found to have little confidence with their health. With regard to their level of Yangseng, higher points were rated in morality yangseng, followed by activities & rest, diet, mind yangseng, sleep, seasonal yangseng, exercise and sex life in order. 3. By socio-demographic characters for the group with confidence in health, there were more male than female, with spouse, disease and leisure activities currently. In the group without confidence in health, there were more female, without spouse and leisure activity but with disease presently. 4. As for the level of Yangseng in the group with confidence in health, higher points were recorded in morality yangseng, followed by activities & rest, mind yangseng, diet, sleep, exercise and sex life in order. In case of the group without confidence in health, higher points were recorded in morality yangseng, followed by activities & rest, diet, mind yangseng, sleep, exercise and sex life in order. From the above outcomes, it would be necessary to motivate the subjects to have a renewed concept for health and efficient regimen. Continued and repeated eforts should be made to fill the gap in the study using the tool to measure Yangseng of the elderly people.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.222-229
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Aging is an imperative problem for many countries in this century, and presents several challenges for the maintenance of good nutritional status. This study aims to assess the impact of socio-demographic factors, lifestyle and health status on the nutritional status among the elderly in Taiwan. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Taiwan. Data were obtained from the Mei Jau Health Management Institution, which is a private health evaluation provider with multiple health screening centers in Taiwan and Asia. This study included 7947 adults aged 65 years or above. The data were extracted between 2001 to 2010. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric data, biochemical data and dietary intake information. RESULTS: Among the 7947 participants with mean age of 70.1 (SD = 4.5) years, 20.2%, 6.6%, 10.5% and 52.5% experienced underweight, protein malnutrition, anemia and inadequate dietary intake in the past month, respectively. Age was negatively correlated with body weight (r = -0.19, P = 0.02), body mass index (r = -0.41, P < 0.001), albumin level (r = -0.93, P < 0.001) and hemoglobin level (r = -0.30, P = 0.008). Age above 70 years, gender, unmarried status, retirement, lack of education, low family income, smoking, alcohol drinking, sleep duration of 6-8 hours, vegetarian diet, multiple medications, comorbidity and dysphagia were positively associated with malnutrition in older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Underweight and inadequate dietary intake are prevalent among the elderly in Taiwan. Vegetarian diet, multiple medications, comorbidity, dysphagia and lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol drinking and sleep duration of 6-8 hours are risk factors for undernutrition in older adults.

• Proceedings of the KSCN Conference
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.123-123
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• 1998

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.187-197
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was carried out to determine nutritional status of elderly patients in a long-term care hospital according to meal type and eating ability. Methods: Subjects were 47 female patients aged over 65 ($79.3{\pm}7.1$ years) who resided in a long-term care hospital in Seoul. Thirty seven patients who ate diet orally were grouped according to meal type (27 general diet and 10 soft diet) and eating ability (26 eating by oneself and 11 eaten with help) and 10 were on tube feeding. Nutritional status was determined by food consumption and mid-arm circumference. Results: The mean adequacy ratios (MARs) of 12 nutrients (protein, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, vitamin $B_6$, niacin, folic acid, vitamin C) were 0.687 for general diet, 0.565 for soft diet, 0.680 for eating by oneself and 0.677 for eaten with help, which were significantly lower than 0.982 for tube feeding (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01). The patients on tube feeding had significantly lower % arm circumference compared to those who ate general diet (84.0% vs. 95.4%, respectively, p < 0.05). Nutrients intakes, nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and index of nutritional quality (INQ) were not different between meal types as well as eating ability. The most insufficiently consumed nutrients by the patients on diet were folic acid, vitamin $B_2$, and calcium (NAR 0.334~0.453, 0.515~ 0.539, and 0.516~0.533, respectively). Conclusions: The results suggested that regardless of meal type or eating ability, the subjects who were on diets in this study might have inadequate intake of folic acid as well as vitamin $B_2$, and calcium, which need to be reflected on menu planning. The measurement of mid-arm circumference presented more risk of malnutrition of patients on tube feeding than those on diets, despite apparently better nutrient consumption.