• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제10권6호
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• pp.623-628
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Obesity-induced steatohepatitis accompanied by activated hepatic macrophages/Kupffer cells facilitates the progression of hepatic fibrinogenesis and exacerbates metabolic derangements such as insulin resistance. Heme oxyganase-1 (HO-1) modulates tissue macrophage phenotypes and thus is implicated in protection against inflammatory diseases. Here, we show that the flavonoid quercetin reduces obesity-induced hepatic inflammation by inducing HO-1, which promotes hepatic macrophage polarization in favor of the M2 phenotype. MATERIALS/METHODS: Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a regular diet (RD), high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD supplemented with quercetin (HF+Que, 0.5g/kg diet) for nine weeks. Inflammatory cytokines and macrophage markers were measured by ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. HO-1 protein was measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: Quercetin supplementation decreased levels of inflammatory cytokines ($TNF{\alpha}$, IL-6) and increased that of the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in the livers of HFD-fed mice. This was accompanied by upregulation of M2 macrophage marker genes (Arg-1, Mrc1) and downregulation of M1 macrophage marker genes ($TNF{\alpha}$, NOS2). In co-cultures of lipid-laden hepatocytes and macrophages, treatment with quercetin induced HO-1 in the macrophages, markedly suppressed expression of M1 macrophage marker genes, and reduced release of MCP-1. Moreover, these effects of quercetin were blunted by an HO-1 inhibitor and deficiency of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: Quercetin reduces obesity-induced hepatic inflammation by promoting macrophage phenotype switching. The beneficial effect of quercetin is associated with Nrf2-mediated HO-1 induction. Quercetin may be a useful dietary factor for protecting against obesity-induced steatohepatitis.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.387-397
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• 2003

During the first half of twentieth century, even though the importance of non-calorie essential micronutrients of 13 vitamins and 17 minerals has been known to alleviate nutritional disorder; the primary objective of agriculture and plant breeding programs has been to increase the productivity and seed yields, and macronutrients of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates made up the bulk of foodstuff which were used primarily as an energy source. In the last decade it has been found that non-essential micronutrients encompass a vast group of phytochemicals including antioxidants that are not strictly required in the diet but when present at sufficient levels work as health-promoting chemicals. Nowadays agricultural crops are grown for health rather than for food or fiber, and modifying the nutritional compositions of plant foods has become an urgent health issue. To ensure an adequate intake of essential vitamins and minerals, and to increase the consumption of health-promoting phytochemicals, the researches on plant secondary metabolism have been made. The attempt to improve nutritional quality of crops has been blocked by a lack of basic knowledge of plant metabolism. The advent of genomics era enabled new approaches to make crossing regardless of species, family, or phylum barriers, and the accumulation in our basic knowledge on plant secondary metabolism during the coming decade would be tremendous. As the major staple crops contain insufficient amount of many micronutrients, fortification strategy will be a necessary practice. Elevated intake of specific vitamins, C, E, and $\beta$-carotene, mineral selenium, antioxidants, and phytochemicals significantly reduces the risk of chronic disease such as cancer, cardiovascular disorder, diabetis, and other degenerative disease associated with aging. As the attempt to improve the nutritional quality of crops requires the basic knowledges on plant metabolism, plant biochemistry, human physiology, and food chemistry, strong interdisplinary collaboration among plant biotechnologists, human nutritionists, and food scientists will be needed. Inhibition of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other degenerative disorder may be the biggest goal facing nutritional plant breeders. But the assumption that simply increasing dietary level of any compound will necessarily improve human health is a dangerous idea because many plant secondary products and dietary contaminants have paradoxical (hermetic) effects. Before biotechnical manipulation is undertaken to elevate or reduce any individual constituent of crops, the contribution of the micronutrient to human health must first be investigated.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.502-512
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• 2000

A survey was conducted on 222 students in two elementary schools in rural areas, one was a rural small city and the other was in the countryside. By measuring their skin-foldness in 4 spots by caliper, the body fatness of 5 grades(BFGr) of the subjects was resulted as follows ; 28.0% of boys and 6.7% of girls were classified as obese the and 34.1% of boys and 31.1% of girls as overweight. Comparing by region, children in the small city seemed to be fatter than the ones in the countryside(21.7% vs. 17.2% as obesity). Comparing by gender, boys were fatter than girls(28.0% vs. 6.7% as obesity). When recategorizing body fatness from 5 grades(BFGr) into 3 groups(BFGp) as overweight group(obesity+overweight), normal and underweight group(underweight+severe-underweight), we observed no significant difference in childrens dietary habits and food intake frequencies by BFGp. Overweight and underweight groups enjoyed snacking before dinner more frequently than the normal group(42.1-59.3% vs. 31.5%). The subjects showed poor nutrition knowledge score with relatively high attitude score about weight control and dietary behavior score was a little lower than the attitude score. Nutrition education programs, like camps, should stress on childrens nutrition knowledge. BFGp related to obesity attitude positive, a very low level and the latter related to diet, exercise and fasting attitudes at positive levels. Therefore overweight children seemed to be motivated easily. Also the higher the in exercise-value score, the more increased was shown in exercise attitude at positive, very low level. Emphasizing exercise-value in camp programs might make childrens exercise attitude more positive. As strategies for a rural obesity camp program are being developed by obese and non-obese children. The camp would be held over summer vacation for 3 days(2 nights) at the participants expence not exceeding 50,000 won. Contents of the program cover nutrition knowledge, and exercise-value as well as cooking lessons, exercise practice, and self-esteem enhencement.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제12권3호
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• pp.235-246
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• 2007

This study was performed to identify nutritional status and eating behaviors of underweight male adolescents aged 15 to 19 years. The subjects selected by using the data of KNHANS-2001 were 32 underweight boys and 135 normalweight ones. We found that weight, waist and hip circumference of the underweight group were significantly different to normal-wight group, but height and waist-hip ratio were not. Their serum indices belonged within normal ranges and showed no difference between the two groups. Their energy and nutrient intakes were mostly poor. The level and proportion of the subjects below EAR, NAR and INQ of each nutrient were not significantly different between the two groups. There were no difference of frequencies of skipping meals, snacking and eating-out between the two groups, either. When comparing frequencies of food intakes, the underweight group consumed significantly more of fermented fishes and less milk than the normal-weight group. And the former had significantly more rest/sleep, no-does and supplementation and less regular excercise than the latter. The underweight group perceived more correct self-images than the normal-weight group and they tried more to increase their body weight during weight control practice (p<0.001). It was concluded that the underweight group showed no different biochemical indices, nutrient intakes, and dietary behaviors to the normal-weight group, but they revealed significantly higher non-active activities like rest and supplementations.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.147-154
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• 2017

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Assessing changes in energy intake and dietary sources is important to understand trends in the prevalence of obesity. Thus, we examined trends in energy intake and its nutrient and food sources in Korean adults from 1998 through 2015. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study included 70,769 subjects aged ${\geq}19$ years who completed a nutrition survey. Subject data were obtained from the 1998, 2001, 2005, 2007-2009, 2010-2012, and 2013-2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Dietary intake was assessed by a 1-day 24-hour recall method. RESULTS: In men, the daily energy intake significantly increased from 2,196 kcal in 1998 to 2,489 kcal in 2013-2015 (P for trend < 0.0001). However, the daily energy intake among women did not change significantly over the same period (P for trend = 0.5772). The percentages of energy intake from animal foods (e.g., meat and milk) and beverages increased during the study period in both men and women. However, the percentage of energy intake from plant foods decreased due to a marked decrease in the intake of white rice. Changes in food sources of energy intake led to changes in the nutrient sources of energy intake; for example, the increase of energy intake from fat and decrease of energy intake from carbohydrate. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that since 1998, energy intake has increased among Korean adult men, but not among women. However, the composition of food and nutrient sources of energy intake has changed in both men and women. Energy intake and its nutrient and food sources should continue to be monitored regularly in the Korean adult population.

• 동아시아식생활학회지
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.9-16
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• 2009

This study investigated vegetable buying behavior with the subjects of 250 housewives living in Gyeongju. According to the results, they usually buy the following vegetables by order of frequency: cucumbers (152 times), hot peppers (142 times), lettuce (140 times), and spinach (134 times). The intake frequency of fresh vegetables was 2 to 3 times per week as 50.0% responded so. All respondents considered freshness most importantly when buying vegetables regardless of age. They usually buy vegetables at traditional markets, and they think the markets are suitable for buying fresh vegetables regardless of age. And the result of analyzing relation among vegetable's vitamin C and the colors or kinds of vegetables selected by age was not statistically significant. About the improvements to use vegetables, respondents in the 20's chose useful information, ones in the 30's to 40's said diverse recipes, ones in the 50's went for the quality improvement, and ones in the 60's or more emphasized stable prices. They answered that they received nutrition information of vegetables mainly from TV or magazines, newspapers, and mass media whereas subjects in the 60's or more said they got it from neighbors or friends. For housewives to get and practice nutritional knowledge, it is necessary to develop recipes in consideration of nutritional balance and convenience and provide them with constant education of nutrition through lifelong education facilities.

• 대한지역사회영양학회지
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.342-360
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• 2014

Objectives: This study aimed to develop nutrition education program for consumers to reduce sodium intake based on social cognitive theory (SCT). Methods: The main factors of SCT related to low sodium diet were investigated by using focus group interview (FGI) with 30 women who participated in consumer organizations. Results: The main target groups for the education program were housewives (H), parents (P), and the office workers (OW), for which we considered their influences on other people and the surroundings. According to the results of FGI, in carrying out low sodium diet, 'positive outcome expectation' were prevention of chronic disease and healthy dietary habit, and 'negative outcome expectation' were low palatability of foods, difficulty in cooking meals, and limited choice of foods. The contents of the program and education materials were individualized by each group to raise self-efficacy and behavioral capability, which reflected the results of the FGI. The program included 'salt intake and health' to raise positive outcome expectation. For improving the ability to practice low-sodium diet, the program contained the contents that focused on 'cooking' and 'food purchasing' for H, on 'purchasing and selection of low-sodium food with the children' for P, and on 'way of selecting restaurant menu' for OW. Also the program included 'way of choosing the low-sodium foods when eating out' with suggestions on sodium content of the dishes and snacks. Further, 'dietary guidelines to reduce sodium intake' was also suggested to help self-regulation. Conclusions: This nutrition education program and education materials could be utilized for the community education and provide the basis for further consumer targeted education program for reducing sodium intake.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.143-148
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Average intake of calcium among college students is below the recommended intake, and knowledge surrounding the attitudinal and behavioral factors that influence milk and dairy intake, a primary food source of calcium, is limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate college students' attitudes and behaviors concerning milk and dairy consumption and their association with calcium intake. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Participants were 1,730 undergraduate students who completed an online survey (SurveyMonkey) as part of baseline data collection for a social marketing dairy campaign. The online survey assessed attitudes and behaviors concerning milk and dairy intake, and calcium intake. Questions about milk- and dairy-related attitudes and behaviors were grouped into 14 factors using factor analysis. Predictors of calcium intake were then evaluated. RESULTS: Median calcium intake across all participants was 928.6 mg/day, with males consuming higher calcium intakes than females (P < 0.001). Adjusted for gender, calcium intakes were most strongly (and positively) correlated with associating milk with specific eating occasions and availability (i.e., storing calcium-rich foods in one's dorm or apartment) (both P < 0.001). Other correlates of calcium intake included: positive-viewing milk as healthy (P = 0.039), having family members who drink milk) (P = 0.039), and taking calcium supplements (P = 0.056); and negative-parent rules concerning milk (P = 0.031) and viewing milk in dining halls negatively (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Calcium intakes among college students enrolled in the current study was below the recommended dietary allowance of 1,000 mg/day, reinforcing the need for dietary interventions in this target population, especially females. Practitioners and researchers should consider the factors found here to impact calcium intake, particularly associating milk with specific eating occasions (e.g., milk with breakfast) and having calcium-rich foods available in the dorm room or apartment, as intervention strategies in future efforts aimed at promoting milk and dairy foods and beverages for improved calcium intake in college students.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.135-142
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study assessed household food security status and determined its association with diet quality and weight status among indigenous women from the Mah Meri tribe in Peninsular Malaysia. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The Radimer/Cornell Hunger and Food Insecurity Instrument and the Malaysian Healthy Eating Index (HEI) were used to assess household food security status and diet quality, respectively. Information on socio-demographic characteristics and 24-hour dietary recall data were collected through face-to-face interview, and anthropometric measurements including weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) were obtained from 222 women. RESULTS: Majority of households (82.9%) experienced different levels of food insecurity: 29.3% household food insecurity, 23.4% individual food insecurity, and 30.2% fell into the child hunger group. The food-secure group had significantly fewer children and smaller household sizes than the food-insecure groups (P < 0.05). The mean household income, income per capita, and food expenditure significantly decreased as food insecurity worsened (P < 0.001). The food-secure group had significantly higher Malaysian HEI scores for grains and cereals (P < 0.01), as well as for meat, poultry, and eggs (P < 0.001), than the food-insecure groups. The child-hunger group had significantly higher fat (P < 0.05) and sodium (P < 0.001) scores than the food-secure and household food-insecure groups. Compared to the individual food-insecure and child-hunger groups, multivariate analysis of covariance showed that the food-secure group was significantly associated with a higher Malaysian HEI score while the household food-insecure group was significantly associated with a higher BMI after controlling for age (P < 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of indigenous households faced food insecurity. Food insecurity at the individual and child levels was associated with lower quality of diet, while food insecurity at the household level was associated with higher body weight. Therefore, a substantial effort by all stakeholders is warranted to improve food insecurity among poorer households. The results suggest a pressing need for nutritional interventions to improve dietary intake among low income households.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.55-61
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Osteoporosis is characterized by low bone mass and results in vulnerability to fracture. Calcium and vitamin D are known to play an important role in bone health. Recently, potassium has been identified as another important factor in skeletal health. We examined the link between potassium intake and bone health among the Korean older adult population. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This retrospective, cross-sectional study included 8,732 men and postmenopausal women over 50 years old who completed the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES) between 2008 and 2011. Potassium consumption was evaluated using a 24-hour recall method. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured at three sites (total hip, femur neck, and lumbar spine) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the link between potassium intake and prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia, after controlling for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: The BMD of the total femur and Ward's triangle were significantly different according to the potassium intake among men (P = 0.031 and P = 0.010, respectively). Women in the top tertile for potassium intake showed higher BMD than those in the bottom tertile at all measurement sites (all P < 0.05). Daily potassium intake was significantly related to a decreased risk of osteoporosis at the lumbar spine in postmenopausal women (odds ratios: 0.68, 95% confidence interval: 0.48-0.96, P trend = 0.031). However, the dietary potassium level was not related to the risk of osteoporosis in men. CONCLUSION: Current findings indicate that higher dietary potassium levels have a favorable effect on bone health and preventing osteoporosis in older Korean women.