Association of serum and hair antioxidant minerals with an oxidative stress marker in relation with characteristics of healthy adults: a cross-sectional study.

Excess oxidative stress generated in the body causes various types of cellular damage, including DNA damage. Certain trace minerals act as antioxidants by functioning as cofactors for antioxidant enzymes. This study was conducted to evaluate the serum and hair concentrations of major antioxidant trace minerals (zinc, manganese, selenium, and chromium) and to determine the association between the oxidative stress marker urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and serum or hair antioxidant trace mineral concentrations, according to the general characteristics of healthy adults. Study participants were selected after screening, and 108 participants aged 19-69 years were finally included. Serum and hair trace mineral concentrations were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and urine 8-OHdG levels were quantified using an ELISA kit. Results showed that urinary 8-OHdG levels were significantly higher in exercisers than in those who did not exercise. Correlation analysis revealed that urinary 8-OHdG was negatively correlated with hair zinc in participants over 60 years of age and with poor health status, and positively correlated with hair chromium in participants with irregular dietary habits. In conclusion, these results suggest that urinary 8-OHdG is particularly correlated with hair zinc and chromium levels. Additional large-scale epidemiological studies are needed to generally confirm these findings.

Relationship between protein intake and grip strength in qualitative and quantitative aspects among the elderly in Korea: results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the association between quantitative and qualitative protein intake and grip strength (GS) in the South Korean population to explore nutritional management for the prevention of sarcopenia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on data from a nationally representative sample of the South Korean elderly population, consisting of 1,531 men and 1,983 women aged 65 years and older who participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2019. Low GS was defined as GS < 28 kg in men and GS < 18 kg in women. Protein intake was assessed using 1-day 24-h recall, and we analyzed absolute protein intake, protein intake by food source, and protein intake compared to dietary reference intake with per body weight or absolute daily recommended value. RESULTS: The total and animal protein intake and protein intake from legumes, fish and shellfish were significantly lower in women with a low GS than in those with a normal GS. After adjusting for confounding factors, women who consumed more protein than the estimated average requirement (EAR, 40 g/day for women) were 0.528 times less likely to have low GS than women consuming less protein than the EAR (95% CI: 0.373-0.749), and consuming any amount of protein from legumes were 0.656 times less likely (95% CI: 0.500-0.860) to have low GS than women who did not consume any amount of legume protein. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides epidemiological evidence that adequate protein intake above EAR and protein intake from legumes should be guided for preventing low GS, especially in elderly women.

Comparison between 24-hour diet recall and 24-hour urine collection for estimating sodium and potassium intakes and their ratio among Korean adults.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare 24-h diet recall (DR) and 24-h urine collection (UC) for estimating sodium and potassium intakes and their ratio (Na/K), identifying factors associated with sodium and potassium intakes and Na/K, and identifying those who were likely to underestimate sodium and potassium intakes by DR. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 640 healthy adults aged 19-69 yrs completed a questionnaire survey, salty taste assessment, anthropometric measurement, two 24-h DRs, and two 24-h UCs. RESULTS: The mean sodium and potassium intakes and Na/K were 3,755 mg/d, 2,737 mg/d, and 1.45 according to DR, and 4,145 mg/d, 2,812 mg/d, and 1.57 according to UC, with percentage differences of -9.4%, -2.7%, and -7.6% in the values between the two methods, respectively. Men, older adults, smokers, obese individuals, those who consumed all the liquid in the soup, and those who were found to be salty in the salty taste assessment consumed significantly more sodium; older adults, the heavy- activity group, and obese individuals consumed more potassium; and men, younger adults, smokers, and obese individuals had a significantly higher Na/K, according to UC. Compared with UC, DR was more likely to underestimate sodium intake in older adults, smokers, obese individuals, those who consumed all the liquid in the soup, and those who consumed eating-out/delivery food at least once a day, and potassium intake in older adults, the heavy-activity group, and obese individuals. CONCLUSIONS: The mean sodium and potassium intakes and Na/K estimated by DR were comparable to those measured by UC. However, the association of sodium and potassium intakes with sociodemographic and health-related factors showed inconsistent results when estimated by DR and UC. Factors influencing the underestimation of sodium intake by DR compared to UC should be further investigated.

Issues pertaining to Mg, Zn and Cu in the 2020 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans.

In the current years, it has now become necessary to establish standards for micronutrient intake based on scientific evidence. This review discusses issues related to the development of the 2020 Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans (KDRI) for magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu), and future research directions. Following issues were encountered when establishing the KDRI for these minerals. First, characteristics of Korean subjects need to be applied to estimate nutrient requirements. When calculating the estimated average requirement (EAR), the KDRI used the results of balance studies for Mg absorption and factorial analysis for Zn, which is defined as the minimum amount to offset endogenous losses for Zn and Mg. For Cu, a combination of indicators, such as depletion/repletion studies, were applied, wherein all reference values were based on data obtained from other countries. Second, there was a limitation in that it was difficult to determine whether reference values of Mg, Zn, and Cu intakes in the 2020 KDRI were achievable. This might be due to the lack of representative previous studies on intakes of these nutrients, and an insufficient database for Mg, Zn, and Cu contents in foods. This lack of database for mineral content in food poses a problem when evaluating the appropriateness of intake. Third, data was insufficient to assess the adequacy of Mg, Zn, and Cu intakes from supplements when calculating reference values, considering the rise in both demand and intake of mineral supplements. Mg is more likely to be consumed as a multi-nutrient supplement in combination with other minerals than as a single supplement. Moreover, Zn-Cu interactions in the body need to be considered when determining the reference intake values of Zn and Cu. It is recommended to discuss these issues present in the 2020 KDRI development for Mg, Zn, and Cu intakes in a systematic way, and to find relevant solutions.

Development and application of the sodium index to estimate and assess sodium intake for Korean adults.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a sodium index, which is a tool for estimating and assessing sodium intake easily and quickly, to assist in the prevention of various diseases induced by excess sodium intake in Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The 24-h urine collection and dietary behavior surveys were performed on 640 healthy people in 4 regions of South Korea, and an equation for the estimation of 24-h sodium intake was developed. The validity and reliability of the equation were verified with 200 adults. The sodium index was developed by converting the estimated sodium intake using the equation. Finally, the sodium intake status of 1,600 adults was assessed using the sodium index. RESULTS: The equation included sex, age, body mass index, eating habit and dietary behaviors related to sodium intake. In validity test of the equation, the mean bias between sodium intake using 24-h urine analysis and using the equation from the Bland-Altman plots was -1.5 mg/day. The sensitivity and specificity of the equation for estimation of sodium intake were 80.5% and 64.4%, respectively. In the reliability test of the equation, there was no significant difference between the first and second sodium intakes calculated using the equations, and Spearman's correlation coefficient between the 2 sodium intakes was 0.98. Sodium intake can be assessed as 'very moderate' for 75-100 on the sodium index, 'moderate' for 100-150, 'careful' for less than 75 or 150-200, and 'severe' for 250 or more. When sodium intake was assessed using the sodium index in 1,600 subjects, 54.3% and 24.3% of the subjects were assessed to be in the 'careful' and 'severe' categories, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Using a simple questionnaire, the sodium index can be used to monitor and assess sodium intake status, assisting in nutrition education and counseling in a large population.

Dietary Mineral Intake from Nuts and Its Relationship to Hypertension Among Korean Adults.

Accumulating evidence shows that nut consumption beneficially affects health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the intake of nuts, focusing on their mineral contents, and the risk of hypertension in nationally representative samples in Korea. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 12,113 subjects (4762 men and 7351 women) aged 19-64 years using raw data from KNHANES 2016-2019. Daily intake of 20 nuts and 9 minerals from nuts was assessed using the 24-h recall method. The risk of hypertension according to the median mineral intake from nuts and nuts themselves was assessed using logistic regression analysis with adjustment for potential confounders. The average daily nut intake was 4.34 g for females and 3.78 g males. Among nut intake, chestnuts represented the highest value at 0.95 g/day, followed by peanuts (0.72 g/day), almonds (0.62 g/day), sesame seeds (0.62 g/day), perilla seeds (0.33 g/day), and walnuts (0.32 g/day). The daily intake of minerals from nuts was significantly higher in the nut-overmedian (OM) group than in the nut-undermedian (UM) group. Regarding mineral intake from nuts, each mineral-UM group showed higher odds of hypertension than the mineral-OM group in women, but not in men. After adjustment for potential confounders, an inverse association between nut consumption, including minerals obtained from nuts, and hypertension prevalence, especially in women, was observed. Based on our results, it is suggested that incorporation of nuts into a daily diet may yield beneficial effects and lower the risk of hypertension in adult Korean women.

Dietary calcium, phosphorus, and osteosarcopenic adiposity in Korean adults aged 50 years and older.

Calcium and phosphorus intake showed a significant negative relationship with osteosarcopenia and osteosarcopenic adiposity in Korean adults aged 50 years or older. PURPOSE: Osteosarcopenic adiposity (OSA) is a syndrome accompanied by low bone mass, low muscle mass, and adiposity, and the association of the individual OSA components with dietary factors is considerable. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the intake of dietary calcium and phosphorus and individual and/or combined bone-, muscle-, and fat mass-related abnormalities in body composition (components of OSA). METHODS: This study investigated the relationship between OSA-related components and the intake of calcium and phosphorus in subjects aged 50 years and older (n = 7007) using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2008 to 2011. RESULTS: After adjusting for various confounding factors that affect OSA, the groups with a low calcium intake (below the median value) had a significantly higher risk of osteosarcopenia (OR = 1.768, 95% CI: 1.018-3.073; p = 0.0432) and OSA (OR = 1.505, 95% CI: 1.040-2.180; p = 0.0304) compared to the groups with a high calcium intake (equal to or above the median value). In addition, phosphorus intake showed a significant negative relationship with sarcopenic adiposity. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the intake of calcium is associated with a lower risk of osteosarcopenia and OSA in Korean adults aged 50 years and older. These results will serve as baseline data on mineral intake for the management of multiple OSA-related components.

Effect of Silicon Supplementation in Diets with Different Calcium Levels on Balance of Calcium, Silicon and Magnesium, and Bone Status in Growing Female Rats.

Silicon (Si) is important for the growth and development of bone and connective tissues. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Si supplementation on the balance of calcium (Ca), Si, magnesium (Mg), and bone status in growing female rats fed diets with different Ca levels. Sixty 6-week-old female Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups and fed diets with different levels of Ca (0.1, 0.5, 1.5%) and Si (5, 500 ppm) for 10 weeks. Experimental groups were as follows: Low-Ca group (LCa; 0.1% Ca), Low-Ca with Si supplementation group (LCaSi), adequate-Ca group (ACa; 0.5% Ca), adequate-Ca with Si supplementation group (ACaSi), high-Ca group (HCa; 1.5% Ca), and high-Ca with Si supplementation group (HCaSi). Si retention significantly increased by Si supplementation and significantly decreased by high-Ca diet (1.5%). Mg retention significantly decreased by high-Ca diet. Serum Ca and Si contents were not significantly different among the 6 groups. Low-Ca diet significantly increased serum osteoclain and C-telopeptide cross-link of type 1 collagen (CTx) levels, and Si supplementation significantly decreased CTx levels in the low-Ca diet group. Bone mineral density was significantly increased along with Ca increase in the diet, but was decreased by Si supplementation in the high-Ca diet. Rats in the adequate-Ca diet group had a significant increase in strength of tibia after Si supplementation. These findings indicate that the effect of Si supplementation on bone metabolism may differ according to the Ca-intake level in growing females. Although further research is needed, when supplementing Si to improve bone health in growing females, Ca-intake level should be considered.

Dietary Intake and Urinary Excretion of Manganese in Korean Healthy Adults.

Manganese (Mn) is an essential element for the body's composition and is required for various functions, including nutrient metabolism, immune system function, and antioxidant ability. However, there are insufficient data on the nutritional status of Mn. In this study, we aimed to analyze the relationship between Mn intake and urinary excretion in Korean adults. A twice dietary intake survey using a 24-h recall method was conducted on 640 adults (320 men and 320 women), aged 20 to 69 years. Eighty 24-h urine samples were also twice collected and urinary Mn excretions were analyzed. Results indicated that total Mn intake per day was 4.1 mg for men and 3.9 mg for women (p < 0.05). Mn intake per 1000 kcal of energy consumption was significantly higher in women than in men (2.0 mg/1,000 kcal vs. 2.2 mg/1000 kcal, p < 0.01). Additionally, Mn intake as a percentage of Adequate Intake was 103.0% for men and 110.3% for women (p < 0.05). Mn was mostly consumed from cereals (1.78 mg/day for men and 1.53 mg/day for women), followed by vegetables, seasonings, fruits, and pulses. The main food sources of Mn were rice (27.8% for men, 22.0% for women), kimchi (3.5% for men, 1.4% for women), and tofu (2.8% for men, 2.3% for women); the percentage of Mn consumed from 20 types of foods was 55.6% (women) to 60.4% (men). Urinary Mn excretion was negatively correlated with Mn intake from cereals and positively with mushrooms only for women after adjusting for confounding factors (p < 0.05). In conclusion, dietary Mn intake by Korean adults was adequate to meet the Dietary Reference Intake, but the relationship between Mn intake and urinary excretion was not clear.

Association between the Frequency of Dining Out and the Risk of Obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, and Dyslipidemia among Korean Adults.

This study aimed to clarify the association between the frequency of dining out and the risk of obesity, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia among Korean adults. This cross-sectional study surveyed 640 participants aged 20-69 years in Korea. Daily intake of energy, fat, protein, and cholesterol significantly increased as the frequency of dining out increased (P < .001). Energy derived from carbohydrates significantly decreased with the frequency of dining out, while that derived from fat and protein increased (P < .001). Among participants who rarely dined out, the fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for hyperglycemia were significantly lower at 0.35 (95% CI, 0.16-0.76). Decreased risk of being hyperglycemia among participants who rarely dined out suggests that the frequency of dining out can be related to diabetes risk.

Relationship Between Dietary Intake and Urinary Excretion of Silicon in Free-Living Korean Adult Men and Women.

Previous studies have reported that silicon (Si) has a positive effect on bone health, immune response, and cognitive health. However, basic and important studies on evaluating dietary intake and urinary excretion of Si are limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary Si intake and urinary excretion according to gender and age in healthy and free-living Korean adults and to investigate the relationship between them with gender. In this cross-sectional study, anthropometric measurements, dietary assessment using a food record, and a 24-h urine collection were conducted in 80 healthy Korean adults (40 males and 40 females; groups of 8 subjects representing each decade of life [20s to 60s]) with self-selected diet. The dietary assessment and 24-h urine collection were performed twice at intervals of 3 days. Daily intake of Si was estimated using a Si database of food composition. Urinary excretion of Si was analyzed using ICP-OES. The mean dietary Si intake was 22.8 mg/day for men and 19.3 mg/day for women without significant difference according to their gender and age. Si intake was the highest from vegetables both in men and women, followed by grains, beverages, and fruits in men and by grains, fruits, and milks in women. Urinary Si excretion was significantly higher in men (9.8 mg/day) than women (9.3 mg/day), and significantly increased with age only in women. Regarding the relationship between dietary Si intake and urinary Si excretion, a significantly positive correlation was found in men, but not in women. Longitudinal and balance studies to elucidate gender differences in Si nutrition are needed.

Evaluation of Mineral Contents of Multi-Vitamin and Minerals Currently Sold in South Korea.

Dietary supplements are popular worldwide and their use has been increasing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mineral contents of multi-vitamins and minerals (MVMs) in most commonly sold among dietary supplements. Ninety popular MVM supplements sold in South Korea were surveyed regarding their characteristics and ingredients including minerals listed on the labels through off-line and on-line search. Daily mineral contents of the MVM supplements were compared with Korean Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) by target populations. The average price of 90 MVM supplements was $41.3 per bottle, with a price of $0.9 per day and the average number of minerals contained per supplement was 4.7. A total 14 minerals were found in the MVM supplements including calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Nine minerals (e.g. calcium, magnesium, and iron) were included in more than 30% of the MVM supplements examined. When daily mineral dose of MVMs was compared to DRIs, calcium was the lowest (34.0% of recommended intake [RI]) and chromium was the highest (218.7% of adequate intake [AI]), and zinc, copper, selenium, and chromium were also higher than their RI or AI levels. The daily mineral contents of the 90 MVM supplements were below the tolerable upper-intake level, but some minerals were higher than RI or AI with high variance among products. Therefore, there is a great need to educate the public for the adequate selection and use of MVM supplements based on the contents of MVM supplements and individual's mineral intake derived from the diet.

Relationship Between Serum Tumor-related Markers and Dietary Intakes in Korean Healthy Adults.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum tumor markers and dietary intakes in healthy adults to address a nutrition guide for cancer prevention. We analyzed tumor-related markers, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and cancer antigen 125 (CA125) in serum and daily food and nutrient intakes using a 24-hour recall method in 23 healthy men and 32 healthy women. The average age was 50.7 years for men and 48.9 years for women. There were no significant differences in biochemical tumor markers and food intake between the men and women except energy intake. A significantly positive correlation was found between serum AFP, a biochemical marker of liver cancer, and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and/or glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT) in both men and women. CEA had a significant and negative correlation with energy intake for men and food intake in women. PSA, a biomarker of prostate cancer, was significantly and positively correlated with the intake of animal iron and cholesterol in men. CA125, a biomarker of gynecologic cancers, was significantly and positively correlated with meat intake in women. As this study revealed the significant relationship between biochemical tumor markers and dietary factors, further studies are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism of this relationship.

Estimation model for habitual 24-hour urinary-sodium excretion using simple questionnaires from normotensive Koreans.

This study was conducted to develop an equation for estimation of 24-h urinary-sodium excretion that can serve as an alternative to 24-h dietary recall and 24-h urine collection for normotensive Korean adults. In total, data on 640 healthy Korean adults aged 19 to 69 years from 4 regions of the country were collected as a training set. In order to externally validate the equation developed from that training set, 200 subjects were recruited independently as a validation set. Due to heterogeneity by gender, we constructed a gender-specific equation for estimation of 24-h urinary-sodium excretion by using a multivariable linear regression model and assessed the performance of the developed equation in validation set. The best model consisted of age, body weight, dietary behavior ('eating salty food', 'Kimchi consumption', 'Korean soup or stew consumption', 'soy sauce or red pepper paste consumption'), and smoking status in men, and age, body weight, dietary behavior ('salt preference', 'eating salty food', 'checking sodium content for processed foods', 'nut consumption'), and smoking status in women, respectively. When this model was tested in the external validation set, the mean bias between the measured and estimated 24-h urinary-sodium excretion from Bland-Altman plots was -1.92 (95% CI: -113, 110) mmol/d for men and -1.51 (95% CI: -90.6, 87.6) mmol/d for women. The cut-points of sodium intake calculated based on the equations were ≥4,000 mg/d for men and ≥3,500 mg/d for women, with 89.8 and 76.6% sensitivity and 29.3 and 64.2% specificity, respectively. In this study, a habitual 24-hour urinary-sodium-excretion-estimation model of normotensive Korean adults based on anthropometric and lifestyle factors was developed and showed feasibility for an asymptomatic population.

Association between 24-h urinary sodium excretion and obesity in Korean adults: A multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the association between sodium intake, as assessed by 24-h urinary sodium excretion, and various obesity parameters among South Korean adults. The associations of 24-h urinary sodium excretion and sodium intake calculated from the dietary questionnaire with obesity parameters also were compared. METHODS: This multicenter, cross-sectional study analyzed data of 640 healthy adults from eight provinces in South Korea. Obesity was assessed by body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Mean 24-h urinary sodium excretion was calculated from repeatedly collected 24-h urine samples. Participants' dietary intake was assessed by 24-h dietary recall interview on the days before 24-h urine collection. RESULTS: In both sexes, the means of all anthropometric measurements tended to increase proportionally with 24-h urinary sodium excretion quartiles, regardless of adjustment. Men in the highest quartile (Q4) of 24-h urinary sodium excretion had increased odds of obesity (as assessed by BMI, WC, WHR, and WHtR) compared with men in the three lower quartiles (Q1-Q3) of 24-h urinary sodium excretion. Women in Q4 of 24-h urinary sodium excretion exhibited a higher chance of general obesity and abdominal obesity. Sodium intake calculated from the dietary questionnaire was not significantly associated with obesity in either sex. CONCLUSIONS: In Korean adults, there was a positive association between higher sodium intake as assessed by 24-h urinary sodium excretion and obesity independent of energy intake.

Daily Intake of Magnesium and its Relation to Urinary Excretion in Korean Healthy Adults Consuming Self-Selected Diets.

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential nutrient as a structural constituent of bone and regulator of >300 enzymes. However, studies on intake and urinary excretion of Mg are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate Mg intake and its relation to 24-h urinary excretion in healthy adults. Anthropometric measurements and dietary intake by the 24-h recall method were conducted in 80 adults aged 21-69 (average 44.3) years. Urine was collected for 24 h on the day following the dietary survey. Dietary assessment and 24-h urine collection were repeated 3 days later. Daily intake and urinary excretion of Mg were analyzed using Can-Pro and ICP-OES, respectively. The statistical analysis was conducted using SAS program. Mg intake of the subjects was 319 ± 129 mg/day for men and 277 ± 94 mg/day for women and the proportion of subjects who did not meet the estimated average requirement was 50 and 67.5 % for men and women, respectively. Urinary Mg excretion was 30.3 % of the daily Mg intake. Urinary Mg excretion was not significantly correlated with the daily Mg intake. Korean adults are not meeting the recommended intake of Mg, but its urinary excretion suggests homeostasis is not compromised.

Dietary Silicon Intake of Korean Young Adult Males and Its Relation to their Bone Status.

Accumulated data suggests a positive effect of silicon on bone health; however, limited research exists on the silicon content of foods. To further the understanding of the relationship between dietary silicon intake and bone health, a food composition database of commonly consumed foods in Korea is required. For quantitative data on the intake levels of silicon, we analyzed the silicon content of 365 food items commonly consumed in Korea using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry following microwave-assisted digestion. To investigate the dietary silicon intake status and to examine the potential role of dietary silicon intake in the bone status of men, a total of 400 healthy Korean adult males aged 19-25 were observed for their diet intake and calcaneus bone density using the 24-h recall method and quantitative ultrasound, respectively. Clinical markers reflecting bone metabolism such as serum total alkaline phosphatase, N-mid osteocalcin, and type 1 collagen C-terminal telopeptide concentrations were also analyzed. Silicon intake of the subjects was estimated as 37.5 ± 22.2 mg/day. Major food sources of dietary silicon in the Korean male were cereal and cereal products (25.6 % of total silicon intake), vegetables (22.7 %), beverages and liquors (21.2 %), and milk and milk products (7.0 %). Silicon intake correlated positively with age, weight, energy intake, protein intake, calcium intake, and alcohol intake. After adjusted for age, weight, energy intake, protein intake, calcium intake, alcohol intake, smoking cigarettes, and regular exercise status, daily total silicon intake had no correlation with calcaneus bone density and the bone metabolism markers, but silicon intake from vegetables had a positive correlation with serum total alkaline phosphatase activity, a bone formation maker. These findings show the possible positive relationship between dietary silicon intake from vegetables and the bone formation of young adult males. Further investigation in a larger (Korean) population and correcting for additional nutritional confounders is required to confirm these findings.

The Association between Coffee Consumption and Bone Status in Young Adult Males according to Calcium Intake Level.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between coffee consumption and bone status (bone mineral density and bone metabolism-related markers) according to calcium intake level in Korean young adult males. Healthy and nonsmoking males (19-26 years, n = 330) participated in this study. Anthropometric measurements, dietary habits, and nutrient intakes were surveyed. Bone status of the calcaneus was measured by using quantitative ultrasound (QUS). Bone metabolism-related markers including serum total alkaline phosphatase activity (TALP), N-mid osteocalcin (OC), and type 1 collagen C-terminal telopeptide (1CTP) were analyzed. The subjects were divided into two groups based on daily calcium intake level: a calcium-sufficient group (calcium intake ≥ 75% RI, n = 171) and a calcium-deficient group (calcium intake < 75% RI, n = 159). Each group was then further divided into three subgroups based on daily average coffee consumption: no-coffee, less than one serving of coffee per day, and one or more servings of coffee per day. There were no significant differences in height, body weight, body mass index, energy intake, or calcium intake among the three coffee consumption subgroups. QUS parameters and serum 1CTP, TALP, and OC were not significantly different among either the two calcium-intake groups or the three coffee consumption subgroups. Our results may show that current coffee consumption level in Korean young men is not significantly associated with their bone status and metabolism according to the calcium intake level.

Vegetable intake is associated with lower Frammingham risk scores in Korean men: Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey 2007-2009.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Observational studies suggest that an association between vegetable consumption and coronary heart disease (CHD). However, the results are inconsistent. This study aimed to investigate the daily intake of vegetables on a national level and its effect on the risk of CHD risk, as determined by the Framingham Risk Score (FRS). SUBJECTS/METHODS: This study was conducted a cross-sectional design of 2,510 male adults 40-64y of age who participated in the 2007-2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Daily intake of vegetable was assessed by 24-h recall, and the consumption frequency of vegetables was determined using a food frequency questionnaire. The odd ratio of CHD risk according to daily intake and frequency of vegetables was analyzed. RESULTS: Total vegetable intake was inversely and significantly associated with the risk of CHD (Model 1: 4th vs. 1st quartile, OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.58-0.96, P for trend = 0.0015), and the significant relationship with CHD risk remained even after adjusting for potential confounders (Model 3: 4th vs. 1st quartile, adjusted OR [aOR] = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.49-0.95, P for trend = 0.0492). Subjects in the higher quartiles of non-salted vegetable intake had 31% lower odds of the risk of CHD compared to those in the lowest quartile after adjusting for various potential confounders in model 3 (aOR = 0.69; 95% CI = 0.49-0.97, P for trend = 0.0478). No significant associations between the frequency of vegetable intake (total, green, white and red vegetable) and the risk of CHD were found. CONCLUSIONS: The major results of this study indicate that higher vegetable intake may help prevent CHD in Korean men.