OBJECTIVES: Understanding changes in food sufficiency within various demographic groups during emergency situations, such as the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, is crucial in formulating public health policies for future preparedness. This study investigated potential differences between urban and rural residents in food sufficiency trends during the COVID-19 pandemic and examined how these changes varied according to socio-demographic factors. METHODS: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 19,724 adults aged 20 years and older, utilizing information from the 7th-8th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2018-2021). RESULTS: In urban areas, across all subpopulations, food sufficiency improved significantly during the COVID-19 period relative to pre-pandemic levels (p<0.001). However, in rural regions, a significant increase in food sufficiency during the COVID-19 era was observed only among female, with an odds ratio of 1.42 (95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 1.89). Nevertheless, no significant interaction terms were found between region and various socio-demographic factors regarding changes in food sufficiency during the COVID-19 period. CONCLUSIONS During the COVID-19 pandemic, food sufficiency among urban residents improved compared to the pre-pandemic era, whereas their rural counterparts saw no such improvement. Additionally, no significant interaction was detected between urban versus rural areas and changes in food sufficiency during the COVID-19 period. These findings indicate the need for targeted food policies to prepare for potential future pandemics, particularly in rural areas, where food sufficiency did not improve.

OBJECTIVES: Chrono-nutrition emphasizes meal timing in preventing obesity and metabolic disorders. This study explores the impact of temporal dietary patterns (TDPs) on obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Korean adults aged 20 years to 65 years. METHODS: We utilized dynamic time warping method and Kernel k-means clustering to investigate diet quality and the odds ratios (ORs) of obesity and MetS with different TDPs using data from the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. RESULTS: Participants were divided into three groups based on relative energy intake over 24 hours. After adjusting for age and gender, Cluster 3 (with the highest proportion of energy intake in the evening) had the lowest Healthy Eating Index scores compared to other clusters. Following adjustment for key covariates, Cluster 3 showed the highest values for body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and triglycerides. Compared to Cluster 1 (with a lower proportion of energy intake in the evening), Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 had ORs for obesity of 1.12 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97 to 1.30) and 1.19 (95% CI, 1.03 to 1.37), respectively. For MetS, the ORs were 1.26 (95% CI, 1.08 to 1.48) and 1.37 (95% CI, 1.17 to 1.61) when comparing Cluster 2 and Cluster 3 to Cluster 1. CONCLUSIONS This study reveals that individuals with higher energy intake in the evening have increased odds of obesity and MetS, even after adjusting for major covariates, including age and total energy intake.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the changes in health behavior, mental health, and nutritional status of Korean adolescents before and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic outbreak. Methods: A total of 800 adolescents (12~18 years old) who participated in the 2019–2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) were included as study subjects and divided into four groups (204 middle school boys, 172 middle school girls, 219 high school boys, and 205 high school girls). The 2019 and 2020 KNHANES data were classified into data collected before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, respectively. Results: After the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, middle school boys showed an increased tendency toward becoming overweight and obese, with significantly increased levels of diastolic blood pressure and insulin. While there was no major change in the subjective health status among adolescents, the high school boys showed a significantly decreased physical activity after COVID-19 outbreak. Moreover, the proportion of middle school students feeling a little stressed significantly increased after the COVID-19 outbreak. The rate of skipping breakfast significantly increased in middle school girls, but the rate of having lunch with companions significantly increased among all adolescents after the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the intake of milk, vegetables, fruits, seaweeds, and pulses significantly decreased, although the intake of sugars, beverages, and seasonings significantly decreased as well, during this period. These changes may lead to an increased proportion of adolescents with insufficient intake of nutrients, including potassium, vitamin C, and riboflavin. Conclusion These results highlight the impact of COVID-19 on comprehensive changes in physical and mental health status, lifestyle behavior, and nutritional status in adolescents, suggesting the need for targeted prevention and intervention for physical and mental wellbeing during the pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Osteopontin (Opn) is recognized as an important adhesive bone matrix protein and a key cytokine involved in immune cell recruitment and tissue repair and remolding. However, serum levels of osteopontin have not been evaluated in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the serum levels of osteopontin in patients experiencing COPD exacerbations and in patients with stable COPD. METHODS: Serum samples were obtained from 22 healthy control subjects, 18 stable COPD patients, and 15 COPD with exacerbation patients. Serum concentrations of osteopontin were measured by the ELISA method. RESULTS: Serum levels of osteopontin were higher in patients with acute exacerbation than with stable COPD and in healthy control subjects (62.4+/-51.9 ng/mL, 36.9+/-11.1 ng/mL, 30+/-11 ng/mL, test for trend p=0.003). In the patients with COPD exacerbation, the osteopontin levels when the patient was discharged from the hospital tended to decrease compared to those at admission (45+/-52.1 ng/mL, 62.4+/-51.9 ng/mL, p=0.160). Osteopontin levels significantly increased according to patient factors, including never-smoker, ex-smoker and current smoker (23+/-5.7 ng/mL, 35.5+/-17.6 ng/mL, 58.6+/-47.8 ng/mL, test for trend p=0.006). Also, osteopontin levels showed a significantly negative correlation with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) predicted in healthy controls and stable COPD patients (r=-0.389; p=0.013). C-reactive protein (CRP) was positively correlated with osteopontin levels in patients with COPD exacerbation (r=0.775; p=0.002). CONCLUSION: The serum levels of osteopontin increased in patients with COPD exacerbation and tended to decrease after clinical improvement. These results suggest the possible role of osteopontin as a biomarker of acute exacerbation of COPD.
Adhesives ; Biomarkers ; Bone Matrix ; C-Reactive Protein ; Disease Progression ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Osteopontin ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive

Calcium intake has been insufficient in all age groups in previous Korean national surveys. This study was conducted to investigate calcium intake in Korean and American populations at different ages. We analyzed two national survey data: the 2007~2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the 2007~2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Statistically, survey procedures were applied using the weight, cluster, and strata variables. The mean calcium intake of Koreans at ages of 1~2 y, 3~5 y, 6~11 y, 12~18 y, 19~64 y, and 65+y was lower than American populations at those ages. The sufficient proportions based on Korean Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) of 1~2 y, 3~5 y, 6~11 y, 12~18 y, 19~64 y, and 65+y in Koreans were 45.5%, 33.1%, 24.3%, 16.6%, 32.7%, and 19.0%. While the sufficient rates based on American EAR of 1~3 y, 4~8 y, 9~13 y, 14~18 y, 19~30 y, 31~50 y, 51~70 y, and 71+y in US population were 88.5%, 54.4%, 35.2%, 35.8%, 55.3%, 55.2%, 40.6%, and 24.5%. Overall, the major foods contributing to calcium intakes in Koreans were milk, baechukimchi, and anchovies, whereas, milk products, pasta, or bread were major contributions to calcium in American populations. The calcium supplement intakes in the American population were 5.5 mg (1~2 y), 15.5 mg (3~5 y), 13.9 mg (6~11 y), 35.7 mg (12~18 y), 150.3 mg (19~64 y) and 334.4 mg (> or =65 y). These results suggest that Korean adolescents and older adults are the most insufficient in dietary calcium intakes among Koreans. In order to accurately estimate calcium intakes in Korean populations, calcium supplements and calcium-fortified foods should be considered.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Bread ; Calcium ; Calcium, Dietary ; Ear ; Humans ; Milk ; Nutrition Surveys