• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.34-50
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• 2024

Objectives: Transformation through a sustainable food system to provide healthy diets is essential for enhancing both human and planetary health. This study aimed to explain about sustainable diets and illustrate appropriate measurement of adherence to sustainable diets using a pre-existing index. Methods: For literature review, we used PubMed and Google Scholar databases by combining the search terms "development," "validation," "sustainable diet," "sustainable diet index," "planetary healthy diet," "EAT-Lancet diet," and "EAT-Lancet reference diet." For data presentation, we used data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2017-2018, among adults aged 20 years and older (n = 3,920). Sustainable Diet Index-US (SDI-US), comprising four sub-indices corresponding to four dimensions of sustainable diets (nutritional quality, environmental impacts, affordability, and sociocultural practices), was calculated using data from 24-hour dietary recall interview, food expenditures, and food choices. A higher SDI-US score indicated greater adherence to sustainable diets (range: 4-20). This study also presented SDI-US scores according to the sociodemographic status. All analyses accounted for a complex survey design. Results: Of 148 papers, 16 were reviewed. Adherence to sustainable diets fell into 3 categories: EAT-Lancet reference diet-based (n = 8), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) definition-based (n = 4), and no specific guidelines but including the sustainability concept (n = 4). Importantly, FAO definition emphasizes on equal importance of four dimensions of diet (nutrition and health, economic, social and cultural, and environmental). The mean SDI-US score was 13 out of 20 points, and was higher in older, female, and highly educated adults than in their counterparts. Conclusions: This study highlighted that sustainable diets should be assessed using a multidimensional approach because of their complex nature. Currently, SDI can be a good option for operationalizing multidimensional sustainable diets. It is necessary to develop a Korean version of SDI through additional data collection, including environmental impact of food, food price, food budget, and use of ready-made products.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2004

The purpose of this article is twofold: 1) to provide nutrition professionals with the history of how the concept of sustainable diets was introduced to the nutrition profession and 2) to describe how different sustainable agricultural practices offer potential for improving human nutrition and health. The idea of connecting sustainable agriculture With the promotion of human nutrition and health is not new. It is a concept that was introduced to the nutrition profession more than 20 years ago. To foster healthful, sustainable diets, consumers need to choose more whole foods. From the standpoint of nutrition and health, whole foods are naturally higher in fiber and lower in fat, sodium, sugar and additives compared to highly processed foods. From the standpoint of agricultural sustainability, whole foods bypass the high-energy costs of food processing and transportation. Organic farming systems offer potential benefits to human health through reducing farmers' exposure to pesticides and by increasing the total phenolic content in selected food crops. Participation in farmers' market nutrition programs and gardening has been associated with increased fruit and vegetable intake. Gardening may also be a way to increase access to fresh produce in low-income populations that do not have access to nutritious food outlets and to increase physical activity. Further research is needed to assess the human nutrition and health benefits of other types of sustainable agriculture strategies and to investigate the links among different agricultural practices with nutrient and total phenolic content in a wider variety of important food crops.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.138-146
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• 2024

This study examined the influence of social responsibility awareness (economic and social-environmental responsibility) and trust in corporate social responsibility on sustainable diets. The subjects of the study were 468 university students. The main research results were as follows. First, the social responsibility awareness of the study subjects was 4.03±0.72 points for economic responsibility and 3.48±0.81 points for social-environmental responsibility. An awareness of economic responsibility showed differences according to gender. Trust in corporate social responsibility was 3.62±0.61 points, and there was no statistical significance based on gender. Second, the level of a sustainable diet was food safety and consideration (4.06±0.63), knowledge of the environment and diet (3.94±0.68), understanding of the food circulation system (3.45±0.77), and healthy diet (3.26±0.89). Among the factors influencing a sustainable diet, female students had higher attitudes toward food safety and consideration and understanding of the food circulation system than male students. Third, the social responsibility awareness (economic responsibility and social-environmental responsibility) and corporate social responsibility trust variables influenced university students' sustainable diet. Among these, social-environmental responsibility awareness had the highest influence.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.16.1-16.14
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• 2019

Two dietary experiments were performed to evaluate the impact of the herb Mentha piperita as a dietary supplement on Catla catla. In Experiment 1, fingerlings (0.45-2.60 g) were fed on diets supplemented with M. piperita at different levels (P1, P2, P3, and P4 at 2, 4, 6, and $8g\;Kg^{-1}$ of feed) and C1 served as the control with no peppermint supplementation. In Experiment 2, fingerlings (0.40-3.15 g) were fed with diets containing autochthonous probiotic bacteria Bacillus coagulans (3000 colony forming unit $g^{-1}$) along with M. piperita (PP1-PP4 at 2, 4, 6, and $8g\;Kg^{-1}$ of feed) and feed C2 served as control containing probiotics but no peppermint. Significantly (P < 0.05) high values of growth parameters, digestive enzyme activities, low reed conservation ratio, low excretion of ammonia, and orthophosphates were observed in fingerlings fed with P3 for Experiment 1 and PP3 for Experiment 2. Hematological counts, phagocytic activity, and respiratory burst activity were also enhanced in fingerlings fed with M. piperita supplementation revealing that dietary administration of peppermint at optimum level can enhance the growth, digestibility, and immunity of C. catla fingerlings; however, incorporation of B. coagulans showed better growth and immunity revealing that synergistic effects of M. piperita and autochthonous probiotic in C. catla diets can lead to its sustainable aquaculture.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1028-1041
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze the potential of school meals in South Korea as a sustainable tool to reduce carbon emissions by focusing on animal- vs. plant-based protein foods. MATERIALS/METHODS: By using a stratified proportional allocation method, 536 out of the 11,082 schools nationwide were selected including 21 kindergartens, 287 elementary-, 120 middle- and 108 high schools. A total of 2,680 meals served for 5 consecutive days (June 21-25, 2021) were collected. We analyzed the average serving amounts of protein foods (animal- vs. plant-based) per meal and then, calculated the estimated average amounts of carbon emission equivalents per meal by applying the conversion coefficients. The t-test and analysis of variance were used for statistical analyses (α = 0.05). RESULTS: The average serving amount of animal-based protein foods per meal was 12.5 g, which was approximately 3 times higher than that of plant-based ones (3.8 g) (P < 0.001); the Meat-group had the highest average amount of 17.0 g, followed by Egg-group (9.6 g), Fish-group (7.6 g), and Beans-and-Nuts-group (3.8 g) (P < 0.05). Specifically, pork (25.1 g) was ranked first, followed by poultry (19.6 g), processed meat products (18.0 g). The estimated average amount of carbon emission equivalents of animal-based protein foods per meal was 80.1 g CO₂e, which was approximately 31 times higher than that of plant-based ones (2.6 g CO₂e) (P < 0.001); the Meat-group had the highest average amount of 120.3 g CO₂e, followed by Fish-group (44.5 g CO₂e), Egg-group (25.9 g CO₂e), and Beans-and-Nuts-group (2.6 g CO₂e) (P < 0.05). Specifically, processed meat products (270.8 g CO₂e) were ranked first, followed by pork (91.7 g CO₂e), and processed fish products (86.6 g CO₂e). CONCLUSIONS: The results implied that school meals with plant-based alternatives could be a sustainable tool to improve carbon footprint.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.22.1-22.8
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• 2020

Background: High demand and low supply of fishmeal due to overexploitation of fisheries resources have resulted in a dramatic increase in the price of this ingredient. Olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) commercial feed contains approximately 60% fishmeal and limited success has been achieved in identifying sustainable alternative protein sources for this species. Methods: An on-farm feeding trial was conducted to compare a basal diet containing 65% as the control (CONT) with two experimental diets replacing 10% of fishmeal by animal protein (AP₁₀) or 20% of fishmeal by animal and plant protein (APP₂₀). Sub-adult olive flounder averaging 327 ± 9.3 g (mean±SD) were fed one of the three diets in triplicate groups for 16 weeks. Results: Weight gain, specific growth rate, feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, and survival were not significantly different among fish fed all the experimental diets (P > 0.05). Also, non-specific immune responses (superoxide dismutase and lysozyme activity), serum biochemical parameters, and intestinal villi length were not significantly different among fish fed all the experimental diets (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Therefore, based on growth performance, non-specific immune responses, serum biochemical parameters, and intestinal histology, dietary animal and plant protein mixtures could replace up to 20% of fishmeal in the diet of sub-adult olive flounder.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.406-417
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• 2022

Purpose: The incidence of chronic diseases is increasing and the age of onset is decreasing in South Korea. Healthy eating habits to prevent chronic diseases are established in adolescence. This study verified the identified factors and dynamics that affect diet self-assessment for sustainable adolescent health and the prevention of chronic diseases. Methods: Data were collected from 492 middle and high school students in South Korea from June to July 2018, and the participants answered a questionnaire on dietary safety management competency for sustainable health. Results: The healthy dietary self-assessment scores of overweight/obese adolescents and adolescents who perceived their health as normal were significantly lower than those of other groups. Factor analysis verified the validity of the items that comprised each study area before a multiple regression analysis was used to investigate the factors affecting healthy dietary self-assessment. Sweet and salty diets, anxiety, food and nutrition knowledge, weight management knowledge, stress management, exercise, basic eating habits, and healthy eating habits significantly affected healthy dietary assessment among adolescents. A higher perception of one's health indicated a higher healthy dietary self-assessment, dietary safety knowledge, and health management practice scores (p < 0.01). Factors like healthy dietary self-assessment, food and nutrition knowledge, and weight management knowledge appear to have a significant correlation with other identified factors, except overeating. The adolescents' awareness, knowledge, and dietary safety practices influenced healthy dietary self-assessment, which can prevent chronic diseases and achieve sustainable health. Conclusion: This study illustrated how the adolescents' awareness, knowledge, and practices of dietary safety influenced their healthy diet self-assessment. The results indicate that diet-based health management competency education relative to the adolescents' self-perception and weight levels should be implemented.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.97-106
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• 2010

Environmental issues resulting from climate change and energy crises have become global issues, and cycling has gained greater popularity for sustainable transportation. Though many cities are trying to build bicycle roads, it is not easy to implement bicycle roads because there is little available space for bicycle facilities. Therefore, road diets have become more popular in Korea. However, there has been no intensive research to date of their impacts. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effects of road diets and construction of bike lanes. Every benefit, including energy benefit, environmental benefit, and health benefit is considered, while only time savings benefit has been considered in previous studies. The benefit analysis for the Seoul metropolitan area as a case study shows that road diets have a (1) time saving benefit for only five percent of the mode share and (2) enough total benefit even if bicycle mode share is less than two percent.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2023.05a
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• pp.184-184
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• 2023

Globally, agriculture is one of the largest consumers and polluters of water resources, contributing to the unsustainable use of limited water resources. To reduce the resource use and environmental footprints associated with current and future food systems, researchers and policy makers have recommended the transition to sustainable and healthier diets and the reduction of food loss and waste along the food supply chain. However, there is limited information on the synergistic effects and trade-offs of adopting the two measures. In this study, we assessed the water-saving potential of the two measures in South Korea using environmentally extended input-output relying on the EXIOBASE database for the reference year 2020, along with scenario analysis to model the potential outcomes. Specifically, we analyzed scenarios where meat consumption was reduced by 30% and 50% and in combination with a 50% reduction in food waste at the consumption stage for each scenario. According to our findings, by considering individual measures of dietary change and food waste reduction, shifting to a diet with 30% and 50% less meat consumption could lead to reduction in water footprint by 6.9% and 7.5%, respectively, while 50% reduction in food waste at the consumption stage could save about 14% of water footprint. However, the synergistic effects of the two measures such as 30% less meat consumption and 50% food waste reduction, and 50% less meat consumption and 50% food waste reduction result to 20% and 24% reductions in water footprint, respectively. Moreover, our findings also showed that increasing food consumption with high environmental impacts could promote resources use inefficiency when waste occurs. Thus, policy strategies that address synergistic effects of both dietary change and food waste reduction should be strengthened to achieve sustainable food system. International and national policies can increase resource efficiency by utilizing all available reduction potentials while considering strategies interactions.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.7.1-7.8
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• 2020

Background: To minimize the use of antibiotics and to obtain a more sustainable fish culture and aquaculture industry, development of alternative natural source of immunostimulant to replace antibiotic in aquafeed is highly needed. Objective: Dietary inclusion effect of yacon (YC), ginger (GG), and blueberry (BB) on growth, body composition, and disease resistance of black rockfish against Vibrio anguillarum was compared to ethoxyquin (EQ). Methods: Four hundred eighty juvenile (an initial weight of 4.2 g) fish were randomly distributed into 12 of 50 L flowthrough tanks (forty fish per tank). Four experimental diets were prepared; the control (Con) diet with 0.01% EQ inclusion, and YC, GG, and BB diets at 1% each additive inclusion. Each additive was included into the experimental diets at the expense of wheat flour. Each diet was assigned to triplicate tanks of fish and hand-fed to satiation twice daily for 8 weeks. At the end of 8-week feeding trial, 20 fish from each tank fish were artificially infected by intraperitoneal injection with 0.1 mL of culture suspension of pathogenic V. anguillarum containing 3.3 × 10⁶ cfu/mL respectively. Fish were monitored for the following 8 days after V. anguillarum infection and dead fish were removed every 6 h for the first 4 days and 12 h for the rest of the study. Results: Weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and feed efficiency ratio (FER) of fish fed the YC diet was higher than those of fish fed all other diets. However, feed consumption, protein efficiency ratio, and protein retention was not affected by dietary additive. Moisture, crude protein, and crude lipid content of the whole body of fish were affected by dietary additive. Analysis of the Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that survival of fish fed the YC, BB, and GG diets was higher than the Con diet. Conclusion: Oral administration of YC can improve not only weight gain, SGR, and FER of black rockfish, but lower mortality of rockfish at occurrence of V. anguillarum.