• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition has multiple impacts on surgical success, postoperative complications, duration of hospital stay, and costs, particularly for cancer patients. There are various nutrition risk screening tools available for clinical use. Herein, we aim to determine the most appropriate nutritional risk screening system for esophageal cancer (EC) patients in China. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In total, 138 EC patients were enrolled in this study and evaluated by experienced nurses using three different nutritional screening tools, the Nutrition Risk Screening 2002 tool (NRS2002), the Patient-generated Subjective Globe Assessment (PG-SGA), and the Nutrition Risk Index (NRI).We compared sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, and Youden index generated by each of the three screening tools. Finally, cut-off points for all three tools were re-defined to optimize and validate the best nutritional risk screening tool for assessing EC patients. RESULTS: Our data suggested that all three screening tools were 100% sensitive for EC patients, while the specificities were 44.4%, 2.96%, and 59.26% for NRS 2002, PG-SGA, and NRI, respectively. NRI had a higher positive likelihood ratio as well as a higher area under the receiver operating characteristic curve compared to those of NRS 2002 and PG-SGA; although, all three tools had null negative likelihood ratios. After adjusting the cut-off points, the specificity and accuracy for all tools were significantly improved, however, the NRI remained the most appropriate nutritional risk screening system for EC patients. CONCLUSIONS: The NRI is the most suitable (highest sensitivity and accuracy) nutritional risk screening tool for EC patients. The performance of the NRI can be significantly improved if the cut-off point is modified according to the results obtained using MedCalc software.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.1164-1171
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• 1999

In this study, we investigated the effects of obesity index on the risk factors of chronic diseases in obese children. The subjects were male and female children aged 9 to 12. The average obesity index was 147.7$\pm$13.8% in boys and 147.6$\pm$16.5% in girls. The average percentages of body fat was significantly higher in boys(33.9$\pm$5.7%) than in girls(30.7$\pm$4.4%). It was found that 26% of subjects had abnormal serum GOT and GPT values. Percentages of subjects at risk of cardiovascular disease(CVD) based on corresponding criteria of TG, T chol, HDL chol, and LDL chol were 28.6%, 28.6%, 45.5% and 42.7%, respectively. The risk of CVD was increased with the degree of obesity, which was not significant. The AI(atherogenic index) was higher in boys(4.6$\pm$2.3) than in girls(3.6$\pm$1.2). The serum T chol and LDL chol levels of subjects whose mother are in thirties were significantly higher than those of subjects whose mother are in fourties. The T chol levels of subjects who had mother with job were significantly higher compaired to those of subjects who had housewife mother. The results indicated the urgent need of nu tritional management for the obese children to prevent further devel opment of childhood obesity and hyperlipidemia. Based upon this study, devising method and media for the mother nutritional education as well as for the children nutritional education is required for better growth and health promotion of primary school children.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2000

We carried out a case-control study to investigate protective effect of lactating against breast cancer in Korea. Cases (n=108) were the newly histologically identified breast cancer between December 1997 and August 1999. Hospital-based controls were selected by frequency matching method with age ($\pm$4 age) and menopausal status from the patients at the same hospital in the plastic surgery, general surgery and opthalmology department. Interviews included information on general characteristics of subjects, disease history, family history of breast cancer, vitamin supplementation, alcohol intake, food intake, and reproductive factors as well as lactation history. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated by using unconditional logistic regression. Age distribution of case control subjects were similar. Late menarche age $\geq$ 17 in premenopausal women was related to the lower risk of breast cancer OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.28-0.91. Family history of breast cancer was related to the higher risk of breast cancer only in premenopausal women (OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.35-2.71). Higher body mass index mass index (> 30) were associated with higher risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women. For premenopausal women, women who had lactated $\geq$ 12 months to the first child had a significantly lower risk (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.24-0.97) than the women had no breast feeding experience. However, results from postmenopausal women did not show an association with decreased breast cancer risk. These findings suggest that lactation may be a protective factor of breast cancer in Korean women.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.451-461
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the age-related changes of cardiovascular disease risk factors and inflammatory markers in non-obese Korean women. Subjects were 112 women over 20 years old with body mass index (BMI) less than $30 kg/m^2$ and were divided into 3 groups (< 40 years, $40{\sim}59$ years, ${\ge}60$ years). Mean weight and BMI in the oldest group were significantly higher than those in the other 2 younger groups (p < 0.05). Mean total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 ratio (BAR) in the oldest group were significantly higher than those in the youngest group (p < 0.05), and mean HDL-cholesterol of the oldest group was significantly lower than that of the youngest group (p < 0.05). The older-aged group showed significantly higher mean values of atherogenic index (AI) and LDL/HDL ratio (p < 0.05) than the respective younger-aged group, and AI was significantly correlated with age, nitric oxide and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (p < 0.01). In addition, mean vascular cell adhesion molecule-l (VCAM-1) tended to be higher in the older-aged group than the younger group. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, a proinflammatory maker, was significantly positively correlated with serum homocysteine, a cardiovascular disease risk factor (p < 0.01). In addition, a significantly positive correlation was observed between C-reactive protein and BAR (p < 0.01). Overall results suggested that the aging might affect the increase of cardiovascular disease risk factors including the serum lipid profiles, weight and BMI, and age-related increases of weight and BMI might play a role in changes in certain biomarkers of inflammation. (Korean J Community Nutrition 14(4) : 451${\sim}$461, 2009)

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.61-70
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• 2020

Objectives: This study examined the association of the total diet quality with the incidence risk of metabolic syndrome constituents and metabolic syndrome among Korean adults. Methods: Based on a community-based cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) from 2001 to 2014, data from a total of 5,549 subjects (2,805 men & 2,744 women) aged 40~69 years at the baseline with a total follow-up period of 38,166 person-years were analyzed. The criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel was employed to define metabolic syndrome. The total diet quality was estimated using the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI). Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for risk of metabolic syndrome constituents and metabolic syndrome in relation to KHEI quintile groups was calculated by multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results: After adjusting for age, energy intake, income, education, physical activity, smoking, and drinking, the incidence of abdominal obesity and high blood pressure was significantly lower, by approximately 29.7% (P < 0.01) and 25.2% (P < 0.01), respectively, in the fifth KHEI quintile compared to the first quintile in men. A significant decreasing trend of the metabolic syndrome incidence was observed across the improving levels of KHEI (HRq5vs.q1: 0.775, 95% CIq5vs.q1: 0.619~0.971, P for trend < 0.01). In women, the incidence of abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome was significantly lower, by approximately 29.8% (P < 0.01) and 22.5% (P < 0.05), respectively, in the fifth KHEI quintile compared to the first quintile adjusting for multiple covariates. On the other hand, the linear trend of metabolic syndrome risk across the KHEI levels did not reach the significance level. Conclusions: A better diet quality can prevent future metabolic syndrome and its certain risk factors among Korean men and women.

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

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.574-583
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anthropometry, biochemical parameters and electrolytes concentrations of the Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN) patients according to their nutritional status at the time of admission. Thirty-three patients in the Intensive Care Unit at S University Hospital were the subjects of this study. Their nutritional status was classified as At-risk I (Mild PCM, n = 13), At - risk II (Moderate PCM, n = 9) and At-risk III (Marasmus + kwashiorkor + severe PCM, n = 11) . Anthropometeric, biochemical and dietary assessments were performed. The Patients intake of calories (75.02%) and protein (53.15%) was insufficient compare with Korean RDA requirements. The body weight and the Body Mass Index (BMI) in the At-risk III group were significantly lower than in the other groups. The percentage of body weight loss and change of body weight (kg) were significantly higher than in the other groups. The subjects were malnourished as indicated by nutritional related parameters such as serum total protein, albumin, total lymphocyte count (TLC), hemoglobin and hematocrit. Serum total protein, albumin and TLC levels were lower at the time of admission before TPN administration. But after TPN administration, they increased. The electrolyte concentrations did not show any differences following TPN administration. The nutritional status of the patients could be affect by the duration of TPN administration and the number of days of the patients hospitalization. The patients who require nutritional support need the continuous follow-up care and monitoring by a nutritional support team. (Korean J Community Nutrition 8(4) : 574-583, 2003)

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2008

The present study was conducted to develop a Multi-dimensional Body Image Scale for Malaysian female adolescents. Data were collected among 328 female adolescents from a secondary school in Kuantan district, state of Pahang, Malaysia by using a self-administered questionnaire and anthropometric measurements. The self-administered questionnaire comprised multiple measures of body image, Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26; Gamer & Garfinkel, 1979) and Rosenberg Self-esteem Inventory (Rosenberg, 1965). The 152 items from selected multiple measures of body image were examined through factor analysis and for internal consistency. Correlations between Multi-dimensional Body Image Scale and body mass index (BMI), risk of eating disorders and self-esteem were assessed for construct validity. A seven factor model of a 62-item Multi-dimensional Body Image Scale for Malaysian female adolescents with construct validity and good internal consistency was developed. The scale encompasses 1) preoccupation with thinness and dieting behavior, 2) appearance and body satisfaction, 3) body importance, 4) muscle increasing behavior, 5) extreme dieting behavior, 6) appearance importance, and 7) perception of size and shape dimensions. Besides, a multidimensional body image composite score was proposed to screen negative body image risk in female adolescents. The result found body image was correlated with BMI, risk of eating disorders and self-esteem in female adolescents. In short, the present study supports a multi-dimensional concept for body image and provides a new insight into its multi-dimensionality in Malaysian female adolescents with preliminary validity and reliability of the scale. The Multi-dimensional Body Image Scale can be used to identify female adolescents who are potentially at risk of developing body image disturbance through future intervention programs.

• The Korean Journal of Food & Health Convergence
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2022

This study classified subjects aged 30 to 64 into normal group, impaired fasting glucose group, and diabetes mellitus patient group based on data from the 6th period of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015). Skipping breakfast, lack of physical activity, inadequate sleep time, inadequate weight, excessive drinking, and current smoking are classified as a low health risk group when three or less items are present, and a high health risk group when three or more items are included. By classification, each item included in the physical measurement and biochemical analysis factors and health risk behavior factors was comparatively analyzed. As a result, in the normal group, impaired fasting glucose group, and diabetes group, the average age was higher in the group with high health risk factors than the group with low risk factors, and the male ratio was higher. Body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, triglyceride showed a significantly higher result. In the normal group, the fasting blood glucose level and total cholesterol level were also higher in group 2. Therefore, it is thought that it is necessary to control health risk behaviors through lifestyle changes in the normal group, fasting glucose disorder group, and diabetes group.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.202-209
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• 2004

A case-control study was conducted in order to examine dietary behavioral factors associated with colorectal cancer risks. Data were collected from 128 cases with either colorectal cancer or large bowl adenomatous polyps and 129 controls regarding stages of dietary behavioral change, perceived barrier, self efficacy, nutrition knowledge, social support and food availability as well as body mass index and overall dietary quality. Cases showed less desirable behaviors with respect to fat reduction and vegetable intake compared with controls based on the analyses of the stages of dietary change. After adjustment of relevant covariates (age, gender and smoking), significant trends of increasing risk with higher level emerged for perceived barriers resulted from environmental conditions (OR = 1.6 - 2.0) and self-efficacy (OR = 2.2-2.3). No such relationships were found for nutrition knowledge and social support. The risk of colorectal cancer was associated with the kinds of foods available at home showing a borderline protective relation with milk (OR = 0.6) and respective significant and borderline direct associations for fresh meat (OR = 2.1) and soft drinks (OR = 0.6 when reversely scored). Within-group analyses presented best predictors of overall dietary quality as food availability for the case and self-efficacy and social support for the control. The findings of this study suggested a need for focusing on motivational and reinforcing factors in the development of nutrition education programs for colorectal cancer prevention.