• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.sup1
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• pp.134-146
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Accumulating evidence has shown the beneficial effects of isoflavone on health. There is limited information on the usual isoflavone intake for Koreans. This study examined the usual intake of total isoflavone and its major food sources in Koreans according to age and gender. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The dietary intake data of 21,271 participants aged 1 yrs and older from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VII 2016-2018 were analyzed. The average isoflavone intake was estimated based on the 24-h dietary recall data in KNHANES and the isoflavone database from the Korea Rural Development Administration (RDA) and literatures. The usual isoflavone intake was estimated by applying the ratio of within- and between-participant variance estimated from the 2009 KNHANES data to the 7th KNHANES (2016-2018) data. The variance of the isoflavone intake was calculated using MIXTRAN macro with intake data for two days in the 2009 KNHANES. Complex sample analysis with stratified variables and integrated weights was conducted. RESULTS: The mean total isoflavone intake in the Korean population aged 1 yrs and older (n = 21,271) was 139.27 mg/d, which was higher than the usual intake of 47.44mg/d. Legumes were a major contributing food group (91%), with arrowroot being a major individual contributor to the isoflavone intake (67.2%), followed by 21.3% of soybean, 5.4% of bean sprouts, and 2.1% of tofu. The usual isoflavone intake was highest in the participants aged 50 to 64 yrs old and increased with age until 50 to 64 yrs and then decreased with further increases in age. The usual isoflavone intake of participants aged 65 yrs and older was higher for men than for women, showing gender differences. CONCLUSIONS: The usual dietary intake of isoflavone varied according to age and gender in the Korean population. This study showed that the usual isoflavone intake was lower than the average isoflavone intake. The difference between percentiles of the usual isoflavone intake was similarly smaller than the average intake. An estimation of average intake can be hindered by the occasional consumption of foods high in isoflavones, suggesting that the usual intake estimation method can be more appropriate. Further research will be needed to establish isoflavone dietary guidelines regarding the effects of isoflavone intake on health outcomes.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.206-211
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• 2007

This study estimated the isoflavone intake level in Koreans using Food Frequency Questionnaire and analyzed related variables. The results showed that the average daily intake of isoflavone in adults was shown as 23.1 mg. The isoflavone intake level at 50 percentile was 16.9 mg ($0{\sim}90\;mg$), and 10% of adults took almost 50 mg of isoflavone a day and 10% took about 5 mg a day. The major food sources for isoflavone in Koreans were in the order of soybean, soybean paste, soy milk, soybean curd (tofu), and bean sprouts; the intake was different depending on age, educational background, occupation, economic standard, and family type. The result showed higher isoflavone intake levels in the group over 30 years old and the highest isoflavone intake in subjects working in farming/fishery, followed by housemakers. According to the differences by families the families with elderly members showed 50% higher isoflavone intake than young families with friends or siblings. Depending on related ecological variables, therefore, various nutrition education programs should be developed for a variety of intakes of soybean foods, along with easy and simple cooking methods as parts of continuous research.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.120-129
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• 2000

Very little is known about the relation between isoflavone intake and menopausal symptoms in Korean woman To find the effects and correlations between these factors, questionnaires(maternal factors, menopausal symptoms) anthropometric measurement, 24hr dietary recalls, and urinary isoflavones analysis were conducted in 100 postmenopausal women residing in the Kyunggi-do rural area. The average age hight and weight of the subject were 61.5 years, 153.6 cm and 56.2kg. The average age at menarche, menopause, and menstrual cycle were 16.7 years, 47.2 years, 29.8 years, respectively. Most of the postmenopausal women experienced mildly menopausal symptoms. The mean calorie, protein and calcium intake were 1417.6 kcal(74.7% of the Korean RDA) 53.2 g(88.6% of the Korean RDA) and 454.0mg(65.6% of the Korean RDA) respectively. The ration of energy from carbohydrate, protein, and fat was 68: 15: 17 The average isoflavone intake from soy foods was 27.27 mg. The major food source of the isoflavone were soybeans and soybean curd. The average urinary isoflavone excretion was 2. 78nmol/mg Cr and showed significant positive correlation with isoflavone intake. Isoflavone intake from soy foods had a negative correlation with the severity of menopausal symptoms. Therefore, soy foods which contain isoflavone may have a protective effect on menopausal symptoms of women in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.606-614
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• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the attitude to various soy foods and to estimate dietary isoflavone intake among Korean adolescents. The survey was carried out by self-administered questionnaire with 800 middle and high school students residing in urban and rural areas and 714 questionnaires were collected: resulting in 89% response rate. The dietary isoflavone intake was estimated by food frequency questionnaire developed for rapid assessment of isoflavone intake. Soybean paste, soybean curd, soy milk, bean sprouts and dambuk were recognized as nutritious and healthy food in order. Dambuk got the lowest score in taste and flavor. Bean sprouts, soybean curd and soybean paste were recognized as familiar food in order. Stuffed rice in fried soybean curd got the highest score and Miso soup got the lowest in preference. More than 50% of the subjects consumed soybean paste stew/soup and soybean curd over twice per week and 12.3% of the subjects consumed soybean over once a day. The estimated daily intake of isoflavones ranged from 0 to 227 mg, and the mean daily isoflavone intake of the subjects was 28.1 mg (16.3 mg genistein and 12.0 mg daidzein) whereas the median value of isoflavone intake was 19.7 mg. There was statistically significant relationship among Kyung Gi Do, Chung cheung Do and Seoul residents in their intake of isoflavone. The highest monthly income group consumed isoflavone more than the other groups. These results suggest that Korean adolescent perceived the soybean dishes as high quality foods but they didn't take much because of difficulty to cook or less chance to eat. Nutrition education program is needed to enhance consuming soy foods for prevention of chronic diseases related to dietary isoflavone intake. More detailed information on easy cook method of soy food is also needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.948-956
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• 2000

There is growing evidence that soy isoflavone play beneficial roles in the prevention of chronic diseases such as hormone dependent cancers, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and also reduced incidence of menopausal symptoms. However current data are not sufficient to determine the effective doses for beneficial as well as harmful effects and to support dietary recommendation for isoflavones. Since soy products containing isoflavone are one of the common food items that Koreans consume daily basis, assessing consumption of soy isoflavone by Koreans will give a valuable information on making dietary recommendations for isoflavones. the present study was designed to assess dietary intake of isoflavone of Korean middle-aged women who might receive the most beneficial effects from isoflavone consumption thereby prevent post menopausal related symptoms and diseases. In this study isoflavone contents of soy products were analyzed and soy products and isoflavone consumption of these subjects were assessed by a self-reported dietary questionnaire and isoflavone intake data base. Subjects were consisted of 178 Korean women (35~60 y) who live in urban and rural area. All subjects provided detailed information on demographics, anthropometry, health history, menopausal symptoms, health history, menopausal symptoms, and dietary intake using food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) which was developed for Koreans. The average age of the subjects was 46.6 years. The soy products which the subjects frequently consumed were soybean paste soup, braised fried soybean, tofu residue stew, tofu, soy milk, natto stew, bean sprouts, and soybean broth which contained 10.68 mg, 3.34 mg, 2.44 mg, 2.42 mg, 2.42 mg, 1.12 mg, 1.02 mg, 0.33 mg of isoflavone per 100 g, respectively. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of isoflavones ranged from 0 to 144.3 mg, and the mean daily isoflavone (sum of daidzein and genisten) intake of the subjects was 24.41 mg.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2004

Few studies have conducted the bone health benefits of usual dietary isoflavone intake in Korean college-student women. To elucidate this benefitial effects and correlations between dietary isoflavone and nutrients intake and bone formation marker (ALPase, osteocalcin), questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, serum mineral (Ca, P, Mg) concentrations were analyzed. Fifty three subjects were used in this study. The average age, height, body weight, BMI, body fat content and triceps skinfold thickness were 21.43 year, 161.07 cm, 52.81 kg, 20.48 kg/$m^2$, 20.72% and 17.59 mm respectively. Soy food intake frequencies were soybean > soybean curd > soypaste stew > soybean milk. The average calorie, protein and Ca intake were 1766.21 $\pm62.54 kcal\;66.45\pm2.00 g\;and\; 549.62 \pm 27.55 mg$ respectively. Serum ALPase activity and osteocalcin concentration were 115.74$\pm3.6u/L$ and 7.15 ng/$m\\ell$ respectively. Usual dietary isoflavone intake was positively related to calory, protein, Ca, P intake and serum Ca, Mg concentration. Serum osteocalcin concentration was negatively correlated with isoflavone intake ($r^2$=0.28, p < 0.05). In these results, usual dietary isoflavone can support an additive effect to bone health and Ca nutrition.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: It is difficult to consistently demonstrate the health effects of soy isoflavones owing to the multitude of factors contributing to their bioavailability. To accurately verify these health effects, dietary isoflavone intake should be measured using a biologically active dose rather than an intake dose. This concept has been expanded to the development of new exposure biomarkers in nutrition research. This review aims to provide an overview of the development of exposure biomarkers and suggest a novel research strategy for identifying the health effects of soy isoflavone intake. MATERIALS/METHODS: We cover recent studies on the health effects of soy isoflavones focusing on isoflavone metabolites as exposure biomarkers. RESULTS: Compared to non-fermented soy foods, fermented soy foods cause an increased concentration of isoflavones in the biofluid immediately following ingestion. The correlation between exposure biomarkers in blood and urine and the food frequency questionnaire was slightly lower than that of corresponding 24-h dietary recalls. Urinary and blood isoflavone levels did not show a consistent association with chronic disease and cancer risk. CONCLUSION: It is crucial to understand the variable bioavailabilities of soy isoflavones, which may affect evaluations of soy isoflavone intake in health and disease. Further studies on the development of valid exposure biomarkers are needed to thoroughly investigate the health effects of isoflavone.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2004

This study was undertaken to determine the bioavailability of isoflavones in weanling Sprague-Dawley rats by providing diets containing different levels of soy isoflavones for 6 weeks: 0.025% (low isoflavone intake; LI), 0.125% (medium isoflavone intake; MI), and 0.25% (high isoflavone intake; HI). The subsequent fecal and urinary excretion of daidzein and genistein was then measured. As the levels of dietary isoflavones increased, the amount of food intakes significantly decreased, and weight gain was slower in female rats. In male rats, there was no significant difference in weight gains related to dietary intakes. Urinary excretion of daidzein and genistein was significantly higher in the MI and HI groups in both male and female rats than the control and LI groups. The recovery % of daidzein and genistein in the urine was significantly lower in the MI and HI groups. Fecal daidzein increased as dietary isoflavone intakes increased in female rats; however, in male rats the increase was significant only in the HI group. The recovery % of daidzein and genistein in the feces of female rats was not significantly different among the four groups. When dietary isoflavones were increased from 0.025% to 0.25%, the amounts of daidzein and genistein excreted in the urine and feces increased; however, the low recovery rate of both daidzein and genistein in the urine implies an increased bioavailability of isoflavones. We also observed sex-related differences in the urinary and fecal recovery of isoflavone intakes.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2005

This study was performed to determine the effect of three different concentrations of soy-isoflavones on calcium and phosphorus balance in either sham-operated or ovariectomized female rats. Seventy-two 16-week old Sprague-Dawley rats underwent sham operation or bilateral ovariectomy. They were provided diets containing different levels of soy iso-flavones for 6 weeks: 50 ppm (Jow isoflavone intake; LI) , 250 ppm (medium isoflavone intake; MI) and 500 ppm (high isoflavone intake; HI). The subsequent fecal and urinary excretions of calcium and phosphorus were then measured. In the sham-operated rats, body weight gains and food efficiency ratio of the MI and HI groups were significantly lower than the control group while food intake was not different. However, there was no significant difference in the ovariectomized rats. The fecal excretion of calcium was significantly lower in the LI, MI and HI groups than the control group in sham operated rats, and significantly lower in the HI group than the control group in ovariectomized rats. Also, apparent ab-sorption rate of calcium and phosphorus did not show any significant difference among groups. Urinary excretion of calcium and phosphorus was significantly lower in the HI group than the LI group in the sham-operated rats. Urinary excretion of calcium was significantly higher in the control ovariectomized rats than in the control sham-operated rats. Retention of calcium and phosphorus did not show any significant difference in both groups. From the above result, we see that isoflavone intake increases calcium retention through an increase in calcium absorption and also suppresses the increase of calcium excretion in urine in ovariectomy. Therefore, it is suggested that isoflavone intake is recommended for menopausal women who experience sharp bone loss due to the decrease in estrogen honnone.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.588-596
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• 2009

To determine the relationships between soybean food intake, dietary isoflavone intake, and osteoporosis incidence, questionnaire surveys, bone mineral density measurements, and dietary surveys by food record were performed with 19 postmenopausal women ($57.6{\pm}7.3$ yrs of age) in Daejeon city. The subjects were divided into two groups: an 'osteoporosis group' (OG, n=10) and a 'normal group' (NG, n=9). Mean age, height, and body weight were similar between the two groups but BMI was higher in OG than in NG. Mean age at menarche was not different between the two groups. However, mean number of childbirths was greater in OG than in NG and mean total period of lactation was shorter in OG. Mean exercise time per week was similar between the two groups, and mean time of sunlight exposure tended to be shorter in OG. Mean daily intake of calcium was lower in OG whereas sodium intake was higher in OG. Mean daily intakes of total soybean food (OG: $203.8{\pm}84.6\;g/d$, NG: $285.0{\pm}146.3\;g/d$) and total dietary isoflavone (OG: $29.1{\pm}14.3\;mg/d$, NG: $38.3{\pm}23.1\;mg/d$) were not different between the two groups. However, greater intakes of soybean food and dietary isoflavone were associated with higher bone mineral density, respectively. The above results indicate that osteoporosis incidence tends to be influenced by BMI, maternal factors, dietary nutrient intakes, soybean food intakes, and dietary isoflavone intakes in postmenopausal women; although no significant differences in soybean food and dietary isoflavone intake were found between the two groups. This tendency implies that greater intakes of soybean food and dietary isoflavone lead to lower incidence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.