• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.539-547
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the health status as determined by a self-assessment checklist was related to the nutritional status of elderly Korean women. We interviewed 59 female subjects living in the Daegu area aged over 55 years. Information on their dietary intake on two consecutive days was collected by the 24-hour Recall Method. Their body compositions were measured using a Bio-electrical Impedence Fatness Analyzer. Their zinc status was evaluated according to their dietary zinc intake and urinary zinc excretion in urine samples collected for 24 hours. Their heath status was determined by a NSI Checklist. While 50.9% of the total subjects belonged to a moderate nutritional risk group,23.7% of the subjects were at a high nutritional risk. It appeared that only 25.4% of the subjects were evaluated as being healthy. Therefore, the overall nutritional health status of the elderly females belonged to the moderate nutritional risk group. Except for vitamin C, the average daily nutrient intake of the subjects was below the level of the recommended dietary allowances (RDA) for Koreans. The lower the nutritional health score, the better was their dietary intake of energy (p<.05), protein (p<.001), and zinc (p<.01). A positive relationship between their nutritional health score and body fat ratio was also observed (p<.05). Therefore, we suggest that the NSI Checklist could be used as a practical screening tool at the beginning of nutritional surveillance of the elderly in the community.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.534-541
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• 2012

This study examined salty taste acuity and salty taste preference and sodium intake in relation to zinc nutritional status in 2 rural populations in Korea. And we also examined the main food contributors of their sodium intakes. We enrolled 218 adults (66 men and 152 women) from the Kangneung and Samcheok regions in Korea's Kangwon province in our study conducted from December 2011 to February 2012. Participants from each region were divided into 3 groups based on their serum zinc level (T1: lowest, T2: intermediate, T3: highest). We compared the salty taste acuity and preference, Na index (Dish Frequency Questionnaire for estimation of habitual sodium intake), blood pressure, and intakes of nutrients including sodium by 3 groups of serum zinc level. The results were as follows: a higher serum zinc level indicated a lower sodium intake and Na index (P<0.05). The salty taste acuity was considerably higher for participants from the Kangneung region than those from the Samcheok region (P<0.05). And the serum zinc level was significantly higher in participants from the Kangneung region than those from the Samcheok region (P<0.05). We further divided the participants into 2 groups: those who consumed more zinc than the recommended intake (RI) and the others. We compared salty taste acuity and salty taste preference in the 2 groups. The salty taste threshold and palatable salty taste concentrations were lower for the group with a zinc intake above RI than for the group with zinc intake below the RI. However, the difference was not significant. This study confirms that taste function differs depending on zinc nutritional status. In future, it is required to a large-scale, long-term, prospective study on the correlation between zinc intake, serum zinc levels, and taste perception function and blood pressure.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.229-235
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• 2009

This study was carried out to determine whether a short-term zinc supplementation could improve the zinc status without adverse changes in copper status among type 2 diabetic patients. Seventy-six diabetic subjects and 72 normal adults participated in this study. Subjects were randomly divided into supplemented and control groups. Forty-four diabetic patients and 34 normal subjects were supplemented with 50 mg zinc gluconate daily for 4 weeks. Dietary intakes of participants were measured for two non-consecutive days by 24-hour recall method. Nutritional status of zinc and copper were also evaluated by biochemical measurement of fasting plasma samples and spot urinary collection. At baseline, diabetic patients showed significantly lower levels of dietary zinc intake and higher urinary zinc excretion than the normal adult group(p<0.05, p<0.0001). Plasma level of zinc was not significantly different between diabetic and normal adults at baseline. However, plasma zinc level increased significantly in both diabetic patients and normal adults after zinc supplementation. The changes in plasma copper levels following zinc supplementation were not statistically significant in diabetic subjects as well as in normal adults. These results indicated that four weeks of zinc supplementation did not influence Cu status and that it may contribute to improving the zinc status. Therefore, we suggest that Zn supplementation for a short-term period may improve marginal zinc status of diabetic patients without interfering with their copper status

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.439-452
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• 2005

Zinc is ubiquitous in all living cells. Structural and catalytic properties of cellular enzymes are zinc dependent. Zinc deficiency leads to a variety of pathological abnormalities with immune impairment. It is an established fact that nutritional status contributes to overall immune response of individuals. Outcome of zinc deficiency on immune system is so drastic that it is difficult to conceive at the first instance. Zinc supplementation has been advocated to prevent diarrheal disease in children with poor nutritional status. The bioavailability of zinc depends upon its sources. Moreover it varies between monogastrics and ruminants. Controversy still prevails between inorganic and organic sources of zinc with respect to their superiority in bioavailability. Zinc exerts immunostimulatory effects in various laboratory and farm animals. Animals having congenital zinc deficiency diseases like A46 lethal trait usually die due to impairment of the immune system unless treated with zinc. The immune mechanism of zinc and its effect on animals and man are discussed. Zinc has been considered as extremely safe at higher therapeutic doses, but does not provide any beneficial effect but rather may cause immunosuppression. More recently, zinc has been prescribed for immunodeficient hosts, to modulate the immune system so that to a certain extent it can combat against opportunistic pathogens.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.33 no.8
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• pp.848-856
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• 2000

The study was designed to assess the zinc nutritional status by gestational age of pregnant women visiting in public health centers in Ulsan. The subjects were divided into 3 trimester by last menstrual period(LMP). Interview for dietary zinc intake and general characteristics of each subjects was given and biochemical analysis of blood and urine was performed. Serum zinc concentration and urinary zinc excretion were analyzed by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer, and alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity was analyzed by Bowers & McComb\\`s method with Schimadzu automatic analyser. Also urinary creatinine was analyzed by Hawk\\`s method. Mean intake of zinc was 6.61${\pm}$1.57mg and did not meet the RDA(44.1% of RDA) for pregnant women by gestational age. Zn intake of 3rd trimester was significantly increased but dietary zinc was almost supplied with cereal and grain (47.30%) which were reported with low zinc availability due to phytate. Mean concentration of serum Zn in 1st trimester was 86.4${\pm}$10.5$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl, was 72.4${\pm}$10.3$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl in trimester and 65.1${\pm}$10.8$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl in 3rd trimester and was declined significantly by gestational age during pregnancy. In was concluded that a decline in serum Zn by gestional age was not influenced by amount of Zn intake. However ALP activity and urinary zinc excretion increased significantly by gestational age. Zinc nutritional status of pregnant women was not confirmed yet due to the physiological changes during pregnancy. However, the pregnant woman may be in a marginal zinc deficient status because of low amount of Zn intake and low bioavailability of Zn from dietary sources. (Korean J Nutrition 33(8) : 848-856, 2000)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.483-494
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• 1994

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nutritional status on the cell-mediated and humoral immunity in female college students. The nutritional status of twenty subjects was determined by six-days food records, anthropometric measurements, and biochemical assessments of serum nutrients. Cell-mediated and humoral immunity of the subjects was analyzed by in vivo and in vitro assessments. The results were summerized as follows : First, The average daily energy intake was 1437Kcal(CHO : PRO : FAT = 61:13:26), which corresponds to 71.9% of RDA. Anthropometric measurements showed that 50% of the subjects was under-weight(BMI<20), only 5% was over-weight(25

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.174-182
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• 2004

The zinc intake and status of South Koreans from rural, urban and metropolitan areas were compared to evaluate the zinc nutritional status in different regional areas in South Korea. The dietary habits of 721 healthy adult subjects (271 from rural, 240 from urban, 210 from metropolitan city) with an age range 30 ∼ 64 (mean age 54$\pm$18) were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Mean daily Zn intake for rural, urban, and metropolitan areas was 6.5 mg, 7.3 mg, and 11.4 mg (p<0.05), respectively, which was 54%,61% and 95% of the Korean RDA for man (12 mg/d). Mean phytate: zinc molar ratios for rural, urban, and metropolitan city were 41, 34, and 30, respectively (p < 0.05), which were higher than the cutoff level of 20 for poor zinc status. The zinc intake and phytate: Zn molar ratio in the rural area were 0.5 and 1.3-fold compared to those of the metropolitan city, which can cause poor zinc nutriture in the rural area. Most of the zinc biomarkers were lower in the rural area than in the metropolitan city (p < 0.05) (mean rural and metropolitan values for plasma Zn: 80.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dL and 119.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dL, respectively; RBC Zn: 7.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dL and 8.8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/dL, respectively; plasma alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity: 87 mU/mL and 100.4 mU/mL, respectively). It seems that a lower zinc intake in the rural area decreased zinc biomarker levels, such as plasma and RBC zinc, and plasma alkaline phosphatase activity, and caused the poor zinc nutritional status in this area. Most of the zinc biomarkers, such as RBC zinc and urinary and plasma zinc levels, in the subjects from the three localities, were within the normal range even when zinc intake of rural and urban subjects was low. The exception was plasma ALP activity in the rural area, which was lower than the reference level. Thus, marked zinc deficiency in these subjects were not observed, however, the potential for marginal zinc deficiency should be considered, especially for the rural area, because of the low zinc intake and the biomarker levels for marginal zinc deficiency.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.114-124
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• 2005

The nutritional status of pre-school children is important for both physical growth and functional development. This study investigated the anthropometric, nutrient intakes and dietary quality of the pre-school children living in Asan for planning nutritional education program. The dietary intakes were measured by 2-day 24 hr recall recorded by children's mothers and the anthropometric data were collected by measuring children's weights, heights, and percent body fat at Asan Public Health Center. The children were 161 boys and 129 girls aged 5 and 6 years. When children's nutritional status was determined by their anthropometric status (underweight, normal weight and overweight) determined by z-score (normal range between -1.00 and 1.00), only 1.4% of the children belonged to underweight group while 55.7% and 42.9% belonged to normal and overweight groups, respectively. Significantly higher number of children belonged to overweight group for 5 year-olds. No differences were observed in nutrient intakes, nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and index of nutritional quality (INQ) values among nutritional status groups. Intakes of the most nutrients were adequate, but NAR and INQ of calcium and zinc were low. When nutrient intakes, NAR and INQ were compared by sex or age, all nutrient intakes were appropriate except calcium and zinc intakes of 6 year-olds. Nutrient intakes of 5 years were higher than those of 6 years. The mean of nutrient adequacy ratio (MAR) was 0.85 and mean INQ was 1.51 for all participants. The nutritional management program for pre-school children in Asan would be directed differently by age groups and education material should contain contents educating to consume moderate amount of food for 5 year-olds and to increase intake of foods with mineral nutrients such as calcium and zinc for 6 year-olds.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.5-16
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• 2017

This study was conducted to compare the nutritional status, nutrient intakes, and chronic disease risks of Chinese elderly people. MNA (Mini Nutritional Assessment) developed for elderly people was used to determine their nutritional status. In this study, participants consisted of 148 urban residents aged 65 years and over residing in three cities in Shandong Province, China. Participants were 67 (45.3%) men and 81 (54.7%) women, and average age was 72.8 years. According to MNA score, 77.7% of participants were 'well nourished', 22.3% were 'at risk of malnutrition', and 2% were 'malnourished'. Nutritional status was divided into two groups by MNA score as 'well nourished' and 'malnourished', which was formed with the combination of 'at risk of malnutrition' and 'malnourished'. Compared with the well nourished group, the malnourished group was older, and physical status indicators such as weight, BMI (Body Mass Index), and calf circumference of the malnourished group were much smaller. The malnourished group had higher prevalence rates of heart disease and stomach disorders while the well nourished group had a higher rate of hypertension. There was no significant difference between the malnourished group and well nourished group in nutritional intake below Chinese DRIs (Dietary Reference Intakes) among elder males. A higher proportion of elder females showed insufficient intakes of energy, protein, vitamin A, vitamin E, and zinc in the malnourished group compared to the well nourished group. The INQ (Index of Nutrition Quality) of calcium, magnesium, zinc, iodine, and most vitamins was less than 1 in both the malnourished and well nourished groups.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1211-1224
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the food sources of zinc and the usual intake of dietary zinc among Korean toddlers and preschool children. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 2,679 children aged 1-5 years was selected from the 2009-2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data. Dietary data collected from a single 24-h recall were used to evaluate the food sources of zinc. To estimate usual zinc intake, the distribution obtained from single 24-h recall data in the total sample was adjusted using the ratio of within-to-between-person variance in zinc intake obtained from 2-day 24-h recall sub-sample data of the 2009 KNHANES. The proportion of children with usual zinc intake below the estimated average requirement (EAR) and above the tolerable upper intake level (UL) was assessed. RESULTS: The main sources of zinc in Korean children were grains, dairy products, and meat. The mean usual intakes of zinc among all individuals, those aged 1-2 yrs, and those aged 3-5 yrs were 5.50, 5.01, and 5.83 mg/d, respectively. In all participants, 1.1% of the children consumed zinc below the EAR, whereas 10.7% exceeded the UL. The proportion of children with excessive zinc intake was 25.6% in the 1-2 yrs age group and 0.6% in the 3-5 yrs age group. CONCLUSIONS: According to the current UL, the risk of excessive zinc intake appears to be high among Korean toddlers. Future studies that monitor the health effects of excessive zinc intake are needed to appropriately guide zinc intake in children.