This study was conducted to develop a computerized food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for assessing nutritional status of women of child-bearing age. Computerized food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that reflect intakes of energy, carbohydrate, fat and protein was developed for women of child-bearing age. This FFQ is composed of 61 foods or food groups containing 192 dish items. To estimate of energy intake easily, we have developed a computer program that can be viewed on a computer screen in an actual size of dish items. Nutrient intakes of the last three months by the FFQ was validated with comparing the result of a 3-day diet record through 92 college students aged from 20 to 30. The level of energy, carbohydrate and sodium of estimating by the FFQ method was significantly higher than the level of a 3-day diet records method (p < 0.01). Pearson's correlation coefficients between the two methods were 0.50 for carbohydrate (p < 0.01), 0.55 for energy (p < 0.01) and 0.56 for protein (p < 0.01). Spearman's correlation coefficients were 0.53 for carbohydrate (p < 0.01), 0.55 for energy (p < 0.01) and 0.52 for protein (p < 0.01). The percent of subject in the lowest quartile in a 3-day diet record belonged to the first and second lowest quartile in food frequency questionnaire is 78.2% in energy, 91.3% in carbohydrate, 78.2% in protein, 69.5% in fat. Also, the percent of subject in the highest quartile in a 3-day diet record belong to the first and second highest quartile in food frequency questionnaire is 78.3% in energy, 73.9% in carbohydrate, 82.6% in protein, and 73.9% in fat. On the whole, the result of this study seemed to be in good agreement with other studies. Therefore, the FFQ developed by this study is considered to be a reliable tool to assess nutrients and food intakes for women of child-bearing age.
Aged ; Diet Records ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Humans ; Nutritional Status ; Sodium ; Software

Carotenoid-rich foods focus one's attention on the prevention age-related diseases. This study was conducted to investigate the carotenoid status and look into the factors that affect the bioavailability of carotenoid in 121 elderly nonsmoking Korean women. Carotenoids and lipids in plasma, and nutrient intakes including carotenoid were studied. The mean plasma total-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations were 220.0 mg/dl, 49.5 mg/dl, 139.2 mg/dl and 157.4 mg/dl, respectively. Significantly positive correlations were found between the plasma lutein + zeaxanthin, lycopene and beta-carotene concentrations and the intake of fruits (r = 0.17, r = 0.20, r = 0.19). However, significantly negative correlations were found between the plasma lutein+zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene concentrations that adjusted for carotenoid intakes and intakes of vegetables (r = - 0.21, r = - 0.19), and between plasma lutein+zeaxanthin, lycopene and beta-carotene concentrations that adjusted for carotenoid intakes and intakes of fruits (r = - 0.21, r = - 0.18, r = - 0.24). After the adjustment for plasma lipids, there was no correlation between the plasma carotenoid concentrations and the carotenoid-rich foods. However, after adjustment for fiber intake, significantly strong positive correlations were found between the plasma carotenoid concentrations and carotenoid-rich foods. The plasma levels of carotenoid biomarkers (plasma carotenoid concentrations adjusted for dietary fiber intakes) decreased with age, and the plasma levels of lycopene biomarkers (plasma lycopene concentrations adjusted for dietary fiber intakes) increased with regular exercise. However alcohol drinking had no impact. These results suggested that age, physical activity, and dietary fiber intake affected the bioavailability of carotenoid. Therefore, when the elderly have carotenoid-rich foods, they should consider ways of increasing the bioavailability of carotenoid through cooking methods and physical activity.
Aged* ; Alcohol Drinking ; beta Carotene ; Biological Availability* ; Biomarkers ; Carotenoids ; Cooking ; Dietary Fiber ; Female ; Fruit ; Humans ; Lutein ; Motor Activity ; Plasma ; Triglycerides ; Vegetables

The purpose of this study was to develop a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQ-FFQ) for subjects aged 50yr and over and to evaluate the validity of this SQ-FFQ. Dietary intake was assessed using SQ-FFQ that included 98 commonly consumed flood items selected from the results of the Korean Health and Nutritional Survey, 1998. Subjects (n = 2,660) aged 50yr and over were recruited from 7 metropolitan cities and 8 small cities. Each subject was interviewed using this SQ-FFQ developed in our laboratory and 24hr-recall method. Excluding incomplete data, Data from 1,149 subjects were used in this validity study. The nutrient intakes assessed by this SQ-FFQ were validated by comparing with the results from 1 day 24-hour recalls. Pearson's correlation coefficients between two methods were 0.71, 0.64, 0.53, and 0.43 for energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat, respectively for all subjects. Spearman's correlation coefficients were higher than those of Pearson's correlation coefficients. Kappa values for energy, carbohydrate, protein, and fat were 0.79, 0.72, 0.70, and 0.64, respectively. The percentage for misclassification of the lowest quartile into the highest quartile or vice versa was 1.25-1.39% for all nutrients. Therefore, this SQ-FFQ seems to be useful in assessing the nutritional status of the middle-aged and elderly subjects in Korea.
Aged* ; Humans ; Korea ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Breastfeeding has been known as the best feeding practice to prevent allergies including atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the benefit on the prevention of allergic disease is still controversial. The objectives of this study were to examine the rate of sensitization to the protein of eggs, cow's milk and soy in exclusively breastfed infants and to evaluate antigen-antibody reaction between breast milk and serum of AD infant. Data on feeding and food hypersensitivity were obtained for 62 AD infants (32 male, 30 female) aged < 6 month who had visited Samsung Medical Center from September 2001 to May 2003. Food hypersensitivity was determined by measuring specific IgE to egg, cow's milk and soy. Specific IgE levels > 0.7 kU/L by CAP assay (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) were considered positive. The rates of sensitization in breastfed infants were 41.9% (26/62) to egg, 30.6% (19/62) to milk and 18.0% (11/62) to soy. Immunoblotting analyses were performed using breast milk with the matched serum of seven AD infants (4 male/3 female). Binding patterns of AD infant's IgE to breast milk extract showed visible specific band for immunoglobulin, especially in case of a lactating mother who did not completely restricted ingestion of egg, milk and soy. These results indicate that sensitization to food allergen develops via breast milk feeding. Breast milk feeding should be recommended in infants at risk of developing allergic disease, but maternal intake of highly allergenic food might be restricted for prevention and treatment of food allergy among the babies with AD.
Antigen-Antibody Reactions ; Breast Feeding ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eating ; Eggs ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant* ; Male ; Milk ; Milk, Human ; Mothers ; Ovum

Breastfeeding has been known as the best feeding practice to prevent allergies including atopic dermatitis (AD). However, the benefit on the prevention of allergic disease is still controversial. The objectives of this study were to examine the rate of sensitization to the protein of eggs, cow's milk and soy in exclusively breastfed infants and to evaluate antigen-antibody reaction between breast milk and serum of AD infant. Data on feeding and food hypersensitivity were obtained for 62 AD infants (32 male, 30 female) aged < 6 month who had visited Samsung Medical Center from September 2001 to May 2003. Food hypersensitivity was determined by measuring specific IgE to egg, cow's milk and soy. Specific IgE levels > 0.7 kU/L by CAP assay (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) were considered positive. The rates of sensitization in breastfed infants were 41.9% (26/62) to egg, 30.6% (19/62) to milk and 18.0% (11/62) to soy. Immunoblotting analyses were performed using breast milk with the matched serum of seven AD infants (4 male/3 female). Binding patterns of AD infant's IgE to breast milk extract showed visible specific band for immunoglobulin, especially in case of a lactating mother who did not completely restricted ingestion of egg, milk and soy. These results indicate that sensitization to food allergen develops via breast milk feeding. Breast milk feeding should be recommended in infants at risk of developing allergic disease, but maternal intake of highly allergenic food might be restricted for prevention and treatment of food allergy among the babies with AD.
Antigen-Antibody Reactions ; Breast Feeding ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Eating ; Eggs ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoblotting ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Infant* ; Male ; Milk ; Milk, Human ; Mothers ; Ovum

The purpose of this study was to determined the rate of sensitization to food allergen in children with Atopic Dermatitis (AD) in Korea. A total of 3,783 patients (male = 1983, female = 1800) with AD (age under 18 years) who had visited Samsung Medical Center from 1998 to 2003 were enrolled in the study. Food hypersensitivity was measured by specific IgE to egg, cow's milk, soy, peanut, wheat, buckwheat, beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, crab, salmon, mackerel, etc. Specific IgE levels >0.7 kU/L by Captured Allergen Product (CAP) assay were considered positive. Chi-square test at p value < 0.05 was used to examine the difference of the prevalence by sex and age. The rate of sensitization to multiple food allergens was 31.2% and decreased with age. Hypersensitivity to egg showed highest prevalence, which was 24.3%, compared to the prevalence of other foods. High prevalence of hypersensitivity to milk, wheat, soy, peanut, crab or shrimp was observed (11.6 - 17.7%). Low prevalence of hypersensitivity to beef, pork, tuna or chicken was observed (1.9 - 3.5%). Children aged under 3 years had significantly higher prevalence of hypersensitivity to egg, milk, soy and beef than children aged at least 3 years. Our results stress the need for examination of food hypersensitivity aimed at identified and limited each food allergen among children with AD caused by food to help patients outgrow their food allergy.
Allergens ; Chickens ; Child* ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Fagopyrum ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Korea ; Milk ; Ovum ; Perciformes ; Prevalence ; Salmon ; Soy Milk ; Triticum ; Tuna

This short-term, prospective study was aimed to assess the effects of partially hydrolyzed formula (PHF) on the prevention of the development of atopic dermatitis in infants at high risk. The infants of parents with allergy symptoms and serum total IgE over 200 kU/L were divided into 3 groups by their feeding patterns: PHF group (n=15), standard formula (SF) group (n=32), and breast milk (BM) group (n=22). No allergenic food was given during the study period of 6 months, and breastfeeding mothers avoided egg ingestion. Their atopic symptoms were monitored every 2 months. The cumulative incidence and prevalence of atopic dermatitis at the age of 6 months were significantly less in the PHF group than in the SF group (47% vs.78%, p<0.05; 20% vs. 59%, p<0.05). Those rates of the PHF group were also less than those of the BM group, but they were not statistically significant. There was no difference in the onset age and disease severity. These results suggest that early feeding of PHF to infants at high risk has a short-term preventive effect on the development of atopic dermatitis during the first 6 months of life. Long-term preventive effects should be evaluated.
Breast Feeding ; Dermatitis, Atopic/*etiology/*prevention & control ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Human ; Hydrolysis ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E/blood ; Infant ; *Infant Food ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Milk, Human ; Prospective Studies ; Protein Hydrolysates/*therapeutic use ; Risk ; Time Factors