• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.825-837
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• 2004

Studies on the health problems of the elderly have been increased with increasing life expectancy of Koreans. To assess the health status of people over 50 years old including the elderly (678 free-living people: men (168), women (510)), anthropometric measurements and biochemical nutritional status were analyzed. General characteristics and the prevalences of specific diseases were also examined. The mean anthropometric values for males and females were heights of 162 cm and 149 cm, respectively; and weights of 59 kg and 52 kg, respectively, which were much lower than the Korean standards established in the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances. The mean BMI, WHR (waist hip ratio), and body fat rate (%), which are obesity indices, were significantly higher in females than in males. As the age went up, height, weight, lean body mass, and mid-arm circumference decreased. Whereas, blood pressure (SBP) for women increased. Mean blood HDL-cholesterol levels of men and women were 46.0 mg/dl and 46.3 mg/dl, respectively; their triglyceride levels were 129.1 mg/d1 and 135.6 mg/dl, respectively, which were not significantly different. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were significantly higher in females than in males. For man there were significantly different in ${\gamma}$-GTP, Na levels by age. As the age went up for women, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, HDL-cholesterol, ${\gamma}$-GTP and $Ca^{2+}$ levels significantly decreased. Levels of total protein and albumin were above the lower normal limit for the majority of the participants. Prevalence of anemia, assessed by hemoglobin using World Health Organization (WHO) definition, was 43.9% for men and 42.1% for women. Also, many of the subjects were out of the normal range in total cholesterol (women), HDL-cholesterol, TAS (total antioxidant status), APase, RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit levels. Therefore, measures to improve the biochemical nutritional status for the people in rural area are required.d.

• Journal of Korea Association of Health Promotion
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2006

"본 논문은 대한외과학회지 2006년 제70권제1호에 실렸던 논문으로 대한외과학회 편집위원회 승인을 득하고 본 협회지에 게재함. Purpose: Malnutrition has been frequently reported for patients on their admission to the hospital and it has been associated with an increase in morbidity, mortality and the length of the hospital stay. Although a number of screening tools have been developed to identify those patients at risk for malnutrition, there is no' gold standard' for defining malnutrition and the malnourished patients remain largely unrecognized. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a nutritional screening tool for use in Dankook University Hospital. Methods Nutritional evaluation was performed for 53 patients who were admitted to the department of surgery and internal medicine between October and December 2004. The screening tool was completed by the ward nurse and the nutritional support team nurse on the same patients within24 hours of admission. The nutritional support team nurse performed the full assessment. The screening sheet included 4 questions regarding body mass index, recent unintentional weight loss, food intake and disease severity. Each answer was scored and a total of 5 was tested as the criterion fey malnutrition. The full assessment included current body weight, recent weight loss, triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm muscle circumference, serum albumin)in and total lymphocyte count. Malnutrition was defined by 3 or more values below the reference values. The reliability of the screening tool was assessed using kappa statistic. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were calculated to evaluate the validity of the screening tool. The receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve was drawn to choose a cutoff valve that maximizes sensitivity and specificity. Results' The level of agreement between the ward nurse and the NST nurse was good for BMI and food intake and moderate for weight loss and disease severity. The full assessment identified7 patients(13.2%) as malnourished. The screening sheet had a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 80%. According to the ROC curve, a score of 5 points provided the best validity. Conclusion The nutritional screening tool is reliable when completed by different observers and it is valid for nutritional assessment.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.605-618
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of a swallowing rehabilitation program for elderly on the stage of dysphagia, nutritional status, and swallowing-quality of life. Methods: The research design was Pretest-Posttest Nonequivalent Groups Design. The subjects of this study consisted of 85 elderly patients hospitalized at geriatric hospitals between August 23rd and October 25th in 2012. Eighty five research subjects were assigned to experimental (42 patients) and control (43 patients) groups. The rehabilitation program was provided to the experimental group 5 days per week for 8 weeks. The effects were evaluated by measurement of Mid-upper Arm Muscle Circumference (MAMC), Total Lymphocyte Counts, albumin, Total Cholesterol, and Swallowing Quality of Life (SWAL-QOL). The collected data were analyzed with x2-test and independent t-test using PASW WIN 18.0. Results: Changes in the stage of dysphagia were not significant (p>.05). In nutrition status, the degree of MAMC points in the experimental group was significantly increased compared with that in the control group (t=2.36, p=.021). In swallowing quality of life, the score of SWAL-QOL in the experimental group was significantly increased, particularly burden (t=3.34, p=.002), frequency (t=2.68, p=.011), fear (t=2.44, p=.019), mental health (t=2.47, p=.018), and sleep (t=2.08, p=.044). Conclusion: Based on the results, this swallowing rehabilitation program for elderly would be helpful in promoting their nutritional status and swallowing-QOL in geriatric hospitals.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.250-255
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among plasma leptin, lipid profiles, insulin levels, and percentage of body fat of 72 schoolchildren from Obese Clinic Center in Seoul. The subjects divided into two groups: 39 obesity children [obesity index greater than $20\%$] who did not have a discernable medical cause of their obesity and 33 children with a obesity index less than $20\%$. The mean age, height, and obesity index of the subjects were 10.4 years, 144.0 cm, and $21.3\%$, respectively. The mean glucose and insulin levels of the obese children were 80.5 mg/dl and $13.3\;{\mu}IU/mL$ and those of the non obese children were 82.0 mg/dl and $4.2\;{\mu}IU/mL$, respectively. Obese children had significantly (p<0.05) higher level of total cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and insulin concentration than non-obese children. However obese children had a lower level of HDL-cholesterol than non-obese children. Plasma leptin level were also positively correlated with BMI (p<0.000l), body fat (p<0.0001), tricep skinfold thickness (p<0.0001), mid arm circumference (p<0.0001), and waist hip ratio (p<0.0001). Plasma leptin showed a significantly positive correlation with insulin (p<0.0001), total cholesterol (p<0.0001), LDL-cholesterol (p<0.0001), and triglyceride (p<0.0001) levels, however, it was negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (p<0.0001) levels. In conclusion, the concentration of leptin in the blood is significantly correlated with the amount of body fat, BMI, plasma insulin, and plasma lipid profiles.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1422-1432
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• 1998

This study investigated the nutritional status of 32 CAPD patients. Their weight, height, triceps, mid arm circumference were measured and their dietary intake and the blood profiles were evaluated. They were 56.0${\pm}$11.8 years old. Their intake of energy and protein were 78% and 93% of RDA respectively. The energy from dextrose was 376.1${\pm}$83.2kcal. The men's and women's intake of protein was 84.6% and 102.1% of RDA respectively, According to the distribution of BMI, 23.5% of the men and 6.1% of the women were underweight and 5.9% of the men and 20% of the women were overweight. The serum albumin levels of the men and women were 3.30 and 3.71g/41 respectively. However, the average amount of serum ferritin, as a whole, comes within the normal range, which shows that stored iron was not decreased and that their anemia was not caused by iron deficiency. The subjects were divided into three groups according to the level of albumin, and their intakes of nutrients were compared with one another, The group with the high level of albumin showed that energy and protein intake was significantly larger and that BMI was also significantly higher than the other groups. There was a positive correlation between BMI and energy intake. Serum total protein had a positive correlation to energy intake ; hematocrit, to carbohydrate intake. BMI had a positive correlation to energy intake. A relative magnitude of factors affecting albumin level was analyzed by Stepwise multiple regression analysis. Overall results about relative influence of independent variables to dependent variable(albumin) indicated that the blood total protein(p <0.0001) was the most significantly correlated with serum albumin level in all subjects,1311owe4 by creatinine and total cholesterol. (Korean J Nutrition 31(9) : 1422-1432, 1998)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.8
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• pp.675-687
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• 2004

This study is designed to assess the prevalence at risk of malnutrition according to the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) and evaluate the factors influencing on the nutritional risk of the elderly. Three hundred and nine elderly (110 men and 199 women: mean age =74.1) who participated in meal service in the Chung-buk province were investigated. Mean MNA total score was 21.9 and women had significantly lower MNA scores than men (respectively, 21.5 and 22.8). In the mean time mean MNA-SF (Short Form) score was 10.7, respectively 10.6 for the women and 11.0 for the men, with the difference being statistically significant. The MNA classified 33% of the elderly as well-nourished, 61.7% as at risk of malnutrition and 5.3% as overt malnourished. However, MNA-SF categorized the examinees 40.2% as good and 59.8% at nutritional risk. Those who identified as malnourished elderly had significantly lower mean BMI, mid-arm and calf circumference, poorer functional abilities (ADL, IADL) , lower MAR and food habits scores, and higher number of nutrient $\leq$ 75% of RDA than those with at risk of malnutrition and well nourished. Also socioeconomic status such as educational level, self-rated economic status, poverty level, and marital status significantly influenced nutritional status. Similar effect was observed in self-rated nutritional status and health status, dental status, appetite change according to MNA score. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that weight loss was the most predictive item in the total MNA and MNA-SF score. It was found that items such as mobility, living status (home vs institution) , mode of feeding, and pressure sores were inappropriate for assessment of the elderly who are able to participate meal service program. Also, some modifications of items in MNA are needed in order to apply to Korean elderly. Even though the MNA seems to be an useful tool to screen those old people at risk of malnourished, a lot of work is still to be done with this assessment tool to secure its reliability.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2016

Objectives: This study compared the nutritional status of child-bearing age women between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea) and the Republic of Korea (South Korea). Methods: The data presented in the DPRK Final Report of the National Nutrition Survey 2012 was utilized for the nutritional status and food intake of North Korean women. To produce the South Korean women's data comparable to those of North Korean women, the data from the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey were analyzed and the data presented in the 2010 Report of the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards were utilized. Results: The prevalence of maternal anemia (blood hemoglobin < 12.0 g/dL) was over 30% in all the age groups of North Korean women and 8.9%, 14.2%, 16.4% in 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 year old South Korean women, respectively. The prevalence of maternal protein-energy malnutrition (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference < 22.5 cm) was 25.2%, 21.4%, 21.8% in 20-29, 30-39, 40-49 year old North Korean women, respectively and less than 10% in all the age groups of South Korean women. Result of dietary diversity comparison showed that North Korean women consumed less food than South Korean women at all food groups: grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, and dairy. Percentage of North Korean women having consumed protein rich foods-meat and fish, eggs or dairy products-were much lower than those of South Korean women. Conclusions: The striking disparity of nutritional status between South and North Korean women indicates that nutrition support for North Korean women is essential in the process of preparation for a unified nation.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.85-96
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• 2014

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a training program for swallowing and to test its effect on swallowing capacity and nutritional status among nursing home residents with stroke. Methods: A swallowing training program was developed by literature review, expert validation and a pilot test. A pretest and posttest quasi-experimental study design with nonequivalent control group was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Swallowing training was conducted for thirty minutes, three times a week for 8 weeks. Swallowing capacity including dysphagia screening score, swallowing symptom questionnaire and tongue pressure, and nutritional status including body mass index and mid arm muscle circumference were measured at the baseline and at 8 weeks. Results: The exercised-based swallowing training program consisted of oromotor exercise, expiratory muscle strength exercise and effortful swallow. The participants were 77.2 years old on average. At the completion of 8-week program, the experimental group showed better scores in dysphagia screening (p=.039) and swallowing symptom questionnaire (p=.004) and a significant increase in tongue pressure (p=.003). Conclusion: The exercised-based swallowing training program was safely applied to nursing home residents with stroke and showed a significant improvement of swallowing capacity. Further studies are needed to identify its effect on the nutritional status.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.59-68
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• 1996

The present study undertaken to investigate the interrelationship among their regular dietary fatty acid intake, body fat content(BFC), and plasma lipid fractions(PLF) of middle-aged Korean women. Forty-nine women (age 30 to 49) participated in this study in which the aim was to determine their total nutrient intake per day, BFC and PLF, and to analyse the intercorrelations of these. Strong correlation was seen among their body mass index, mid-upper-arm-circumference, and BFC which were positively correlated with plasma total lipids(TL) and triglycerides(TG). Dietary myristic acid and lauric acid were positively correlated with both total cholesterol(TC) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) in plasma. Palmitic acid, stearic acid, oleic acid, and total monounsaturated fatty acid(MUFA) were negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol(HDL-C). Although dietary total saturated fatty acid (SFA) was not correlated with TC and LDL-C, it was positively correlated with TL and TG in plasma. However, dieary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid(PUFA) in regular Korean diet was not correlated with any of lipid fractions in plasma which might be due to the high ratio of n-6/n-3 in their diet. From the above results, it was concluded that plasma lipid fractions were modulated by their dietary nutrients, especially the types of the fatty acids. Dietary SFA and MUFA intake not PUFA are strongly correlated with LDL-C and HDL-C in the Korean diet This may relate to the frequency of coronary heart disease in the age group.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.346-354
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• 2023

Purpose: Approximately 30% of children with chronic liver disease (CLD) are malnourished. However, proper assessment of their nutritional status is difficult. The subjective global nutritional assessment (SGNA) is a comprehensive approach that uses nutrition-focused history and examination, followed by grading of malnourishment. We aimed to study the prevalence of malnutrition in children with CLD using the SGNA tool. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included patients aged <18 years with CLD. Nutritional assessments were recorded using SGNA tool. Conventional anthropometric measurements were performed and corroborated with nutritional status using SGNA tool. Results: A total of 85 children with CLD and mean age of 62 months were enrolled in this study. The prevalence of malnourished children according to SGNA was 34%; 22% were moderately malnourished and 12% were severely malnourished. We found statistically significant differences in anthropometric parameters among the three groups. A moderate degree of agreement was found between SGNA and weight-for-age (W/A) (p=0.020), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) (p<0.001), and triceps skin-fold thickness (TSF)-for-age (p=0.029). Furthermore, a fair degree of agreement was found between height-for-age (H/A) (p=0.001) and weight-for-height (W/H) (p<0.001). The sensitivity of W/A for detecting malnutrition was 93%, H/A was 90%, MUAC was 86%, and TSF was 88%. The sensitivity was much lower for W/H and body mass index for age (55% for both). Conclusion: In our study, more than one-third of children with CLD were malnourished. Nutritional assessment using SGNA is a reliable method for evaluating nutritional status and is significantly correlated with common anthropometric measurements.