• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.374-382
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• 2004

The concern of the antioxidant micronutrient status in normal healthy people, including antioxidant trace minerals such as Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe and Se is focused since systemic oxidation is involved in various chronic diseases. In the present study, we evaluated the concentration of trace minerals (Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe) which are considered as potential antioxidant minerals in plasma, red blood cells (RBCs) and urine in normal healthy Korean subjects. The 760 subjects (male 341, female 419; mean age 54.2 $\pm$ 18.9) were recruited from the rural, urban and metropolitan city in South Korea. Dietary intake was evaluated using 24-hours recall for general major nutrient intake assessment. The trace elements (Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe) concentrations in plasma, RBCs, and urine were measured by inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometer (ICP) and atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Cu and Zn levels in plasma, RBCs and urine in normal healthy South Koreans were within the normal range of those mineral levels, but Mn and Fe levels were higher compared to the normal range of those mineral levels. None of the selected trace mineral levels in plasma and RBC's was lower than the normal range value. The results showed that Zn and Cu levels in plasma and RBC's in Korean were within the normal range, and plasma and urinary Mn and Fe levels were higher than the normal reference values. Potential antioxidant trace mineral (Cu, Mn, Zn and Fe) levels in Koreans are within or a bit higher than the normal range.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.171-180
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• 2016

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most prevalent liver diseases associated with an altered lifestyle, besides genetic factors. The control and management of NAFLD mostly depend on lifestyle modifications, due to the lack of a specific therapeutic approach. In this context, we assessed the effect of carrot juice on the development of high fructose-induced hepatic steatosis. For this purpose, male weanling Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, fed either a control (Con) or high fructose (HFr) diet of AIN93G composition, with or without carrot juice (CJ) for 8 weeks. At the end of the experimental period, plasma biochemical markers, such as triglycerides, alanine aminotransferase, and ${\beta}$-hydroxy butyrate levels were comparable among the 4 groups. Although, the liver injury marker, aspartate aminotransferase, levels in plasma showed a reduction, hepatic triglycerides levels were not significantly reduced by carrot juice ingestion in the HFr diet-fed rats (HFr-CJ). On the other hand, the key triglyceride synthesis pathway enzyme, hepatic stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1), expression at mRNA level was augmented by carrot juice ingestion, while their protein levels showed a significant reduction, which corroborated with decreased monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), particularly palmitoleic (C16:1) and oleic (C18:1) acids. Notably, it also improved the long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6) content of the liver in HFr-CJ. In conclusion, carrot juice ingestion decreased the SCD1-mediated production of MUFA and improved DHA levels in liver, under high fructose diet-fed conditions. However, these changes did not significantly lower the hepatic triglyceride levels.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The level of serum albumin is an index of nourishment care and management. However, the distribution and correlates of serum albumin levels among individuals with motor disorders have not been reported until now. Therefore, we examined the distribution and correlates of serum albumin levels among individuals with motor disorders. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional study on 249 individuals with motor disabilities (144 men, mean age: 51.4 years; 105 women, mean age: 51.4 years) was conducted at five institutions in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan in 2008. The results were compared with data from the National Health and Nutrition Survey. RESULTS: The mean serum albumin levels were $4.0{\pm}0.4g/dL$ for men and $3.8{\pm}0.5g/dL$ for women. Overall, 17 (11.8%) men and 25 (23.8%) women had hypoalbuminemia (serum albumin level ${\leq}3.5g/dL$); these proportions were greater than those among healthy Japanese adults (${\leq}1%$). Low serum albumin level was related with female sex, older age, low calf circumference, low relative daily energy intake, low hemoglobin (Hb), low blood platelet count, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low $HbA_{1c}$, and high C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. The strongest correlates, based on standardized betas, were Hb (0.321), CRP (-0.279), and HDL-C (0.279) levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the prevalence of hypoalbuminemia is higher in individuals with motor disabilities than in healthy individuals and that inflammation is a strong negative correlate of serum albumin levels. Therefore, inflammation should be examined for the assessment of hypoalbuminemia among institutionalized individuals with motor disabilities.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.595-604
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• 2016

It has been reported that the increased uric acid level is associated with metabolic syndrome risk factors in both male and female. However, there has not been enough studies to investigate gender differences of this association in Korea. To evaluate relation between serum uric acids and metabolic syndrome markers, anthropometric and biochemical analyses data was obtained from National Health Examination 2005 and 5,523 (M=3,097; F=2,426) data was analyzed. Results by quartile of serum uric acid levels in females showed that increased serum uric acid level was associated with elevated levels of total-. LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides, whereas association between serum uric acid and total cholesterol levels was not observed in male subjects. In both female and male, higher quartile of serum uric acid level were linked with lower levels of HDL-cholesterol. In regression analysis, association of serum uric acid levels with fasting glucose levels was significant in female subjects only. In conclusion, higher serum uric acid levels were associated with metabolic syndrome indices, however gender differences were existed for total cholesterol.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.81-88
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Serum ferritin levels are significantly increased after menopause and greatly affect women's health. The aim of this study was to investigate the dietary and non-dietary factors associated with high ferritin levels in postmenopausal women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Among adult women in 2010-2012, qualified postmenopausal women (n = 3880) were separated into quartiles of serum ferritin. The variable differences among the quartiles of ferritin were determined using either procsurvey chi-square test (${\chi}^2$-test) among categorical variables, or GLM (Generalized Linear Model) among continuous variables. The odds ratio for high ferritin in relation to dietary factors was also determined using procsurvery logistic analysis. RESULTS: Age, obesity, drinking habit, and blood glucose levels were found to be significant indicators of high serum ferritin level after adjusting for all confounding factors. Among the food groups, grain, milk, vegetable, and seaweed intakes were significantly associated with high ferritin levels, but after adjusting for all confounding factors, only grains and vegetables remained significant factors. Among the nutrient groups, calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin C intake were significant factors, but after adjustment, none of the nutrient groups analyzed were associated with a high risk of ferritin. CONCLUSION: Age, obesity, drinking habit, and glucose levels, as well as inadequate intakes of grains and vegetables, were found to be significantly associated with high serum ferritin levels in postmenopausal Korean women.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.232-238
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• 2003

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most common causes of death in elderly Koreans, and HDL-cholesterol is known to have a pivotal role in protecting against CVD. This study was undertaken to study the relationships between plasma HDL-cholesterol levels and dietary, anthropometric, and biochemical factors in elderly Koreans. The 102 subjects, who were over 60 years old, were classified into two groups based on their plasma HDL-cholesterol levels: a risk group with plasma HDL-cholesterol < 40mg/dl in men or HDL-cholesterol < 50mg/d1 in women, and a control group with higher HDL-cholesterol levels. The subjects' mean intakes of energy, calcium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin $B_2$, vitamin E, and folate did not meet the Korean RDA for elderly people. Vitamin $B_2$ and folate intakes were significantly lower (p<0.l) in the risk group compared to the control group. The consumption of seaweed was significantly lower (p<0.05), and fish intake was 33% lower, in the risk group compared to the control group. Subjects in the risk group showed a higher BMI, waist/hip ratio, triceps skinfold thickness, and % body fat, compared to control subjects. Plasma triglyceride levels and values of the atherogenic index were significantly higher (p<0.00l) in risk group subjects. Significant negative correlations between HDL-cholesterol level and plasma triglyceride level (r= 0.37), and values of the atherogenic index (r=-0.74), were found. In summary, subjects with low levels of HDL-cholesterol were found to have relatively low intakes of vitamin B$_2$, folate, and seaweed, and higher levels of the CVD risk factors: body fat, plasma TG, and AI. These results suggest that plasma HDL-cholesterol levels can be modified by dietary, anthropometric, and hematological means.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.479-491
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: One ongoing effort to curtail dyslipidemia in school children is through lifestyle intervention. This study analyzes outcomes of the intervention of nutrition education and Javanese traditional game-based physical activity, on lipid profiles of overweight and obese children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The experimental study consisted of three steps: data collection (October to December 2016), intervention processes (January to March 2017), and final report preparation (April to May 2017). This was a split-plot block study, enrolling a total of 72 subjects. Traditional game intervention (12 meetings) and nutrition education (9 meetings) was carried out within 3 months with material related to obesity. RESULTS: Our results showed no decrease in the levels of total cholesterol in the group receiving nutrition education (rise by 1.56 mg/dL), but when compared to subjects without intervention, total cholesterol levels experienced was increased. The group which did not receive physical activity showed increase in the total cholesterol, whereas the traditional game intervention group showed a decrease of 0.05 mg/dL total cholesterol at the end of the intervention. Nutrition education and physical activity interventions did not influence any reduction in the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, but rather showed a tendency to increase at the end of the intervention. However, the increase in LDL-c levels in the traditional game group was lower than in other intervention groups. Duncan's test indicated that the effect of nutrition education and physical activity interventions did not differ from the cut-off values of LDL-C and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the traditional game group tended to decrease at the end of the intervention, but the results did not differ much from other intervention groups. We deduce that nutrition education and traditional game-based physical activity interventions are not capable of improving blood lipid profiles in overweight and obese children within 3 months. It is necessary to increase the time of physical activity intervention to maintain the lipid profile in another study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.258-269
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• 2023

This study was conducted to identify the nutrition literacy levels of Korean adults and the associated influencing factors. A total of 770 adults aged 19-64 years participated in online surveys and individual interviews conducted according to age groups from May to October 2021. The results of the evaluation of the nutrition literacy levels showed that the average correct answer rate among the participants was 78.7%. Nutrition literacy levels were found to be high in females, lower age groups, metropolis residents, those with high monthly incomes, and those with a bachelor's degree or higher. Multiple regression analysis showed that males, higher age groups, and rural area residents had a negative correlation with nutrition literacy compared with that of females, lower age groups, and metropolis residents. A more positive correlation was observed in those with higher monthly incomes and educational degrees. In the future, experts should monitor whether the nutritional information transmitted through various forms of media is correct or incorrect, and specific measures should be taken to enhance nutrition literacy to promote the health and nutrition management of Korean adults.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.351-355
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• 1998

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of protein and dietary fiber levels on the activities of ehanol metabilizing enzymes of the brain in acute and chronic ethanol-treated rats. Male Sprague-Dwley rats were fed on diets containing two levels of protein(7%, 20%)) with two levels of fiber(5%, 105) for 5 weeks. Rats were orally administered 40% (v/v) ethanol(5g/body weight) 90 min before decapitation in the acute ethanol-treated groups and 25% (v/v) ethanol (5g/kg body weight) once a day for 5 weeks in the chronic ethnol-treated groups. Cytosilic alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) activities were higher than those of mitochondrial ADH. The ADH activities were increased by 20% protein and %% fiber levels in the diet in two fractions , but were decreased by chronic ethanol treatment. Mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities did not change by ethanol treatment but were increased by the 20% protein level. However, cytosilic ALDH activities were decreased by chronic ethanol treatment at the 5% fiber level and did not change with protein levels. Both ALDH activities were higher in the 10% fiber groups than the 5% fiber groups. Cytochrome P-450 contents were significantly increased in the chronic ethanol-treated groups but xanthine oxidase (XO) activities did not change. P-450 contents and XO activities were significantly decreased in both the low protein and fiber groups.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.340-348
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• 2003

Differences in food and nutrient intake among Korean adults based on different stress levels were investigated using information obtained from 7,370 adults who participated in the 1998 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey. The twenty-four hour recall method was used for this dietary survey. Data pertaining to indivisual stress levels were collected by means of interviews as part of the National Health Behavior Survey. Following the analysis of variance, Duncan's Multiple Range Test was used to test the differences in food and nutrient intake among groups with different levels of stress. Eighty-three percent of the study subjects were reported to have a certain level of stress. Unlike the observations made in European and American studies, there were no significant differences observed in food and nutrient intake based on the stress levels among Korean adults of either sexes. These results may imply that even though stress was clustered with other health related behavior, the association between food intake and stress among Koreans was very weak. (Korean J Community Nutrition 8(3) : 340∼348, 2003)