A study on blood lipid profiles, aluminum and mercury levels in college students

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: College students are in a period of transition from adolescence to adulthood, in which proper dietary habits and balanced nutritional intake are very important. However, improper dietary habits and lifestyles can bring several health problems. This study was performed to investigate blood lipid profiles, blood aluminum and mercury in college students and the relationships among them. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The subjects were 80 college students (43 males and 37 females) in Gyeonggi-do. General characteristics, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, blood lipids, SGOT, SGPT, and blood aluminum and mercury of the subjects were measured and analyzed, and their relationship was studied. RESULTS: The BMI was significantly higher in males, 23.69 ± 3.20 kg/m², than in females, 20.38 ± 2.37 kg/m² (P < 0.001). The blood pressure was significantly higher in males with 128.93 ± 12.92 mmHg systolic pressure and 77.14 ± 10.31 mmHg diastolic pressure compared to females with 109.78 ± 11.97 mmHg and 65.95 ± 6.92 mmHg, respectively (P < 0.001). HDL cholesterol in males, 61.88 ± 13.06 mg/dl, was lower than 64.73 ± 12.16 mg/dl in females, but other blood lipid levels were higher in males. Blood aluminum was significantly higher in males, 9.12 ± 2.11 µg/L, than in females, 8.03 ± 2.14 µg/L (P < 0.05), and blood mercury was higher in males, 3.08 ± 1.55 µg/L, than in females, 2.64 ± 1.49 µg/L. The blood lipids showed positive correlation with obesity and blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: The degree of obesity, blood pressure, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol were higher in males, suggesting possible association with chronic disease incidence such as hyperlipidemia and hypertension. Thus, it is considered that a systematic health education is needed for college students, especially for males.

Comparative study on body shape satisfaction and body weight control between Korean and Chinese female high school students

This study was conducted to compare body shape satisfaction, body image perception, weight control status, and dietary habits of Korean and Chinese female high school students in order to provide information for proper body image perception of adolescents. 221 students in Yongin, a city in Korea, and 227 students in Weihai, a city in China, were surveyed using questionnaires. Body shape satisfaction was significantly higher in Chinese students (P < 0.001) compared to Korean students. 76.2% of Korean students and 72.7% of Chinese students wanted a thinner body shape than their present body shapes. Experiences of weight control, laxative or diuretics uses, eating during weight control, and vomiting after eating were significantly higher in Korean students (P < 0.05-P < 0.001) compared to Chinese students. The score for dietary habits was significantly higher in Chinese students (P < 0.001) compared to Korean students, suggesting a more desirable dietary habit among Chinese students. Students of both countries showed a significantly positive correlation between body shape satisfaction and dietary habits, suggesting that as body shape satisfaction increases, dietary habits become more desirable. In conclusion, Korean female students showed a more distorted body image perception and had more poor dietary habits than Chinese students. Nutritional education for the establishment of normal body weight, proper body image perception, and healthy dietary habits are needed.

A study on dietary habits, health related lifestyle, blood cadmium and lead levels of college students

This study was performed in order to investigate dietary habits, health related lifestyle and blood cadmium and lead levels in female college students. 80 college students (43 males and 37 females) participated in the survey questionnaires. Body weight and height, blood pressure, and body composition were measured. The systolic blood pressure of male and female students were 128.9 +/- 13.9 and 109.8 +/- 12.0, respectively. The diastolic blood pressure of male and female students were 77.1 +/- 10.3 and 66.0 +/- 6.9, respectively, showing that male students had significantly higher blood pressure than female students (P < 0.001). The BMI of male and female students were 23.4 +/- 3.3 and 20.2 +/- 2.3, respectively. Most male students were in the range of being overweight. The dietary habits score of female students was significantly higher than that of male students (P < 0.01).The blood cadmium level of male and female students were 0.54 +/- 0.23 and 0.52 +/- 0.36, respectively. There was no significant difference between male and female students. The blood lead level of male and female students were 1.09 +/- 0.49 and 0.59 +/- 0.45, respectively. The blood lead level of male students was significantly higher than that of female students (P < 0.001). The blood cadmium level of smokers and nonsmokers were 0.69 +/- 0.29 and 0.49 +/- 0.29 respectively (P < 0.05). The blood cadmium level of smokers was significantly higher than that of nonsmokers (P < 0.05). The blood lead level of smokers and nonsmokers were 1.09 +/- 0.43 and 0.80 +/- 0.54, respectively. The blood lead level of smokers was significantly higher than that of nonsmokers (P < 0.05). Therefore, proper nutritional education programs are required for college students in order to improve their dietary and health related living habits.

A Study on the Stress and the Dietary Habits of Elementary School Children by Mother's Employment Status / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study is to determine the stress and the dietary habits of elementary school children and assess the associations with mother's employment status. The subjects were 423 students of 5th and 6th grade students (210 boys and 213 girls) in Seoul and Gyeonggi-Do. Two hundred fifty-two mothers had some kinds of job and 171 mothers were housewives. The students had stress the most from their studies/schoolwork (M = 2.37), while the least from "teacher/school" (M=1.51). The average stress score of the subjects was 1.76. The average score of dietary habits was 3.43. More specifically, the statement "not skipping breakfast" had the highest score (M = 4.04) and the statement "not substituting cereals, breads or drink milk for any meal" had the lowest score. Students with employed mothers had higher stress level than students with unemployed mothers. Students with employed mothers who have blue color job showed the lower dietary habits score than those with employed mothers who had other types of job. Students of employed mothers who go to school at dawn showed the lowest dietary habits score. In both employed and unemployed mothers, the stress score of students negatively correlated with the score of dietary habits. It was important for the mother to be at home when the students go to school and return. Based on this study, mothers should be aware of the stress level of their children get depending on their employment status. They should also provide their children to have good dietary habits and nutritional education regularly.

Relationship between the Number of Different Food Consumed and Nutrient Intakes / 대한지역사회영양학회지

In order to examine the relationship between the number of different foods consumed and nutrient intake, one-day food consumption were surveyed by 24-hour recall from a sample of 287 individuals(20-49 years) living in Daejon City. The number of consumed food items did not include seasonings except red pepper power, sugar, oil, and soybean paste when used in large amounts(DVS). The number, including all seasonings except salt and vinegar(DVSS), was also counted. Of the total subjects, 43.6%(DVS) or 39.0%(DVSS) consumed 18-23 daily different foods with an average of 20.2 or 22.9, respectively. As the DVS increased, daily intakes of total foods and most food groups were elevated. Cereals however were not changed and eggs were decreased with increasing DVS. Energy and nutrient intakes and their mean adequacy ratio(MAR) and index of nutritional quality(INQ) also show positive correlations with DVS. MAR equal to or greater than(> or =) 0.75 was taken as a cut-off point for nutritional adequacy. In that case, the mean INQ was shown to be > or =1. MRI(10) for energy and 9 nutrients and MAR(3) for Ca, vitamin A, and riboflavin were estimated. Form a regression analysis, when MAR(10) was 0.75, the DVS and DVSS were assumed to be 19.6 and 22.2, respectively. And when MAR(3) was 0.75, the DVS and DVSS were assumed to be 31.6 and 34.6, respectively. However the subjects whose MAR(3) was 0.75(0.7-0.8) 23.8(DVS) or 26.6(DVSS) different foods in average, and their mean intakes of energy and all nutrients, except vitamin A, were ranged at 85-100% of the RDA. Of the 74 subjects who consumed DVS> or =24, 24 to 42 numbers took or =32 took > or =125%RDA of protein, which showed concerns of overnutrition in case of DVS> or =32. Form the above results it could be suggested that a daily intake of 24-32(or 28) of DVS or 27-35(or 31) of DVSS was recommendable for an optimal nutritional of all nutrients if the variety of food groups and sufficient intake of vitamin A and calcium were emphasized together.