• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.365-371
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• 2013

High intakes of sodium may increase the risk of hypertension or cardiovascular diseases. According to the 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey, the average intake of sodium was 4,878 mg/day with salt, kimchi, soy sauce, fermented soybean paste and Ramyeon being the five main sources of sodium. In order to identify solutions to reduce the intake of sodium, we investigated the intake patterns and eating behaviors of Ramyeon among 347 college students (male 146, female 201) using survey questionnaires. The average age of study subjects was 23.7 years for males and 20.5 years for females. The average Body Mass Index ($kg/m^2$) was 21.9 for males and 20.1 for females. The average frequency of Ramyeon intake was 2.0 times/week. The main reason for eating Ramyeon was convenience (56%), followed by good taste (27%), low price (11%) and other reasons (9%). The criteria for choosing Ramyeon were taste (72%), convenience (14%), price (7%), nutrition (1%), and the other factors (2%). Males' average intake of Ramyeon soup (61%) was higher than that of the females (36%). The estimated intake of Ramyeon soup by survey showed a positive correlation with the measured intake of Ramyeon soup. Sodium contents of Ramyeon were measured separately for the noodles and the soup, which were 1,185 mg/serving and 1,148 mg/serving each. Therefore, the amount of sodium intake can be reduced if students eat less Ramyeon soup. Also, we observed that dietary behaviors and soup intakes of Ramyeon between the sexes were different. Appropriate nutritional education for proper eating habits may help decrease the intake of sodium.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.485-494
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• 2003

In order to investigate the ramyeon intake patterns, food value recognition, and their effects on blood pressure and blood lipid levels, a total of 385 male students aged 13- 15 years living in rural area were sampled randomly, and they were surveyed using questionnaire. Blood pressure and fasting serum lipids levels of 123 subjects selected among the total were determined. Of the total subjects 80.3％ either liked or liked very much ramyeon and 42.2％ of them were eating ramyeon from 1 to 2 times a week,21.1％ 5-6 times a week, while 11.7％ more than once a day, and 13.1％ less than once a month. They took ramyeon from one (56.8％) to two (25.4％) packs each time. Two-third of subjects consumed entire ramyeon soup or more than half of it. Mostly they added egg or onion to ramyeon and took along with kimchi, cooked rice, danmuji, or dried laver. The food value recognition score about ramyeon was 41.33 out of 100 full grade. Comparing to underweight or normal weight subjects, overweight students tended to take ramyeon more frequently when playing with friends and tended to consume less soup of ramyeon. There was a significant negative correlation between ramyeon intake frequencies and HDL-cholesterol levels (r = -.223 p < .05). Moreover, among the normal body weight students (n = 72) adjusted with relative weight, ramyeon intake frequencies showed not only a significant negative correlation with HDL-cholesterol level (r = -.244 p < .05), but also significant positive correlations with atherogenic index (r : .249 p < .05) and systolic blood pressure (r : .259 p < .05) . These results suggested that frequent intake of ramyeon with limited sidedishes as a whole meal might have negative influences on blood pressure and serum lipid levels. Nutrition education is needed to have correct food value recognition and proper consumption of ramyeon along with the balanced diet. (Korean J Community Nutrition 8(4) : 485-494, 2003)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.585-591
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• 2006

The amount of sodium in the processed foods was evaluated by the information on the nutrition label. One-meal type foods as Ramen, Woodong, Naengmyon provide the most sodium reaching 30 - 70% DV per serving size. In Ramen not much difference was observed for the sodium content by food companies though each company provides various amount of sodium reducing as much as 25% DV. The proportion of female college students who read the nutrition information reached 62% but it remained 32% on the sodium information. They purchase low sodium foods rarely however their intention to buy low sodium foods increased up to 40% in condition that sodium information is given on the food label. Nevertheless 50% of them would not buy low sodium food if the taste is undesirable. Low sodium ramen cooked with 80% soup-base was acceptable by the subjects. Majority of them responded the soup was rather salty indicating the reduction of sodium in ramyeon is possible.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.375-386
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• 2017

Objectives: Rapid economic growth and industrial development in South Korea have led to a great change in dietary patterns, and the use of convenience foods has continuously increased. This study was performed to evaluate the energy and nutrient contents of convenience foods at convenience stores near the universities as a meal. Methods: Data was collected by visiting 22 convenience stores near some universities in Chungbuk and Seoul and by checking nutrition labels on convenience foods at the stores. Data of a total of 338 food items were collected, and divided into five groups according to the food categories; rice products (n=156), noodles (n=101), burger/sandwiches (n=62), Tteokbokkis (n=11), and dumplings (n=8). Further, rice products, noodles, and burger/sandwiches were divided into subcategories. Results: The proportion of calories from carbohydrates was high in the rice products and tteokbokki, while the rate of calories from fat was high in burger/sandwiches and dumplings. Among the rice products, the proportion of carbohydrate calories was high in a one-dish food, rice with soup, and triangular kimbap, while the proportion of calories from fat in lunch boxes was high. In the noodles category, ramyeon and spaghetti had a high percentage of fat calories, while udong had a high percentage of carbohydrate calories. The ratio of the calorie content in relation to the KDRIs for adults aged 19-29 years, lunch boxes provided about 1/3 of daily required energy. However, the amount of calories as one meal was not enough for other types of rice products except for lunch boxes. Ramyeon was high in calories, fat, and sodium, but low in protein content. The burger/sandwiches had a high percentage of fat and sodium. Conclusions: Our results showed several nutritional limitations of convenience meals in convenience stores according to the type of food. Therefore, college students should limit excessive intake of convenience meals on a regular basis in order to avoid unhealthy food intake patterns. Our results demonstrate the need for educating college students with regard to checking nutrition labels when choosing convenience meals in order to facilitate the selection of food items that contribute to a balanced diet.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.545-558
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• 2007

This study was performed to assess the sodium intakes of Korean adults using a 24-hr urine analysis and dish frequency questionnaire (DFQ) according to each dish group and the regional area. The subjects of this study were comprised of 522 adults (male : 267, female : 285), aged 20-59yr residing in the metropolitan area (N=200), Chungcheng-Do (N=117), Jeolla-Do(N=117), and Gueongsang-Do provinces (N=118). The subjects were recruited from the residents who once participated or are participating in the various health programs offered by the public health center. The number of subjects who completed the 24-hr urine collection was 205 (male : 110, female : 95). The mean age and BMI of the subjects were $39.0{\pm}$11.7y and $23.1{\pm}2.9 kg/m^2$, respectively. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure was $119.5{\pm}15.4 mmHg$, and $77.1{\pm}11.1 mmHg$, respectively. Eighteen percent of the subjects responded that they are currently smoking, 36% drinking and 50.4% exercising. Twenty point six percent of the subjects were assessed as having hypertension according to their systolic or diastolic blood pressure($SBP{\ge}140mmHg$ or $DBP{\ge}90mmHg$) measurements in the present study. Salt intake of the subjects estimated with 24-hr sodium excretion was 12.7g/d (male : 13.4g/d, female : 12.1g/d) based on the sodium excretion rate as 82%. Salt intake estimated with DFQ was 14.7g/d (male : 16.2g/d, female : 13.4g/d), 2 g more than the salt intake estimated with 24-hr urine analysis. The four dish groups that contributed most to the sodium intake in order were kimchi (11571.4mg), soup and stew (1260.5mg), fish and shellfish(706.3mg) and noodle and ramyeon(644.3mg). Salt intake estimated with DFQ was the highest in the subjects of Gueongsang-Do(17.0g/d), second highest Chungcheong-Do (16.4g/d) and the lowest in the metropolitan area (13.0g/d). Subjects of Gueongsang-Do showed the highest sodium intakes in most of the dish group, whereas subjects of the metropolitan area showed the lowest. Residents of Chungcheong-Do revealed the highest sodium intake with kimchi and of Jeolla-Do the higher sodium intake with main dish (meat, fish and beans). The highest salt percentage of kimchi ($3.0{\pm}0.8%$) and soybean paste ($14.5{\pm}5.1%$) were observed in Gueongsang-Do, whereas individuals of the metropolitan area were observed as having kimchi ($1.6{\pm}0.5%$) and soybean paste ($7.4{\pm}1.6%$) with the lowest salt percenage. Men were observed as having more salty kimchi ($2.4{\pm}0.1%$) than women ($2.1{\pm}0.1%$).