Comparison of the health and nutritional status of Korean elderly considering the household income level, using the 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey / 한국영양학회지

Purpose@#This study examined the dietary behavior, health status and nutrient intake by considering the level of household income of elderly people using data obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES VII) 2018. @*Methods@#The study subjects were 1,355 elderly people over 65 years old (558 men, 797 women). Based on their household income, participants were classified into three groups:low-income, middle-income, and high-income. The variables consisted of general characteristics, dietary behavior, health status, health related behavior, and dietary intakes.Dietary data were estimated by the 24-hour dietary recall. @*Results@#In men, the low-income group encompassed older, less educated, less employed, and living with family of first generation. However, in women, there were no differences in employment by the level of income, and women living alone had lower income than subjects living with family. Elderly men in the high-income group had a significantly higher level of nutrient intake (energy, protein, fat, phosphorous, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin C). Men in the low-income group consumed a significantly lower intake of fruits, seaweeds and eggs, including total food. Women in the low-income group had significantly less intake of protein, fat, calcium, phosphorous, iron, vitamin A, riboflavin, and niacin whereas women in the high-income group had significantly higher intake of sugar & sweet, eggs, and beverages, including total food. @*Conclusion@#These results suggest that the level of household income is an important factor that influences food and nutrient intake in the Korean elderly. The socioeconomic status needs to be considered differently among elderly men and women when implementing food assistant programs and designing nutrition education programs.

Belief factors associated with breastfeeding intentions of single women: Based on the theory of planned behavior / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to examine the behavioral intentions of breastfeeding in single women using the theory of planned behavior. METHODS: The questionnaires were distributed to 350 single women in her 20~30s, and 316 respondents were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation, and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The subjects showed strong intentions and favorable attitudes toward breastfeeding. The subjects were more favorably influenced by their mothers, siblings, friends, and coworkers who previously experienced breastfeeding than ones with no breastfeeding experiences. There were significant correlations between breastfeeding intention and attitudes (r = 0.321, p < 0.0001), subjective norms (r = 0.434, p < 0.0001), and perceived control (r = 0.307, p < 0.0001). However, regression analysis with two different age groups revealed that subjective norms (p < 0.0001) and perceived control (p < 0.001) contributed to the model of explaining breastfeeding intentions in subjects who were 25 years old or younger, whereas attitudes did not. In addition, subjects who were more than 25 years old showed that attitudes (p < 0.003) and subjective norms (p = 0.002) contributed to the model of explaining breastfeeding intentions while perceived control (p < 0.070) showed less contribution. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the theory of planned behavior can be a useful tool to increase the rate of breastfeeding intentions in single women when designing educational materials, which requires consideration of age differences.

Food intake and nutritional status of female marriage immigrants residing in Gwangju, Korea / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to assess the nutritional status of female marriage immigrants attending Korean language class in Gwangju, Korea by analyzing daily food and nutrient intake. METHODS: Eighty-three female immigrants completed a survey. Anthropometric measurements were obtained, and dietary food intake was assessed using a 1-day 24 hour recall method. RESULTS: The average length of residence in Korea was 5.3 years, and mean age of subjects was 31.0 years old. The home countries of subjects were Vietnam (50.6%), China (24.1%), Philippines (13.3%), and others (12%). Due to the length of residence, there were significant differences in body weight (p < 0.05), BMI (p < 0.05), percent body fat (p < 0.05), and diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.05). The subjects who were 30~49 years old consumed more vegetables and less seaweed than the subjects who were 20~29 years old. The other kinds of consumed foods were similar among groups in different age groups or lengths of residence in Korea. Average energy intake of subjects was 1,641.0 Kcal. The group with less than 5 years of residence showed higher cholesterol intake than the group with 5 or more years of residence in Korea (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in nutrient intake between the groups of different age or length of residence. There was a positive association among dietary cholesterol intake and consumption of eggs, milk. and dairy products, and blood pressure. CONCLUSION: The study shows that length of residence affects rate of obesity and nutritional status. Further extensive research is needed to understand the effect of dietary changes and nutritional status of female marriage immigrants as well as for their successful adaptation to develop a more active and long-term nutrition education program.

A Study on Isoflavones Intake From Soy Foods and Perimenstrual Symptoms / 간호학회지

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to explore the relationship between isoflavones intake from soy foods and perimenstrual symptoms among women. METHODS: The research design was a cross sectional study. Subjects consisted of 245 women living in Korea, aged 19-49 years. The measurement tools were MDQ and FFQ. RESULTS: Frequently consumed soy isoflavones foods were rice with soybeans, soybean paste stew, and soy paste with tofu. The amounts of soy isoflavones foods consumed in order from highest to lowest were rice with soybeans, soybean paste stew, seasoned soybean sprouts, and soy paste with tofu. Subjects were divided into three groups by isoflavones intake levels; the small intake group, moderate intake group, and large intake group. There were significant differences in some menstrual symptoms, and postmenstrual symptoms by isoflavones intake levels. In general, the moderate isoflavones intake group showed lower scores in some menstrual symptoms and postmenstrual periods compared to the small and large intake groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest some positive health effects of isoflavones from soy foods on perimenstrual symptoms. More accurate, objective measurement needs to be applied and more investigation of soy isoflavones effects on many aspects of women's health need to be done in a future study.