Choline is an essential nutrient that serves as a fundamental structural component of membrane phospholipids and plays critical roles in one-carbon metabolism, acetylcholine synthesis, lipid transport, and signal transduction. Although it is synthesized endogenously in the human body, the amount produced may not be sufficient to meet the nutrient's total biological demand, necessitating consistent dietary intake from various food sources. Since its recognition as an essential nutrient by the Institute of Medicine (U.S.) in 1998, several countries and regions, including Australia and New Zealand, Europe, and China, have established specific Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) to monitor and manage choline intake among their respective populations. In response to the growing demand for national dietary guidelines, the Committee for the Establishment and Revision of the 2025 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) conducted a thorough, systematic review. This initiative was undertaken to re-evaluate the necessity and strength of scientific evidence supporting DRIs for choline in the Korean population. Furthermore, the committee analyzed the distribution of actual choline intake among healthy Koreans by applying a newly developed choline database to the recent five-year data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. By comprehensively reviewing both the calculated reference values based on existing evidence and the actual intake distribution, the committee successfully established the Adequate Intake and Tolerable Upper Intake Level for choline across different age and gender groups in Korea. This review details the development process and core components of the KDRIs for choline and presents the key issues to be addressed in future revisions of these standards.

Obesity is a major global health concern, with diet playing a crucial role in its development and treatment. Ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) have become prevalent in diets due to changes in the food environment. These foods are energy-dense; high in fat, sugars, or salt; and low in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, raising concerns about their effects on health. In addition to traditional research focused on nutrients, food, and dietary quality, growing evidence has linked UPF consumption to obesity. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive review of the levels and trends of UPF consumption, current epidemiological evidence on the association between UPF consumption and obesity, and UPFs’ potential role in the etiology of obesity and weight gain. Additionally, this study reviews strategies for reducing UPF consumption and outlines future studies of the link between UPF consumption and obesity.

Obesity is a major global health concern, with diet playing a crucial role in its development and treatment. Ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) have become prevalent in diets due to changes in the food environment. These foods are energy-dense; high in fat, sugars, or salt; and low in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, raising concerns about their effects on health. In addition to traditional research focused on nutrients, food, and dietary quality, growing evidence has linked UPF consumption to obesity. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive review of the levels and trends of UPF consumption, current epidemiological evidence on the association between UPF consumption and obesity, and UPFs’ potential role in the etiology of obesity and weight gain. Additionally, this study reviews strategies for reducing UPF consumption and outlines future studies of the link between UPF consumption and obesity.

Obesity is a major global health concern, with diet playing a crucial role in its development and treatment. Ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) have become prevalent in diets due to changes in the food environment. These foods are energy-dense; high in fat, sugars, or salt; and low in fiber, protein, vitamins, and minerals, raising concerns about their effects on health. In addition to traditional research focused on nutrients, food, and dietary quality, growing evidence has linked UPF consumption to obesity. Therefore, this study provides a comprehensive review of the levels and trends of UPF consumption, current epidemiological evidence on the association between UPF consumption and obesity, and UPFs’ potential role in the etiology of obesity and weight gain. Additionally, this study reviews strategies for reducing UPF consumption and outlines future studies of the link between UPF consumption and obesity.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been used for over a century and has been demonstrated to be effective in treating patients with various allergic diseases. AIT allergens can be administered through various routes, including subcutaneous, sublingual, intralymphatic, oral, or epicutaneous routes. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has recently gained clinical interest, and it is considered an alternative treatment for allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. This review provides an overview of the current evidence-based studies that address the use of SLIT for treating AR, including (1) mechanisms of action, (2) appropriate patient selection for SLIT, (3) the current available SLIT products in Korea, and (4) updated information on its efficacy and safety. Finally, this guideline aims to provide the clinician with practical considerations for SLIT.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a causative treatment of allergic diseases in which allergen extracts are regularly administered in a gradually escalated doses, leading to immune tolerance and consequent alleviation of allergic diseases. The need for uniform practice guidelines in AIT is continuously growing as the number of potential candidates for AIT increases and new therapeutic approaches are tried. This updated version of the Korean Academy of Asthma Allergy and Clinical Immunology recommendations for AIT, published in 2010, proposes an expert opinion by specialists in allergy, pediatrics, and otorhinolaryngology. This guideline deals with the basic knowledge of AIT, including mechanisms, clinical efficacy, allergen standardization, important allergens in Korea, and special consideration in pediatrics. The article also covers the methodological aspects of AIT, including patient selection, allergen selection, schedule and doses, follow-up care, efficacy measurements, and management of adverse reactions. Although this guideline suggests the optimal dosing schedule, an individualized approach and modifications are recommended considering the situation for each patient and clinic.

Background: Energy drinks are gaining popularity among young people worldwide. However, little is known about their consumption among Korean adolescents.Purpose: To examine the prevalence and factors associated with energy drink consumption among Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted in 2014–2017 and in 2019. A total of 325,210 participants aged 12–18 years were included. The prevalence of energy drink consumption (with 95% confidence intervals) was estimated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined the association between energy drink consumption and sociodemographic and individual factors. Results: The prevalence of consuming energy drinks 3 or more times during the previous 7 days increased significantly from 3.2% in 2014 to 12.2% in 2019 (P for trend<0.001). This increasing trend was observed in all subgroups regardless of sex, school grade, region of residence, subjective economic status, family cohabitation status, and academic achievement. Data from the 2014–2017 and 2019 surveys revealed that boys, high schoolers, city-dwelling adolescents, adolescents with low economic status, those not living with their families, and those with low academic achievement were more likely to consume energy drinks. However, the relationship between energy drink consumption and the associated factors differed by survey year and school grade. In 2019, higher energy drink consumption among middle schoolers was associated with sex (male), low economic status, not living with family, and low academic achievement; however, higher energy drink consumption among high schoolers was associated with city-dwelling, high economic status, not living with family, and high academic achievement. Conclusion Energy drink consumption is common, has recently increased among Korean adolescents, and varies according to sociodemographic and individual factors. Further research to monitor the energy drink consumption of adolescents and understand their attitudes toward and factors influencing energy drink consumption is needed to develop policies and educational strategies for energy drink consumption.

Background: Energy drinks are gaining popularity among young people worldwide. However, little is known about their consumption among Korean adolescents.Purpose: To examine the prevalence and factors associated with energy drink consumption among Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted in 2014–2017 and in 2019. A total of 325,210 participants aged 12–18 years were included. The prevalence of energy drink consumption (with 95% confidence intervals) was estimated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined the association between energy drink consumption and sociodemographic and individual factors. Results: The prevalence of consuming energy drinks 3 or more times during the previous 7 days increased significantly from 3.2% in 2014 to 12.2% in 2019 (P for trend<0.001). This increasing trend was observed in all subgroups regardless of sex, school grade, region of residence, subjective economic status, family cohabitation status, and academic achievement. Data from the 2014–2017 and 2019 surveys revealed that boys, high schoolers, city-dwelling adolescents, adolescents with low economic status, those not living with their families, and those with low academic achievement were more likely to consume energy drinks. However, the relationship between energy drink consumption and the associated factors differed by survey year and school grade. In 2019, higher energy drink consumption among middle schoolers was associated with sex (male), low economic status, not living with family, and low academic achievement; however, higher energy drink consumption among high schoolers was associated with city-dwelling, high economic status, not living with family, and high academic achievement. Conclusion Energy drink consumption is common, has recently increased among Korean adolescents, and varies according to sociodemographic and individual factors. Further research to monitor the energy drink consumption of adolescents and understand their attitudes toward and factors influencing energy drink consumption is needed to develop policies and educational strategies for energy drink consumption.

Background: Energy drinks are gaining popularity among young people worldwide. However, little is known about their consumption among Korean adolescents.Purpose: To examine the prevalence and factors associated with energy drink consumption among Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted in 2014–2017 and in 2019. A total of 325,210 participants aged 12–18 years were included. The prevalence of energy drink consumption (with 95% confidence intervals) was estimated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined the association between energy drink consumption and sociodemographic and individual factors. Results: The prevalence of consuming energy drinks 3 or more times during the previous 7 days increased significantly from 3.2% in 2014 to 12.2% in 2019 (P for trend<0.001). This increasing trend was observed in all subgroups regardless of sex, school grade, region of residence, subjective economic status, family cohabitation status, and academic achievement. Data from the 2014–2017 and 2019 surveys revealed that boys, high schoolers, city-dwelling adolescents, adolescents with low economic status, those not living with their families, and those with low academic achievement were more likely to consume energy drinks. However, the relationship between energy drink consumption and the associated factors differed by survey year and school grade. In 2019, higher energy drink consumption among middle schoolers was associated with sex (male), low economic status, not living with family, and low academic achievement; however, higher energy drink consumption among high schoolers was associated with city-dwelling, high economic status, not living with family, and high academic achievement. Conclusion Energy drink consumption is common, has recently increased among Korean adolescents, and varies according to sociodemographic and individual factors. Further research to monitor the energy drink consumption of adolescents and understand their attitudes toward and factors influencing energy drink consumption is needed to develop policies and educational strategies for energy drink consumption.

Background: Energy drinks are gaining popularity among young people worldwide. However, little is known about their consumption among Korean adolescents.Purpose: To examine the prevalence and factors associated with energy drink consumption among Korean adolescents. Methods: This study used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys conducted in 2014–2017 and in 2019. A total of 325,210 participants aged 12–18 years were included. The prevalence of energy drink consumption (with 95% confidence intervals) was estimated. Multivariable logistic regression analyses examined the association between energy drink consumption and sociodemographic and individual factors. Results: The prevalence of consuming energy drinks 3 or more times during the previous 7 days increased significantly from 3.2% in 2014 to 12.2% in 2019 (P for trend<0.001). This increasing trend was observed in all subgroups regardless of sex, school grade, region of residence, subjective economic status, family cohabitation status, and academic achievement. Data from the 2014–2017 and 2019 surveys revealed that boys, high schoolers, city-dwelling adolescents, adolescents with low economic status, those not living with their families, and those with low academic achievement were more likely to consume energy drinks. However, the relationship between energy drink consumption and the associated factors differed by survey year and school grade. In 2019, higher energy drink consumption among middle schoolers was associated with sex (male), low economic status, not living with family, and low academic achievement; however, higher energy drink consumption among high schoolers was associated with city-dwelling, high economic status, not living with family, and high academic achievement. Conclusion Energy drink consumption is common, has recently increased among Korean adolescents, and varies according to sociodemographic and individual factors. Further research to monitor the energy drink consumption of adolescents and understand their attitudes toward and factors influencing energy drink consumption is needed to develop policies and educational strategies for energy drink consumption.