The objective of this study was to investigate the health status and nutritional intake of the old population living in Soonchang, Jeollabuk-do, Korea. 69 subjects aged 65 years and older were recruited in July 2016. The WHR, was significantly higher in elderly male group than elderly female group (p<0.05), but both groups had abdominal obesity (0.85 and over). T-score mean of elderly male and female groups were below －2.5 mg/cm3 that they were osteoporotic. In the elderly male group, the higher concentrations of creatinine, homocysteine and uric acid were found to be significantly unfavorable factors (p<0.001, respectively). The blood vitamin D3 levels of elderly male group was significantly higher than that of elderly female group (p<0.05). The physical activity and self-rated health were significantly higher in elderly male group than in elderly female group (p<0.05, p<0.01, respectively). The nutrient intakes of male group were found to be significantly favorable factors than in female group. The score of mini nutrition assessment was significantly lower in elderly female group than in the elderly male group. These results could be useful to plan effective strategies to increase the health-life expectancy and the prevention of disease of Korean elderly people living in rural areas.

The consumption of high-salt foods is an independent risk factor for increased hypertension. Thus, evaluating the relationship of taste sensitivity and pleasantness of high-salt foods such as Korean jang products, would help contribute to an understanding of salty food eating behaviors of the Korean rural elderly. This study aimed to verify the association between taste sensitivity and salinity of Korean jang products, and the preferences of food groups and nutrient intake in the rural elderly. We studied 269 elderly persons (males 83, females 186) aged above 65 years, residing in the rural area, Sunchang gun Jeonbuk. For each subject, a recognition threshold of 4 basic tastes and pleasant concentrations of NaCl were estimated using the sip- and–spit method. Taste preferences, frequency of intake of food groups, nutrient intakes, and salinity and sweetness of Korean jang products (Doenjang, Ganjang, Gochujang) were assessed. No association was found between salt taste recognition threshold and optimally preferred concentration of salt and salinity of Korean jang products. However, the sweet taste recognition threshold was positively related to the sweetness of Korean jang products. Also, the salinity of Doenjang positively correlated with the frequencies of food groups and nutrient intakes. That is to say that the sweet taste sensitivity was related to the sweetness of Korean jang products, but was not sensitive to the salty taste. The salinity of Doenjang correlated with the consumption of food and nutrient intakes. Taken together, these findings suggest the need for appropriate intervention and education to reduce the salinity of Doenjang, which is an important modifiable factor contributing to reducing sodium intake in the rural elderly.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relations between HbA1c level and health risk factor. For analysis, 330 elderly women aged 65 years and over were recruited in Jeonla province, Korea. The subjects were classified into two groups according to their HbA1c level; the diabetic group (HbA1c level≥6.5%, n=68, 20.6%) and control group (HbA1c level< 6.5%, n=262, 79.4%). Demographic characteristics were collected, as well as information on physical measurements, blood tests for biochemical indicators, a health status and health-related life style, dietary behavior, favorite food groups, consumption frequency of food groups and nutrient intake. Educational level of the diabetic group was significantly lower than that of the control group. The height of the diabetic group was shorter, and percentage fat of the diabetic group was higher than those of the control group. In the diabetic group, the higher concentrations of creatinine and activity of alkaline phosphatase were found to be significantly unfavorable factors. Therefore, the diabetic group was assumed to be at risk of decreased liver and renal function. The self-rated health level of the diabetic group has a declining tendency, while the medicine intake was significantly higher than that of the control group, but there are no significant differences in visiting frequency of hospital and community health center. The distribution of physical activity showed a significant difference between the groups. Although there are no significant differences in nutrient intake, the diabetic group had relatively inferior nutrient intake of diet, especially vitamin C, as contrasted with the control group. In conclusion, the weight control and increasing physical activity may be effective in the prevention of the diabetes and continuous education and intervention by specialized nutritionists will be needed for diabetic patients. These results could be useful to plan effective strategies to increase the health-life expectancy and the prevention of the diabetes of Korean elderly people living in rural areas.

This study was conducted to investigate the dietary and other factors affecting bone mineral density (BMD) in older Korean women. A total of 340 women aged 65 to 74 were recruited from the Kugoksoondam area (Kurye, Goksung, Soonchang and Damyang counties), known as the longevity-belt region in Jeonla province, Korea. They were categorized into two groups according to bone status by T-score : a nonosteoporotic group and an osteoporotic group. Demographic characteristics were collected, as well as information on physical measurements, blood tests for biochemical indicators, health status health-related life style, dietary behavior, favorite food groups, nutrient intake and mini nutrition assessment (MNA). The results are as follows: The mean age of 185 nonosteoporotic women was 69.6 years and that of 155 osteoporotic women was 70.9 years (p<0.001). The mean T-score of the nonosteoporotic group was －1.5 mg/cm3 and that of theosteoporotic group was －3.2 mg/cm3 (p<0.001). Height and body weight in the nonosteoporotic group were significantly higher than in the osteoporotic group (p<0.001, respectively). There was no significant difference in BMI, although the BMI in the nonosteoporotic group was slightly higher. Waist and hip circumferences in the nonosteoporotic group were significantly higher than in the osteoporotic group (p<0.01, respectively), and the mid upper arm and calf circumferences were also significantly higher than in the osteoporotic group (p<0.001, p<0.01, respectively). The 5 m walking ability was significantly superior compared to the osteoporotic group. Serum levels did not show any significant differences between the groups and were within normal range. The serum total protein, albumin and Insulin-like growth factor (IGFs) levels of the nonosteoporotic group were significantly higher than those of the osteoporotic group (p<0.05, p<0.05, p<0.001, respectively). IGF was 104.7 ng/mL for the nonosteoporotic group and 88.1 ng/mL for the osteoporotic group. Physical activity and appetite in the nonosteoporotic group were significantly higher (p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). The favorite food groups of the nonosteoporotic group comprised more meats and fish than those of the osteoporotic group (p<0.05, respectively). Nutrient intake was not significantly different, with the exception of niacin intake (p<0.05), but the nutrient intake of the nonosteoporotic group was slightly higher than that of the osteoporotic group. The niacin intake of the nonosteoporotic group and the osteoporotic group were 11.4 mgNE and 10.0 mgNE, corresponding to 103.6% and 90.9% of the Korean EAR, respectively. The MNA score of the nonosteoporotic group was significantly more favorable than for the osteoporotic group. In conclusion, it is necessary to maintain adequate body weight and muscle mass. Habitual physical activity may have a beneficial effect on BMD for older women. Dietary factors, such as meat and fish, higher intake of niacin rich foods and nutrient status for older women also appear to have favorable effects on bone mineral density.

본 연구는 흑삼의 항당뇨 효과를 알아보고자 4그룹(정상군, 당뇨 쥐, 당뇨 쥐에게 백삼을 투여한 군, 당뇨 쥐에게 흑삼을 투여한 군)으로 나누어 6주간 실시하였다. 6주 후 식품섭취량, 체중 증가량을 비교하였는데, 식품섭취량, 체중증가량에는 그룹 간에 유의적인 차이가 나타나지 않았으나, OGTT(oral glucose tolerance test)와 IPITT(intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test) 경우는 흑삼 투여군에서 긍정적인 결과를 나타내었다. 또한 혈청 포도당과 인슐린농도에 미친 영향을 비교, 분석한 결과, 흑삼 투여군에서 공복 시 혈당, 혈청 포도당, 인슐린 농도가 유의적으로 감소하였다. 이 결과를 미루어 볼 때 흑삼이 백삼에 비해 당뇨를 치료하는데 더 효과적일 것으로 판단된다.

진달래 꽃잎과 곡자를 첨가하여 30℃에서 배양하면서 진달래 꽃잎과 배양액 중의 정유성분을 GC 및 GC/MSD로 분석하였다. 진달래 꽃잎에서는 n-heneicosane, n-tricosane, n-tetracosane, n-pentacosane, n-heptacosane, n-nonacosane, n-hentriacontane 등 10여 개의 정유성분이 확인되었으며 정유성분 총량은 64.6 ㎍/g이었고 이중에서 n-pentacosane의 함량이 22 ㎍/g으로 가장 높았다. 진달래 꽃잎에 곡자를 첨가하여 배양한 배양액에서는 (E)-heptenal, 2-ethoxy-1- hexanol, n-hexadecanoic acid methyl ester, 9, 12-octadecadienoic acid methyl ester, 9, 12, 15-octadecatrienoic acid methyl ester, n-octadecanoic acid methyl ester, n-tricosane, n-eicosanoic acid methyl ester, n-tetracosane, n-pentacosane, 9-docosaenoic acid methyl ester, n-heptacosane 등 총 13종이 확인되었다. 진달래 꽃잎에 함유되어 있는 주요 n-alkane계 화합물인 n-pentacosane과 n-tricosane은 곡자를 첨가하여 7일간 배양하였을 때 각각 29%와 54% 분해되었으며 (E)-heptenal과 탄소수가 16∼20개인 지방산 및 지방산 메틸에스테르류 등의 함산소화합물이 생성되었다.

This study aims to assess forest healing programs to middle-aged people in Korea with metabolic syndrome as a method to control the syndrome through prevention and health improvement rather than treatment. In order to develop healing programs in the urban forests for metabolic syndrome patients, environment condition of the forests and moods of participants were compared. Thermal environments and the concentration of phytoncides were analyzed by the site. Saneum Healing Forest had a lower temperature but a higher humidity than Seoul Forest. Seoul Forest had higher PMV and PPD levels than Saneum Healing Forest, providing patients with freshness. This seems to be due to the seasonal factor of autumn. As for the total emissions of phytoncide, mountain forest generated more than urban forest. Nine components out of investigated twenty turned out to be generated more in the urban forests. The atmospheric composition of phytoncides, volatile organic compounds that are released from vegetation, was analyzed at both sites. Profile of Mood States (POMS) was measured before and after the healing program. The POMS suggested that forest environments reduce stress and increase comfort, calm, and feelings of refreshment. The tendency towards positive mood state in the forest recommend that middle-aged Metabolic syndrome patients participate in healing programs in the forests.