• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.378-387
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• 2008

Purpose: The purposes of this study were to investigate factors related to the depression of the elderly dwelling in a big city, and to explore the influence of physical health, cognitive symptom and nutritional status on the elders' depression. Methods: After the approval of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) and obtaining the participants' consent form, a face to face and private interview was conducted with each participant from Mar, 2007 to Aug, 2007 by trained graduate level students. A total of 201 elders aged over 65 years participated in the study. The questionnaire consisted of K GDS, PHQ 15 and Nutritional Screening Initiative (NSI). Collected data were analyzed with the SPSS 13.0 program, which was used for frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression. Results: The major findings of this study were as follows. 1) 28.4% of the subjects belonged to the depression group, 78.1% had one or more diseases, 85.6% had experienced somatic symptoms, and 49.7% belonged to the nutritional risk group. 2) Older age, lower educational level, more pocket money a larger number of diseases, more severe cognitive symptoms and poorer nutritional status were significantly related to a higher depression score. 3) Significant factors influencing depression were nutritional status, cognitive symptoms and the number of diseases, which explained 38.1% of the variance of elderly depression, and nutritional status was the most influencing factor. Conclusion: The finding of this study gives useful information for developing assessment tools and interventions for elders' depression.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.35-44
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• 2012

This study was conducted to assess improvements in nutritional status following the application of nutrition education to elderly patients in a long-term care hospital. The study was carried out from January to May 2009, during which a preliminary survey, a pretest, the application of nutrition education, and a post-test were applied in stages. The number of subjects at pretest was 81, and the number of participants included in the final analysis was 61 (18 men, 43 women), all of whom participated in both the nutrition education program and the post-test. The survey consisted of general demographic items, health behaviors, dietary behaviors, the Nutrition Screening Initiative checklist, and nutrient intake assessment (24 hour recall method). The nutrition education program lasted for four weeks. It included a basic education program, provided once a week, and mini-education program, which was offered daily during lunch times. The survey was conducted before and after the education program using the same assessment method, although some items were included only at pretest. When analyzing the changes in elderly patients after the nutritional education program, we found that, among subjective dietary behaviors, self-rated perceptions of health (P<0.001) and of depression (P<0.001) improved significantly and that dietary behavior scores also improved significantly (P<0.001), while nutritional risk levels decreased. In terms of nutrient intake, subjects' intake of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin C all increased significantly (P<0.001). These results indicated that nutritional education is effective in improving the nutritional status of elderly patients. We hope that the results of this study can be used as preliminary data for establishing guidelines for nutrition management tailored to elderly patients in long-term care hospitals.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.117-123
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• 2013

This study investigated the prevalence of and risk factors for malnutrition in hospitalized patients in Busan, Republic of Korea. 944 patients (440 men and 504 women) were hospitalized in four Busan general hospitals from March through April, 2011. Nutritional status was assessed on admission by the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002. Data were collected from the electronic medical records system for the characteristics of the subjects, clinical outcomes, biochemical laboratory data, and nutrition support states. Clinical dietitians interviewed the patients using structured questionnaires involving data on weight loss and problems related to oral intakes. Malnourished patients were significantly older (P<0.001) than well-nourished patients, but the values for BMI, serum albumin, total cholesterol, TLC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were significantly lower (P<0.001) for malnourished than for well-nourished patients. Logistic regression indicated that the main determinant factors for nutritional status were the age, length of stay, BMI, serum albumin, and total cholesterol. In order to increase therapeutic effects of hospitalized patients, clinical dietitians need to offer proper nutritional intervention based on the results of nutrition assessment and identification of malnutrition.

• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.279-289
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• 2016

The adequate dietary intake is important to maintain the nutritional status of the patients after pancreatic cancer surgery. This prospective study was designed to investigate the dietary intake and the nutritional status of the patients who had pancreatic cancer surgery. Thirty-one patients (15 men, 16 women) were enrolled and measured body weight, body mass index (BMI), nutritional risk index (NRI), and Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST). Actual oral intake with nutritional impact symptoms recorded on the clinical research foam at every meal and medical information were collected from electronic medical charts. The rates of malnutrition at admission were 45.1% (14/31) and 28.9% (9/31) by NRI and MUST method, respectively, but those were increased to 87% (27/31) and 86.6% (26/31) after operation on discharge. The median values of daily intake of energy, carbohydrates, fat, and protein were 588.1 kcal, 96.0 g, 11.8 g, and 27.0 g, respectively. Most patients (n = 20, 64.5%) experienced two or more symptoms such as anorexia, abdominal bloating and early satiety. There were negative correlations between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the intake of total energy, protein, fat, and zinc. The rates of malnutrition were increased sharply after surgery and the dietary intake also influenced the inflammatory indicators. The results suggested that need of considering special therapeutic diets for the patients who received pancreatic surgery.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.504-515
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• 2021

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Malnutrition risk and malnutrition among the elderly is a public health concern. In combating this health-related problem, it is critically important to evaluate the risk factors in a multidimensional way and to apply appropriate nutrition intervention based on the results. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 215 elderly patients (32.6% male, 67.4% female) in a geriatric outpatient clinic of a hospital in Turkey. Nutritional questionnaires that incorporated the 24-h recall method were applied to determine general characteristics of patients, their health status, nutritional habits, and daily energy and nutrient intakes. Mini Nutritional Assessment was used to determine nutritional status. Relevant anthropometric measurements were obtained. RESULTS: The subjects' mean age was 76.1 ± 7.0 years, and the prevalence of malnutrition (n = 7) and risk of malnutrition (n = 53) among the 215 subjects was 3.2% and 24.7%, respectively. Patients with malnutrition or risk of malnutrition were found to be single, have a depression diagnosis, in an older age group, have less appetite, more tooth loss, have more frequent swallowing/chewing difficulty, and have more frequent meal skipping. In addition, mean daily energy, carbohydrate, fat, fiber, vitamin E, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin C, folates, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron intake, and water consumption were found to be statistically significantly low in subjects with malnutrition or risk of malnutrition. After performing regression analysis to determine confounding factors, malnutrition risk was significantly associated with marital status, loss of teeth, appetite status, and depression. CONCLUSIONS: Routine nutritional screening and assessment of the elderly should be performed. If nutritional deficiencies cannot be diagnosed early and treated, self-sufficiency in the elderly may deteriorate, resulting in increased institutionalization.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.529-534
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The leaves of Moringa oleifera (MO) and Moringa stenopetala (MS) commonly grown in Ethiopia possess potential nutritional and medicinal value. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional and functional characteristics of the dried leaf powder from two Moringa species to develop sustainable nutritional supplements for Ethiopians from locally grown plant sources. MATERIALS/METHODS: Freshly harvested and air-dried MO and MS leaves were authenticated and the nutritional contents, such as protein, ash, lipids, and selected vitamins and minerals, were analyzed using standard analytical procedures. Amino acid compositions were also determined by an amino acid analyzer. Nine-week-old mice were randomly divided into four groups to investigate the anti-obesity effects of Moringa. The first group was fed a basal diet, the second group a high-fat diet, and the others were fed a high-fat diet containing 0.1% Moringa leaf powder from each species. After seven weeks, serum indices related to lipid profiles from each mouse were analyzed. RESULTS: The present study revealed high protein (28-29%) and ash (7-11%) contents. Glutamic acid, aspartic acid, proline, and leucine were the most abundantly found amino acids in both species. The predominant minerals in the leaf powder were calcium (826-1,530 mg/100 g), potassium (794-904 mg/100 g), and magnesium (286-431 mg/100 g). Pyridoxine (475.06 mg/100 g) and vitamin E (34.2 mg/100 g) were found only in MS. Niacin was found only in MO at 32.21 mg/100 g, whereas ascorbic acid was found in both species (3.89 and 6.19 mg/100 g dry weight for MO and MS, respectively). The results of the animal study showed that mice on a high-fat diet containing 0.1% MO leaf powder alleviated the elevation of cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol induced by the high fat diet. MO was more effective than MS in preventing hypercholesterolemia and fat deposition. CONCLUSION: The findings in this work confirmed that Moringa leaves of both MO and MS possessed high nutritional value but MO was better at preventing the harmful effects of the high-fat diet than MS.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.171-180
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the nutritional intake status, according to the risk of diabetic complications in Type 2 diabetes patients. Methods: This was a secondary data analysis study that included 83 patients. The nutritional intake was assessed, using 24-hour dietary recall. The risk of diabetic complications was measured, using the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) and Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument Questionnaire (MNSIQ). The nutritional intake was analyzed using the CAN-pro 4.0 program. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and Independent t-test, using the SPSS WIN 26.0 program. Results: The mean FRS and MNSIQ scores for the participants was 14.46± 4.09 and 2.30± 2.22, respectively. Thirty two participants (38.6%) were in the high-risk groups for cardiovascular disease and peripheral neuropathy. The participants consumed high amounts of grain and low amounts of vegetables, fruits, and dairy products when compared to the recommended intake. However, the nutritional intake did not differ according to FRS or MNSIQ levels. Consumption of vegetables and fruits were significantly different between high and low risk groups of MNSIQ. Conclusion: It is necessary to consider the composition of dietary intake to improve the imbalanced diet in Type 2 diabetes patients and prevent diabetic complications. Type 2 diabetes patients should reduce the intake of grains and sodium, and increase vegetable intake. More deliberate future studies are needed, to investigate the relationship between food intake and the risk status for diabetic complication.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.508-508
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• 2021

• CELLMED
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.13.1-13.10
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• 2017

Nutrition is one of the factors influencing cognitive functions. But, the role of nutrition on cognitive functions within the elderly is recognized to a lesser degree. The aim of this academic endeavor was to analyze the affiliation between nutritional status and cognitive functions of the elderly in Korea. 316 subjects, of 114 male and 201 female aged above 65 years, were gathered from university hospital clinics, Elderly Welfare Centers, and Health Welfare Centers located in the district of Seoul, Gyeonggi province, and Incheon in Korea. The cognitive function was tested by the Korean-Mini Mental State Examination (K-MMSE) questionnaire. Nutrition intake was assessed by a 24-hour recall, a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Nutrition adequacy and quality were assessed by the Nutrition Screening Initiative (NSI) checklist, the nutritional adequacy ratio (NAR), and the mean adequacy ratio (MAR). The elderly with normal cognitive function status displayed significantly higher levels of calcium, riboflavin, thiamin, folate, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B6, phosphorous, potassium, iron, niacin, zinc, animal fat, animal protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, total protein, vegetable oil, vegetable protein, fiber than levels of the elderly with moderate cognitive impairment. The K-MMSE score positively correlated with of high consumption of pork, white radish, sea mustard, tomato, tangerine, grape, apple, and ice cream, and K-MMSE was negatively associated with high intake of potato, anchovy, fish cake, and mushroom. The findings suggest that nutritional status is affiliated with cognitive function within the elderly of Korea. The consumption of variety of foods and nutrients ensures adequate cognitive function in the Korean elderly.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.202-213
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• 1985

The protein nutritional quality of foods has become an important factor to food processors with the advent of nutritional labeling regulations for foods. Then, as is true today, the officially approved assay for protein nutritional quality was the rat based protein efficiency ratio(PER) bioassay. The PER bioassay requires a minimum of 28 days to performe, and is therefore not applicable to routine quality assurance use by the food industry. Within the past ten years there has been a research emphasis placed on the development of rapid, inexpensive, biological and/or chemical based assays for protein nutritional quality. It was hoped that if a rapid assay could be developed and thoroughly tested, it could be used in lieu of the PER bioassay in the day-to-day quality assurance screening of food ingredients and products. The rapid assays developed in the hope of attaining this goal have been based on microorganisms, proteolytic enzymes, and amino acid profiles, as well as combinations of the above. In this review, it will be described and briefly discussed many of procedures which had contributed conceptually as well as practically to the development of in vitro methods for the evaluation of protein quality. Special emphasis will be placed on the C-PER(computed protein efficiency ratio) assay which combines data from in vitro protease digestion and amino acid composition to predict protein nutritional quality designed by Satterlee et al. (1980), and the DC-PER(discriminant computed PER) which is a method of estimating protein quality based on rat assay and in vitro digestibility obtained using solely essential amino acid data will be also introduced.