Obesity, a state of having excessive body fat enough to attack one's health, is most blamed for causing chronical degenerative illness such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus as well as arteriosclerosis. According to many studies, the program for the weight control was the most demanded at the worksites. This study was designed to investigate the correlation between the degree of obesity and blood parameters of the employees at the worksites. The results of periodic medical examination for 571 employees(male: 418, female: 153) were analyzed; Age, BMI, systolic blood pressure(SBP), diastolic blood pressure(DBP), hemoglobin(Hb), fasting blood sugar(FBS), total-cholesterol(TC), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (sGOT), serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase(sGPT) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase(gamma-GTP). Pearson correlation coefficient was used to find out the correlation between BMI and each blood parameters. In the case of male, 27.3% of the subjects were over-weight. The subject's age and their blood levels of uric acid, FBS, sGOT and sGPT did not show any significant difference regardless of BMI's, while SBP, DBP, Hb, TC and gamma-GTP levels of the overweight group were significantly higher than those of normal group. In the case of female, 9.2% of the subjects were over-weight. This study shows that the implementation of weight control program is required at the worksites
Adipose Tissue ; Alanine Transaminase ; Arteriosclerosis ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Male ; Obesity* ; Overweight ; Uric Acid ; Workplace*

In Korea, the practice of nutrition education program at the worksite has not yet been implemented, especially for the workers who are at risk for health. Accordingly, the worksite nutrition program, education, and nutrition counseling are necessary. In this study, the worksite nutrition program was developed from June, 1997 to May, 1998. For this program, we surveyed the workers' age and the levels of education, income and physical activity. We developed the proper dietary intake questionnaire to evaluate the employees' nutritional status and the nutrition index which is a simple tool to assess nutrient intakes of the employees at the worksites. To demonstrate the validity of the developed nutritional assessment tools, the CAN(Computer Aided Nutritional) program and Hyunmin system developed by the Korean Nutrition Society and the Korean Dietetic Association respectively, were used as references. The result of the validity test for the dietary assessment method that we have been developed revealed that the method was valid showing no significant difference among the various methods. However, the carbohydrate intake measured by the CAN program was higher than those of others. The validity test results for the nutrient index method showed that there was no significant difference among the methods, except the carbohydrate intake measured by the Hyunmin system was lower that those of others. As a result, we concluded that the dietary assessment methods that we had been developed, were valid method to measure the nutrient intakes of the employees at the worksites.
Counseling ; Education ; Korea ; Motor Activity ; Nutrition Assessment ; Nutritional Status ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Workplace*

This study was done to investigate the 12 college volleyball player's food behavior, nutrient intakes, and their serum lipid levels during the periods of training and detraining and to provide basic data for an effective progrm for the volleyball players during the period fo detraining after the game season. The results were summarized as follows : The total daily energy intake of the players was 3,363+/-339kcal and3,692+/-499kcal during the periods of the training and detraining, respectively. During the training period, daily intakes of protein, calcium and vitamin A, and B2 were lower than the recommended dietary allowance for the players. During the detraining period, the players' daily intakes of calcium, iron, and vitamin A were even lower. However, the consumption of alcohol was dramatically increased during the period of detraining. The levels of serum triglyceride and very low density lipoprotein were significantly increased during the detraining period. Basal metabolic rates were significantly increased after the training period and diastolic pressure was decreased during the detraining period. In conclusion, out results suggest that the detraining of volleyball players for 10 days after intensive training, negatively affects their food behavior and serum lipid concentrations. Therefore, for the improvement of performance for the next game season, a planned program for the players' detraining period should be developed.
Basal Metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; Calcium ; Energy Intake ; Feeding Behavior ; Food Habits* ; Iron ; Lipoproteins ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Seasons ; Triglycerides ; Vitamin A ; Volleyball*

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of iron supplement for 4 weeks on iron status, immunity, and antioxidant status of national female soccer players (n = 25). This study was performed at summer hard training period right before competition. A single blind design was used to divide the subjects into iron-supplement (IS) or placebo group (P). Iron-supplement group was supplemented with iron (40 mg/d) for 4 weeks. The mean age of the subjects was 23.3 +/- 2.5 years old. Mean height and body weight of the subjects were 164.4 +/- 5.7 em and 57.4 +/- 4.6 kg, respectively. The mean carrier as soccer player was 11.0 +/- 2.6 years and mean training time was 7.0 +/- 1.3 hr/day. The mean hemoglobin, hematocrit, total iron binding capacity and ferritin concentrations before iron supplementation were not different between two groups. After 4 weeks of summer training and iron supplementation, serum ferritin level was significantly increased only in IS group after supplementation. Mean corpuscular volume and total iron binding capacity were significantly decreased in both groups. Meanwhile, hemoglobin and red blood cell count were significantly lowered only in placebo group. The IgM concentration increased significantly in both groups, but IgG concentration had increasing tendency only in IS group (p<0.064). Therefore, iron supplementation during hard training period may be helpful to improve work capacity of the athletes by improving ferritin status and humoral immune responses.
Anemia ; Athletes ; Body Weight ; Erythrocyte Count ; Erythrocyte Indices ; Female* ; Ferritins ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Iron* ; Soccer*

Asian populations are thought to receive significant health benefits from traditional diets rich in soybeans due to high isoflavone contents. However, available epidemiologic data only weakly support this hypothesis. The present study was carried out to assess the pharmacokinetics of isoflavones in South Korean women after ingestion of soy-based foods. Twenty-six healthy female volunteers (20-30 y old) consumed three different soy products (i.e., isogen, soymilk, and fermented soybeans) with different aglycone/glucoside ratios. Plasma and urine isoflavone concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after ingestion of one of the soy products. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using the WinNonlin program. The area under the curve (AUC) for plasma daidzein levels of the soymilk group (2,101 +/- 352 ng . h/mL) was significantly smaller than those of the isogen (2,628 +/- 573 ng . h/mL) and fermented soybean (2,593 +/- 465 ng . h/mL) groups. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) of daidzein for the soymilk group (231 +/- 44 ng/mL) was significantly higher than those of the isogen (160 +/- 32 ng/mL) and fermented soybean (195 +/- 35 ng/mL) groups. The half-lives of daidzein and genistein in the soymilk group (5.9 and 5.6 h, respectively) were significantly shorter than those in the individuals given isogen (9.6 and 8.5 h, respectively) or fermented soybean (9.5 and 8.2 h, respectively). The urinary recovery rates of daidzein and genistein were 42% and 17% for the isogen group, 46% and 23% for the fermented soybean group, and 33% and 22% for the soymilk group. In conclusion, our data indicated that soy products containing high levels of isoflavone aglycone are more effective for maintaining plasma isoflavone concentrations. Additional dose-response, durational, and interventional studies are required to evaluate the ability of soy-based foods to increase the bioavailability of isoflavones that positively affect human health.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biological Availability ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Diet ; Eating ; Female ; Genistein ; Humans ; Insurance Benefits ; Isoflavones ; Plasma ; Soybeans

Poor diet quality is one of strong predictors of subsequent increased mortality in hemodialysis patients. To determine diet quality and to define major problems contributing to poor diet quality in hemodialysis patients, a cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2009 and October 2010. Sixty-three hemodialysis patients (31 men, 32 women; aged 55.3 +/- 11.9 years) in stable condition were recruited from the Artificial Kidney Center in Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. Three-day diet records were obtained for dietary assessment. Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) is the average of the ratio of intakes to Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) for 12 nutrients. Index of nutritional quality (INQ) was determined as the nutritional density per 1,000 kcal of calories. Overall diet quality was evaluated using the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I). Statistics were used to determine diet quality, comparing dietary intake to DRI. Dietary calories (21.9 +/- 6.7 kcal/kg/day) and protein (0.9 +/- 0.3 g/kg/day) were found insufficient in the participants. The overall intake of 12 nutrients appeared to be also inadequate (0.66 +/- 0.15), but INQs of overall nutrients, except for folate (0.6) and calcium (0.8), were found relatively adequate (INQ > or = 1). As a result of diet quality assessment using DQI-I, dietary imbalance and inadequacy were found to be the most problematic in hemodialysis patients. This study suggests that the main reason for insufficient intake of essential nutrients is insufficient calorie intake. Hemodialysis patients should be encouraged to use various food sources to meet their energy requirements as well as satisfy overall balance and nutrient adequacy.
Calcium ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet Records ; Diet* ; Energy Intake* ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Humans ; Kidneys, Artificial ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality ; Nutritive Value ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Renal Dialysis* ; Seoul

Caloric restriction is recognized as one of the best treatment options for obesity, and is associated with changes in body composition. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of age in caloric restriction in overweight and obese women. In this caloric restriction study, nutrient intake of 61 women was evaluated using food records written by subjects for three days. Body composition and metabolic risk factors were assessed before and after caloric restriction. Blood levels of lipids, glucose, leptin, and adiponectin were measured. Visceral fat and subcutaneous fat were evaluated using bioimpedance analysis. General linear models (GLM) identified the independent effects of age after co-varying baseline weight and difference of energy intake. Weight, fat mass, visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, and blood pressure showed a significant decrease by caloric restriction of 452 kcal/day. The percent changes in weight, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat were -4.5%, -12.0%, and -8.2%, respectively, after caloric restriction. The percent changes of weight, visceral fat, and subcutaneous fat showed an independent association with age co-varying baseline weight and difference of energy intake. Decreased change in percent of leptin by caloric restriction also showed an association with age. Changes in body composition and leptin by caloric restriction showed an independent association with age. This may indicate greater difficulty in achievement of change of body composition as well as greater obesity-related metabolic risk with aging. Therefore, caloric restriction considering age should be recommended for effective dietary treatment in overweight or obese women.
Achievement ; Adiponectin ; Aging ; Blood Pressure ; Body Composition* ; Caloric Restriction* ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Leptin ; Linear Models ; Obesity ; Overweight* ; Risk Factors ; Subcutaneous Fat

The purpose of this study was to investigate the food habits, nutrient intake, and disease distribution in the elderly (aged over 65 years). The correlation of diseases with anthropometric measurements and nutrients was investigated. The correlation of blood parameters with anthropometric measurements and nutrient intake was also studied. The results are as follow: 1) Most elderly men (68.6%) and women (81.6%) had more than three diseases. The food habits of the elderly women were worse than those of the men. Their intake of protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin B2 were lower than the RDA for those particular nutrients. 2) The incidence of gastritis (51.2%), fatty liver (46.4%), and hypertension (45.2%) were the highest among elderly men and women. 3) Anemia was negatively correlated with body weight. Hypercholesterolemia was positively correlated with body fat and negatively correlated with intake of calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin B2. Hypertension was negatively correlated with alcohol consumption. 4) Blood total cholesterol concentration was positively correlated with percent ideal body weight (% IBW). Blood hemoglobin level was positively correlated with Body Mass Index (BMI). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were positively correlated with % IBW and BMI. Blood cholesterol concentration was negatively correlated with the intake of iron, vitamin A, vitamin B2, and cholesterol, and positively correlated with the consumption of alcohol. Blood hemoglobin level was positively correlated with the intake of total calories, carbohydrates, fat, protein, iron, vitamin B2, phosphorus, cholesterol, salt, and alcohol.
Adipose Tissue ; Aged* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Anemia ; Anthropometry ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Body Weight ; Calcium ; Carbohydrates ; Cholesterol ; Fatty Liver ; Female ; Food Habits* ; Gastritis ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Ideal Body Weight ; Incidence ; Iron ; Male ; Phosphorus ; Riboflavin ; Vitamin A

The prevalence of chronic diseases have been rising in the developing countries because of their increased animal foods consumption and Western lifestyle. Lately, vegetarian diet that exclude animal products get public attention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status and dietary quality of vegetarians, and their consumption of vitamin K and was also assessed. Vegetarians including strict vegan and lacto-ovo-vegetarian consumed their diet at least over 6 months. Carnivores were gender and age matched with vegetarians and they consumed over 50% of protein and fat from animal sources. Current nutrient intakes and dietary quality were assessed using 3-day food records and intake of vitamin K was calculated from the data base of "Provisional Table on the vitamin K contents of foods, USA". Blood sample were collected and biochemical parameters and plasma phylloquinone concentrations were analyzed. Anthropometric data from vegetarian and carnivore were not significantly different. The intake of calories, protein, vitamin B2, Ca and Zn of the vegetarians were remarkably lower than RDA for each nutrient. Moreover, index of nutritional quality and nutrient adequacy ratio of vegetarians were lower than those of carnivore. Vegetarian consumed less fat and the ratio of n-6/n-3 fatty acid was lower in vegetarian. The intake of essential amino acids in vegetarian was significantly lower than that of carnivore. The vitamin K consumption and plasma phylloquinone concentration of vegetarian were significantly higher than those of carnivore (p < 0.05). The dietary vitamin K consumption was positively correlated with plasma phylloquinone levels in vegetarian (p < 0.01).
Amino Acids, Essential ; Animals ; Chronic Disease ; Developing Countries ; Diet ; Diet, Vegetarian ; Life Style ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritive Value ; Plasma ; Prevalence ; Riboflavin ; Vitamin K 1 ; Vitamin K* ; Vitamins*

Appetite controlling has been an main strategy for regulating food intake and energy balance in obesity treatment. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of drinking tea of the medicinal herbs, fennel and fenugreek, on the subjective appetite in overweight Korean women. The study was conducted using a placebo-controlled, single-blinded, randomized, and 3-way crossover design. Nine healthy women were given fennel tea (FT), fenugreek tea (FGT), or placebo tea (PT). After drinking a given tea, a lunch buffet was provided and then food consumption of subjects was analyzed. Subjective appetite, hunger, fullness, desire to eat, and prospective food consumption were measured at seven independent time point using a visual analog scale (VAS). Mean age of 9 subjects were 49.7 +/- 4.5 years and their mean body mass index were 24.6 +/- 0.6 kg/m2. There was no significant difference in food consumption in the lunch buffet after drinking each tea; however, with respect to the subjective appetite scale, FGT decreased hunger, led to less prospective food consumption, and increased feelings of fullness compared with the PT (p < 0.05). Similarly, the consumption of FT resulted in decreased hunger, less prospective food consumption, and increased feelings of fullness compared with the PT (p < 0.05). The area under the curve of VAS graph indicated that FGT resulted in a higher feeling of fullness than the PT (p < 0.05). In conclusion, drinking the FT and FGT were significantly effective aid to suppress subjective appetite among overweight women in South Korea.
Appetite* ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Over Studies ; Drinking* ; Eating ; Female ; Foeniculum* ; Humans ; Hunger ; Korea ; Lunch ; Obesity ; Overweight* ; Plants, Medicinal ; Tea* ; Trigonella* ; Visual Analog Scale