• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.185-192
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate factors affecting sensitivity and preference for salty tastes of Korean adult females. Sensitivity and preference for salty tastes were determined as detection threshold concentration of NaCl solution and the optimally-preferred NaCl concentration of the bean sprout soup, respectively. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain the information regarding general characteristics, self diagnosis of stress, health-related lifestyle practices, dietary habits and food preferences. Dietary intake using 24-hours recall and blood pressure were measured. Salty taste detection thresholds and optimally-preferred NaCl concentrations were 0.0197% and 0.357%, respectively. There was a significant positive correlation between the optimally-preferred salt concentration and age, despite no significant correlation between either sensitivity or preference for salty taste and sodium intake, which was 3,605mg/day. Those who had bread or cereal with milk as breakfast instead of a traditional Korean meal and those who preferred jjigae to soup had significantly higher NaCl preferences for bean sprout soup. Going to bed after midnight and skipping meals (${\geq}3/week$) decreased salty taste sensitivity without reaching statistical significance. Self awareness of one's own health, recent weight changes, family history of hypertension, sleep quality, getting-up time, rate of eating and other food preferences did not affect either perception. Stress level, TV watching, BMI and sodium intake did not have significant correlation to sensitivity or preference. Further research including a large number of well-controlled subjects and more accurate measurement of sodium intake should be directed to find other factors affecting salt preference and sensitivity in order to decrease Na intake and related diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.487-496
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• 1998

The survey was conducted in July first to 15th, among 463 elementary school students, 4th grade to 6th grade in Chonj. The subjects were 252 male and 211 female students. The mean age of the subjects was 9.8 year The percent of relative body weight of the subjects compared to Korean standard was 100.1%, it almost matched to Korean standard. The percent of relative body weight in male students was 100.4%, where as the female's was 99.7%. Thirty six percent of the subjects have breakfast irregularly. The reason skipping breakfast were 'no appetite' 50.5%, 'get up late' 35.8%,' no delicious food' 18.2%. The reason skipping breakfast was significantly different by sex and obese index. The frequency taking snack was significantly different by sex, 34.6% of female subjects took snack more than twice per day, while 16.7% of male subjects did it. The most frequently taking snack were fruits, the points was 4.0 of 5.0. Ramyun, Sundai were taking more frequently among males than females. Females took fruits more frequently than males. Hot dog, ice cream ,and chocolate intakes were significantly different by obese index. The most preference of snack were fruits and ice cream in all subjects. The preference of ramyun, hamburger, egg, chicken, dried squid, milk, peanut, and soft drink were higher in males than in females. Biscuit, ice cream, and chocolate preference were significantly different in obese index.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.100-110
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• 2008

Recently, a lot of epidemiological studies revealed that low HDL-cholesterol level was a better predictor of risk for coronary heart disease than total cholesterol. This study investigated the anthropometric parameters, clinical blood indices, and dietary factors influencing serum HDL-cholesterol level by using a cross-sectional study for Korean female college students. The subjects were 94 female college students. They were divided into three groups according to their serum HDL-cholesterol levels, low HDL-cholesterol (<50 mg/dL, n=20), medium HDL-cholesterol (50 $\leq$, < 60 mg/dL, n=39) high serum HDL-cholesterol groups (60 $\leq$ mg/dL, n = 35). This study examined their demographic data and dietary intake throughout a questionnaire. Clinical blood indices were measured using an automatic blood chemistry analyzer (Selectra E), after 12 hours of fasting. BMI, body weight, fat mass, and waist circumferences were significantly increased according to low serum HDL-cholesterol levels. Serum lipid analysis showed a significantly higher level of TG, LDL-/HDL-Ratio, atherogenic index in the low HDL-cholesterol group. Serum levels of GPT, uric acid and alkaline phosphatase in the low HDL-cholesterol group were significantly higher than in the other group. The average consumption of energy was 1627 kcal and 77.76% of estimated energy requirement (EER). The mean ratio of calories from carbohydrate: protein: fat was 57:15:28. The low HDL-cholesterol group was significantly higher than the other groups in eggs, fat and oils consumption. Interestingly, milk and diary products consumption of low HDL-cholesterol group was half (p < 0.05) of those of the other groups. In conclusion, serum HDL-cholesterol levels appeared to be decreased by increasing BMI, fat mass, waist circumference, and serum TG level. In addition, some dietary factors seemed to be related to serum HDL-cholesterol levels. However, further research is needed to elucidate the exact relationship between serum HDL-cholesterol level and dietary factors.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.121-132
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• 2017

Purpose: This review was performed to establish a reference intake of water for Korean (KDRI-water) adults in 2015 by examining current knowledge of the relationship between water intake and health and the general status of water intake and loss. We expect that this study will be utilized for further refinement of KDRI-water. Methods: Documents were searched using RISS, NDSL, DBPIA, CINAHL, and Pubmed with the keywords 'water intake, water supply, water ingestion, hydration, dehydration, water balance, and fluid balance'. Results: Water balance is essential for the maintenance of health. Based on this assumption, numerous studies have been performed to investigate the association of water intake with several diseases such as urolithasis, obesity, diabetes, and cancer as well as other health problems, including constipation, cognition, and fetal weight. Effects of water intake for prevention or relief of these health problems vary. Water is supplied to the body by eating foods and drinking liquids such as plain water and beverages. Metabolic water is another source of water input. Water is lost through urine, skin, respiration, and feces. KDRI-water 2015 was set by adequate intake (AI) based on water intake volume, which was the sum of water intakes from foods and fluids reported by the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, with extra milk intake of 200 mL. AIs in some age groups were modified considering their estimated energy requirements. Conclusion: Accurate data of water intake is critically important for the establishment of KDRI-water. Therefore, improvement of systems investigating water intake is required, and more studies on the status of water intake and loss in Korean people are needed for definite KDRI-water establishment.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.803-813
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• 2003

Literature suggests that iron deficiency anemia is prevalent among pregnant women all over the world. This study was designed to evaluate the iron status of pregnant women during the fist five months, with the intention of determining ways to reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia among pregnant women in Korea. We collected dietary information and measured the biochemical status of iron in 171 pregnant women over 16 weeks of gestation (=16.7$\pm$2.34 week). Dietary intakes for 3 days were collected using the 24 hour recall and food record methods. The daily Fe intake was measured using the food frequency method. The Body Mass Index (BMI), calculated by using the pre-pregnancy weight and height, indicated that 31.3% of subjects were under-weight. We divided the subjects into normal and anemic group by using the serum ferritin levels. It appeared that the mean dietary intake of iron was 52.3% of the recommended level for pregnant women. The dietary quality evaluation showed that pregnant women ate only 58% of the recommended amount in the food groups of meat, fish, eggs, beans and milk and dairy products. The hematological indices showed that the mean Hemoglobin (Hb) was 11.9 g/dl, Hematocrit (Hct) was 35.1%, ferritin was 23.9 $ng/ml$, and transferrin was 297.3 ${\mu}g/dl$. The dietary intake of iron was significantly lower and the vitamin C intake was significantly higher in the anemic group. The pre-pregnancy BMI was significantly lower in the anemic group. Variables affecting iron intake were the Fe intake frequency index and the food group score. The Fe index showed significantly positive correlation with the pre-pregnancy food intake and the food group score. Hb showed a significantly positive correlation with the pre-pregnancy food intake. We concluded that strategies to improve iron status be implemented in the pre-pregnant stage so as to reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency and that we should stress on the importance of an adequate diet as well as the maintenance of a heathy weight.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.69-80
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• 2012

This study was conducted to examine the nutritional status, quality of diet and quality of life in postmenopausal women with mild climacteric symptoms based on their food group intake patterns. The data for nutritional status were obtained using 3-day records. Quality of diet was assessed by INQ, NAR, MAR, DDS, DVS, DQI-I. Climacteric symptoms were analyzed by the questionnaire of Kupperman's index and MENoL. The subjects were classified into the five groups, GMVDF, GMVdF, GMVDf, GMVdf, GmVDF according to their food group intake patterns. Analysis of nutrient intakes showed that the GMVDF group took significantly higher levels of kcal, carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, phosphorous, sodium, iron, zinc and fiber than GMVdf group did (p < 0.05). INQ of Ca and Fe appeared to be higher in GMVDF than in GMVdf groups (p < 0.05). Analysis of NARs showed that missing milk groups took lower riboflavin, Ca and P than other groups did as the same result with MAR (p < 0.05). Analysis of DDS and DQI showed that GMVdf group had the lowest quality of diet (p < 0.05); however, no difference was found on DVS. The GMVdf group showed the worst climacteric symptoms compared with those of the other groups (p < 0.05). However, we couldn't observe any differences in menopause-specific quality of life among the groups. In conclusion, it would be beneficial to meet all five food groups to increase the quality of diet and to reduce the climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.603-614
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• 1993

This study was undertaken to investigate the dietary factors related to the incidence of stomach and colon cancers in Korean. The subjects were 139 stomach and 52 colon cancer patients recruited from 3 general hospitals in Seoul. Food intake, anthropometric measurement, and blood compositions were studied through personal interview and using medical records. Body weight, body mass index, triceps skinfold thickness, body muscle mass of the subjects were lower than reference values. The body weight was reduced after the onset of the illness, which suggests body waste due to the cancers. The patients showed the lower valuies of hemoglobin and hematocrit. Serum protein and calcium were at lower limit of the normal range. Therefore the untritional status assessed by anthropometry and blood composition should be said to be marginal. The average intake of most of the nutrients except Ca of the subjects met the RDA, but the range was wide and the nutrient intake of large proportion of the subjects feel below 75% of RDA. The food intake of egg, milk, legumes, and fruts were lower than national average, on the other hand the subjects had higher intake of meat, vegetables, and fats. The subjects drank and smoked heavily, stomach cancers being more severs. From this results, dietary risk factors for the stomach and colon cancers in Korean did not agree with the reports of western societies. Even though the intakes of meat and animal food of colon cancer patients can not be classified as high, it was higher than stomach cancer and national average. Therefore it could be concluded that with increasing consumption of animal food, the incidence of colon cancer would be increased in Korea.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.918-926
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• 1999

This study was an investigation of nutrient intake and food habit of college students in Taegu. A total of 200 apparently healthy college students living in Taegu were selected for the study. The 24-hour recall were obtained from subjects. The following anthropometric measurements were made on all participants: weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, and bioimpedence. Dietary habits and energy expenditure were examined through questionnaires. Among the subjects 8.3% were obese and 17.7% were underweight in male and 38.8%, respectively. The average intake of nutrients and energy were below the RDA in male(except protein, vitamin C and phosphate) and female(except vitamin C and phosphate), whereas phosphorus intakes well exceed the RDAs for both groups. Lowest mean intake as percentile of RDA were calcium and riboflavin in male, and calcium and iron in female. The mean adequacy ratio(MAR), an index of overall dietary quality was 0.735 for males and 0.730 for females. The index of nutritional quality (INQ) were under 1.0 for vitamin A(0.91), B2(0.628), Ca(0.074), Fe(0.845) in male students and vitamin B2(0.752), Ca(0.649), Fe(0.594) in female students. The alcohol consumption level was negatively correlated (p<.05)with thiamin, ascorbic acid, carbohydrate, and energy consumption in male students. Also the alcohol consumption was negatively correlated (p<.05) with milk consumption in male students. Thus, unfavorable nutritional patterns of alcohol drinkers put them at double jeopardy regarding micronutrient intake and bone health. In conclusion, this study indicates that nutrient intake in the college student in Taegu is considerably lower than RDA. Another important finding of this study is that an unacceptable calcium and iron status was prevalent in a high percentage of subjects in the college student.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

This review describes the risk factors of the nutrition crisis in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections and suggests precision nutrition against long-term psychological and physiological stress. The mandatory quarantine and the social distancing are associated with an interruption of the lifestyle routine, resulting in psychological (i.e., boredom) and physiological stress. The stress with multiple causes and forms induces over-compensation of energy-dense food, such as sugary comfort food, and is defined as "food craving" because carbohydrates positively affect the psychological stability with serotonin secretion. The consumption of foods that promote an immune response against viral infections (vitamins & minerals; Cu, folate, Fe, Se, Zn, and Vit A, B6, B12, C, and D), reduce inflammatory cytokines (w-3 fatty acids, Vit D, fibers, and Mg), contain antioxidants (beta-carotene, Vit E, C, Se, and phenolics), and sleep-inducing proteins (serotonin, melatonin, and milk products) is essential. In addition, a reduced Vit D deficiency in winter due to less time spent outdoors under quarantine has been reported to be associated with viral infections. The case fatality rate of COVID-19 was significantly dependent on age, sex, race, and underlying health condition. To prevent malnutrition and cachexia in elderly people, weight loss and muscle wasting should be monitored and controlled. Inadequate protein intake, sedentary lifestyle, and inflammation are significant risk factors for sarcopenia. Moreover, relatively high intakes of fat or carbohydrate compared to low protein intake result in abdominal obesity, which is defined as "sarcopenic obesity." Keeping the food-safety guidelines of COVID-19, this study recommends the consumption of fresh and healthy foods and avoiding sugar, fat, salt, alcohol, and commercially frozen foods.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.233-247
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• 2022

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to describe the development process of the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). SUBJECTS/METHODS: The components of KHEI were selected based on Dietary Guidelines for Koreans, domestic and overseas dietary quality indices, and results of the analysis of association with chronic diseases. The standards for scoring of KHEI were selected based on the 2015 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRI). The KHEI scores of Korean adults were calculated using a 1-day 24-h recall data in the 2013-2015 KNHANES. RESULTS: The KHEI included eight adequacy components evaluating the proper intake of recommended foods such as fruit, vegetable, and milk and three moderation components evaluating the consumption of food that limit intake such as sodium and saturated fatty acid. In addition, three balance components assessing the balance of energy intake were included. The KHEI score was defined to range from the minimum of 0 point to the maximum of 100 points. Among Korean adults, the total KHEI score was 63.2 out of 100. Gender and age differences were found in the average of total KHEI scores. Women showed higher score than men (61.7 in men and 64.7 in women, respectively). By age group, 20s and 30s showed the lowest scores with 57.4 and 61.1 respectively, and the scores increased with age by peaking at 67.8 in ages 60-69 and slowed down again in ages 70 or over. CONCLUSIONS: The KHEI can be useful for establishing and assessing national nutritional policies and in epidemiological studies to assess the relationship between overall dietary quality and chronic diseases. KHEI will need to be continuously updated to reflect changes in dietary guidelines and the KDRI.