• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.177-185
• /
• 2013

The purpose of this study was to analyze the nutritional status of Chinese female college students in Korea, and to investigate changes in their dietary behavior after residing in Korea. The subjects included 114 Chinese female college students currently studying in Korea. General characteristics and dietary behaviors before and after residing in Korea were investigated. Daily nutrients and food intake were assessed using a one-day 24-hour recall. Consumption of most nutrients, namely calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin $B_2$, vitamin C, and folate was estimated to fall below the EAR for the Korean population. The proportions of subjects whose intake were estimated below the EAR for folate, calcium, vitamin $B_2$, iron, zinc, and vitamin C were 93.0%, 71.9%, 66.7%, 65.8%, 65.8%, and 63.2%, respectively. In the current study, the dietary behavior scores fell significantly after Chinese students immigrated to Korea (p < 0.001); increased frequency of meal skipping, less consumption of fruits and vegetables, irregular meal pattern, and imbalanced diet were some of the significant changes among Chinese students before and after residing in Korea. In addition, consumption of most nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B group, vitamin C, and folate in the Worsened Group was significantly lower, compared with the No Change Group (p < 0.05). According to the changes in dietary behaviors, consumption of most nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin B group, vitamin C, and folate in the Worsened Group was significantly lower than in the No Change Group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, these results indicated that Chinese students practiced more unhealthy dietary behaviors after residing in Korea and Chinese students residing in Korea showed poor nutrient-based diet quality. Conduct of a follow-up study using blood profile tests is needed in order to assess the nutritional status of Chinese students. These results would be used in planning of a nutritional surveillance program for Chinese students.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.315-323
• /
• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Available data suggest that seasonal changes may influence the nutritional status and overall health of elderly individuals. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of seasonal changes and related factors on energy and nutrient intake of older adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Individuals aged 65 years or over were prospectively enrolled in this single-center study (male: 11, female: 20). Data were collected between May 2013 and February 2014 during winter, spring, summer and autumn. Food consumption and biochemical parameters were taken during each season to assess the seasonal nutrition status of the elderly. Upon analysis of biochemical parameters (retinol, vitamin D and vitamin C), an high-performance liquid chromatography device was utilized whereas an Immulite 2000 device was utilized during analysis of serum folic acid and parathyroid hormone. RESULTS: Fruit, fat, egg and bread consumption varied seasonally in males and females (P < 0.05). During winter, daily energy intake was found to be greater than in other seasons in males (557 kcal) and females (330 kcal) (P < 0.05). Additionally, carbohydrates, vegetable protein, n-3 fatty acid and sodium intake increased in winter, while the n-6/n-3 ratio increased in summer among males (P < 0.05). Dietary fiber and sodium intake in winter, vitamin C, iron and zinc intake in spring, and cholesterol, retinol, vitamin D and niacin intake in autumn were found to be higher in females when compared to other seasons (P < 0.05). Serum parathyroid hormone level was higher in winter, and vitamin D level was higher in autumn in both genders (P < 0.05). In males, blood folic acid level was higher in winter, while vitamin C level was higher in females, and there was no seasonal variation in retinol concentration (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Food consumption and biochemical parameters showed significant seasonal variations in older adults. It is not clear if nutrition plans in older adults will benefit from consideration of seasonal changes in eating habits.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.376-382
• /
• 2017

Purpose: The consistent rise in the number of foreign students in Korea demands an accurate and detailed investigation into their dietary practices and nutritional status. For these international students, assimilation into new cultures can be stressful. The influence this process may have on dietary behaviors as well as overall health cannot be overlooked. Methods: The researchers in this study sought to investigate the nutritional status and dietary practices of Ghanaian students studying in Korea. A total of 81 Ghanaian male students with an average age of $29.4{\pm}4.0years$ were sampled between May and June 2016. Investigations were carried out on the general characteristics of the participants, their daily food and nutrient intakes using a 24-h dietary recall method, meal skipping practices, and the nutritional quality of their diets based on their meal skipping habits. Results: The study revealed that the daily nutrient intake of subjects did not fully meet the daily recommended nutrient intake (RNI) established by Ghanaian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), particularly for energy, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B2 requirements. The Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) for calcium was very low, posing a deficiency risk to the participants. Meal skipping practices among participants changed significantly after arriving in Korea. The study also compared the diet quality indicators (Nutrient Adequacy Ratio and Mean Adequacy Ratio) of those who skipped meals ${\geq}7times/week$ with those who skipped meals < 7 times/week. Participants who skipped meals ${\geq}7times/week$ were shown to have lower dietary intakes of vitamins B1 and B2 than those who skipped meals < 7 times/week. Conclusion: Ultimately, the study found that meal skipping among Ghanaian students was common, and their daily nutrient intakes did not meet the set dietary standards. Those who skipped meals ${\geq}7times/week$ had lower dietary intakes of vitamins B1 and B2 than those who skipped meals < 7 times/week. Based on our study findings, we recommend that nutrition education should be organized for the Ghanaian student community in Korea using our results as a template to draw up a nutrition program that is culturally appropriate.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.38 no.7
• /
• pp.533-543
• /
• 2005

The purpose of this study was to determine the iron status of preschool children in Ulsan, Korea. The study was con-ducted using 95 children aged 3 to 6 years by investigating the anthropometric indices and assessing the dietary intakes and biochemical analysis. A questionnaire for dietary intakes using 24-hr recall method were carried out by the mothers of the 95 subjects. And also a study was conducted to assess hematological and biochemical status of iron and prevalence of iron deficiency. The average height and weight were 105.4 $\pm$ 7.0 cm, 18.7 $\pm$ 3.2 kg in boys, 103.8 $\pm$ 6.7 cm, 17.6 $\pm$ 2.7 kg in girls. These were lower than the body growth standard values of Korean pediatrics. There was not a significant difference in both between boys and girls. For the daily nutrient intake, energy was 1201.5 $\pm$ 280.9 kcal (79.3$\%$RDA), protein was 63.8 $\pm$ 28.2 g (219.4$\%$RDA), iron was 11.9 $\pm$ 4.5 mg (133.2$\%$RDA). The iron nutritional status by hematological assay found that Hct was 34.7 $\pm$ 2.0 ($\%$), Hb was 12.0 $\pm$ 0.8 g/dl, RBC was 4.3 $\pm$ 0.3 ($10^6/{\mu}l$), MCV was 80.5 $\pm$ 3.0 fL, MCH was 27.8 $\pm$ 1.1 pg and MCHC was 34.6 $\pm$ 0.6 g/dl. The biochemical measurement of serum iron was 75.6 $\pm$ 30.3 ${\mu}g$/dl, TIBC was 320.3 $\pm$ 34.1 ${\mu}g$/dl, serum ferritin was 30.0 $\pm$ 14.8 ${\mu}g$/dl, Zinc-Protophor-phyrin (ZPP) was 32.7 $\pm$ 8.0 ${\mu}g$/dl, and ZPP/Heme was 71.1 $\pm$ 19.5 ($\mu$mole/mol heme). The prevalence with Hct, Hb, TS and serum ferritin less than cut-off value was $8.4\%,\;9.5\%,\;12.6\%$ and $4.4\%$ respectively. But the prevalence of iron deficiency estimated with ZPP and ZPP/Heme criteria were $25.3\%$ and $27.4\%$, and were higher than in case of any other indices. The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia ((low Hb (< 11.0 g/dl) and low serum ferritin (< 10 ${\mu}g$/L) or low TS (3-4 yews: < $12\%$, 5-6 years: < $14\%$)) was found in only one 3 year old girl. The prevalence of iron deficiency except Hct and Hb was the highest in 3 year group, but the prevalence by Hct and Hb was the highest in 5 year group. Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia do not seem to be a major public health problem in preschool children in Ulsan.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.486-494
• /
• 2001

This study was performed to assess the nutrient intakes and diet quality of rural middle school students provided with and without the national school lunch program(NSLP). The data on dietary intakes were obtained by using food record method questionnaires which were collected from 340 rural middle school students provided with(n=177) and without (n=163) NSLP. Diet quality was accessed by NAR(nutrient adequacy ration), MAR(mean adequacy ration), and INQ( index of nutritional quality). Total energy intakes of the boys were 2123 kcal with NSLP and 1857 kcal without NSLP. Total energy intakes of the girls were 1913 kcal with NSLP and 1814 kcal without NSLP. Phosphorus, vitamin A, vitamin E, ascorbic acid, thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin intakes were above the RDA in the NSLP group. For those without NLSP, phosphorus, vitamin E, thiamin intakes were above RDA, however, calcium, iron vitamin A, vitamin $B_6$ were less than the RDA. The mean adequacy ration(MAR), an index of dietary quality was 0.69(with) 0.62(without) for males and 0.62(without) for females The indexes of nutritional quality(INQ) were over 1 for most nutrients except calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B$_2$ and zinc. The study showed that total daily energy and nutrient intakes were significantly higher in students provided with than those without school-lunches. Thus, the school-lunch program is recommenced and necessary to improve the nutritional status of middle school students.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.29 no.5
• /
• pp.528-532
• /
• 1996

The purpose of this study was to analyse copper intake and effect ofZn(30mg ZnSO4/d) supplementation on plasma copper level of Korean adults. Daily Cu intakes were studied in ninety subjects aging 20-20 years. Among them twenty four subjects participated in 6 weeks Zn supplementation study. The men consumed 1.47($\pm$0.64)mg of Cu and the women consumed 0.98($\pm$0.43)mg of Cu daily. the most abundant sources of Cu was meat, fish, egg and soybean group, the second was cereal and grain group and the third was vegetable group. These three groups supplied about 90% of copper in the subjects. The plasma copper level of the subjects was not changed much until two weeks of Zn supplementation. However, after two weeks of Zn supplementation plasma copper level was reduced continuously during the experiment. There was no significant difference in plasma Cu level between control and supplement group of the men, while the supplemented women showed significantly lower plasma Cu level than control group at week 4(p<0.01) and week 6(p<0.05). Although plasma Cu level of the subjects was slightly changed, its concentration in plasma was still in normal range in all groups and no one showed clinical Cu deficiency. Therefore the Zn supplementation of RDA level doesn't seem to cause any adverse effect on Cu status.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.501-507
• /
• 2010

Three hundred chicks were randomly assigned among four treatments to evaluate the effect of an organic selenium supplement at various levels of dietary protein. Two levels of supplemental selenium (0 and 0.3 mg/kg) from zinc-L-selenomethionine were tested at two levels of dietary protein (normal and reduced) in a completely randomized design with $2{\times}2$ factorial layout. The experiment lasted up to 49 d of age during which all birds were exposed to $31{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. The effects of selenium or its interaction with CP on growth performance and carcass characteristics were not significant. However, feeding the reduced-CP diet decreased weight gain in the starting period and increased liver and abdominal fat weights relative to body weight. Ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) was not significantly affected by dietary CP and Se or their interaction though FRAP values were numerically higher in the Se-supplemented group. Dietary CP content did not affect the activity of plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), though Se significantly elevated plasma GSHPx activity. The interaction of CP and Se was not significant for FRAP and plasma GSHPx activity.

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

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.323-328
• /
• 2000

The administration of soluble glass bolus (SGB) with cobalt (Co), selenium (Se) and copper (Cu), among 50 upgraded does in the farm of Central Luzon State University, Philippines, was effective in improving the mineral status of the animals. After one year, blood Se and plasma Cu had been significantly increased; subsequently plasma molybdenum (Mo) level had been reduced, but other macro-minerals were not affected. Soluble glass bolus supplementation did not affect plasma calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and sodium (Na), although the treated does had higher plasma phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and zinc (Zn) in some parts of the year. Hematocrit count of the animals was also improved reaching 32% level after 9 months; although it was still 6% below the lower limit of a normal range of 38 to 45%. The desired improvement in Se, Cu and Mo was not able to influence live weight among the animals. After one year, body weight was not significantly different from the control group of animals. Nevertheless, the study showed the effectiveness of SGB in improving Cu and Se levels, and subsequently reducing the plasma Mo levels of grazing goats in a typical Philippine farm.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.67-81
• /
• 2001

Traditionally, genetic variability is generated by an extensive crossing program, which is complemented by strict selection to identify useful new recombinants. Plant biotechnology offers many opportunities for breeders to solve certain breeding problems at the molecular level. The tissue culture methodology and the genetic modification of economically important monocotyledons have undergone a revolution in the last decade. As the production of transgenic plants is a complex procedure, including the uptake of DNA molecules into the cells, the integration of foreign nucleotide sequences into the host genomic DNA and the expression of new genes in a controlled way, and as there are still many unsolved questions, further development is necessary. The methodology opens up the possibility of introducing novel genes that may induce resistance to diseases and abiotic stresses, allow the modification of dough quality and the dietetic quality of proteins, and increase the levels of micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamins. In the present review, the authors would like to summarise the most important advances in wheat transformation.