Gender Difference in the Level of HDL Cholesterol in Korean Adults / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level varies with ethnicity and gender. In Korea there has not been an agreement on standards for HDL cholesterol level. Therefore, in order to establish a foundation for research on HDL cholesterol, we investigated the gender difference in HDL cholesterol level after adjusting associated factors. METHODS: The study population included 4,465 individuals (1,833 men, 2,632 women) representing 33,502,918 Koreans 20 years of age or older, who participated in the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey. After stratifying by gender, we analyzed the HDL cholesterol level according to the general characteristics of the study population. Then we identified independent factors associated with HDL cholesterol level. After adjusting for covariates, we estimated the gender difference in HDL cholesterol level. RESULTS: We demonstrated that age, current smoking, body mass index, alcohol intake, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol level have significant impact on HDL cholesterol level. In addition, educational status was also an important factor for men, while fat intake was a significant factor for women. After adjusting associated factors, the means (standard errors) of HDL cholesterol level were 43.8 (0.2) mg/dL in men and 46.3 (0.2) mg/dL in women, respectively. CONCLUSION: The mean gender difference in HDL level (2.5 mg/dL) in Korean adults was, therefore, less than those observed in previous western studies.

Analysis of the Relationship between Dietary Fiber Intake & Food Habits in the Korean Adult Population: Using the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey Data and the Newly Established Dietary Fiber Database

The present study assessed the relation of dietary fiber to food habits in Korean adults aged 20 and over, using a newly established dietary fiber, as well as the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey. The per capita average dietary fiber intake of Koreans was estimated to be 12.25 +/- 5.23 g/1,000 kcal. Calorie-based dietary fiber intakes for females was over the KDRI, but for males it was below the KDRI. The levels of total dietary fiber and energy corresponded with frequent snacking but calorie-based dietary fiber intake did not. The subjects who skipped meals, frequently ate out and consumed fried foods tended to have lower levels of calorie-based dietary fiber although the levels of energy and total dietary fiber corresponded with frequent eating-out and consumption of fried foods. The results of this study suggest that Koreans must make efforts to regularly have three meals a day, reduce the frequency of eating out and consume fewer fried foods in order to maintain the optimum intake levels of dietary fiber that protect against chronic diseases.

Analysis of Dietary Fiber Intake in the Korean Adult Population Using 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey Data and Newly Established Dietary Fiber Database

The present study estimates intake levels of dietary fiber (DF) in Korean adults aged 20 and over, using a newly established dietary fiber database for 3,149 food items, as well as 24-hour recall method data from the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey. Dietary fiber intake and food groups are analyzed by gender, age, and region. The average dietary fiber intake, per capita of Korea was estimated to be 12.24 g/1,000 kcal or 23.58 g/day. Caloriebased dietary fiber intake for 20-49 year-old-Korean males, 20-29 year-old females, and the adults who resided in metropolitan areas was under the Adequate Intake for DF, 12 g/1,000 kcal. Further, the dietary fiber intake after adjusting energy intake in people over 75 year-old was estimated to be 75% of AI. Vegetables, cereals and fruits were three major sources of DF for Korean, making up approximately 75% of DF. Regarding the subjects of this study, major sources of dietary fiber were Kimchi and well-polished rice, which supplied 13.98% and 9.16% of total dietary fiber intake, respectively. The result of this study could contribute to the establishment of DRIs for dietary fiber, after adjusting energy intake for Korean aged 75 years and over. The beneficial health effects of DF and the necessity of nutritional education in this area should be continuously emphasized concerning 20-29 year-old people and metropolitan adults.

Nutrient Intake Patterns of Koreans by the Economic Status Using 1998 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the diet with the amount and the qualitative assessment of nutrient intakes by the economic level. Data from the 1998 Korean Health and Nutrition Survey were used. Using the poverty line based on the 1998 Korean minimum cost of living, Subjects (n = 10400) were classified into high class (36.1%), middle class (40.7%) and low class (23.1%). Chi-square-test and Analysis of Variance following Duncan's multiple range test were used to test the difference in nutrient intake pattern among three groups (alpha = 0.05). The amount of nutrient intake and nutrient intake adequacy were statistically different by the economic level (p<0.01). The ratio of energy intake from carbohydrate is higher than the criteria of WHO recommendation in all economic levels. Especially people in the low class depended much on the carbohydrate for the energy intake. The ratio of energy from the protein and fat are lower in the middle and low class than that of the high class. The Intake level of calcium and vitamin B2 were lower than those of the Recommended Dietary intake level, regardless of economic status. It also showed differences in major food sources of nutrients by the economic level Consequently, it seems that the nutrition policy and program should be prepared according to their economic status. Also, there should more detailed studies to find out the nutrient intake pattern, their determinant, and health consequences.

Identification of the Dietary Intake Patterns of Korean Adults according to Their Exercise Levels / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to identify the differences in dietary consumption patterns according to the exercise level of Korean adults. The study subjects were the 7,370 Koreans aged 20 years and older of the 1998 Korean Health and Nutrition Survey. The dietary assessment was conducted by means of the 24 hour recall method. Data for individual exercise behavior were collected by interviews as part of the National Health Behavior Survey. Following the analysis of variances the Duncan's Multiple Range Test was used to test the differences in food and nutrient intakes among groups with different levels of exercise. Current exercise practices were reported by 22% of the male subjects and 15% of the female subjects. Unlike observations from the American and European studies, a greater amount of meat intake was observed more frequently among high exercises group than among middle and low exercisers in the case of the male subjects. This was reflected in the increasing levels of protein and fat intake in proportion to the exercise levels. However, the food and nutrient intake patterns of female exercisers were quite different from those of the males. The least intake of fatty foods was observed among the high exercisers. Energy intake from fat was the lowest among the high exercisers. These results may imply that the motivation to exercise was quite different between male and female Koreans. This dietary pattern may have a risk of undernution. Summerizing the results, whatever the motivation of the exercise, the Korean exercisers of both sexes had unhealthy dietary pattern. Therefore, nutritional education should be conducted to encourage the eating of a balanced diet along with exercise, among Koreans of both sexes, in order to promote a healthy lifestyle.