Current status and trends in estimated intakes and major food groups of vitamin E among Korean adults: Using the 1~6(th) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine trends in dietary vitamin E intakes and contributing food groups among Korean adults. METHODS: This study included 66,695 subjects aged ≥ 19 years who completed a nutrition survey as part of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1998, 2001, 2005, 2007~2009, 2010~2012, 2013~2015). We estimated individual daily intakes of α-, β-, γ-, δ-tocopherol, and total vitamin E by linking food consumption data with a vitamin E database of commonly consumed foods. RESULTS: Daily vitamin E intake significantly increased from 6.4 mg α-TE/d in 1998 to 7.7 mg α-TE/d in 2013~2015 (p for trend < 0.0001) among men as well as from 5.4 mg α-TE/d in 1998 to 6.5 mg α-TE/d in 2013~2015 among women (p for trend < 0.0001). However, the intake of vitamin E was lower than the adequate intake (AI) of Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans 2015 (2015 KDRI). In 2013~2015, men consumed 6.5 mg/d of α-tocopherol, 0.5 mg/d of β-tocopherol, 6.0 mg/d of γ-tocopherol, and 3.9 mg/d of δ-tocopherol, whereas women consumed 5.7 mg/d of α-tocopherol, 0.4 mg/d of β-tocopherol, 4.8 mg/d of γ-tocopherol, and 2.8 mg/d of δ-tocopherol. The major food groups contributing to vitamin E intake were vegetables (men: 23.3%, women: 22.7%), grains (men: 14.5%, women: 13.9%), and eggs (men: 13.0%, women: 12.5%). CONCLUSION: This study provides scientific evidence for vitamin E intake in Korean adults. Since the current intake of vitamin E was lower than the reference intakes set by 2015 KDRI, dietary vitamin E intake should be monitored regularly among Korean adults.

Association between intake of antioxidant vitamins and metabolic syndrome risk among Korean adults / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between intake of antioxidant vitamins and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Korean adults. METHODS: A total of 614 subjects aged 30~60 years were recruited from those who received a medical checkup at a general hospital in South Korea between 2009 and 2012. Presence of MetS was determined based on criteria issued by the NCEP ATP III. Intakes of antioxidant vitamins (vitamin A, retinol, carotenoids, vitamin C, and vitamin E) were estimated by combining 3-day diet records with an antioxidant vitamin database for common Korean foods. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the association between dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins and MetS. RESULTS: Men in the highest tertile for retinol (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.23~0.71, P for trend = 0.0009), carotenoids (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.32~1.00, P for trend = 0.0470), and vitamin E (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.30~0.92, P for trend = 0.0190) intakes had a lower likelihood of having Mets than those in the lowest tertile. The OR of high fasting blood glucose among men in the highest tertile for vitamin A (µg RE: OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.32~0.97, P for trend = 0.0417, µg RAE: OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.29~0.92, P for trend = 0.0211), carotenoids (OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.23~0.73, P for trend = 0.0036), and vitamin E (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.26~0.82, P for trend = 0.0080) intakes was lower than those in the lowest tertile. In women, subjects in the highest tertile of retinol intakes had a lower prevalence of MetS than those in the lowest tertile group (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.30~0.98). The OR for abdominal obesity was lower among women with the highest vitamin A (µg RE) intakes compared to those in the lowest tertile (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.28~0.93, P for trend = 0.0293). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins might be associated with reduced risk of having MetS among Korean adults.