• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.316-329
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the association between dietary quality based on the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), and the prevalence of chronic conditions among middle-aged individuals (40-60 yrs of age) living alone. MATERIALS/METHODS: The participants were selected (1,517 men and 2,596 women) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016-2018 and classified into single-person households (SPH) and multi-person households (MPH). Nutrient intake, KHEI, and the prevalence of chronic conditions were compared according to household size. The odds ratios (ORs) of chronic conditions were analyzed according to the tertile levels of KHEI by gender within each household size category. RESULTS: Men in SPH had a significantly lower total KHEI score (P < 0.0001) and a lower prevalence of obesity (OR, 0.576) than those in MPH. For men, the adjusted ORs for obesity, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridemia in the first tertile (T1) of KHEI scores within SPH compared with the third tertile (T3) were 4.625, 3.790, and 4.333, respectively. Moreover, the adjusted OR for hypertriglyceridemia in the T1 group compared to the T3 group within the MPH was 1.556. For women, the adjusted ORs for obesity and hypertriglyceridemia in T1 compared to T3 within the SPH were 3.223 and 7.134, respectively, and 1.573 and 1.373 for obesity and hypertension, respectively, within MPH. CONCLUSIONS: A healthy eating index was associated with a reduced risk of chronic conditions in middle-aged adults. Greater adherence to a healthy eating index could lower the risk of chronic conditions in middle-aged adults living alone.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.1238-1254
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Weight loss via a mobile application (App) or a paper-based diary (Paper) may confer favorable metabolic and anthropometric changes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized parallel trial was conducted among 57 adults whose body mass indices (BMIs) were 25 kg/m² or greater. Participants randomly assigned to either the App group (n = 30) or the Paper group (n = 27) were advised to record their foods and supplements through App or Paper during the 12-week intervention period. Relative changes of anthropometries and biomarker levels were compared between the 2 intervention groups. Untargeted metabolic profiling was identified to discriminate metabolic profiles. RESULTS: Out of the 57 participants, 54 participants completed the trial. Changes in body weight and BMI were not significantly different between the 2 groups (P = 0.11). However, body fat and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels increased in the App group but decreased in the Paper group, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.03 for body fat and 0.02 for LDL-cholesterol). In the metabolomics analysis, decreases in methylglyoxal and (S)-malate in pyruvate metabolism and phosphatidylcholine (lecithin) in linoleic acid metabolism from pre- to post-intervention were observed in the Paper group. CONCLUSIONS: In the 12-week randomized parallel trial of weight loss through a App or a Paper, we found no significant difference in change in BMI or weight between the App and Paper groups, but improvement in body fatness and LDL-cholesterol levels only in the Paper group under the circumstances with minimal contact by dietitians or health care providers.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.1225-1237
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Unhealthy dietary behaviors constitute one of risk the factors for chronic and cardiovascular diseases, which are prevalent in middle-aged and older populations. Milk and dairy products are high-quality foods and important sources of calcium. Calcium protects against osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. Therefore, this study investigated the association of milk and dairy product consumption with cardio-cerebrovascular disease incidence in middle-aged and older Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data were derived from the Ansan-Anseong cohort study, and a total of 8,009 individuals aged 40-69 years were selected and followed up biennially. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the association of milk and dairy product consumption with cardio-cerebrovascular disease incidence. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up period of 96.5 person-months, 552 new cases of cardio-cerebrovascular disease were documented. Milk consumers (< 1 serving/day) exhibited a 23% lower risk of cardio-cerebrovascular disease incidence than non-milk consumers (hazard ratio [HR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-0.97; P for trend = 0.842). High yogurt consumption was associated with a 29% lower incidence risk (≥ 0.5 servings/day vs. none: HR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.53-0.96; P for trend = 0.049), whereas high ice cream consumption was associated with a 70% higher risk of cardio-cerebrovascular disease incidence (≥ 0.5 servings/day vs. none: HR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.01-2.88; P for trend = 0.070). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that less than one serving of milk and high yogurt consumption are associated with a lower cardio-cerebrovascular disease risk in the middle-aged and older populations.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.1155-1169
• /
• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Unhealthy food choices among young adults are common globally, and the incidence of chronic diseases, such as obesity, is rising. Food literacy (FL) is important for improving and maintaining individual health in a rapidly changing food environment and can form the basis for following a sustainable diet. Therefore, it is essential to improve FL among young adults, particularly college students, who are in the formative years of their lifelong food habits. This study examined the facilitators and barriers of FL and related dietary behavior among college students in South Korea. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study recruited 25 college students with different residence types using convenience and snowball sampling. In-person, telephone, and video interviews were conducted from March to November 2021. The interview data were analyzed using framework analysis based on the socio-ecological model. RESULTS: At the individual level, prior good experiences with food were the most frequently mentioned facilitator. In contrast, the major barriers were a lack of knowledge, financial hardship, irregular schedules, and academic stress. At the interpersonal level, the influences of family and peers, such as early exposure to healthy eating habits and opportunities to have easy accessibility to farms and farming, are major facilitators, but the lack of a sense of community was the major barrier. At the environmental level, the major barriers were unfavorable food environments at home and in neighborhoods, such as the absence of kitchens in housing and large packaging of produce at markets. CONCLUSIONS: Many factors affected the students' FL and related healthy eating practices. These findings suggest that a campus-based FL program should be developed by reflecting on these facilitators and barriers.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.412-424
• /
• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although iodine is essential for thyroid hormone production and controls many metabolic processes, there are few reports on the iodine intake of the population because of the scarcity of information on the iodine content in food. This study estimated the iodine intake of Koreans from brown seaweed, the major source of iodine in nature. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The dietary intake data from the recent Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2021) and the iodine content in brown seaweed were used for the estimation. Nationwide brown seaweed samples were collected and prepared using the representative preparation/cooking methods in the Koreans' diet before iodine analysis by alkaline digestion followed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The mean (± SE) iodine intake from sea mustard was 96.01 ± 2.36 ㎍/day in the Korean population. Although the iodine content in kelp was approximately seven times higher than that in sea mustard, the mean iodine intake from kelp (except broth) was similar to that of sea mustard, 115.58 ± 7.71 ㎍/day, whereas that from kelp broth was 347.57 ± 10.03 ㎍/day. The overall mean iodine intake from brown seaweed was 559.16 ± 13.15 ㎍/day, well over the Recommended Nutrient Intake of iodine for Koreans. Nevertheless, the median intake was zero because only 37.6% of the population consumed brown seaweed on the survey date, suggesting that Koreans do not consume brown seaweed daily. CONCLUSION: The distribution of the usual intake of iodine from brown seaweed in Koreans would be much tighter, resulting in a lower proportion of people exceeding the tolerable upper intake levels and possibly a lower mean intake than this study presented. Further study evaluating the iodine nutriture of Koreans based on the usual intake is warranted. Nevertheless, this study adds to the few reports on the iodine nutriture of Koreans.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.18 no.5
• /
• pp.701-710
• /
• 2024

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compare nutrient intake according to the presence of glaucoma among Korean individuals aged 60 yrs or older and to establish evidence for the necessity of dietary habits and nutritional management in the prevention and management of glaucoma. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The study was conducted on 4,195 older adults aged 60 or older who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2017 and 2018. The subjects were classified into glaucoma (n = 186) and non-glaucoma (n = 4,009) groups based on the doctor's diagnosis of glaucoma. Nutrient intake was estimated using a 24-h recall method, and the intake of nutrients between the 2 groups was compared. RESULTS: The comparison of food group and nutrient intake according to the subjects' prevalence of glaucoma showed that the average intake of potatoes and starches was higher in the glaucoma group than in the non-glaucoma group (P = 0.049), whereas the average intake of meat, fish, and shellfish was higher in the non-glaucoma group than in the glaucoma group (P = 0.045, P = 0.018). Additionally, the average intake of omega-3 and vitamin C was higher in the non-glaucoma group than in the glaucoma group (P = 0.022, P = 0.045), while the average intake of niacin was higher in the glaucoma group than in the non-glaucoma group (P = 0.046). CONCLUSION: The intake of meats, fish, and shellfish, omega-3, and vitamin C was higher in the non-glaucoma group than in the glaucoma group. These results suggest that a healthy diet might be necessary for the prevention and management of glaucoma.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.335-343
• /
• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the food behavior and nutritional status of elementary school students in the Jeju area using Nutrition Quotient (NQ). Methods: The subjects were 440 students (235 boys and 205 girls) in the fifth and sixth grade at four elementary schools located in Jeju. Demographic, lifestyle, and environmental information was collected using a self-reported questionnaire. The food behavior checklist for children's Nutrition Quotient (NQ), consisting of 19 items, and nutrition education related information were also obtained. Results: The mean score of the children's NQ was poor, reaching 60.3 points. The percentage distribution of NQ grade was 19.8% (lowest), 18.6% (low), 45.0% (medium), 10.7% (high), and 5.9% (highest) and the factor scores for balance, diversity, abstinence, regularity, and practice were 56.6, 68.4, 71.3, 57.4, and 54.8 points, respectively. Compared with the NQ cut-off points for defining malnutrition (balance; 57, diversity; 87, abstinence; 66, regularity; 69, and practice; 67 point), average score of abstinence factor was only above the cut-off point and scores of the other factors were below the cut-off point. Subjects with higher NQ scores tended to have higher levels of exercise activity (p < 0.001), frequency of family meals (p < 0.01), and father's educational levels (p < 0.01) compared to those with lower NQ score. NQ score showed positive association with nutrition education experience and practice (p < 0.001). Conclusion: NQ score of elementary school students residing in Jeju was lower than the national average. More opportunities should be provided for participation in nutrition education, which incorporates a range of program strategies, as well as communication and education activities.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.453-462
• /
• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The inverse relationships of combined fruits and vegetables intake with blood pressure have been reported. However, whether there are such relationships with salty vegetables has rarely been investigated in epidemiologic studies. We evaluated the relation of combined and separate intake of fruits, vegetable intakes, and salty vegetables, as well as sodium and potassium, with blood pressure among the middle-aged and elderly populations. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The present cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort baseline survey was performed with 6,283 subjects (2,443 men and 3,840 women) and free of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Dietary data were collected by trained interviewers using food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: The significantly inverse linear trend of diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was found in fruits and non-pickled vegetables (81.2 mmHg in the lowest quintile vs 79.0 mmHg in the highest quintile, P for trend = 0.0040) and fruits only (80.9 mmHg in the lowest quintile vs 79.4 mmHg in the highest quintile, P for trend = 0.0430) among men. In contrast, sodium and sodium to potassium ratio were positively related with blood pressure among men (DBP, 78.8 mmHg in the lowest quintile vs 80.6 mmHg in the highest quintile, P for trend = 0.0079 for sodium; DBP, 79.0 mmHg in the lowest quintile vs 80.7 mmHg in the highest quintile, P for trend = 0.0199 and SBP, 123.8 mmHg in the lowest quintile vs 125.9 mmHg in the highest quintile for sodium/potassium). Kimchies consumption was positively related to DBP for men (78.2 mmHg in the lowest quintile vs 80.9 mmHg in the highest quintile for DBP, P for trend = 0.0003). Among women, these relations were not found. CONCLUSION: Fruits and/or non-pickled vegetables may be inversely, but sodium, sodium to potassium, and Kimchies may be positively related to blood pressure among men.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.25-36
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of fast food intake, choice, and satisfaction on age among 311 people living in the metropolitan area. The frequency of fast food intake was high in the 20s and 30s, and those in the 40s and over 50s were low, showing a significant difference according to age. Costs for fast food purchases mainly ranged from 5,000 won to 7,000 won. Major sources of information on choosing fast food were mainly from friends and the internet in 20s, and mass media from over 30s. Thirty-nine percent of subjects responded that their dietary habits changed after fast food intake, and the most changes was to like spicy food, followed by eating-out times increased. The factors affecting the choice of fast food were mainly easy to eat, followed by time was not influenced and taste, and taste showed significant difference according to age. Among the subjects who were worried about fast food, 30s showed mainly increase in body weight and over 50s had health problem, and a significant difference was observed according to age. For the improvements in fast food intake, subjects answered in nutrition, hygiene and price in order. Fast food brands, services, menus were the most satisfied in 30s, and 40s were the most unsatisfied, and there was a significant difference. In conclusion, the frequency of fast food intake was higher in young people, and the choice of fast food and satisfaction appeared to be significantly influenced by age. Therefore, data are required to recognize and practice a balanced diet by activating studies on the fast food intake of middle-aged and elderly people and understanding consumer changes.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.163-179
• /
• 2022

Although functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) are very common in pediatric patients, there is a scarcity of published epidemiologic data, characteristics, and management patterns from Saudi Arabia, which is the 2nd largest Arabic country in terms of area and the 6th largest Arabic country in terms of population, with 10% of its population aged <5 years. Functional constipation (FC) is an FGID that has shown a rising prevalence among Saudi infants and children in the last few years, which urges us to update our clinical practices. Nine pediatric consultants attended two advisory board meetings to discuss and address current challenges, provide solutions, and reach a Saudi national consensus for the management of pediatric constipation. The pediatric consultants agreed that pediatricians should pay attention to any alarming signs (red flags) found during history taking or physical examinations. They also agreed that the Rome IV criteria are the gold standard for the diagnosis of pediatric FC. Different therapeutic options are available for pediatric patients with FC. Dietary treatment is recommended for infants with constipation for up to six months of age. When non-pharmacological interventions fail to improve FC symptoms, pharmacological treatment with laxatives is indicated. First, the treatment is aimed at disimpaction to remove fecal masses. This is achieved by administering a high dose of oral polyethylene glycol (PEG) or lactulose for a few days. Subsequently, maintenance therapy with PEG should be initiated to prevent the re-accumulation of feces. In addition to PEG, several other options may be used, such as Mg-rich formulas or stimulant laxatives. However, rectal enemas and suppositories are usually reserved for cases that require acute pain relief. In contrast, infant formulas that contain prebiotics or probiotics have not been shown to be effective in infant constipation, while the use of partially hydrolyzed formula is inconclusive. These clinical practice recommendations are intended to be adopted by pediatricians and primary care physicians across Saudi Arabia.