Study on the Relationship between the Nutrient Intake and Level of Depressive Symptoms: Using the Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the nutrient intake and level of depressive symptoms. A total of 5,761 subjects with depression were selected for the main data analysis from a Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, KNHANES (2016), and were divided into low depressed and high depressed groups. The data were analyzed by descriptive analysis, χ2-test, logistic regression, and t-test using SPSS 24.0 statistics. The results revealed significant differences in the prevalence of depression according to sex (P < 0.001), age (P < 0.001), income (P < 0.001), and education (P < 0.001). Regarding the health behavior, higher stress levels (P < 0.001) and smoking habit (P < 0.001) appeared to be strongly associated with high levels of depression. On the other hand, the possibility of experiencing depressive symptoms was lower when the number of walking days per week was more than 3 days (P < 0.05), when the number of working days per week was more than 5 days (P < 0.01), and the rate of aerobic physical activity was higher. Based on the ‘Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans 2015’, the subjects in the low depression group showed better intake of energy and 22 nutrients than the high depression group.

Evidence-based approaches for establishing the 2015 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRIs), a set of reference intake values, have served as a basis for guiding a balanced diet that promotes health and prevents disease in the general Korean population. In the process of developing DRIs, a systematic review has played an important role in helping the DRI committees make evidence-based and transparent decisions for updating the next DRIs. Thus, the 2015 KDRI steering committee applied the systematic review framework to the revision process of the KDRIs. The purpose of this article is to summarize the revision process for the 2015 KDRIs by focusing on the systematic review framework. MATERIALS/METHODS: The methods used to develop the systematic review framework for 2015 KDRIs followed the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Tufts Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC). The framework for systematic review of the 2015 KDRIs comprised of the 3 following steps: (1) development of an analytic framework and refinement of key questions and search terms; (2) literature search and data extraction; and, (3) appraisal of the literature and summarizing the results. RESULTS: A total of 203,237 studies were retrieved through the above procedure, with 2,324 of these studies included in the analysis. General information, main results, comments of reviewers, and results of quality assessment were extracted and organized by study design. The average points of quality appraisals were 3.0 (range, 0–5) points for intervention, 6.1 (0–9) points for cohort, 6.0 (3–9) points for nested case-control, 5.4 (1–8) points for case-control, 14.6 (0–22) points for cross-sectional studies, and 7.0 (0–11) points for reviews. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic review helped to establish the 2015 KDRIs as a useful tool for evidence-based approach. Collaborative efforts to improve the framework for systematic review should be continued for future KDRIs.

Estimation of vitamin K intake in Koreans and determination of the primary vitamin K-containing food sources based on the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2011)

There is little information on dietary vitamin K intake and nutritional status of daily requirements of vitamin K in Korea. The objective of this study was to investigate the vitamin K intake and major food sources of Vitamin K in Koreans. The survey data from the 2010-2011 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 7,792 subjects (aged 19-64 years) were examined. Total vitamin K intake was calculated from 24-hour dietary recall using a vitamin K food database, Computer Aided Nutritional analysis Program and the United States Department of Agriculture database. The geometric mean of vitamin K was estimated as 322.40 +/- 6.33 ug/day for men and 271.20 +/- 4.92 ug/day for women. Daily vitamin K intake increased significantly with age (p for trend < 0.001). The main food source of vitamin K was vegetables (72.84%), including cabbage kimchi (19.26%), spinach (17.38%), sesame leaves (7.11%), radish leaves (6.65%), spring onions (6.28%), and laver (4.82%), followed by seaweed, seasonings, and fat and oils. We observed that the vitamin K intake of Koreans was relatively higher than that reported by other studies in Western countries and differed depending on age.

Effect of School Lunch Menu Intervention through Calcium Enriched Menus on Nutrient Intakes of High School Girls / 대한지역사회영양학회지

This study was conducted to improve the nutritional status of high school girls via lunch menu intervention. Surveys were carried out twice to evaluate basal status and status after lunch menu intervention. In the first survey nutrient intakes of 24-hour and school lunch were each estimated by 24-hour recall dietary survey and self-recording, respectively. Calcium intake was the lowest among nutrients, and stir-frying was the most preferred cooking method. Five dishes of school lunch menus which were included in the first survey were replaced with recipes containing foods with higher calcium level; anchovy stir-fried with red pepper paste, anchovy stir-fried with almond, pork stir-fried with shredded kelp, crab meat soup, and tteokbokki with cheese. In the second survey calcium intake from school lunch was significantly (p < 0.001) increased from 45.5% to 50.2% of one thirds of recommended intake (RI) after calcium enriched lunch menu intervention. Intakes of vitamin A and E were also significantly increased, whereas those of energy, thiamin, and vitamin C were decreased. Index of nutritional quality values of nutrients of 24-hour intakes (except thiamin, vitamin B6, vitamin C) is increased by intervention; however, those of calcium, folic acid, iron are still very low. Even though this study shows a possibility of improving nutrient intakes of students through school lunch menu intervention, lunch intervention by itself is not enough action to improve nutritional status of micronutrient for adolescents.