• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.98-106
• /
• 1982

This study was carried out to investigate the nutritional status of physically handicapped children with cerebral palsy in order to contribute to their welfare by studying their healthy status, nutrient intake, daily energy expenditure, and living environment. The survey was conducted at two rehabilitation institutions from May 25 to June 30, 1981. A special questionnaire was designed to investigate the living environment. The 24 hr. recall method was used in evaluation the nutrient intake of 67 children. Anthropometric measurement was made of height, weight, chestgirth, upper-arm circumference, and triceps skinfold thickness. The biochemical status of the children with cerebral palsy was assessed with measurement of hemoglobin and hematocrit. The results may be summarized as follows : 1. The children with cerebral palsy, the intakes of all nutrients except vitamin A, thiamin, and ascorbic acid were lower than Korean recommend dietary allowances (1980). They had significantly higher intakes of vitamin A and calcium than the normal children, but the calcium intake was low as 62% of the Korea RDA. 2. All the children with cerebral palsy were very short and low weight in comparison with the accepted standards, but chestgirth was above the accepted standards for Korean school children. 3. The average hemoglobin value was 12.2gm%, hematocrit 39.3%, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) 31.1%. 4. The possible etiological factors of cerebral palsy were, prenatal factors 16%, natal 44.9%, postnatal 27.5%, and unknown 11.6%. Eighty four percent of the children showed their first symptoms within the first year after birth. 5. Thirty percent of the parents said that the handicapped children lead to marital problems, and 84.1% of the parents mentioned that medical expenses for the children influenced their family finances.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.74-80
• /
• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cardiovascular diseases is a major cause of death and is responsible for 23.8% of deaths in Korea. Clinical symptoms manifest in adulthood, but susceptibility begins in utero. Elevated homocysteine levels and adiposity might be linked to a greater risk in children as well as adults. We hypothesized that those who have simultaneous risk for folate and adiposity would be affected with elevated homocysteine levels at 3 years of age. SUBJECTS/METHODS: From the ongoing birth cohort at Ewha Womans University Mok-Dong Hospital, we compared adiposity parameters, serum homocysteine, and folate levels in 238 children (118 boys and 120 girls) at three years of age. The relationship between birth outcome, current weight and body mass index (BMI), postnatal growth, and homocysteine level were assessed using correlation and general linear model. Additionally, we assessed the combined effect between blood folate status and adiposity on current homocysteine levels. RESULTS: Birth characteristics were not correlated with homocysteine. Current weight, BMI, upper-arm circumference, skinfold thickness, waist circumference, and hip circumference were positively correlated with homocysteine at three years of age (P < 0.05). Folate level was negatively correlated with homocysteine at three years of age (P < 0.0001). A relative high anthropometric measure which is compatible with adiposity and low folate level was associated with high homocysteine levels. CONCLUSION: We found a combined effect of adiposity and folate levels with homocysteine levels at three years of age. This implicates the beneficial role of folate supplementation in the high-risk population at an early age.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.301-312
• /
• 2011

Firefighters and police officers have the third highest prevalence of obesity among 41 male occupational groups in the United States (US). However, few studies have examined the relationship of firefighter working conditions and health behaviors with obesity. This paper presents a theoretical framework describing the relationship between working conditions, health behaviors, and obesity in firefighters. In addition, the paper describes a detailed study plan for exploring the role of occupational and behavioral risk factors in the development of obesity in firefighters enrolled in the Orange County Fire Authority Wellness Fitness Program. The study plan will be described with emphasis on its methodological merits: adopting a participatory action research approach, developing a firefighter-specific work and health questionnaire, conducting both a cross-sectional epidemiological study using the questionnaire and a sub-study to assess the validity of the questionnaire with dietary intake and physical activity measures, and evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the body mass index as an obesity measure in comparison to skinfold-based percent body fat. The study plan based on a theoretical framework can be an essential first step for establishing effective intervention programs for obesity among professional and voluntary firefighters.

• Women's Health Nursing
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.318-325
• /
• 2021

Purpose: Although insulin is usually injected into the abdominal subcutaneous fat, in pregnancy women tend to avoid abdominal injections due to concern about fetal damage. Prior studies have been limited to only measuring skin-subcutaneous fat thickness (S-ScFT) at one site at specific pregnancy points. This study aimed to measure S-ScFT across several abdominal sites and over the gestational period in Korean pregnant women. This can identify which site would be relatively safe for subcutaneous injection during pregnancy. Methods: Healthy women over 24 weeks of pregnancy in Korea were invited to voluntarily participate in this descriptive study. For the 142 women, S-ScFT of 12 sites in the abdomen were measured by ultrasound, several times over the pregnancy. Each incidence was treated as a case and a total of 262 cases were analyzed. Results: The mean S-ScFT during pregnancy was 1.14±0.47 cm (1.25±0.54 cm at 24⁺⁰-27⁺⁶ weeks; 1.17±0.48 cm at 28⁺⁰-31⁺⁶ weeks; 1.09+0.40 cm at 32⁺⁰-35⁺⁶ weeks; and 1.06±0.47 cm at 36⁺⁰-40 weeks of pregnancy). Most S-ScFT were thicker than 10 mm. But S-ScFTs in the lateral abdomen and some sites were suboptimal (<6 mm), especially in the pre-pregnancy underweight body mass index group, who had a high rate of suboptimal thickness (27.1% overall and 33.9% in the lateral side). Conclusion: The whole abdomen seems to be appropriate for subcutaneous injection in most Korean women during pregnancy, with a 4 to 5-mm short needle. However, for the lateral abdomen, making the skin fold might be needed for fetal safety.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.44 no.1
• /
• pp.93-103
• /
• 1997

Background : Malnutrition is a common finding in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, especially in the emphysema group. Although the mechanism of malnutrition is not confirmed, it is believed to be a relative deficiency caused by hypermetabolism due to increased energy requirements of the respiratory muscles, rather than a dietary deficiency. Malnutrition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is not a merely coincidental finding. It is known that the nutritional status correlates with physiologic parameters including pulmonary function, muscular power, and exercise performance, and is one of the important and independent prognostic factors of the disease. Methods : Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Yongdong Severance Hospital from May, 1995 to March, 1996 and age-matched healthy control group were studied. Survey of nutritional intake, anthropometric measurements and biochemical tests were done to assess nutritional status. Relationship between nutritional status and FEV1 (forced expiratory volume at one second), which was a significant functional parameter, was assessed. Results : 1) The patient group was consisted of 25 males with mean age of 66.1years and FEV1 of $42{\pm}14%$ of predicted values. The control group was consisted of 26 healthy males with normal pulmonary function, whose mean age was 65.0 years. 2) The ratio of calorie intake/calorie requirement per day was $107{\pm}28%$ in the patient group, and $94{\pm}14%$ in the control group, showing a tendency of more nutritional intake in patient group(B=0.06). 3) There were significant differences between the patient group and control group in percent ideal body weight(92.8% vs 101.6%, p=0.024), body mass index($20.0kg/m^2$ VS $21.9kg/m^2$, p=0.015), and handgrip strength(29.0kg vs 34.3kg, p=0.003). However, there were no significant differences in triceps skinfold thickness, mid-arm muscle circumference, albumin, and total lymphocyte count between two groups. Percentage of underweight population was 40%(10/25) in the patient group, and 15%(4/26) in the control group. 4) The percent ideal body weight, triceps skinfold thickness, and mid-arm muscle circumference had significant correlation with FEV1. Conclusion : The patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease showed significant depletion in nutritional parameters such as body weight and peripheral muscle strength, while absolute amount of dietary intake was not insufficient. Nutritional parameters were well correlated with FEV1.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.34 no.5
• /
• pp.644-651
• /
• 2005

Dietary supplement mainly made of herb and fiber was examined whether it could reduce body weight and fat, modify blood lipid concentrations and bowel habits in 30 collegians without intentional diet restriction or lifestyle change for 5 weeks. Free-living subjects were required to take diet pills 2 times daily 30 minutes before meals. Before the study began, 24 hr recall diet record and the questionnaires had been collected. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, triceps and abdomen skinfold thickness, and body fat) were performed and blood samples were withdrawn before and after the study. Blood lipid fractions analyzed were total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. After the trial, body weight, body mass index, and percent ideal body weight of the subjects were reduced to mean of 0.5 kg, 0.2 and $0.9\%$, respectively (p<0.05). Percent body fat, triceps and abdomen skinfold thickness, and waist and hip circumferences were all reduced significantly except for $\%$ abdominal fat, but $\%$ body muscle mass increased from $36.5\%$ to $37.4\%$ (p=0.000). TC and TG were remarkably diminished (p<0.01) and LDL-cholesterol tended to decrease, but no change was observed in HDL-cholesterol. Bowel movements were also increased (p<0.01). In conclusion, this specific herb and fiber-rich dietary supplement reduced body weight and body fat indices, improved anthropometric indices, modified blood lipid fractions and bowel movement desirably. The study suggest that herb and fiber-rich dietary supplement might help control body weight, body fat loss and adult diseases positively.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 1974

The relative state of human iron storage may be ascertained more reliably through determination of the serum iron, iron binding capacity, transferrin saturation and absorption of radioactive iron in conjunction with studies of red cell morphology than from the study of red cell morphology alone. Recent investigations have shown that there is an increase in red cell protoporphyrin concentration in iron deficiency anemia. The significance of the red cell protoporphyrin has been discussed greatly during the years since its discovery. Two of the main factors which appear to influence the amaunt of protoporphyrin are increased erythropoiesis and factors interfering with the utilization of iron in the synthesis of hemoglobin, and iron deficiency. Recently Heller et al. have described a simplified method for blood protoporphyrin assay and this technique could be used assess nutritional iron status, wherein even minor insufficiencies are detectable as increased protoporphyrin concentrations. Based on the evaluation of the relationship between nutritional iron status and red cell protoporphyrin as an index suitable for the detection of the iron deficiency is described in this paper. RESULTS 1. Hemoglobin Concentrations and Anthropometric Measurements. The mean and standard deviations of the various anthropometric measurements of different age and sex groups are shown in table 1. There measurements have been compared with the Korean Standard. In the absence of local standards for arm circumference and skin-fold thickness over triceps, they have been compared with the standard from Jelliffe. Table 2,3, and 4 give anthropometric measurements and frequency (%) of anemia in children surveyed. The mean height of the children studid was 10 to 20 percent; below the Korean Standard. The distribution of height below 80 percent of the Standard was 21.2 percent, however, among anemic group this percentage was 27.7 percent. In general, the mean weight of the children was 10 to 15 percent below the Korean Standard. The percentage of children with weight less than 80 percent of the Standard was about 35 percent. But in the anemic group of the children, this percentage was 44 percent. The mean arm circumference was about 15 percent lower than the Jelliffe's standard. 61.2 percent of the children had values of arm circumference below 80 percent of the standard. Children with low hemoglobin levels, this percentage was 80 percent. The mean skinfold thickness over the triceps of the children studied was about 25 Percent lower than the Jelliffe's standard and 61.2 percent of the children had the value less than 80 percent of the standard. Among anemic children, this percentage was 70.8%. As may be seen from table 5, the mean hemoglobin concentration of the total group was 11.3g/100ml. Hemoglobin concentration was less than 11.0g/100ml. in 65(36.5%) of the 178 children. The degree of anemia in most of these children was mild with a hemoglobin level of less than 8.0g/100ml. found in only one child. In general, the prevalence of anemia was high in female children than male and decreased its frequency with increasing age. Relatively close relationship was observed between hemoglobin level and anthrophometric measurements especially high between arm circumference and skinfold thickness and hemoglobin but very low in height and low in weight and hemoglobin level, estimated by chi-square value. II. Serum iron, Transferrin saturation (1) Serum iron, and transferrin saturation Serum iron, transferrin saturation and red cell protoporphyrin concentrations were estimated in sub-sample of 84 children from 1 to 6 years and 24 older children between 7 and 13 years of age. The findings are presented in table 6. The mean serum iron concentration of the total group was 59ug/100ml. However, the level incrased with age from 36.6ug/100ml. (1-3years) to 80.8ug/100ml. (7-13 years). 60 percent of these children had a serum iron level less than 50ug/10ml. in the 1-3 years age group and 31.4 percent for 4-6 years group. These contrast with the finding of 12.5 percent anemic children in the 7-13 years age group. The mean transferrin saturation for the total group was 18.1 percent and frequency of anemia by transferrin saturation was observed same pattern as serum iron concentration. (2) Red cell protoporphyrin concentrations. (a) Red cell protoporphrin levels of children: Red cell protoporphyrin and other biochemical data are shown in table 4. The mean concentration in red cell of all children was fround 46.3ug/100ml. RBC. and differences with age groups were observed; in the age group 1-3 years, the mean concentration was $59.5{\pm}32.14$ ug/100ml. RBC; 4-6 years $44.1{\pm}22.57$ ug/100ml. RBC. and 7-13 years, $39.0{\pm}13.56$ ug/100ml. RBC. (b) Normal protoporphyrin values in adults: It was observed that in 10 normal adult males studied here the level of protoporphyrin in red cell ranged from 18 to 54 ug/100ml. RBC. and the mean concentration was $47.5{\sim}14.47$ ug/100ml. RBC. Other biochemical determination made on the same subjects are presented in table 8. (c) Red tell protoporphyrin concentration of occupational blood donors: The results of analyses for red cell protoporphyrin as well as serum iron, transferrin saturation and hemoglobin in the 76 blood donors are presented in table 7 and 8. In this experiment, donors were selected at random, however, most of them bled repeatedly because of poor economic situation, I doubt. Table 9 shows the distribution of red cell protoporphyrin concentration and hemoglobin concentration of occupational donors. The mean hemoglobin value for the total was 11.9 g/100 ml. When iron deficiency anemia is defined as a transferrin saturation below 15%, prevalence of anemia was 47.4 percent and the mean serum iron was 27.1ug/100ml. and red cell protoporphyrin, 168.3ug/100ml. RBC. However, mean serum iron and protoporphyrin concentration of above 15% transferrin saturation were 11.6 ug/100 ml. and 58.8 ug/100 ml. RBC. respectively. The mean Protoporphyrin concentration of non-anemic (above 15% transferrin saturation) donors was slightly higher than the results of normal adult males.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.43-58
• /
• 1977

Kojedo is the second largest island in Korea and a total population of 115,500 is living on the island of 394.69 sq. km. Under the direction of three nutrition professors, nutrition surveys in two villages in Kojedo, namely Siljun Ri in Hachung Myon and Soowol Ri in Shinhyun Myon, were carried by 30 college senior students majoring in nutrition from August to 20 August 1977. From a total of 176 households of the two villages, 67 households were randomly selected and 390 family members of the households were subjcets of the nutrition surveys. The precise weighing method was used in evaluating the kinds of foods and nutrient intakes of the subjects for three consecutive days. Thirty-seven pre-school children aged between 3 to 6 years and 27 fertile women were examined for biochemical findings and physical status. The main purposes of the surveys are to provide baseline data on nutrition in Kojedo Island for the Kojedo Community Development Project and to compare the nutritional status of the villages of Siljun Ri and Soowol Ri. Siljun Ri is located in the pilot project area of the Koiedo Community Health Project sponsored since December 1970 by the Christian Medical Commission of the World Council of Churches. While Soowol Ri is a control village for comparison. The results obtained are summarized as follows: Food Intake The average food intake per person per day in Siljun Ri, 1064 grams (91.7% in vegetable foods and 7.6% in animal foods) was 90 grams more than that of Soowol Ri, 974 grams (92.8% in vegetable foods and 5.9% in animal foods). However, the food intake per pre-school child in Siljun Ri, 485 grams (92.6% from vegetable foods and 6.4% from animal foods) was 21 grams lower than that of the Soowol Ri, 506 grams (88.5% from vegetable foods and 6.5% from animal foods). The average intake of beans was 16 grams(1.5% out of the total food intake) in Siljun Ri and 21 grams(2.2% of the total food intake)in Soowol Ri. The villagers should be guided for more consumption of soybeans to improve the quality of protein intake from vegetable foods. Nutrient Intake The adult intake in Siljun Ri and Soowol Ri were 2,529 kcal and 2,511 kcal respectively. The average energy intake of pre-school childen in Siljun Ri was 948 kcal and that for adult and 1,500 kcal for childen aged between 4 to 6 years-given by the Korea FAO Association, the diets in both villages were not adequate. Average daily protein intake of the subjected adult in Siljun Ri was 78.4 grams and that of Soowol Ri was 76.2 grams, while pre-school children took 30.7 grams in the former village and 31.7 grams in the latter village per child per day. The protein intake in both villages were lower than the recommended allowances, 80 grams for adult and 45 grams for $4{\sim}6$ years childen, and animal protein intake of the all subjects was very much lower than the RDA. The main charecter of the diet has been found low in quality of protein and high in carbohydrate. The calcium intakes of the pre-school children in both villages, 251.9 milligrams in Siljun Ri and 218.8 milligrams in Soowol Ri, were very much lower than the recommended allowance of 500 milligrams per day. It is apparent that the diet for children should be supplemented with calcium. Among the vitamin group, the daily average intakes of vitamin A and $B_{2}$(thiamine), $B_{2}$(riboflavin), C(ascorbic acid), and niacin were not adequate for the children in both villages. Especially the intake of riboflavin, 0.4 milligrams in both village children, was much lower than the RDA, 0.9 milligrams per day. Physical Characteristics Average height, weight, chest and head circumference of the pre-school children in both villages were similar to those of the Korean standard given by the Korean Paediatrics Association except that the average height of pre-school boys in Siljun Ri was 8 cm higher than the Korean standard of 105 cm. The mean values of upper arm circumference and skinfold thickness of pre-school boys in both villages were the same, 15.4 cm for upper arm circumference and 6.8 mm for skinfold thickness, but the mean values of those of the girls in Siljun Ri were higher than those of pre-school grils in Soowol Ri. Biochemical Findings Avera ge hemogobin value of boys and girls in both villages was the same, 11.1 grams per 100 ml of blood. The incidence of anemia (Hb value below 11g/100ml) was similar in both viltagesr 36.4% for boys and 50% for girls in Siljun Ri and 37.5% for boys and 50% for girls in Soowol Ri. Average hemoglobin values of fertile women were 10.7g% in Siljun Ri and 10.8% in Soowor Ri. The incidences of anemia(Hb valre brlow 12g/100ml) were 100% in Siljun Ri and 86.7% in Soowol Ri. The anemia of these subjects may be caused mainty low intake of good quality protein and iron intake from vegetable food. Recommendation In general, the nutritional status of a community health pilot village is not higher than that of control village due to the lack of nutrition improvement guldance services. Nutrition education should be delivered to the villagers as a main part of the health education artivities. The emphasis should be on building better health through bttter food habits and better food production as well as on preventing malnutrition and diseasrs. It can be an invaluable part of community developnent. Since nutrition is considered to be at least one-half of MCH care, no village or home visits should be made without careful provision for teaching and demoastrating something simple and practical on nutrition. The nurse, midwife, and village health worker should be the chief promoters of nutrition.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.849-854
• /
• 2007

Body fat proportion is a major issue in health. The prevalence of obesity in childhood has been increasing on thesedays. A series of indirect estimates of body fat have been developed. There are hydrodensitometry, BIA and anthropometry equation for body fat. Hydrodensitometry has been regarded as a common criterion method. BIA made it possible to analyze body fat mass more related to hydrodensitometry than anthropometry. The purpose of this unvestigation were to compare body fat and other body composition between boys & girls and to know which anthropometry equation for body fat was most closely associated with BIA in boys & girls respectively. The subjects were 148 4th grade elementary school students(male:70, female:78). They underwent BIA(InBody 3.0, Biospace Korea)to determine body fat and other body composition. Anthropometric measurements were taken of height, weight, skinfolds and circumferences. The results obtained are summarized as follow: 1) Weight, BMI and Rohrer index were $39.9{\pm}7.2kg$, $20.5{\pm}8.0$, $138.2{\pm}17.0$ for boys and $35.9{\pm}6.7kg$, $18.2{\pm}2.6$, $96.6{\pm}13.6$ for girls. 2) Total body fat and percent body fat determined by BIA were $10.3{\pm}4.3kg$, $25.4{\pm}6.6%$ for the boys group and $9.3{\pm}3.8kg$, $25.1{\pm}6.0%$ for girls. 3) Mean triceps skinfold thickness was $20.5{\pm}6.1mm$ in boys, $17.0{\pm}5.1mm$ in girls and mean WHR was $0.88{\pm}0.4$ in bodys, $0.82{\pm}0.4$ in female and the values were significantly different by sex. 4) Correlational nanlyses showed that estimation of body fat by BIA measurement seemed to be closely associated with Rohere index(boys r=0.854, girls r=0.909). Kim's equation was highly correlated with the body fat in girls(r=0.910) but less correlated in boys(r=0.710). We need to develop specific anthropometric equations based on age and sex to determine body fat for children.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.132-138
• /
• 1999

The purpose of this study was to determine biochemical parameters related to protein and immunity. Subjects were 125 preschool children(M:69, F:56) residing in low income area of Seoul. Mean serum total protein of the children aged 6 was 7.3g/dl which was significantly higher than 6.6g/dl of the group aged 3. The mean serum albumin was 4.7g/dl for 3, 4, 5 age group, and 4.9g/dl for 6 age group and there was no significant difference. Serum retinol binding protein(RBP) is used as a sensitive indicatior of protein, because it tends to fall rapidly in response to protein status and respond to quickly dietary treatment. Mean RBP for each group(3, 4, 5 and 6 age group) were $2.5\mu{g}$/dl, $2.9\mu{g}$/dl, $2.7\mu{g}$/dl, $3.0\mu{g}$/dl. The Proportion of children whose RBP was than $2.6\mu{g}$/dl was 15.9%, 19.2%, 24.3% and 16.7%, respectively. The 24-hour urinary excretion of hydroxyproline was 7.9mg, 14.6mg, 11.7mg and 11.8mg for each group and the mean excretion of all children was 12.2mg/day. Children aged 3 were excreting significantly lower amount of hydroxprolinc per day than the children aged 4. The mean hydroxyproline index were 2.18, 2.39, 2.52, 2.80 for each age group and the mean of a group aged 6 was significantly higher than that of the group aged 3. The proportion of children assessed as malnourished and impaired growth(hydroxyproline index <2.0) was 18.8%, 4.9%, 2.5% and 4.3%, respectively. The nutrients which showed significant relationship with protein and immunity parameters were niacin, vitamin C and calcium. Vitamin C showed significant positive relationship(p<0.05-p<0.01) with serum RBP, total protein and globulin. The triceps skinfold thickness was significantly and positively correlated with serum globulin. Serum IgG showed significant positive relationship with height, weight, girth of chest and midarm circumference(p<0.05-p<0.01).