• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.28-37
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to address the difference menopausal symptoms according to sasang constitution and menopausal status among perimenopausal women. Methods: Data for this cross-sectional study was collected by administering questionnaires that elicited general information. The menopause rating scale (MRS) and Questionnaire for the Sasang Constitution Classification II (QSCC II) was given to 284 perimenopausal women who met the eligibility criteria and agreed to participate in the study. Results: The study subjects were composed of 27.5% so-yangin, 24.6% so-eumin, 18.7% tae-eumin, and 29.6% undefined category. The total MRS and all subscales were significantly higher for postmenopausal women in comparison to premenopausal women. Especially, so-eumin and tae-eumin displayed significantly higher scores in urogenital symptoms. The MRS score in postmenopausal women who belonged to the group of tae-eumin and so-eumin was significantly higher than those for premenopausal women. However, so-yangin displayed higher scores in psychological and urogenital symptoms than tae-eumin for premenopausal women. So-eumin presented significantly higher scores in urogenital symptoms in comparison to the undefined category for postmenopausal women. Conclusion: These findings suggest that sasang constitution could be an important factor in understanding the woman's menopausal symptoms and identify the best treatment.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.79-90
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• 2005

This study was performed to estimate serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and to evaluate the relationship between serum 2S-hydroxyvitamin D level and associated factors. The subjects were 61 premenopausal working women aged 30 - 49 y in Busan. The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was measured by radioimmunoassay. Data for physiological characteristics, lifestyle factors, physical activity and nutrient intake were assessed by questionnaire including information about outdoor activity time, daily activity diary and 24 hr recall method. The mean vitamin D intake was 3.12 ug, which corresponded to $62.5\%$ of the Korean RDA. The mean level of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was 31.0 ng/mL. Low 25-hydroxyvitamin D (<25 nmol/L) was not found in the subjects. The serum 2S-hydroxyvitamin D level showed positive significant correlations with exercise hours, daily energy expenditure, hours of outdoor activity per weekdays (p < 0.001, P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Exercise hours were found to be the most important determinant of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level. Therefore nutritional education for increasing hours of physical activity including indoor and outdoor exercise, is needed for premenopausal working women to increase vitamin D status.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.649-660
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• 2006

This study was performed to estimate serum 2S-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) level in wintertime and to evaluate the relationship between serum 25-OHD level and associated factors in 50 premenopausal working women aged 30-49 y in Busan. The serum 25-OHD level was measured by radioimmunoassay. Data for physiological characteristics, lifestyle factors, physical activity and nutrient intake was assessed by questionnaire including information about outdoor activity time, daily activity diary and 24hr recall method. The mean vitamin D intake was $4.24{\mu}g$, which corresponded to 84.9% of the Korean RDA. The mean level of serum 25-OHD was 25.7 ng/mL. Vitamin D deficiency (25-OHD < 7nmol/L) and toxicity $(25-OHD{\geq}75\;nmol/L)$ were not found in the subjects. However, the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (25-OHD < 15 nmol/L) and hypovitaminosis D (25-OHD < 30 nmol/L) were 12% and 60% respectively. The serum 25-OHD level showed positive significant correlations with the duration of outdoor activity per weekdays (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that hypovitaminosis D was common in the subjects in wintertime. So nutritional education for increasing outdoor activities is needed for premenopausal working women to increase vitamin D status in wintertime.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.448-454
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• 2004

The relationship between dietary carbohydrate (CHO) and fasting triglyceride (TG) concentrations was examined in 2,689 men, 1,908 premenopausal women, and 966 postmenopausal women aged 20-69 years in the 1998-Korean Health and Nutrition Survey. The serum TG concentrations in fasting blood samples were measured and dietary CHO intake was assessed by using 24-hour recall method. As CHO intake increased, the TG concentrations were significantly affected (127.4 mg/dl, 132.4 mg/dl, 134.8 mg/dl, 142.6 mg/dl, 147.2 mg/dl) in postmenopausal women, while CHO intake was not significantly associated with TG concentrations in men and in premenopausal women. For the lowest to the highest quintiles of CHO, the mean TG concentrations were 120.0 mg/dl and 140.3 mg/dl in postmenopausal women with body mass index (BMI) ＜25 kg/m$^2$ and 135.6 mg/dl ＆ 155.3 mg/dl in postmenopausal women with BMI$\geq$25 kg/m$^2$. In multivariate analysis, BMI, waist hip ratio (WHR), glucose, smoking, and drinking habit were associated with serum TG concentrations in men. In premenopausal women, BMI, WHR, and glucose levels were associated with serum TG concentrations, while age, BMI, WHR, glucose levels, and CHO intake were associated with serum TG concentrations in postmenopausal women. In conclusion, CHO intake is related to serum TG concentrations in postmenopausal women in Korea.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.72-82
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate sexual behaviors and influencing factors affecting premenopausal women who have breast cancer and have undergone surgery. Methods: Seventy premenopausal women, ranging between 35~55 years of age, were included in this study. Sexual behaviors were evaluated using the WSBQ-F (Wilmoth Sexual Behaviors Questionnaire-Female). The in-depth interview was analyzed utilizing content analysis. Results: There were no significant differences regarding the type of surgery, age, time of marriage, education level, occupation, chemotherapy, use of Tamoxifen, and radiotherapy in the sexual activities of premenopausal women with breast cancer. However, quality-related information utilizing qualitative in-depth interviews, revealed 3 issues regarding sexual behaviors.. Participants reported physical discomfort such as vaginal dryness, dyspareunia, emotional changes such as decrease in sexual confidence, and interaction-related changes such as mandatory sexual life, sexual intimacy with one's partner, and being more active sexual behaviors. Conclusion: There were complex changes associated with sexual behavior after surgery for women with breast cancer which included various events related to stress regarding sexual behavior. Communication between women with breast cancer, their partners, and medical caregivers has a ability to maximize the sense of sexual wellbeing while minimizing the sexual crises.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.20-29
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• 2012

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become a global epidemic. In particular, it is known that there is a dramatic increase in the prevalence of MetS among women during the postmenopausal period. Recently, accumulating studies have suggested that vitamin D deficiency may be inversely associated with the risk factors regarding MetS. However, evidence from postmenopausal women is limited. In this study, we examined the association between the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and the MetS in Korean adult women aged 20-69 years (n = 2,618) by using the 2007-2008 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data. The geometric mean of plasma 25(OH)D were $17.16{\pm}6.28\;ng$/mL and $20.20{\pm}7.69\;ng$/mL for premenopausal and postmenopausal women, respectively. The percentages of vitamin D deficiency [25(OH)D < 12 ng/mL] were 22.5% and 14.4%, respectively. MetS was more prevalent in postmenopausal women (43.0%) compared with premenopausal women (11.2%). When serum concentrations of 25(OH)D were categorized in quintiles, there was no relationship in the prevalence of MetS in both premonopausal and postmenopausal women. However, in premenopausal women, compared with the lowest 25(OH)D quintile, the odds ratio for hypertriglyceridemia in the highest quintile was 0.57 (95% CI 0.34-0.95, $P_{trend}$ = 0.041) and for low serum HDL cholesterol 0.60 (95% CI 0.42-0.85, $P_{trend}$ = 0.014) after adjusting for all potential confounders. On the other hand, we observed the tendency of an inverse relationship for 25(OH)D regarding low serum HDL cholesterol (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.50-1.22, $P_{trend}$ = 0.029) and a direct relationship with abdominal obesity (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.01, 3.74, $P_{trend}$ = 0.049) in postmenopausal women. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings in other research settings.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.350-360
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• 2017

Purpose: This study examined and compared the associations of the iron status and food intake with the blood lead, mercury, and cadmium concentrations among Korean adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. Methods: The data from the 2010~2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) was used. The subjects were classified into three groups: adolescent girls (n = 268), premenopausal women (n = 1,157), and postmenopausal women (n = 446). The iron status was assessed by hemoglobin, hematocrit, serum ferritin, and iron concentrations, as well as the total iron binding capacity (TIBC). The food intake was estimated by a food frequency questionnaire. Results: The blood heavy metal concentrations and poisoning rate in postmenopausal women were higher than in the other groups. The iron status in the adolescent girls and postmenopausal women was higher than that in the premenopausal women. In the adolescent girls, the iron status was inversely associated with the blood cadmium concentration. The dairy food intake was inversely related to the blood lead and cadmium concentrations. In premenopausal women, the iron status was inversely associated with the cadmium concentrations. The fish and shellfish food intakes were positively associated with the mercury concentrations. In postmenopausal women, the iron status was positively associated with the mercury and cadmium concentrations. Fast foods and fried foods were inversely associated with the lead concentration. Conclusion: The premenopausal women showed a lower iron status than the adolescent girls and postmenopausal women. The associations of the iron status with the blood heavy metal concentrations were different among the adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. In addition, the relationships of the food intakes with the blood heavy metal concentrations differed among adolescent girls, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women. Further studies will be needed to confirm these findings.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.62-68
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to confirm that regular physical exercise habit and calcium intake play a role reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseae, particularly to confrim that regular exercise is important in reducing serum lipid levels. Subjects were classified into regular exercise group(more than 3 times/wk, more than 30 min per exercise) and non-regular exercise group. A convenient frequency method was used to assess the nutritional intake of subjects. Anthropometric measurement such as bodyweight and hight, and blood pressure were measured. There was no significant difference between nonexercisers and exerciser in energy intake, calcium intake and blood lipid levels. The strength of frequency of exercise may not by adequate to modify lipid profiles in premenopausal woman with normal lipid level, Although we found no significant difference in blood lipid levels, this result does not imply there are no benefits of exercise subjects. There were no signigicant correlations between age or weight with blood lipids in regular exercise group, while there were significant positive correlations between age of weight with blood lipids in non-regular exercise group. The levels of serum cholesterol, and triglyceride, blood pressure and atherogenic index increased with age in nonexercise women, Especially, atherogenic index was lower in regular exercise group. The blood pressure in nonexercise group was significantly higher than that in regular exercise group There was a highly significant negative correlation between calcium intake and blood pressure in nonexercise women, There was a highly significant negative correlation between calcium intake and blood pressure in nonexercise women. The results suggest that increased habitual physical activity and calcium intake may have desirable effects on serum lipid levels and blood pressure in premenopausal women.(Korean J Nutrition 34(1):62-68, 2001)

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.15
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• pp.93-98
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• 1996

During the period from January to September 1995, 1.010 Women(premenopausal 466 cases and postmenopausal 544 cases) of employees and family member were observed for bone mineral density of lumbar spine using Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry(DEXA) at Medical Department of Korea Life Insurance Co. Ltd. Results obtained were as follows: 1) In premenopausal women 466 cases, the ratio of decreased bone mineral density of lumbar spine according to age groups shows 3rd decade were 5 cases(9.80%) among 51 cases, 4th decade were 31 cases(8.68%) among 357 cases, and 5th decade were 10 cases(17.24%) among 58 cases. 2) In postmenopausal women 544 cases, the ratio of decreased bone mineral density of lumbar spine according to age groups shows 3rd decade were 2 cases(66.67%) among 3 cases, 4th decade were 28 cases(31.11%) among 90 cases, 5th decade were 168 cases(48.70%) among 345 cases, 6th decade were 73 cases(73.0%) among 100 cases, and 7th decade were 4 cases(66.67%) among 6 cases. 3) Bone mineral density begins to decrease with age as early as the 4th decade, even in the premenopausal state. In the 4th decade, premenopausal women exhibit an average 8.68% decrease in bone density. Postmenopausal women in this same age group, however, demonstrate an average bone density decrease of 31.11%.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2005

It has been suggested that dietary fat increases the risk of breast cancer by elevating serum estrogen concentrations. However, studies on a relationship between fat intake and breast cancer risk have shown contradictory results, possibly because the levels of fat intake in study populations were too high to observe differences. Also, the effect of other dietary factors may present. The present study was performed to investigate the relationship between diet and estrogen metabolism in premenopausal women whose usual fat intake is relatively low compared to their western counterparts. Twenty lacto-ovo vegetarians (LOV) and twenty omnivores participated in the study. Three day food records including a Saturday or a Sunday were used to estimate nutrient intake. Serum lipids, estradiol, sex-hormone binding globulin, and urinary estradiol were measured. Study results showed $24.8\%$ and $20.9\%$ of energy intake were provided from fat in omnivorous and LOV subjects, respectively. Serum and urinary levels of estradiol were two times higher in omnivores. Fat intake was not related to either serum estradiol nor urinary estradiol when the Spearman correlation coefficient analysis was performed. Carbohydrate, total dietary fiber and soluble dietary fiber intakes were negatively related to serum estradiol concentration. Legumes, vegetables and fruit consumption showed significantly negative relationships with both serum and urinary estradiol concentrations. These results indicate lower estrogen availability may be associated with plant food­based diets in premenopausal women whose usual diets contain less than $25\%$ of energy as fat.