• Clinical Nutrition Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.199-217
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• 2023

People with higher genetic predisposition to obesity are more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and healthy plant-based foods may be associated with reduced risks of obesity and other metabolic markers. We investigated whether healthy plant-foods-rich dietary patterns might have inverse associations with cardiometabolic risk factors in participants at genetically elevated risk of obesity. For this cross-sectional study, 377 obese and overweight women were chosen from health centers in Tehran, Iran. We calculated a healthy plant-based diet index (h-PDI) in which healthy plant foods received positive scores, and unhealthy plant and animal foods received reversed scores. A genetic risk score (GRS) was developed based on 3 polymorphisms. The interaction between GRS and h-PDI on cardiometabolic traits was analyzed using a generalized linear model (GLM). We found significant interactions between GRS and h-PDI on body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.02), body fat mass (p = 0.04), and waist circumference (p = 0.056). There were significant gene-diet interactions for healthful plant-derived diets and BMI-GRS on high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (p = 0.03), aspartate aminotransferase (p = 0.04), alanine transaminase (p = 0.05), insulin (p = 0.04), and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (p = 0.002). Adherence to h-PDI was more strongly related to decreased levels of the aforementioned markers among participants in the second or top tertile of GRS than those with low GRS. These results highlight that following a plant-based dietary pattern considering genetics appears to be a protective factor against the risks of cardiometabolic abnormalities.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.178-183
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• 2008

The assessment of children's nutritional intakes is important because any nutritional inadequacies or toxicities may have adverse consequences. Studies on the nutritional intakes of Korean children are limited. The aims of this study were to determine anthropometric indices, estimate selectee nutrient intakes of young Korean children, and compare these intakes with current Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans. This study included 136 healthy children(65 boys, 71 girls), 2-6 y old, living in Kwangju, Korea. Weights and heights were measured. Three consecutive 24-h food recalls were obtained. According to International Obesity Taskforce BMI cutoffs, 8% were overweight and 2% were obese. The energy intakes of 40% were < Korean Estimated Energy Requirements, while all subjects consumed $\geq$ Korean Estimated Average Requirement(EAR) for protein. The majority of the children consumed > Korean EAR for iron, zinc, vitamin $B_1$, vitamin $B_2$, vitamin $B_6$, and niacin. Vitamin E intakes of 65% of the Korean children were < Korean Adequate Intake, and approximately half of the subjects had < Korean EAR for calcium and for folate. Many young children in Kwangju, Korea, likely have inadequate status of calcium, folate, and vitamin E.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.183-191
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• 2013

Objectives: In Korea, the proportion of deaths due to alcohol is estimated at 8.9%, far exceeding the global estimate of 3.8%. Therefore, this study was performed to examine the factors associated with low-risk, moderate-risk, and high-risk drinking patterns in Korean adults and to identify target populations for prevention and control of alcohol-related diseases and deaths. Methods: We analyzed data from 230 715 Korean adults aged 19 years and older who participated in the 2009 Korean Community Health Survey. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations between socio-demographic and health-related factors and patterns of alcohol use. Results: A substantially larger proportion of men than women engaged in high risk (21.2% vs. 3.4%) and moderate-risk alcohol use (15.5% vs. 8.2%). In both sexes, moderate- and high-risk uses were associated with younger age, higher income, being currently employed, smoking, being overweight/obese, and good self-rated health. Conclusions: Given the large proportion of the population that is engaging in moderate- and high-risk drinking and given the social norms that support this behavior, public health policies and campaigns to reduce alcohol consumption targeting the entire population are indicated.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.461-472
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• 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Globally, it has been projected that there will be 2 billion overweight and 1 billion obese individuals by 2030. In Korea, the prevalence of adult obesity (BMI > 25) increased from 29.7% in 2009 to 32.4% in 2015. Moreover, childhood obesity, which leads to adulthood obesity, has increasingly become a social problem. The purpose of this review is to summarize the scientific basis for the development of effective models and policies aimed at preventing obesity over a lifetime based on research modeling obesogenic environments. MATERIALS/METHODS: The review focuses on the characteristics of obesity prevalence and trends in 3P analysis (papers, patents, and products) as well as government-funded projects in Korean obesity obesogenic environments over the last 10 years. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: As a result of the 3P analysis, studies on obesity risk factors were frequently carried out, according to two data bases RISS (4.9%) and PubMed (24.7%). Since there were only 17% patents related to the mechanism of preventing obesity in 7,951 Korean patents related to obesity, new paradigms of technologies to dominate the global obesity markets are needed. After government-funded projects were analyzed, communication and cooperation in multi-governmental departments were suggested to elucidate the characteristics of Korean obesity. Government should also produce short- and long-term road maps to develop a practical, successful outcome. Although the rate of obesity in Korea is currently lower than in other developed countries according to WHO criteria, without adequate governmental intervention, obesity rates will approach those of the top countries with high incidence rates of obesity within the next 10 years.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.227-232
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• 1994

In order to define the clinical characteristics of Korean women with polycystic ovary syndrome, clinical symptoms, biochemical features and ultrasonographic findings were determined in ninety PCO patients. Frequency of clinical manifestations were as follows:acne 42%, overweight 31 %, oily skin 14 %, hirsutism 10%. Relatively low frequencies of hirsutism is recognized in patients with Korean PCO syndrome. Mean(${\pm}$S.E.) of each hormone was:testosterone 1.18${\pm}$1.07ng/ml, LH 21.47${\pm}$${\pm}$2.6mIU/ml, FSH 7.26${\pm}$2.67mIU/ml, LH/FSH ratio 2.94${\pm}$1.29, prolactin 25.48${\pm}$46.33ng/ml, DHEA-S 333.78${\pm}$309.60ng/dl, 17-0HP 1.72${\pm}$1.74ng/ml. Mean 17-OHP after ACTH stimulation test was 5.07${\pm}$12.01ng/ml. Ultrasonographically measured mean ovarian volume were $11.02{\pm}5.92cm^3$ in right and $9.23{\pm}5.64cm^3$ in left and small sized multiple subcapsular follicular cysts were noted in 43 patients (47.9%) with PCO syndrome.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 2013

We investigated the contribution of genetic variations of KLF5 to basal metabolic rate (BMR) and resting metabolic rate (RMR) and the inhibition of obesity in Korean children. A variation of KLF5 (rs3782933) was genotyped in 62 Korean children. Using multiple linear regression analysis, we developed a model to predict BMR in children. We divided them into several groups; normal versus overweight by body mass index (BMI) and low BMR versus high BMR by BMR. There were no differences in the distributions of alleles and genotypes between each group. The genetic variation of KLF5 gene showed a significant correlation with several clinical factors, such as BMR, muscle, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin. Children with the TT had significantly higher BMR than those with CC (p=0.030). The highest muscle was observed in the children with TT compared with CC (p=0.032). The insulin and C-peptide values were higher in children with TT than those with CC (p=0.029 vs. p=0.004, respectively). In linear regression analysis, BMI and muscle mass were correlated with BMR, whereas insulin and C-peptide were not associated with BMR. In the high-BMR group, we observed that higher muscle, fat mass, and C-peptide affect the increase of BMR in children with TT (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p=0.018, respectively), while Rohrer's index could explain the usual decrease in BMR (adjust $r^2$=1.000, p < 0.001, respectively). We identified a novel association between TT of KLF5 rs3782933 and BMR in Korean children. We could make better use of the variation within KLF5 in a future clinical intervention study of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.471-483
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate food habits, nutrients intakes and nutritional quality of the preschool children living in Seoul. The study was performed by analyzing a questionnaire answered by the mothers of 233 subjects aged 2 to 6 years old. A three-day dietary intakes survey, using a 24 hour recall method was used by both the mothers and teachers of the children in day care centers. Twenty eight, 65.9 and $21.8\%$ of preschool children were underweight, normal and overweight or obese, respectively. It was found that $19.8\%$ of preschool children replied that they skipped breakfast sometimes. The major reasons for skipping breakfast were 'snacks' ($38.3\%$) and 'no appetite' ($32.6\%$). The proportion of subjects having unbalanced meals was $61.6\%$. From the 24-recall survey, it was found that all nutrients intakes were higher than those of the Korean RDA except zinc. The proportions of carbohydrate, protein and fat from total calories were 56,1, 17.2 and $30.7\%$. The P/M/S ratio was 0.62 : 0.86 : 1. Nutrient adquacy (NAR), mean of nu-trient adequacy ratio (MAR) and index of nutritional quality (INQ) were considered adequate. In conclusion, the dietary intakes of children aged 2 to 6 were assumed adequate judging from nutrient intakes, although some attention should be paid to fat intake in this age group.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.435-445
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• 2020

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between obesity and dental caries of Korean adolescents. Methods: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHNES VI) (2013 to 2015) were used and targeted adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. For statistical analysis, the SPSS 18.0 program was used, and the significance level was set at 0.05. Results: For the general and health-related characteristics, female students (p=0.001) showed higher decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index than male students. Furthermore, DMFT showed higher tendency, as age was higher (p<0.001). Smoking (p=0.011) and drinking experience (p=0.027) revealed higher DMFT. The dental caries experience was significantly different among students who were female (p=0.033), older (p=0.001), and overweight or underweight (p=0.022). In the BMI for the general and health-related characteristics, male students had higher obesity rate than female students (p=0.003), and obese subjects had higher dental checkup in the last year (p=0.013). In multiple linear regression analysis of obesity and DMFT, the unadjusted model showed that the obesity group's DMFT was about 0.8 higher than that of the normal group (p=0.024). However, statistical significance was not shown in the adjusted models. In the logistic regression analysis of obesity and dental caries experience, the unadjusted model 1 (1.93 times), the adjusted model 2 (1.79 times), and model 3 (1.76 times) showed significantly higher dental caries experience. Conclusions: Both obesity and dental caries are related to diet habits and lifestyles and have a negative impact on adult health. Therefore, it is necessary to create a healthy social environment around the adolescent, and proper intervention through education is required to form healthy habits.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.155-163
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• 2007

Purpose: Dysmenorrhea is a women's common disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between body composition and VAS, VRS, MVRS of dysmenorrhea. Methods: The subject were 17 women who took body composition(body mass index, percent body fat, waist-hip ratio) analysis(Inbody 720) and answered the questionnaire have been calculated VAS, VRS and MVRS in Kangnam Korean Hospital, Kyunghee Univ. from Apr. 6, 2007 to Mar. 25, 2007. Results: There was statistically significant correlation between BMI and dysmenorrhea VRS, MVRS. There was statistically significant correlation between BMI and dysmenorrhea VRS, MVRS. There was statistically significant correlation between percent body fat and dysmenorrhea VRS, MVRS. There was statistically significant difference of dysmenorrhea VRS, MVRS between BMI underweight group and BMI normal or overweight group. There was statistically significant difference of dysmenorrhea VAS between waist-hip ratio normal group and waist-hip ratio abnormal group. Conclusion: Body composition analysis(body mass index, percent body fat, waist-hip ratio) is useful to predict pain grade of dysmenorrhea.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.11
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• pp.429-435
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• 2011

Although Korean population has been growing steadily during the past four decades, the nation is rapidly becoming an aging society because of its declining birth rate combined with an increasing life expectancy. In addition, Korea has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world due to fewer married couples, advanced maternal age, and falling birth rate. The prevalence of low birth weight infants and multiple births has been increased compared with the decrease in the birth rate. Moreover, the number of congenital anomalies is expected to increase due to the advanced maternal age. In addition, the number of interracial children is expected to increase due to the rise in the number of international marriages. However, the maternal education level is high, single-mother birth rate is low, and the gender imbalance has lessened. The number of overweight babies has been decreased, as more pregnant women are receiving adequate prenatal care. Compared to the Asian average birth weight, the average birth weight is the highest in Asia. Moreover, the rate of low birth weight infants is low, and infant mortality is similarly low across Asia. Using birth data from Statistics Korea and studies of birth outcomes in Korea and abroad, this study aimed to assess the changes in maternal and infant characteristics associated with birth outcomes during the past four decades and identify necessary information infrastructures to study countermeasures the decrease in birth rate and increase in low birth weight infants in Korea.