Socioeconomic Factors Relating to Obesity and Inadequate Nutrient Intake in Women in Low Income Families Residing in Seoul

This study was performed to investigate socioeconomic factors relating to obesity and inadequate nutrient intake in women in low income families residing in Seoul. The subjects were 125 women (aged 41-87 y) recruited from the local health center for free health examination for low income families. The socioeconomic status such as educational level, income level, and housing condition were poor. For subjects aged less than 65 years, the prevalence of obesity was 44% based on BMI (> or = 25 kg/m2), 48% based on WHR (> or = 0.85), and 50% based on waist circumference (> or = 80 cm) and for those more than 65 years, these were greater and 57%, 81%, and 79%, respectively. The main food sources of daily diet were vegetables, grains, and fruits. Energy and other nutrient intake was not adequate for all subjects and the inadequacy was more profound in the elderly, showing percentages of subjects whose intake was less than EAR were greater than 50% for all nutrients except for iron and below RI were also greater than 50% for all nutrients. The prevalence of obesity and nutrient inadequacy were not associated with socioeconomic status in subjects aged less than 65 years, however, obesity was associated with household income and nutrient inadequacy was related to education (vitamin A) and housing status (protein, phosphate, and iron) in the elderly. After adjustment for ages, in the elderly, OR for obesity (BMI > or = 25, OR = 12.601; 95% CI = 2.338-67.911) and central obesity (WC > or = 80 cm, OR = 4.778; 95% CI = 1.103-20.696) were greater in subjects who earned less than 500 thousand Won per month than who earned more. For inadequate nutrient intake, the OR for inadequate intake of Vitamin A (OR = 4.555; 95% CI = 1.491-13.914) was greater in subjects with no education than those educated. Subjects without her own house had greater risk for inadequate intake for protein (OR = 3.660; 95% CI = 1.118-11.981), phosphate (OR = 3.428; 95% CI = 1.157-10.158), and iron (OR = 3.765; 95% CI = 1.205-11.766) than subjects possessing her house. In elderly females in low income families, the socioeconomic status was associated with the risk for obesity (income level) and inadequate nutrient intake (education level and housing status). More attention on these groups should be given for prevention of obesity and inadequate nutrient intake.

The Association of Plasma HDL-Cholesterol Level with Cardiovascular Disease Related Factors in Korean Type 2 Diabetic Patients / 당뇨병

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the major cause of death in type 2 diabetic patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of Korean type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients according to plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level and to document the effect of diet on HDL-cholesterol. METHODS: The subjects were 252 (male: 134, female: 118) Korean type 2 DM patients recruited from a general hospital's DM clinic and divided into low HDL-cholesterol group (male or = 40 mg/dL, female > or = 50 mg/dL). Anthropometric and hematological variables and dietary intake were assessed by the groups. RESULTS: The subject's mean age was 60.2 +/- 1.1 years and duration of diabetes was 9.5 +/- 1.0 years. Anthropometric measurements (body fat mass, % body fat, WHR, fat free mass, and muscle mass) and BMI were not significantly different between two groups. The male subjects with low HDL-cholesterolemia showed higher Atherogenic Index (AI, P < 0.001) and higher % carbohydrate from energy than control group (P < 0.01). The female subjects with low HDL-cholesterolemia showed higher AI (P < 0.001) and a tendency of higher triglyceride level and lower intake of energy, protein, lipid, vitamin B1 and vitamin E (P < 0.05) than control group. CONCLUSION: The subject with low HDL-cholesterolemia showed significantly higher AI. Male subject with low HDL-cholesterolemia consumed higher carbohydrate and female subject with low HDL-cholesterolemia showed lower intakes of many nutrients. This result suggests the importance of an adequate and balanced diet to manage type 2 DM patients to prevent CVD complications.

Impact of Diabetes Duration on the Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors in Korea Type 2 DM Patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact DM duration on cardiovascular disease risk factors in Korean Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. The subject were 250 (male: 134, female: 118) Korean Type 2 DM patients recruited from a general hospital's DM clinic. Anthropometric and hematological variables and dietary intake were assessed. The subject's mean age was 60.2 years and duration of diabetes was 9.5 years. As far as DM duration was concerned, male subjects with long duration (> or = 5 years and longer) showed significantly lower weight, fat free mass, skeletal muscle mass, BMI (p or = 5 years and longer) showed significantly higher fat free mass (p < 0.05) and skeletal muscle mass (p < 0.05), Hemoglobin A1c (p < 0.01), HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.01) and triglyceride (p < 0.05), dietary intakes of protein (p < 0.05) and fat (p < 0.05) compared to those with less 5years of duration. In conclusion, Type II DM patients of long duration had higher blood lipid concentrations and higher carbohydrates intakes. Subjects followed diet prescription strictly showed lower blood lipid concentration, suggesting the effectiveness of diet to manage Type 2 DM patients.

Adiponectin gene SNP 276G --> T, nutrient intakes, and cardiovascular disease risk in Korean type 2 DM patients

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in adiponectin gene has been associated with insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study was performed to investigate the association of SNP 276G-->T at adiponectin gene with CVD risk factors in Korean type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients. The subjects were 351 type 2 DM patients visited a DM clinic in Seoul, and the patients with known CVD were excluded. The adiponectin SNP 276G-->T was analyzed and dietary intakes were assessed by a Food Frequency Questionnaire. The prevalence of G/G, G/T, and T/T genotype was 47.6%, 43.3%, and 9.1%, respectively. Male subjects with T/T genotype showed significantly lower level of adiponectin and HDL-cholesterol and significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP) level compared to G/G and G/T genotypes. In G/G genotype, protein intake was negatively correlated to body weight, BMI, and waist circumference, and there were positive correlation between carbohydrate intake and BMI, waist-hip ratio, and ApoB/apoA-1 ratio in G/T genotype. However, in T/T genotype, there was no significant association between macronutrient intakes and anthropometric and hematological values. In conclusion, CVD risk would be high in type 2 DM patients with T/T genotype, and the association of macronutrient intakes with anthropometric and hematologic factors was different among the three adiponectin genotypes. These results may imply the need for different dietary management regime according to adiponectin genotype to lower CVD complications in Korean type 2 DM patients.