• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.625-636
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between bone health and sodium intake in female university students using a dish frequency questionnaire (DFQ 125), anthropometric checkups, food records for 3 days, and ultrasound measurement of calcaneus bone mineral density. Subjects were divided into two groups: normal (n=196) and osteopenia (n=52). There were no significant differences in age or height between the two groups. The average weight, body mass index, and body fat in the normal group were significantly higher than in the osteopenia group. The sodium intake of DFQ was positively correlated with the sodium intake of 3 days of dietary records (p=0.0003). There were no significant differences in the sodium intake between the two groups from DFQ. The dishes were ranked by sodium intake: kimchies were 17.68%, noodles and mandu were 16.36%, stews were 13.69%, main dishes such as meat, egg, and beans were 11.47%, and fish and shellfish were 11.07%. The frequency of eating noodles and mandu (p=0.0116), stews (p=0.0008), kimchies (p=0.0482), fish and shellfish (p=0.0362), vegetables (p=0.0064) and seasoning (p=0.0347) were negatively associated with bone mineral density. Bone health was not significantly different with increasing quartiles of sodium intake. As excessive sodium intakes may indirectly affect bone mineral density, these results suggest that to prevent osteoporosis, university students needed to be more educated about diets containing less sodium through nutrition education programs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.428-442
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• 2011

This study investigated the actual status of constipation. In total, 978 female students in Korea participated. We identified the relationship among constipation and life style, clothing patterns, housing patterns, dietary habits, and dietary intake in a constipation symptom group and a normal group. The actual constipation rate based on the Rome II criteria was 27.0% (n = 264). Body weight (p < 0.05) and body mass index (p < 0.05) in the constipation group were significantly higher than those in the normal group. The incidence of functional bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome in the constipation group were significantly higher than those in the normal group. The discomfort of wearing underwear was significantly higher in the constipation group than that in the normal group. The constipation group revealed a significantly higher rate of irregular dietary habits than those in the normal group. The dietary diversity score of the normal group was 4.22 (p < 0.05), which was significantly higher than that of constipation group (4.12). No significant difference in life style factors was observed. It is necessary for university female students to correct their dietary habits, maintain food intake of three times per day, and select diverse foods. Furthermore, it is necessary for university female students to wear comfortable clothing to lessen symptoms and improve constipation rates.