• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.222-229
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Aging is an imperative problem for many countries in this century, and presents several challenges for the maintenance of good nutritional status. This study aims to assess the impact of socio-demographic factors, lifestyle and health status on the nutritional status among the elderly in Taiwan. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Taiwan. Data were obtained from the Mei Jau Health Management Institution, which is a private health evaluation provider with multiple health screening centers in Taiwan and Asia. This study included 7947 adults aged 65 years or above. The data were extracted between 2001 to 2010. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric data, biochemical data and dietary intake information. RESULTS: Among the 7947 participants with mean age of 70.1 (SD = 4.5) years, 20.2%, 6.6%, 10.5% and 52.5% experienced underweight, protein malnutrition, anemia and inadequate dietary intake in the past month, respectively. Age was negatively correlated with body weight (r = -0.19, P = 0.02), body mass index (r = -0.41, P < 0.001), albumin level (r = -0.93, P < 0.001) and hemoglobin level (r = -0.30, P = 0.008). Age above 70 years, gender, unmarried status, retirement, lack of education, low family income, smoking, alcohol drinking, sleep duration of 6-8 hours, vegetarian diet, multiple medications, comorbidity and dysphagia were positively associated with malnutrition in older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Underweight and inadequate dietary intake are prevalent among the elderly in Taiwan. Vegetarian diet, multiple medications, comorbidity, dysphagia and lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol drinking and sleep duration of 6-8 hours are risk factors for undernutrition in older adults.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.385-394
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to determine the zinc status of preschool children in Ulsan. The study was conducted in 95 children aged 3 to 6 years by investigating the anthropometric indices and assessing the biochemical analysis. The blood was analysed to assess serum zinc and alkaline phosphatase. And a questionnaire for dietary intakes using 24-hr recall method were performed by mothers of 95 subjects. The dietary intakes of children were analysed to determine the prevalence of inadequate and excessive intakes of zinc with Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs). WHL (Weight-Length Index) and Kaup index were used to define obesity. The overall prevalence of overweight and obese subjects were 14.7% and 6.3% by WHL, were 15.8% and 13.7% by Kaup index. The mean intakes of zinc by children aged 3${\sim}$5y and 6y were 5.5 ${\pm}$ 1.4 mg/d (75.7% RDA) and 6.7 ${\pm}$ 2.0 mg/d, respectively, that was the level exceeding the estimated average requirement (EAR) and the recommended intake (RI) of Korean Dietary Reference Intakes. Less than 1.3% and 7.9% of children had usual zinc intakes below EAR and RI of KDRIs, respectively. The percentages of children with intakes exceeding the tolerable upper intake level (UL) were 2.6%. The zinc nutritional status by biological assay was found that mean serum zinc and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of total subjects were 64.0 ${\pm}$ 8.4 ${\mu}$g/dl and 72.8 ${\pm}$ 14.9 U/L, there was not a significant difference between boys and girls. The range of serum zinc level was 45${\sim}$89 ${\mu}$g/dl and children with a low serum zinc concentration by several cut-off points were 18.9${\sim}$55.8%, especially. Serum zinc level was positively correlated to the intakes of calorie, calcium, fiber, iron, zinc, zinc/kg and height (p<0.001). Serum ALP was positively correlated height, weight and WLI. The zinc intake of children aiso showed a positive correlation with height and weight. These results indicate that there were significant correlations between the zinc status and growth of preschool children. Preschool children in Ulsan have dietary zinc intakes that exceed the new DRIs. The present level of intake does not seem to pose a health problem, but if zinc intakes with fortified foods and supplements were considered, the amount of zinc consumed by children may become excessive.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 1983

Clinical and epidemiologic data point to a causal interrelationship between nutritional deficiency and infectious illness. Both are major contributors to childhood morbidity and mortality, particulary in underprivileged population groups. Protein-calorie malnutrition depress a variety of immune funtions. Delayed hypersensitivity and number of T-lymphocytes are consistently reduced. The interrelationship between nutritional status and immune response was studied in 80 children aged under 6 years. According to the anthropometric assessment based on weight for height for age, 36 children were classified as normal, 22 as morderate malnutrition, and 22 as severe malnutrition. The following determinations were made : hemeglobin, hematocrit, serum albumin, immunoglobulin G, complement 3, and WBC levels. Results indicate that levels of Hb, Hct, serum albumin, and C3 concentration were decreased in moderate and severe malnutrition children. However, levels of IgG and WBC were not affected by the nutritional status. It is suggested that nutritional status has more profound effects on complement system than humoral immunity.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.4
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• pp.335-340
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• 2007

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relation of total antioxidant status (TAS) to metabolic risk factors in Korean adults. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, serum lipids and fasting glucose were determined in 406 men and women. TAS was measured by using commercially available Randox kit. Serum TAS was significantly positively correlated with body weight (p=0.004), body mass index (BMI) (p=0.033), waist circumference (p=0.017), total cholesterol (p=0.038) and triglyceride (TG) (p<0.001). The mean TAS of hypertriglyceridemic subjects (TG ${\geq}$150 mg/dl) was significantly higher than that of subjects whose TG was lower than 150 mg/dl (p=0.001). When central obesity, TG, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, fasting glucose and blood pressure were considered as metabolic risk factors, TAS was shown to be elevated with increased number of metabolic risk factors (p=0.004). The positive association between TAS and a number of metabolic risk factors suggests that increased TAS may not always indicate one's healthier condition. In order to help understand TAS as a marker of total antioxidant capacity in humans with various metabolic conditions, it is needed to clarify the factors affecting TAS in relation to changes in metabolic risk factors.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.193-201
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of the immediate postoperative nutritional status and calorie adequacy on clinical outcomes in liver transplant recipients. Methods: A total number of 99 patients who received liver transplants were recruited from a tertiary university hospital. Demography, subjective global assessment, clinical outcomes and calorie adequacy were evaluated through personal interviews, electronic medical records and dietary records. Anthropometric measures, body mass index and percent of ideal body weight were also obtained. Results: At admission to the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), the triceps skinfold thickness and mid-arm muscle circumference were significantly lower in the malnourished group than in the well-nourished group (p<.05, respectively). In the clinical outcomes, transfusion of red blood cells, mechanically ventilated hours, length of stay in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), length of stay in the hospital, and prothrombin time were significantly higher in the malnourished group than in the well-nourished group (p<.05, respectively). The mechanically ventilated hour was significantly higher in the group with less than 50% of their required energy intake (p<.05). Conclusion: Therefore, it is important to assess the nutritional status of immediate postoperative patients. Furthermore, studies on nutritional interventions are urgently needed to provide adequate nutritional care for patients in ICUs.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.127-134
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• 2005

This study was conducted to investigate the correlations among body composition, athletic ability and nutritional status according to BMI in Korean college students. The anthropometric measurements of three groups showed significant differences in weight, body fat, waist, hip, WHR, skinfold thickness(p<0.001). There were significant difference in vitamin A and niacin by their BMI(p<0.05). There were significant increase in trunk flexion(p<0.05) and maximal oxygen uptake(p<0.05) in subjects as their BMI. There were negative correlation between weight and foot balance, maximal oxygen uptake. Also, foot balance and maximal oxygen uptake were negatively related with BMI. There was a significant positive correlation between BMI and flexion(p<0.50). Grip strenth(p<0.01) and back strenth(p<0.05) were positively related with WHR. Overweight group was significantly inferior in muscular power and endurance but was better in muscular strength than the other groups. Based on this study, the further studies on obesity indice are required for health promotion among young women population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.547-556
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• 1989

This survey was carried out to investigate the nutritional status of 102 rural pregnant women after the 2nd trimester and the effect of pregnant nutritional status on newborn infant's anthropometric measurements. 102 rural pregant women's age was distributed 20 to 34. Pregnant height and prepregnant weight were 157.7$\pm$3.2cm and 50.7$\pm$5.4kg, respectively, which were similar to Korean standard, and pregnant weight gain per week after the 2nd trimester was 0.35$\pm$0.13kg, which was showed normal weight gain. Pregnant blood pressure were 112.6$\pm$12.7mmHg (systolic pressure) and 71.8$\pm$10.6(diastolic pressure), and energy and protein intake were 83.8$\pm$34.3% and 72.2$\pm$24.2% of RDA, respectively. Hemoglobin and blood protein level of 17 pregnant women who selected among total pregnant women were 11.8$\pm$1.0g / dl, 6.5$\pm$0.9g / dl, respectively. Height, weight, and head circumference of 17 newborn infants who delivered from 17 pregnant women were 50.1$\pm$1.9cm, 3.4$\pm$0.6kg, and 31.4$\pm$1.2cm, respectively, which were similar to Korean standard. Infant height, weight, and head circumference at birth were significantly correlated with pregnant higher than dietary intakes and weight gain per week during midpregnancy.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1009-1017
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• 1997

This study was designed to assess the iron nutritional status and growth development of children provided with and without the national school -lunch program(NLSP). The subjects consisted of 590 elementary school children (313 boys, 277 girls) in the 2nd, 4th and 6th grades provided with (n=390) and without (n=200) NSLP. anthropometric measurements were taken for body weight, height, triceps skinfold thickness and body fat percentage. Nutrient intakes were assessed by a modified 24 -hour recall method. Fastinig blood samples were obtained and analyzed for hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, serum iron and total iron binding capacity. The results obtained are summarized as follows. No significant differences between children provided with and without NSLP were found in height and body weight, but triceps skinfold thickness and body fat(%) were significantly higher in children without NSLP than in those with NSLP. There was no significant difference in hemoglobin concentration and hematocrit between children provided with and without NSLP. However, serum iron concentration and transferrin saturation were higher in the children provided with NSLP(81.9$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl and 22.8%) than in the children without NSLP(73.1$\mu\textrm{g}$/dl and 20.9%). When comparing iron and vitamin C intakes , iron intake was significantly higher in children provided with school-lunch, but vitamin C intake was significantly higher in children provided without school-lunch. Percentages of iron -deficient anemia in underweight, normal and obese children when judged by total iron binding capacity were 14.9%, 12.5% and 25.8% respectively.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.691-699
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of temple food intake on health improvement. The survey was conducted from September to October 2013. The subjects in this study were 46 adults who participated in short-term 'Temple Stay' program. Every meal was prepared according to prearranged temple food menu, and it was provided to subjects for 4 weeks. Dietary intake, anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameter were measured and nutritional & health status were analyzed to find the effect of the program. Nutrients content of the temple food was sufficient to dietary reference intake while content of fat, fiber, vitamin A and calcium from the meal was significantly higher than the subjects' usual diet. Mean body weight, BMI and blood pressure (systolic and diastolic) related with obesity and hypertension decreased after the program. The index referring to liver function and cardiovascular disease risk such as serum ALT, ${\gamma}$-GTP, TG and LDL decreased while HDL increased thereby showing positive effect. The above results anticipate that temple foods with an affirmative effect in improving health status have a potential benefit that can be applied to general food service. Further detailed study might provide information in developing healthy diet for a corresponding clinical problem.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.443-451
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• 1999

Objective: To examine the relationship between hypertension prevalence and the four commonest anthropometric measurements for obesity(body mass index(BMI), wasit-hip ratio(WHR), waist circumference(WC) and body fat in Korean adults. Methods: We studied the cross-sectional association of the anthropometric indices and blood pressure in 1,197 individuals(who were participants in the population-based cohort study). Hypertension was defined as blood pressure $\geq160/95\;mmHg$ or current use of antihypertensive medication. Informations on life-style factors were obtained from personal interview. Results: There were close associations between BMI, WHR and WC with blood pressure in both men and women. After age adjustment, BMI and WC showed significantly positive correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels in both men and women. Odds ratio(ORs) of being hypertensive were estimated comparing the highest to the lowest quantile, adjusting for age, smoking status, alcohol intake levels, education attainment. The simultaneously adjusted ORs of being hypertensive, comparing the highest vs the lowest categories, was for BMI 2.0(95% confidence interval(CI)=0.9-3.2) in men and 3.2 (95% CI=1.7-6.1) in women, for WC 2.1(95% CI=1.0-4.4) in men and 3.1 (95% CI=1.6-5.9) in women, for fat(%) 4.2(95% CI=1.9-9.5) in men and 2.1(95% CI=1.2-3.6) in women. Conclusion: In addition to measures of overall obesity(BMI) as well as central obesity(WHR, WC), body fat(%) was independently associated with prevalence of hypertension. Among obesity indices, body fat was the most predictor variable in hypertensive state in male and BMI was in female.