Gender-specific associations between quality of life and leukocyte telomere length.

We conducted a study on the relationship between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and quality of life (QoL) in 82 couples aged 55 and older. LTL was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. QoL was evaluated using the physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS) on the Korean version of the Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). LTL was found to be independently associated with the SF-36 PCS in males (ß=0.014, p=0.03) and the SF-36 MCS in females (ß=1.16, p<0.01). Thus LTL is associated with QoL in gender-specific ways.

Association between Leukocyte Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Regular Exercise in Postmenopausal Women.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that habitual exercise can improve skeletal mitochondrial function; however, to date, the association between exercise and mitochondrial function in peripheral leukocytes has not been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between regular exercise and mitochondrial function by measuring leukocyte mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in postmenopausal women. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 144 relatively healthy, non-diabetic, non-smoking, postmenopausal women. Clinical parameters, including anthropometric measurements and cardio-metabolic parameters, were assessed. Regular exercise was defined as at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity activity, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous-intensity activity, over a duration of at least 6 months. Leukocyte mtDNA copy numbers were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction assays, and these were normalized to the ß-globin copy number to give the relative mtDNA copy number. RESULTS: The mtDNA copy number of peripheral leukocytes was significantly greater in the exercise group (1.33±0.02) than in the no exercise group (1.05±0.02, P<0.01). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that regular exercise was independently associated with mtDNA copy number (ß=0.25, P<0.01) after adjusting for the variables age, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance value, and levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and homocysteine. CONCLUSION: Regular exercise is associated with greater leukocyte mtDNA copy number in postmenopausal women.

Relationship between bone mineral density and dietary intake of ß-carotene, vitamin C, zinc and vegetables in postmenopausal Korean women: a cross-sectional study.

Objective To examine the relationship between nutritional intake and bone mineral density (BMD) in postmenopausal Korean women. Methods Dietary intake was recorded in postmenopausal Korean women using a semiquantitative questionnaire. The frequency of consumption of various food groups and nutrient intake were calculated. BMD T-scores were measured at the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Associations between T-scores and dietary intake were analysed using partial correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression analysis. Results A total of 189 postmenopausal women were included in the study. ß-Carotene intake was positively correlated with the lumbar spine T-score. Sodium and vitamin C intake were positively associated and folate intake negatively associated with the femoral neck T-score. Sodium, zinc and vitamin C intake were positively correlated and potassium intake was negatively correlated with the total hip T-score. Vegetable intake showed a positive association with the femoral neck and total hip T-scores. Conclusion In postmenopausal Korean women, ß-carotene, vitamin C, zinc and sodium intakes were positively associated with bone mass. Furthermore, frequency of vegetable consumption was positively associated with femoral neck and total hip T-scores.

Prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome in Korea: population-based survey using the Rome II criteria.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder in the West. But information on the prevalence of IBS in Asia is still lacking, especially in Korea. Therefore, the aims of the present study were to estimate the prevalence of IBS in the general population of Korea and also to investigate characteristics of IBS and health-care-seeking behavior of IBS patients. METHODS: Telephone interview survey was conducted by Gallup, Korea using a validated questionnaire based on the Rome II criteria. The response rate of the telephone interview survey was 25.2% (n = 1066, 535 male and 531 female responders). A random sample of gender and age (between 18 and 60 years), based on a per capita ratio was obtained. RESULTS: Among 1066 subjects, the prevalence of IBS was 6.6% (70 subjects; 7.1%, male; 6.0%, female). The difference in IBS prevalence by gender was not significant. The prevalence was higher among those in their 20s (P = 0.036). Among 70 subjects with IBS, 10/20 IBS subjects sought health care due to abdominal pain. Among the risk factors of IBS, marital status had a significant difference; the following risk factors are arranged in descending order: age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85-2.25), alcohol intake (OR: 1.38, 95%CI: 0.81-2.35), gender (OR: 1.19, 95%CI: 0.73-1.94), demographics (OR: 1.09, 95%CI: 0.53-2.25), income (OR: 0.88, 95%CI: 0.54-1.45), education level (OR: 0.81, 95%CI: 0.46-1.40), smoking (OR: 0.64, 95%CI: 0.37-1.12), and marital status (OR: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.35-0.99). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of IBS in the Korean population is 6.6%, and the male:female ratio is similar. Also, IBS is more frequent in younger subjects. Irritable bowel syndrome subjects visited a physician mostly due to abdominal pain.