The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects that body composition, nutrient intake, and biochemical indices have on skin status, as well as their associations with skin health status, by assessing 44 female university students. The subjects were classified into 3 groups according to skin sensitivity: sensitive skin (n=11), slightly sensitive skin (n=24), and normal skin (n=9). The study included anthropometric measurements and body composition analyses, dietary intake evaluations, blood chemical analyses, and skin health status assessments. Based on % body fat, the results indicated the subjects were moderately obese (29.6%). Obesity indices were not different among the groups, but the sensitive skin group tended to have higher skinfold thickness. Dry skin was determined as the skin type of all subjects. In the sensitive skin groups, U-zone and T-zone sebum were significantly lower (p〈0.05), and spots were significantly higher (p〈0.05) than in the normal skin group. In terms of nutrient intakes, the sensitive skin groups consumed significantly lower amounts of P and vitamins A and E (p〈0.05). There were no significant differences in serum lipid fractions or total antioxidant status among the groups. In correlation coefficients analysis, skin elasticity had significant negative correlations with subscapular and midaxillary skinfold thickness, body protein, and body minerals (p〈0.05). Wrinkling had positive correlations with triceps and thigh skinfold thickness (p〈0.05). Skin evenness had negative correlations with energy intake, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, E, niacin, and zinc (p〈0.05), as well as folate and P (p〈0.01) and vitamin B6 (p〈0.001). A similar correlation tendency was observed for spots and nutrient intake, showing negative correlations with vitamins A, B6, and E, as well as folate, Fe, and P. U-zone sebum showed significant positive correlations with serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides. From these findings, skin health status appears to be affected by both nutrient intake and body composition. Therefore, having a proper balance between dietary intake and body composition may influence skin health status in females with sensitive skin.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate satisfaction degree on menu served and identify food preference of the meal served to 271 business and industry foodservice workers from 4 institutions by gender difference. The demographics indicated that male(54.6%) and female(45.4%) were about an half each, mean age was ranged from 20 to 39 years old. The workers were not contented with most of menu quality attributes served from past foodservice operation. Primary complaint was improper temperature of the meal. Most workers liked meat and fish(52.1%) the most. Sensory quality evaluation from all workers was 3.37 points out of 5 points. However, female workers rated higher on the most of menu(3.72 points) compared with that of male workers(3.35 points), indicating that satisfaction was higher in the female workers(p<0.05). Mean preference of all the menu according to food type also have shown higher in female(3.52 point) than in male(3.45 point). Best food preference according to food type considering cooking method of male was given to barley rice, boiled rice with assorted mixtures, marine product stew, and Kimchi stew. On the other hand, females cared for curried rice, hash rice, and spaghetti but males have shown low preferences to those foods females liked. Also, females liked more of fried, grilled and broiled food. However, both males and females showed indifferent taste about the food cooked with steamed and stewed. From the findings, the business and industry foodservice workers were not well satisfied with menu quality considerably and differed in food preferences by gender clearly. Therefore, the manager of foodservice institution require to consider composition of gender ratio in menu preparation along with sensory quality evaluation to lead the successful foodservice management.