BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary supplements are popular among Korean consumers in the cross-border market. This study examined the cross-border shopping trends of dietary supplements in Korea, focusing on the major health functional foods.MATERIALS/METHODS: This study analyzed the customs clearance data provided by the Korea Customs Service, spanning 2019–2021. The term ‘health functional foods,’ which are manufactured with functional ingredients specified by law, was distinguished from the broader concept of ‘dietary supplements.’ The trends in dietary supplements and the major types of health functional foods in cross-border shopping were analyzed. The top 10 most purchased health functional foods were identified and analyzed by consumer gender and age group. RESULTS: Dietary supplements constituted 19.1% of all cross-border items, with the primary consumers being women aged 30 and 40 yrs. The most popular type of health functional foods was the ‘multi-nutrient product,’ comprising 14.5% of all health functional food items.‘Protein’ was popular among men and younger age groups, while ‘probiotics’ was favored by women. In particular, 32.3% of health functional food items were related to blood health. CONCLUSION The cross-border market for dietary supplements in Korea is experiencing growth, with consumer preferences varying by gender and age. These findings can assist in the development of regulatory policies that align with market trends and consumer needs in cross-border shopping for dietary supplements.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of the elderly in Seoul according to their food insecurity status and analyzed the characteristics associated with food insecurity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data from 513 elderly individuals aged 65 or older were analyzed using the raw data from the Seoul Food Survey 2023. The subjects were classified into food-secure or food-insecure groups. The socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of each group were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the characteristics associated with food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul. RESULTS: The proportion of the food-insecure group was 56.9% among the total elderly in Seoul. The main reasons for experiencing food insecurity were environmental (38.0%), followed by physical (37.5%) and financial (24.5%). The food-insecure group had a higher frequency of skipping breakfast and eating alone than the food-secure group while having lower dietary literacy and food environment satisfaction. Logistic regression analysis showed that the elderly living alone were approximately four times (odds ratio [OR], 3.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52–8.51) more likely to suffer food insecurity than those living with others. Higher digital food literacy (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41–0.97) and food environment satisfaction (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20–0.74) were associated with a lower likelihood of food insecurity. CONCLUSION These results suggest that policies aimed at improving food security for the elderly in Seoul should prioritize those living alone. Educational programs designed to enhance the ability to purchase online food, use self-service kiosks in restaurants, and use food delivery apps would effectively decrease food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul.Furthermore, policies aimed at improving the food environment may also help reduce food insecurity among this population.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary supplements are popular among Korean consumers in the cross-border market. This study examined the cross-border shopping trends of dietary supplements in Korea, focusing on the major health functional foods.MATERIALS/METHODS: This study analyzed the customs clearance data provided by the Korea Customs Service, spanning 2019–2021. The term ‘health functional foods,’ which are manufactured with functional ingredients specified by law, was distinguished from the broader concept of ‘dietary supplements.’ The trends in dietary supplements and the major types of health functional foods in cross-border shopping were analyzed. The top 10 most purchased health functional foods were identified and analyzed by consumer gender and age group. RESULTS: Dietary supplements constituted 19.1% of all cross-border items, with the primary consumers being women aged 30 and 40 yrs. The most popular type of health functional foods was the ‘multi-nutrient product,’ comprising 14.5% of all health functional food items.‘Protein’ was popular among men and younger age groups, while ‘probiotics’ was favored by women. In particular, 32.3% of health functional food items were related to blood health. CONCLUSION The cross-border market for dietary supplements in Korea is experiencing growth, with consumer preferences varying by gender and age. These findings can assist in the development of regulatory policies that align with market trends and consumer needs in cross-border shopping for dietary supplements.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of the elderly in Seoul according to their food insecurity status and analyzed the characteristics associated with food insecurity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data from 513 elderly individuals aged 65 or older were analyzed using the raw data from the Seoul Food Survey 2023. The subjects were classified into food-secure or food-insecure groups. The socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of each group were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the characteristics associated with food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul. RESULTS: The proportion of the food-insecure group was 56.9% among the total elderly in Seoul. The main reasons for experiencing food insecurity were environmental (38.0%), followed by physical (37.5%) and financial (24.5%). The food-insecure group had a higher frequency of skipping breakfast and eating alone than the food-secure group while having lower dietary literacy and food environment satisfaction. Logistic regression analysis showed that the elderly living alone were approximately four times (odds ratio [OR], 3.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52–8.51) more likely to suffer food insecurity than those living with others. Higher digital food literacy (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41–0.97) and food environment satisfaction (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20–0.74) were associated with a lower likelihood of food insecurity. CONCLUSION These results suggest that policies aimed at improving food security for the elderly in Seoul should prioritize those living alone. Educational programs designed to enhance the ability to purchase online food, use self-service kiosks in restaurants, and use food delivery apps would effectively decrease food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul.Furthermore, policies aimed at improving the food environment may also help reduce food insecurity among this population.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary supplements are popular among Korean consumers in the cross-border market. This study examined the cross-border shopping trends of dietary supplements in Korea, focusing on the major health functional foods.MATERIALS/METHODS: This study analyzed the customs clearance data provided by the Korea Customs Service, spanning 2019–2021. The term ‘health functional foods,’ which are manufactured with functional ingredients specified by law, was distinguished from the broader concept of ‘dietary supplements.’ The trends in dietary supplements and the major types of health functional foods in cross-border shopping were analyzed. The top 10 most purchased health functional foods were identified and analyzed by consumer gender and age group. RESULTS: Dietary supplements constituted 19.1% of all cross-border items, with the primary consumers being women aged 30 and 40 yrs. The most popular type of health functional foods was the ‘multi-nutrient product,’ comprising 14.5% of all health functional food items.‘Protein’ was popular among men and younger age groups, while ‘probiotics’ was favored by women. In particular, 32.3% of health functional food items were related to blood health. CONCLUSION The cross-border market for dietary supplements in Korea is experiencing growth, with consumer preferences varying by gender and age. These findings can assist in the development of regulatory policies that align with market trends and consumer needs in cross-border shopping for dietary supplements.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study examined the socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of the elderly in Seoul according to their food insecurity status and analyzed the characteristics associated with food insecurity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The data from 513 elderly individuals aged 65 or older were analyzed using the raw data from the Seoul Food Survey 2023. The subjects were classified into food-secure or food-insecure groups. The socio-demographic and dietary characteristics of each group were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the characteristics associated with food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul. RESULTS: The proportion of the food-insecure group was 56.9% among the total elderly in Seoul. The main reasons for experiencing food insecurity were environmental (38.0%), followed by physical (37.5%) and financial (24.5%). The food-insecure group had a higher frequency of skipping breakfast and eating alone than the food-secure group while having lower dietary literacy and food environment satisfaction. Logistic regression analysis showed that the elderly living alone were approximately four times (odds ratio [OR], 3.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.52–8.51) more likely to suffer food insecurity than those living with others. Higher digital food literacy (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41–0.97) and food environment satisfaction (OR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.20–0.74) were associated with a lower likelihood of food insecurity. CONCLUSION These results suggest that policies aimed at improving food security for the elderly in Seoul should prioritize those living alone. Educational programs designed to enhance the ability to purchase online food, use self-service kiosks in restaurants, and use food delivery apps would effectively decrease food insecurity among the elderly in Seoul.Furthermore, policies aimed at improving the food environment may also help reduce food insecurity among this population.

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) is characterized by polyuria and polydipsia, high serum osmolality, and low urine osmolality because of resistance to antidiuretic hormone. Lithium is commonly used to treat psychiatric disorders, and NDI is one of the common renal side effects of lithium therapy. On the other hand, NDI induced by lithium medication in a patient after a coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) infection has not been reported. This paper presents a patient who developed new-onset NDI secondary to a COVID-19 infection despite being on a stable lithium dose for several years. This case highlights the importance of considering a COVID-19 infection as a possible cause of NDI in patients taking lithium medication.

Background: Community acquired lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is a leading cause for hospitalization in children and important cause for antibiotic prescription. We aimed to describe the aetiology of LRTI in children and analyse factors associated with bacterial or viral infection. Methods: Patients aged < 19 years with a diagnosis of LRTI were identified from the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model Database of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from January 2005–July 2019, and their clinical characteristics were obtained from the electronic medical records and retrospectively reviewed. Results: Among 5,924 cases of LRTI, 74.2% were pneumonia and 25.8% were bronchiolitis/ bronchitis. Patients’ median age was 1.8 (interquartile range, 3.1) years and 79.9% were < 5 years old. Pathogens were identified in 37.8%; 69.1% were viral and 30.9% were bacterial/ Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Respiratory syncytial virus was most common (70.9%) among viruses and M. pneumoniae (94.6%) was most common among bacteria. Viral LRTI was associated with winter, age < 2 years, rhinorrhoea, dyspnoea, lymphocytosis, thrombocytosis, wheezing, stridor, chest retraction, and infiltration on imaging. Bacteria/ M. pneumoniae LRTI was associated with summer, age ≥ 2 years, fever, decreased breathing sounds, leucocytosis, neutrophilia, C-reactive protein elevation, and positive imaging findings (consolidation, opacity, haziness, or pleural effusion). Conclusion In children with LRTI, various factors associated with viral or bacterial/ M. pneumoniae infections were identified, which may serve as guidance for antibiotic prescription.

Background: Community acquired lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is a leading cause for hospitalization in children and important cause for antibiotic prescription. We aimed to describe the aetiology of LRTI in children and analyse factors associated with bacterial or viral infection. Methods: Patients aged < 19 years with a diagnosis of LRTI were identified from the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model Database of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from January 2005–July 2019, and their clinical characteristics were obtained from the electronic medical records and retrospectively reviewed. Results: Among 5,924 cases of LRTI, 74.2% were pneumonia and 25.8% were bronchiolitis/ bronchitis. Patients’ median age was 1.8 (interquartile range, 3.1) years and 79.9% were < 5 years old. Pathogens were identified in 37.8%; 69.1% were viral and 30.9% were bacterial/ Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Respiratory syncytial virus was most common (70.9%) among viruses and M. pneumoniae (94.6%) was most common among bacteria. Viral LRTI was associated with winter, age < 2 years, rhinorrhoea, dyspnoea, lymphocytosis, thrombocytosis, wheezing, stridor, chest retraction, and infiltration on imaging. Bacteria/ M. pneumoniae LRTI was associated with summer, age ≥ 2 years, fever, decreased breathing sounds, leucocytosis, neutrophilia, C-reactive protein elevation, and positive imaging findings (consolidation, opacity, haziness, or pleural effusion). Conclusion In children with LRTI, various factors associated with viral or bacterial/ M. pneumoniae infections were identified, which may serve as guidance for antibiotic prescription.

Background: Community acquired lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is a leading cause for hospitalization in children and important cause for antibiotic prescription. We aimed to describe the aetiology of LRTI in children and analyse factors associated with bacterial or viral infection. Methods: Patients aged < 19 years with a diagnosis of LRTI were identified from the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model Database of Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from January 2005–July 2019, and their clinical characteristics were obtained from the electronic medical records and retrospectively reviewed. Results: Among 5,924 cases of LRTI, 74.2% were pneumonia and 25.8% were bronchiolitis/ bronchitis. Patients’ median age was 1.8 (interquartile range, 3.1) years and 79.9% were < 5 years old. Pathogens were identified in 37.8%; 69.1% were viral and 30.9% were bacterial/ Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Respiratory syncytial virus was most common (70.9%) among viruses and M. pneumoniae (94.6%) was most common among bacteria. Viral LRTI was associated with winter, age < 2 years, rhinorrhoea, dyspnoea, lymphocytosis, thrombocytosis, wheezing, stridor, chest retraction, and infiltration on imaging. Bacteria/ M. pneumoniae LRTI was associated with summer, age ≥ 2 years, fever, decreased breathing sounds, leucocytosis, neutrophilia, C-reactive protein elevation, and positive imaging findings (consolidation, opacity, haziness, or pleural effusion). Conclusion In children with LRTI, various factors associated with viral or bacterial/ M. pneumoniae infections were identified, which may serve as guidance for antibiotic prescription.