Comparison of nutritional status by energy level of night snack in Korean adults: using the data from 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

This study aims to investigate the nutritional status of night eaters using the data from 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 3,903 subjects aged 20 and above were divided into 3 groups by using 24-hr recall data according to the night snack calorie intake: non-night snack, night snack less than 500 kcal and 500 kcal and more. Their data were analyzed to find out the difference on the socio-demographic, anthropometric, blood pressure, blood parameters and dietary characteristics. Among the subjects, non-night eaters were 66.0%, night eaters of less than 500 kcal were 28.4% and 500 kcal and above were 5.6%. Male adults, young-aged, higher educated, higher income earner, breakfast skipper and frequent dine-outer (3 times and more a day) were found more in the night eaters with 500 kcal and above. Night eaters above 500 kcal showed higher waist circumference, Glu-FBS, Glu-PP120 and also showed higher daily intake of fat and alcohol per 1,000 kcal and food groups of meat & eggs, beverages and alcohol drinks (p < 0.05), while they showed the lowest carbohydrate energy ratio of 58.3 +/- 13.7 among the three groups. These results suggest that habitual night snack intake above 500 kcal could lead to abdominal obesity and diabetes due to higher intake of meat, fat and alcohol.

Relationship of dietary self-efficacy and illness beliefs, perceived benefits and perceived barriers for the reduction of sodium intake in the elderly

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of dietary self-efficacy and illness beliefs, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers for the reduction of sodium intake in the elderly. A cross-sectional study was performed on 252 elderly people, aged 65 yrs and above, living in Daejeon Metropolitan city and Jecheon city, Chungbuk from March 21 to March 30, 2011. Dietary self-efficacy of three factors (resisting relapse, reducing salt and behavioral skills), perceived benefits and barriers, accurate and inaccurate illness beliefs were measured by 5 or 4 point Likert scale. With the increasing education level of the elderly, dietary self-efficacy, and accurate illness belief score increased and perceived barrier score decreased. Perceived benefits score was higher in the subject living alone compared to those living with siblings or spouses. Among three factors of dietary self-efficacy, reducing salt was scored highest and behavioral skills scored lowest in the elderly. Recording meal diary and reading labels for salt content in the items of behavioral skills showed lower score than other items. Accurate illness beliefs and perceived benefits were more scored than inaccurate illness beliefs and perceived barriers respectively in the subjects. The subjects with higher accurate illness beliefs, lower inaccurate illness beliefs, higher perceived benefits, and lower perceived barriers for the reduction of sodium intake showed higher dietary self-efficacy. In summary, accurate illness beliefs and perceived benefits positively correlated with dietary self-efficacy for the reduction of sodium intake in the elderly, whereas inaccurate illness beliefs and perceived barriers are negatively correlated.

Comparison of Nutritional Status of the Daejeon Metropolitan Citizens by Frequency of Eating Out

This study aims at investigating the health and nutritional status of the adults according to frequency of eating out. One day food intake data were collected by 24 hr recall dietary survey and body size, blood pressure and some blood lipids and other constituents were measured on 137 Daejeon metropolitan citizens 20 yrs old and above who visited Chungnam National University Hospital for physical examination during the period of December 6, to December 15, 2008. The frequency of eating out were categorized into four levels: less than once a week, once a week, 2-3 times a week, 4 times a week and above. Body mass Index, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood lipid, blood glucose, GPT and GOT did not showed any significant difference according to the frequency of eating out of the subjects. Though, systolic blood pressures and serum levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol showed a little tendency to be high in the subjects eating out 2-3 times a week. In the contrary, serum triglyceride level tended to be low in the same group. The subjects eating out 4 times a week and over took more total protein, animal protein, animal fat, phosphorus and vitamin B2 than any other group. Also protein energy ratio was the highest in the group eating out 4 times a week and above and they took more animal food group, other food group, beverages . teas and alcohols than other groups eating out. These results showed that higher frequency of eating out leads to higher intake of protein, fat, phosphorus, animal food groups and other food groups (oils, beverages, seasonings) and to lower intake of vitamin C and plant food groups. It, thus, suggested that the strategy for restaurant business is required to provide the menu substituted animal food by more plant food.

Choline and Betaine Concentrations in Breast Milk of Korean Lactating Women and the Choline and Betaine Intakes of Their Infants

Most nutrients taken by pregnant women are secreted into their breast milk. Food contains choline together with betaine, and in human body choline is oxidized to betaine which transfer methyl group. The aim of the study was to estimate the concentrations of choline and betaine in breast milk of Korean lactating women and the choline and betaine intakes of their infants. Total choline, free choline and betaine concentrations in breast milk of some lactating women living in Daejon Metropolitan city were analyzed every month by using HPLC-MS and enzymatic method during the first five months. Total choline concentrations of breast milks were 157.64 mg/L (1.52 mmol/L), 157.83 mg/L (1.52 mmol/L), 165.99 mg/L (1.60 mmol/L), 153.67 mg/L (1.48 mmol/L), 145.05 mg/L (1.39 mmol/L) by month after delivery for five months. The concentrations of total choline and free choline in breast milks were not significantly changed for the five months while the betaine concentrations gradually decreased. Daily intake of total choline of the infants appears to be adequate for the infant's requirement according to the US DRI; 124.6 mg/d, 120.9 mg/d, 126.5 mg/d 104.1 mg/d from 2nd to 5th month after birth. Free choline and betaine intakes of the infants were not significantly changed during the four months except showing decrease in betaine intake per kg body weight. Choline intakes of the infants more correlated with choline concentrations of the breast milks (r = 0.982, p = 0.000) than intake amount of the breast milk (r = 0.414, p = 0.028). These results suggest that the choline intake of Korean breast-fed infants appears to be adequate and the intake could be affected by the choline concentration of the breast milk.

The Effect of Nutrition Education on the Improvement of Psychosocial Factors Related to Vegetable and Fruit Intake of Elementary School Children in Pre-Action Stages

This study investigates the change of level of psychosocial factors of decisional balance, processes of change, and self-efficacy after nutrition education on vegetable and fruit intake of children in pre-action stages. Forty-seven 5th grade elementary school children in Yeongi-Gun, Chungnam-Do were categorized into pre-action stages from a total of 71 children by four-stage questions, and then finally into two stages of precontemplation and contemplation & preparation. After 6 weeks nutrition education, recognition of both of pros and cons of vegetable intake were improved in the two groups of precontemplation and contemplation & preparation. In fruits intake, however, recognition of pros was not changed after nutrition education in either stage, but recognition of cons was improved only in the precontemplation stage. However, no difference in any psychosocial variables was found between precontemplation stage and contemplation & preparation stage. After the nutrition education, the score of consciousness raising of vegetable intake belonging to cognitive process of change increased in the subjects of the precontemplation stage, wheres the scores of dramatic relief, self-reevaluation, environment reevaluation and social liberation increased in the group of contemplation & preparation. In fruit intake, however, no change was found except in the environment reevaluation in the precontemplation group. The behavioral process of change of vegetable and fruit intake did not show any change in either group after nutrition education. Self-efficacy scores of vegetable intake of keeping the foods at hand, eating the recommended number of servings and making time to eat increased in the precontemplation group, while in the contemplation & preparation group, self efficacy scores of shopping for a variety of vegetables, instead of keeping the foods at hands, as well as the scores of the rest two items of eating the recommended number of servings and making time to eat increased after nutrition education. However, in case of fruits intake, no difference was shown in the precontemplation stage except an item of keeping the foods at hand. The results indicated that the stage of change was progressed in the pre-action stage after nutrition education and the scores of many psychosocial factors increased in both pre-action stages. It is suggested that the recognition of cons as well as the cognitive process of change and self-efficacy could be best used as indicators of the assessment of nutrition education program for vegetable intake.

Psychosocial Factors Related with the Intake of Vegetables and Fruits by Stage of Change of Elementary School Children in Chungnam Province

This study aims at investigating the psychosocial factors that influence on the intake of fruits and vegetables according to stage of change in rural children. Total 256 elementary school children, located in Yeongi-Gun, Chungnam-Do were surveyed from May 14 2007 to May 30 2007. Stage of change on the intake of fruits and vegetables of the students was categorized into three stages: precontemplation (PC), contemplation & preparation (CO&PR) and action (AC). Psychosocial factors consist of decisional balance based on pros and cons, process of change of cognitive and behavioral processes, and self-efficacy. The recognition of cons out of decisional balance showed the highest score in the subjects at the stage of PC and lowest score in those action stage. While, no difference was shown in the score of recognition of pros among the stages. Both levels of cognitive and behavioral process of change showed no difference between two pre-action stages, PC and CO&PR. However, the subjects of action stages got higher scores in more number of the variables in both of cognitive and behavioral process of change compared to those of pre-action stages with more remarkable in results vegetables than in fruits. The results of self-efficacy on fruits and vegetables intake showed that the higher stages of change, the higher the self-efficacy score. From the result, it is suggested that the items and level of psychosocial factors are different according to the stage of change and between fruits and vegetables in rural children.

Comparison of Mineral and Vitamin Intakes According to the Stage of Change in Fruit and Vegetable Intake for Elementary School Students in Chungnam Province

The purpose of this study was to compare the mineral and vitamin intake according to the stage of change in fruit and vegetable intake. The subjects consisted of 256 students, 122 males and 134 females, who are fourth, fifth and sixth grade in an elementary school located in Yeongi-Gun, Chungnam province. The dietary intake was examined by 24 hr dietary recall for 1 day and by food record for 2 days from April 19 to May 01, 2007. Stage of change of intake of fruits and vegetables of the students was categorized into three groups: precontemplation, contemplation and preparation, and action. The subjects at the stage of action took kimchi and vegetables more frequently, and also took more vitamin C as well. But the subjects at other two stages did not show any difference in the intake of any food group and nutrients. Percentage of the male subjects who took less than EAR did not show any significant difference by stage of change in all the nutrients. However, there was gradual decrease in the percentage of female taking less than EAR of vitamin C and vitamin B2. The result concludes that vitamin C intake significantly increase gradually as the stages of behavioral change of fruit and vegetable intake proceed although almost all vitamins and minerals tended to increase.