No abstract available.
Nutrition Policy*

This study assessed the current EAR, RDA, and AMDR for protein, which were set in 2005 and revised in 2010 as the DRIs for Koreans. A classical approach to establish the EAR for protein has been the nitrogen balance method. This method has practical limitations and problems in statistical analysis by giving over estimations of nitrogen balance. Thus, the present EAR for protein might be lower than the true requirement. Recent reevaluations of nitrogen balance studies by bilinear regression analysis and the IAAO method have indicated that the EAR of 0.66 g/kg bw/d should be increased by 39% to give 0.92 g/kg bw/d. The AMDR for protein in the Korean DRIs was set at 7-10%, which covers almost the entire population's protein intake. Since the 5th percentile of Korean protein intake is close to 10% of energy and due to the beneficial effects of protein beyond the maintenance of nitrogen equilibrium, the lower range of 7% needs to be increased up to 10%. For practical meal arrangement, 15% of energy as protein, which is close to the average protein intake of Koreans, seems to be proper, although the value is almost two times the EAR.
Ear ; Meals ; Nitrogen ; Nutrition Policy

OBJECTIVES: A higher consumption of vegetables is emphasized as the core component of most dietary guidelines. Thus, this research investigated the dietary habits and influencing factors of vegetable preferences of adolescents. METHODS: This study was conducted by using a self-administered questionnaire. 400 students from two high schools in Gyeongnam (193 boys, 207 girls) participated in the survey. The questionnaire consisted of the following variables: dietary habit, dietary action guide and factors based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT). RESULTS: The dietary habits of subjects showed significant differences depending on whether they prefer vegetables or not. The subjects in the group who liked vegetables had better dietary habits than the other group. Also, the study determined that the most important reason for liking or disliking vegetables is due to the taste. In the practice of dietary guidelines, the group of subjects who liked vegetables followed dietary guidelines more closely than the other group (p < 0.001). When the factors based on SCT were analyzed, personal factors showed significant differences between the groups: outcome expectation (p < 0.001), self-efficacy (p < 0.001) and affective attitude (p < 0.001). Personal factors and rated vegetable preferences showed a significant correlation in multiple regression analysis (F=42.015, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that vegetable preference is associated with a key point of desirable dietary habits among subjects. In order to increase vegetable preference or consumption, it is important to focus on strengthening not only self-efficacy of students, but also affective attitude of vegetable.
Adolescent* ; Food Habits* ; Humans ; Nutrition Policy ; Vegetables*

We attempted to define the sources of sodium intake for the Korean population at prepared dish level to provide a basis for developing sustainable nutrition policies and feasible programs for sodium intake reduction. Dietary intake data from 2008 and 2009 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used in the analysis for sodium intake sources. Sodium intake from individual dish consumed by each subject was calculated and used in delineating major sodium sources at dish and dish group level for sub-populations of different sex and age. Also, sodium intake was compared between eaters and non-eaters of some specific dish groups with considerable contribution to total sodium intake. The number of subjects included in the analysis was 18,022 and mean sodium intake was 4,600 mg/capita/day. Major sources of sodium intake at dish group level were in the following order: kimchi (1125 mg, 24.5%), noodles (572 mg, 12.4%), soups (488 mg, 10.6%), stews (399 mg, 8.7%), and cooked rice (284 mg, 6.2%). The magnitude of contribution to total sodium intake by soups and stews was different by age group. Sodium intake difference between eaters and non-eaters was much larger for kimchi group (2,343 mg for male, 1,452 mg for female) than for soups or stews. Interaction between consumption of aforementioned specific dish groups and age was highly significant (p < 0.0005) for both sexes. This study revealed an importance of having not only the control over sodium content of foods/dishes, but also the customized approach for different groups of population to accomplish an appreciable reduction in sodium intake.
Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutrition Surveys ; Sodium

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a valid instrument for measuring the dietary quality and behaviors of Korean elderly. METHODS: The development of the Nutrition Quotient for Elderly (NQ-E) was conducted in three steps: item generation, item reduction, and validation. The 41 items of the NQ-E checklist were derived from a systematic literature review, expert in-depth interviews, statistical analyses of the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, and national nutrition policies and recommendations. Pearson's correlation was used to determine the level of agreement between the questionnaires and nutrient intake level, and 24 items were selected for a nationwide survey. A total of 1,000 nationwide elderly subjects completed the checklist questionnaire. The construct validity of the NQ-E was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis, LISREL. RESULTS: The nineteen checklist items were used as final items for NQ-E. Checklist items were composed of four-factors: food behavior (6 items), balance (4 items), diversity (6 items), and moderation (3 items). The standardized path coefficients were used as the weights of the items. The NQ-E and four-factor scores were calculated according to the obtained weights of the questionnaire items. CONCLUSION: NQ-E would be a useful tool for assessing the food behavior and dietary quality of the elderly.
Aged ; Checklist ; Humans ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutrition Surveys ; Weights and Measures

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the diet with the amount and the qualitative assessment of nutrient intakes by the economic level. Data from the 1998 Korean Health and Nutrition Survey were used. Using the poverty line based on the 1998 Korean minimum cost of living, Subjects (n = 10400) were classified into high class (36.1%), middle class (40.7%) and low class (23.1%). Chi-square-test and Analysis of Variance following Duncan's multiple range test were used to test the difference in nutrient intake pattern among three groups (alpha = 0.05). The amount of nutrient intake and nutrient intake adequacy were statistically different by the economic level (p<0.01). The ratio of energy intake from carbohydrate is higher than the criteria of WHO recommendation in all economic levels. Especially people in the low class depended much on the carbohydrate for the energy intake. The ratio of energy from the protein and fat are lower in the middle and low class than that of the high class. The Intake level of calcium and vitamin B2 were lower than those of the Recommended Dietary intake level, regardless of economic status. It also showed differences in major food sources of nutrients by the economic level Consequently, it seems that the nutrition policy and program should be prepared according to their economic status. Also, there should more detailed studies to find out the nutrient intake pattern, their determinant, and health consequences.
Calcium ; Diet ; Energy Intake ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Poverty ; Riboflavin

Shanghai Diet and Health Survey (SDHS) was designed to prospectively access local residents' food consumption, energy and nutrient intake, related chemical contaminant exposure, and the seasonal change trend to explore the relationship of diet with health. Data from SDHS can be used as fundamental information and scientific evidences for the development of local nutrition and food safety policies.
China ; Diet ; Energy Intake ; Health Surveys ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutrition Surveys

PURPOSE: Given that the indicators related to chronic diseases are important to evaluating goals of the national health policy, the aim of this study was to develop dietary behavior items available in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. METHODS: The dietary behavior items were developed based on the literature reviews, need assessment of the field, expert focus-group interviews, and expert advisory meeting. Questions for each dietary behavior item were developed by reflecting on environmental, personal, and behavior factors of the ecological frame and then revised through expert focus-group interview and expert advisory meeting. The understanding and reliability of the developed questionnaire were assessed by cognitive interview and test-retest reliability. RESULTS: The developed items were sodium and salt intake, added and simple sugar intake, enough time to consume a meal for all ages, caffeine drinks and fresh/healthy food intake for children and adolescents, and limited dietary intake, fresh/healthy food intake for seniors. In most questions except some questions on sodium and salt intake, subjects understood over 70% and consistency of responses based on the kappa values was acceptable. CONCLUSION: Developed dietary behavior items are expected to be useful for evidence-based nutrition policy, interventions and research targeting dietary patterns through investigating and monitoring dietary behavior patterns.
Adolescent ; Caffeine ; Child ; Chronic Disease ; Eating ; Health Policy ; Humans ; Korea* ; Meals ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Sodium

PURPOSE: This study was conducted in order to investigate children's Nutrition Quotient (NQ) and the degree of keeping the Dietary Guidelines of children and their mothers and to further examine the relationships between children and mothers. METHODS: The subjects were 281 children from 4th to 6th grade in an elementary school located in Gwangju and their mothers RESULTS: NQ of the children was 66.8 +/- 14.2, which was in the third (medium) grade. Among the five factors, the scores for Moderation and Diversity were in the second (high) grade, but those for Regularity, Practice, and Balance were in the third grade. Children of non-working mothers had significantly higher scores for NQ and Balance than those of working mothers. Children of mothers with age over 40 had a significantly higher score on Diversity than those with mothers under age 40. Children of mothers with higher education showed higher score for Regularity than those with lower education. Children from high-income families had higher score for Moderation. The score for children keeping the Dietary Guidelines was 78.8 +/- 10.5 and children of non-working mothers showed higher score than those of working mothers. The score for mothers practicing the Dietary Guidelines was 80.6 +/- 9.4 and non-working mothers and mothers with age over 40 had higher score. Children's NQ showed significant correlation with the score for keeping the Dietary Guidelines for children (r = 0.789, p < 0.001) and also with that of mothers (r = 0.235, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: These results show that NQ of elementary school children in Gwangju is in the medium grade, the degree of practicing the Dietary Guidelines for children is pretty fair, and these factors are influenced by their mother's socioeconomic characteristics such as employment, age, education, and family income.
Child ; Education ; Employment ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Mothers* ; Nutrition Policy*

The objective of this research was to analyze nutritional status and food consumption of children participating in the Posyandu nutrition program. A total sample of 300 children under five years had been drawn. Sample was divided into two categories namely high participation and low participation in the Posyandu nutrition program. The sample was selected from two sub districts of Cianjur District, West Java. The districts were areas with a high proportion of poor people and many of them take the benefits of Posyandu nutrition program conducted by the government. The participation of children (under five years old) in visiting Posyandus was relatively good, namely, 92.4% (for the high participation group). However, for the low participation group, the number of participating children was relatively low (28.3%). The average consumption of energy for children under five years old was still below the recommended dietary allowance < 80% of RDA, whereas the protein consumption was already above the RDA. The prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting among children were respectively 30.0%, 43.7%, and 12.3%. The activities at Posyandus had a positive impact on the nutritional status of children under five years olds, measured in terms of weight for age (W/A) and weight for height (W/H). The more frequent the visit to Posyandus, the better the nutritional statuses would be.
Child ; Humans ; Indonesia ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutritional Status ; Prevalence ; Thinness