Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Information Services ; Menopause ; Mustard Plant ; Quality of Life ; Seaweed ; Undaria

Agarum clathratum, a brown macroalgae species, has recently become a serious environmental problem on the coasts of Korea. In an effort to solve this problem, fungal diversity associated with decaying A. clathratum was investigated and related β-glucosidase and endoglucanase activities were described. A total of 233 fungal strains were isolated from A. clathratum at 15 sites and identified 89 species based on morphology and a multigene analysis using the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) and protein-coding genes including actin (act), β-tubulin (benA), calmodulin (CaM), and translation elongation factor (tef1). Acremonium, Corollospora, and Penicillium were the dominant genera, and Acremonium fuci and Corollospora gracilis were the dominant species. Fifty-one species exhibited cellulase activity, with A. fuci, Alfaria terrestris, Hypoxylon perforatum, P. madriti, and Pleosporales sp. Five showing the highest enzyme activities. Further enzyme quantification confirmed that these species had higher cellulase activity than P. crysogenum, a fungal species described in previous studies. This study lays the groundwork for bioremediation using fungi to remove decaying seaweed from populated areas and provides important background for potential industrial applications of environmentally friendly processes.
Acremonium ; Actins ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Calmodulin ; Cellulase ; Fungi ; Korea ; Penicillium ; Peptide Elongation Factors ; Seaweed

OBJECTIVES: College is an important time for students to establish their identity as an independent subjects and develop a foundation to maintain a healthy adulthood. However, after female students become college students, their eating habits are likely to become more irregular and they may experience various health problems because of excessive weight control. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the dietary behaviors and blood clinical indices of female college students by residence types. METHODS: A total of 374 subjects were classified as home group, self-boarding group or boarding group according to residence type. Dietary habits, frequency of food intake, and eating attitudes were examined through questionnaires and anthropometric measurements and blood clinical indices were analyzed. RESULTS: The meal most frequently skipped by female college students was breakfast, and the frequency of skipping breakfast was significantly lower in the home group than other groups. Most college students recognized that their eating habits had worsened since becoming college students, with the self-boarding group in particular feeling that their eating habits changed negatively. The consumption frequencies of protein foods, fruits, dairy products, seaweed, and fatty meats were significantly lower in the self-boarding group than other groups. The home group ate food cut into smaller pieces, while the self-boarding group tried new and rich foods. Residence types did not affect blood clinical indices. CONCLUSIONS: The self-boarding group had inadequate dietary habits compared to the home group. Although residence type did not affect the blood clinical indices, the students still had poor dietary habits. Therefore, proper nutrition education is needed to improve the nutritional status of college students, especially those that self-board.
Breakfast ; Dairy Products ; Eating ; Education ; Female ; Food Habits ; Fruit ; Humans ; Meals ; Meat ; Nutritional Status ; Seaweed ; Seoul

OBJECTIVES: This study was undertaken to compare dietary life of the elderly living alone and in a family, and to compare differences based on gender, for the 2013-2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). METHODS: The subjects included 2,612 elderly people aged over 65 years who participated in the health survey, health examination and nutrition survey. Subjects on a diet therapy were excluded. This study analyzed the general characteristics, dietary habits, daily energy and nutrient intakes, CPF ratio, estimated average requirement (EAR), nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and mean adequacy ratio (MAR), index of nutrient quality (INQ), and food consumption of the elderly living alone and in a family. We also compared the differences based on gender. RESULTS: Daily intake of food, water, dietary fiber, potassium, retinol, and riboflavin were low in the male elderly subjects living alone. The elderly living with family revealed higher NAR and MAR as compared to the elderly living alone. Although all MAR values were <1, the elderly living alone had lower values. Considering the intake of food, the consumption of seaweed, fish and shellfish, and oils (animal) was higher in elderly men living with families, whereas women living with families consumed more vegetables, fruits, seaweeds and seafood, as compared to their counterparts living alone. Furthermore, analyzing the foods consumed by the elderly people living alone, female subjects consumed more seaweed, milk and animal oil as compared to male subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the elderly living alone have poor nutrient intake as compared to the elderly living with families. Based on this research data, we recommend that it is necessary to improve the health and nutritional status of the elderly living alone.
Aged ; Animals ; Diet Therapy ; Dietary Fiber ; Female ; Food Habits ; Fruit ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Milk ; Nutrition Surveys ; Nutritional Status ; Oils ; Potassium ; Riboflavin ; Seafood ; Seaweed ; Shellfish ; Vegetables ; Vitamin A ; Water

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was to investigate the association between the previous history of seaweed intake after childbirth and subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) occurrence in Korean women based on the latest nationally representative epidemiological survey data, the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI).MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study used data from KNHANES VI, a cross-sectional, nationally representative survey that comprises a health interview survey, health examination survey, and nutrition survey. Of the initial 22,948 Korean participants enrolled in KNHANES VI, 2,046 women were selected for this analysis. To examine SCH, the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) reference range was defined using a population-based TSH range.RESULTS: Subclinical hypothyroidism was increased in those who consumed seaweed soup after childbirth, but this was not significant (OR 1.3, CI: 0.80–2.13, p=0.293). However, the odd ratio for SCH differed according to the duration of seaweed soup consumption. When seaweed soup was consumed within 1 week after birth, the OR was increased in the crude model (OR 2.61, CI: 1.39–4.89, p=0.002), but this was no longer significant in the adjusted model (OR 1.89, CI: 0.79–4.50).CONCLUSION: The notable finding from this study is that the previous history of excessive seaweed consumption during post-partum period may not be a risk factor for SCH in Korean women.
Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Hypothyroidism ; Iodine ; Korea ; Nutrition Surveys ; Parturition ; Reference Values ; Risk Factors ; Seaweed ; Thyrotropin

PURPOSE: Sargassum horneri (S. horneri) is a species of brown macroalgae that is common along the coast of Japan and Korea. The present study investigated the immuno-modulatory effects of different types of S. horneri extracts in RAW264.7 macrophages. METHODS: S. horneri was extracted by three different methods, hot water extraction, 50% ethanol extraction, and supercritical fluid extraction. Cell viability was then measured by MTT assay, while the production levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Griess assay, respectively. The expression and activation levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) were examined by western blot analysis. RESULTS: The three different S. horneri extracts were nontoxic against RAW 264.7 cells up to 50 µg/mL, among which treatment with hot water extract (HWE) of S. horneri significantly enhanced the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and NO in a dose-dependent manner. Hot water extract of S. horneri also increased the expression level of iNOS, suggesting that up-regulation of iNOS expression by HWE of S. horneri was responsible for the induction of NO production. In addition, treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with HWE of S. horneri increased the phosphorylation levels of ERK, p38 and JNK. Furthermore, the activation and subsequent nuclear translocation of NF-κB was enhanced upon treatment with HWE of S. horneri, indicating that HWE of S. horneri activates macrophages to secrete TNF-α, IL-6 and NO and induces iNOS expression via activation of the NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: Taken together, these findings suggest that HWE of S. horneri possesses potential as a functional food with immunomodulatory activity.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Survival ; Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid ; Cytokines ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Ethanol ; Functional Food ; Interleukin-6 ; Japan ; Korea ; Macrophages* ; Necrosis ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinases ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Sargassum* ; Seaweed ; Up-Regulation ; Water

BACKGROUND: Iodine is an intrinsic element of thyroid hormone, which is essential for childhood growth and development. The Ideal Breast Milk (IBM) cohort study aims to evaluate the effects of maternal iodine status during pregnancy and lactation on maternal thyroid function, offspring growth and development, and offspring thyroid function. METHODS: The IBM cohort study recruited pregnant women from Seoul National University Hospital between June 2016 and August 2017, followed by enrollment of their offspring after delivery. For the maternal participants, iodine status is evaluated by urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and dietary records in the third trimester and at 3 to 4 weeks and 12 to 15 months postpartum. For the child participants, cord blood sampling and UIC measurements are performed at birth. At 3 to 4 weeks of age, UIC and breastmilk iodine concentrations are measured. At 12 to 15 months of age, growth and development are assessed and measurements of UIC, a thyroid function test, and ultrasonography are performed. RESULTS: A total of 198 pregnant women in their third trimester were recruited. Their mean age was 35.1±3.5 years, and 78 (39.4%) of them were pregnant with twins. Thirty-three (16.7%) of them had a previous history of thyroid disease. CONCLUSION: Korea is an iodine-replete area. In particular, lactating women in Korea are commonly exposed to excess iodine due to the traditional practice of consuming brown seaweed soup postpartum. The study of the IBM cohort is expected to contribute to developing guidelines for optimal iodine nutrition in pregnant or lactating women.
Breast* ; Child ; Cohort Studies* ; Cordocentesis ; Diet Records ; Female ; Growth and Development* ; Humans ; Infant ; Iodine* ; Korea ; Lactation* ; Milk, Human* ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Pregnancy* ; Pregnant Women ; Prospective Studies* ; Seaweed ; Seoul ; Thyroid Diseases ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyroid Gland* ; Twins ; Ultrasonography

Codium fragile (Suringar) Hariot is an edible green seaweed that belong to the Codiaceae family and has been used in Oriental medicine for the treatment of enterobiasis, dropsy, and dysuria. Methanol extract of codium fragile has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, although the anti-cancer effect on oral cancer has not yet been reported. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and the mechanism of cell death by methanol extracts of Codium fragile (MeCF) on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Our data showed that MeCF inhibits cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, and markedly induced apoptosis, as determined by the MTT assay, Live/Dead assay, and DAPI stain. In addition, MeCF induced the proteolytic cleavage of procaspase −3, −7, −9 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP), and upregulated or downregulated the expression of mitochondrial-apoptosis factor, Bax(pro-apoptotic factor), and Bcl-2(anti-apoptotic factor), . Futhermore, MeCF induced a cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase through suppressing the expression of the cell cycle cascade proteins, p21, CDK4, CyclinD1, and phospho-Rb. Taken together, these results indicated that MeCF inhibits cell growth, and this inhibition is mediated by caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways through cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, methanol extracts of Codium fragile can be provided as a novel chemotherapeutic drug due to its growth inhibition effects and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.
Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Dysuria ; Edema ; Enterobiasis ; Humans ; Hypopharynx ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Methanol ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose ; Seaweed

PURPOSE: We conducted comparative analysis of dietary behavior and food and nutrient intakes of Korean elderly in urban and rural areas using the 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). METHODS: This study was conducted on 1,239 participants (urban elderly: 867, rural elderly: 372) aged 65 years and over who participated in the health examination and nutrition survey in the 6th 2014 KNHANES. Dietary behaviors, including skipping meals, eating out frequencies, and food and nutrient intakes were analyzed using 24-hour recall data. Analysis of complex sample design data through SPSS 19.0 was used for the analysis. RESULTS: The rate of skipping dinner was higher in urban (6.5%) than in rural elderly (3.6%) (p < 0.05), and the frequency of eating out per week of urban elderly (1.73) was higher than that of rural elderly (1.35) (p < 0.001). The rural elderly consumed a greater amount of grain compared to urban elderly, whereas consumption of water, seaweed food, and dairy products was lower in rural than in urban areas (p < 0.05). The rural elderly consumed significantly less highly unsaturated fatty acids, n-6 fatty acids, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, carotene, niacin, and vitamin C in comparison with elderly in urban areas. Comparison of the percentages of Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs) between the two groups showed that intakes of vitamin A and vitamin C were significantly lower in the rural elderly than in urban elderly. CONCLUSION: The elderly in rural areas showed unbalanced food and nutrient intakes compared to the elderly in urban areas. Therefore, customized nutrition education according to residential areas should be developed and provided to rural elderly to improve their health and nutritional status.
Aged* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Carotenoids ; Dairy Products ; Eating ; Education ; Fatty Acids, Omega-6 ; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated ; Humans ; Iron ; Korea* ; Lunch* ; Meals ; Niacin ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Nutritional Status ; Phosphorus ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Seaweed ; Vitamin A ; Water

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dietary potassium intake, Na/K intake molar ratio, consumption of 18 food groups, and foods contributing to potassium intake of Korean adults as well as the relationships among quartile of potassium intake level and blood pressure, blood biochemical index. METHODS: This study was conducted using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007~2010. The total number of subjects was 20,291. All analyses were conducted using a survey weighting to account for the complex survey design. RESULTS: Overall average intakes of potassium were 2,934.7, 3,070.6, 3,078.1, and 3,232.0 mg/day, and they significantly increased by year in Korean adults. The average dietary potassium intake was close to adequate intake (AI), whereas that of women was considerably lower than the AI. The Na/K intake molar ratio in males (2.89~3.23) was higher than in females (2.62~2.95). The major food groups contributing to potassium intake were vegetables, cereals, and fruits/meats. The two major foods contributing to potassium intake were polished rice and cabbage kimchi. The rankings of food source were as follows; polished rice > cabbage kimchi > potato > oriental melon > sweet potato > seaweed > radish > apple > black soybean. In 50~64 year old females, systolic blood pressure (SBP) significantly decreased (p < 0.01) and HDL-cholesterol significantly increased (p < 0.05) as potassium intake increased. Triglyceride (TG) was significantly higher in the other quartile of potassium intake level than in the first quartile (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our study suggests the need for an appropriate set of dietary reference intakes according to caloric intake by sex and age groups and for development of eating patterns to increase potassium intake and decrease sodium intake.
Adult* ; Blood Pressure ; Brassica ; Cucurbitaceae ; Eating ; Edible Grain ; Energy Intake ; Female ; Humans ; Ipomoea batatas ; Korea* ; Male ; Molar ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Potassium* ; Potassium, Dietary ; Raphanus ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Seaweed ; Sodium ; Solanum tuberosum ; Soybeans ; Triglycerides ; Vegetables