• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.324-332
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• 2001

Foods constitute a large portion of heavy metal exposure toward general population and attract a deep concern with respect to assuring human health. This study summarized published data in Korea on the content, and dietary intake of heavy metals and assessed their risk potential in comparison with foreign data. An analysis for the yearly fluctuation of metal contents including arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead by flood group (marine fishes, coastal shellfishes, freshwater fishes, cereal grains) exhibited a decreasing trend from the 1970s to the 1990s. When compared with domestic standards of heavy metals, their mean contents were below the limit and their maximum values seldom exceeded the limit. The data on the dietary intake of heavy metals by Koreans showed a decreasing trend from the 1980s to the 1990s. The average intakes offs and Hg were 6∼8% and those of Cd and Pb were 50∼80% of PTWI(provisional tolerable weekly intake), all of which were below the tolerance. As the extreme intakes of these metals may exceed the PTWI, a careful assessment for them may be necessary. Dietary intakes of Cd, Hg and Pb by Koreans lie in the mid-level among countries cited in the GEMS/Food monitoring data. As fishery foods are suspecious of contamination with Hg, Cd and As, and floods in general are with Pb, it is necessary to establish legal limits for these metals and monitor any progress of their contamination. Furthermore, overall assessment of exposure to heavy metals from all sources including floods, air, drinking water and occupation should be made in order to confirm the dietary risk factors and to assure the safety of food resources.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2006

The effects of the erect bipedal stance exercise on bone mass and the biomarkers of bone formation and resorption were investigated in rats. Five-week old rats were assigned into control and exercise groups. The rats of exercise group were weight-bearing-trained for 13 weeks in the cage designed to adjust progressively the height from 26.5 cm to 31.5 cm to force the rats rising an erect bipedal stance for feeding and drinking. There was no significant difference in food intakes between two groups. But body weight gain was significantly increased in control group. The lengths of femur, tibia, humerus and radius were significantly longer in control group than exercise group, but the femur and tibia weights per body weight were significantly higher in exercise group than control group. Also the breaking force of femur and tibia in exercise group were higher than control group significantly. The calcium contents of femur and tibia were significantly increased in exercise group than control group. The activity of bone specific alkaline phosphatase (B-ALP) and the osteocalcin contents of serum (the biomarkers of bone formation) in exercise group were higher than control group, but the carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen (P1CP) contents of serum did not show any difference between two groups. However the urinary deoxypridinolin (DPD) excretion, biomarker of bone resorption, was significantly lower in exercise group than control group. From these results, it has been indicated that the erect bipedal stance exercise enhanced the density and the strength of femur and tibia by increasing biomarkers of bone formation and suppressing a biomarker of bone resorption in rats.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2000

The influence of the ditary containing boiled eggs on the plasma cholesterol level and antithrombotic activity in rats was studied. Rats were fed basal diet(0% boiled eggs) as a control group or diets containing 25% and 50% boiled eggs or a mixed diet with 95% boiled eggs plus 5% $\alpha$-cellulose powder as a experimental groups for 30 days. The bleeding time and whole blood clotting time were significantly(P<0.05) increased by feeding diet containing 25% boiled eggs compared to groups of basal diet, 50% or 95% boiled eggs diets. The plasma clotting time was high in group of 25% boiled eggs diet. However, there were no difference in plasma clotting time among rats fed the dietary boiled eggs. The levels of plasma total cholesterol(TC) and low density plus very low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL, VLDL-C) were significantly(P<0.05) highest in group 95% boiled eggs diet compared to others. There were no differences in high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) among rats fed the dietary boiled eggs. The levels of plasma TC, HDL-C, LDL$.$VLDL-C and the ratios of HDL-C/TC were not significant among the basal diet, 25% and 50% boiled eggs diets. These results suggest that the intakes of the dietary boiled eggs have the antithrombotic activity and plasma cholesterol lowering effect.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.411-418
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• 2007

Oxidative stress can play a key role in cadmium (Cd)-induced dysfunction. The present study examined the effect of pine needle water extract (PN) on Cd-induced oxidative stress in rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into three groups: normal group, Cd control group (Cd) and PN-administered Cd group (Cd-PN). $CdCl_2$ in 0.9% NaCl was administered orally with a dose of 5mg/kg of body weight/week, while the PN was administered orally with a dose of 1.26g/kg of body weight/day. Body weight gain was not different between groups, whereas food intakes were significantly lower in the Cd-PN group than in normal or Cd group. Relative liver weight was significantly increased by cadmium administration compared to the normal group. Hepatic cytochrome P450 was significantly lower in Cd and Cd-PN groups than in normal group, while xanthine oxidase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities were significantly higher in the Cd-PN group than in normal or Cd group. Increased hepatic superoxide dismutase, monoamine oxidase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities by cadmium administration were significantly decreased by PN supplement. PN did not affect the hepatic glutathione content in cadmium-administered rats; however, PN significantly lowered the hepatic lipid peroxide level and plasma alanine transferase activity compared to the Cd control group. These results suggest that the PN may alleviate Cd-induced oxidative stress without hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.141-151
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• 2010

Gestational age and infant birth weight are influenced by gestational weight gain. This study was aimed to examine the effects of gestational weight gain on pregnancy outcomes. Pregnant women were recruited at two hospitals in Seoul area. Characteristics and dietary intakes of pregnant women were obtained using 24-hour recall questionnaires. Gestational weight gain was categorized as less (Under-gain) than, within (Recommended gain), or greater (Over-gain) than the Institute of Medicine guidelines. Maternal height and pre-pregnancy weight in the over-gain group significantly higher than under-gain and recommended gain group. Mini dietary assessment score of eating bean has significantly higher in under-gain group than recommended gain group and eating kimchi has significantly higher in undergain group than over-gain group. Score of eating fruit was significantly higher in over-gain group than other groups. The mean intake of carbohydrate in the recommended gain group were significantly higher than under-gain group, and mean intake of potassium in the over-gain group were significantly higher than under-gain group. Under-gain group showed the high rate of the preterm delivery and low birth weight infant delivery. However recommended gain group showed 46% reduced risk of preterm delivery (OR = 0.54 CI = 0.30-0.98). Risk of macrosomia increased with increasing gestational weight gain (p for trend < 0.05). In conclusion, pregnancy outcomes were influenced by gestational weight gain. Therefore, these finding suggested adequate gestational weight gain according to BMI for reducing the risk of preterm delivery, low birth weight and macrosomia.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 1993

A factorial experiment was conducted to determine the influence of phytate(0 or 10g/kg diet) and calcium (Ca)(3 or 10g/kg diet) intakes on Ca, P and Zn metabolism by growing female rats. Food intake and weight were similar for the all groups, however, phytate ingestion for six weeks depressed femur growth. The low Ca plus phytate group showed the lowest Ca content of total femur and this was related to a significant decrease of Ca retention. Phytate intake depressed zinc(Zn) absorption in the first metabolic collection. This inhibitory effect of phytate on Zn absorption was improved in the low Ca plus phytate group after several weeks. Impared Zn absorption however remained in the high Ca plus phytate group which was reflected in the lowest Zn content of femur, phytate intake with high Ca also depressed phosphorous(P) absorption and serum and urinary P. These adverse effects of phytate on Zn and P absorption when the dietary Ca was high could explain reduced femur weight despite the highest concentration of femur Ca(mg/g ash) in this group. Results suggest that phytate can adversely affect not only Ca metabolism but Zn and P utilization. Thus, for the normal bone growth when phytate intake is high, the ingesion of Ca, P, Zn and other minerals should be enhanced.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.132-140
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• 2010

High sodium intake is one of the risk factors for the development of hypertension. According to 2007 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, sodium intake of Korean was three times higher than adequate intake (1.5 g/day) recommended by Korean Dietary Reference Intakes. High sodium intake is related to high threshold and preference of salty taste. And zinc status is known to affect taste acuity. The hypothesis of this study is that zinc status is associated with salty taste acuity, preference, sodium intake and blood pressure. The subjects included in this study were 50 men and 41 women aged 20-29 y who did not smoke and not take supplements or medications regularly. Dietary intake data for 3 days were collected by 24-h recall for 1 day and dietary record for 2-days. Salty taste acuity and preference were determined by sensory test. Fasting serum concentration of zinc, height, weight, body composition and blood pressure data were collected. Salt taste preference in high zinc intake group ($\geq$ estimated average requirement, EAR; men-8.1 mg/day, women-7 mg/day) was higher than that in low zinc intake group (< EAR). Salty taste preference was inversely correlated with serum zinc concentration in people with low concentration of serum zinc (${\leqq}\;81\;{\mu}g/dL$)(r = -0.3520, p < 0.05). Diastolic blood pressure was higher in high sodium intake group than in low sodium intake group (p < 0.05), positively correlated with salty taste preference (r = 0.3866, p < 0.05) in subjects with daily zinc intake below the EAR. We conclude that low zinc status may be related to high salty taste preference and high blood pressure in Korean young adults.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.18-31
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dietary behaviors as well as energy and nutrient intake in elementary and middle school students according to breakfast eating status. The survey was conducted using questionnaires and dietary records among 191 elementary school students and 280 middle school students residing in Chungnam. The subjects were divided into two groups according to frequency of eating breakfast: breakfast skipping (frequency of eating breakfast under 4 times/week) and breakfast eating (frequency of eating breakfast over 5 times/week). The rate of breakfast skipping was 27.2% for the elementary school students and 31.1% for the middle school students. The breakfast skipping group had a significantly lower frequency of having dinner, a lower proportion of eating at regular meal times, and a significantly higher frequency of leaving food after meals than the breakfast eating group for both elementary and middle school students. In the case of the elementary students, there was a significant difference in carbohydrate intake between the two groups. In the case of the middle school students, the intakes of energy, protein, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C, Ca, and Fe in the breakfast skipping group were significantly lower than those in the breakfast eating group. These results show that nutrient deficiencies among breakfast skipping individuals cannot be compensated for at the other meals during the day in middle school-aged adolescents whose nutrient requirements are high for growth. Therefore, in support of proper dietary management, it is necessary to promote and support breakfast eating in adolescents.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.311-317
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the nutrient intake and selected blood parameters of adults with metabolic syndrome (MS) and to provide data in forming a dietary guideline for the prevention of chronic diseases. Subjects were recruited and divided into two groups according to the NCEP-ATP III criteria and WHO Asia-Pacific Area criteria for obesity. MS group was defined as subjects who have three or more risk factors and control group was defined as those with two or less of the risk factors. The average age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI) were 58.8 years, 158.0 cm, 66.3 kg, $26.5\;kg/m^{2}$, respectively, in the MS group; and 58.4 years, 158.9 cm, 59.6 kg, $23.5\;kg/m^{2}$, respectively, in the control group. The weight and BMI in the MS group were significantly higher than those in the control (p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the food and nutrient intake between the MS and control group. Male subjects in the MS group showed significantly higher intake of mushrooms than those in the control (p<0.05). Egg consumption in the MS group was significantly lower than those in the control (p<0.01). Consumption of vegetables and fiber was significantly lower for female subjects in the MS group than those in the control (p<0.05). Serum GPT, AI and WBC count in the MS group (27.8 IU/L, 3.7, $5964.2\;{\mu}/L$) were significantly higher than those in the control (22.6 IU/L, 3.2, $5250.0\;{\mu}/L$; p<0.01, p<0.001, p<0.01). In conclusion, consuming fiber and vegetables may prevent and reduce metabolic syndrome in adult men and women, and this study demonstrates the need for proper dietary management for them.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.167-179
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the association between intakes of potassium, magnesium, and calcium and diet quality in ischemic stroke patients. Methods: This study analyzed data from 285 subjects recruited from February 2011 to August 2014 in Seoul, Korea. Nutrition intakes were obtained from a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire composed of 111 food items. The subjects were divided into 4 groups by quartiles according to intakes of potassium, magnesium, and calcium. Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ), Mean Adequacy Ratio (MAR), and DQI-International (DQI-I) were analyzed for assessment of diet quality. Results: We found a positive association of intakes of these three minerals with MAR and DQI-I after adjustment for age, sex, education level, smoking, atrial fibrillation, and total energy intake. However, total moderation of DQI-I score in the Q4 group was significantly lower than that of the Q1 group. The age, sex, education level, and smoking, atrial fibrillation, and total energy intake-adjusted odds ratios of extensive cerebral atherosclerosis were inversely associated with intake of magnesium (Ptrend = 0.0204). However, this association did not exist with intakes of potassium and calcium. Conclusion: Potassium, magnesium, and calcium rich and high quality diet could be associated with decreased risk of ischemic stroke, in part, via effect on extensive cerebral atherosclerosis.