The purpose of this study was to find efficient and customized tools for delivering the benefit of health functional foods (HFFs). Delivery tools which could influence the impact of advertising were images, explanations of ingredients, diagrams of health benefit, patents, and comments from authority. Six advertisements were developed using these tools: “A”: relevant image + explanation of ingredients + scientific diagram of efficacy; “B”: relevant image + explanation of ingredients; “C”: relevant image; “D”: irrelevant image; “E”: irrelevant image + explanation of ingredient + patent; “F”: irrelevant image + explanation of ingredient + comments from authority. To analyze the consumer perceptions on HFFs and advertisement effects, 300 respondents were requested to answer a questionnaire comprising of the following questions: 5 questions of attitudes (necessity of HFFs, trust in HFFs, gathering information, watching advertisements and trust in advertisement claims) and 6 questions on the 6 developed advertisements (attention, understanding, sufficiency of information, sympathy, trust, and purchase). Scoring was done as per the 5 Likert scale. There was a higher proportion of females and the elderly, as compared to males and youngsters. The overall consumer attitudes were positive. Explanation of ingredients, scientific diagram of health benefit, patents and expert comments were helpful factors in increasing the advertisement evaluation by consumer, but the images were not. Advertisement evaluation of consumer did not differ with gender and age. However, differences were observed between some of the consumer attitudes (necessity of HFFs, trust in HFFs, gathering information and trust in advertisements claim) and advertisement evaluations (attention, understanding, sympathy and purchase). Our results indicate that for consumers utilizing the HFFs, advertisements with concrete tools such as diagrams, patent, and expert comments are more helpful. However, for consumers who do not have interest in HFFs, the scientific information was irrelevant. We believe that to maximize the effect of health information in advertisements, consumers should be segmented, and customized tools for each segment needs to be developed.

This study was conducted to assess the recognition and consumption of health functional food (HFF) of the college students in the Northern Gyeonggi-do area (Republic of Korea). To accomplish this, a survey was conducted to investigate 360 college students (183 males and 177 females) regarding their general characteristics, as well as the recognition, knowledge, considerations, purchases and consumption of HFF. Most male and female students (68.9% and 61.6%, respectively) were unaware of the HFF certification mark, however, more females(58.8%) were aware of the legal HFF definition compared to males (36.6%). The HFF advertising routes for males and females were ‘TV radio’ (43.2% and 43.5%, respectively) and ‘internet smart phones’ (19.7% and 27.1%, respectively). The main factor considered for selection and the most serious problem concerning HFF by males and females were ‘effectiveness’ (36.1% and 43.6%, respectively) and ‘hype (exaggerated advertisement)’ (35.0% and 55.9%, respectively). The main purchase route by males and females was ‘pharmacy’ (35.2% and 27.8%, respectively). The main reason for HFF product purchase by males and females was ‘health promotion’ (38.8% and 29.4%, respectively) and the main reason for not purchasing an HFF product was ‘no health problem’(34.8% and 36.7%, respectively). The percentage of HFF consumption was 46.0% in males and 69.8% in females. The main HFF product consumed by males and females was ‘vitamin mineral’ (36.9% and 43.5%, respectively). The main reason for HFF consumption by males was ‘health promotion’ (31.0%) and females was ‘recovery from fatigue’ (21.8%). The main reason for not consuming HFF by males and females was ‘no health problem’ (38.4% and 41.5%, respectively). These results suggest the need to provide correct information concerning HFF to college students. Based on these results, greater efforts should be made to provide meaningful information regarding factors affecting purchase and consumption patterns for college students related to the research and development of HFF in the Northern Gyeonggi-do area.

건강기능식품 등 중 수용성 비타민 B군 (비타민 B1, 비타민 B2, 나이아신, 비타민 B6)의 동시분석 방법을 확립하기 위하여 본 연구를 실시하였다. HPLC에 의한 수용성 비타민 B군의 분석 방법은 기기분석조건을 확립하고, 국내외 시험법 및 논문을 참고하여 시험 데이터를 분석하였다. 수용성 비타민 B군의 HPLC 분석은 270 nm에서 Capcell Pak C18 UG 120 컬럼을 사용하여 진행되었다. 분석법 검증은 수용성 비타민 B군의 직선성, 정확성, 정량한계, 정밀성에 대해 수행되었다. 직선성은 비타민 B1, 비타민 B2,나이아신(nicotinic acid, nicotinamide), 비타민 B6 모두0.1~2 μm/mL의 농도범위에서 R2= 0.999 이상의 우수한 직선성을 확인할 수 있었다. 회수율을 검토한 결과, 비타민 B1 100~103%, 비타민 B2 104~112%, nicotinic acid 82~85%, nicotinamide 121~124%, 비타민 B6 95~104%의 양호한 회수율을 확인할 수 있었다. LOQ는 비타민 B1 0.04μm/mL, 비타민 B2 0.05 μm/mL, nicotinic acid 0.15 μm/ mL, nicotinamide 0.08 μm/mL, 비타민 B6 0.63 μm/mL 이었다. 정밀성을 검토한 결과, B1 0.4%, 비타민 B2 0.4%, nicotinic acid 0.5%, nicotinamide 0.7%, 비타민 B6 0.4% 로 1% 이내로 양호한 재현성을 확인할 수 있었다. 또한 동시 분석법의 정확성을 검증하기 위하여 어린이 기호식품 및 건강기능식품의 표시함량 모니터링을 수행한 결과, 모두 표시기준에 적합함을 확인할 수 있었다.

HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) has been receiving a worldwide recognition as a scientific andsystemic sanitary management technology in the food safety. At present, mandatory HACCP for dairy products is appliedin dairy processing plants and milk collection stage, while it is not applied in dairy farm and transportation. Therefore, it isrequired to establish HACCP application in all dairy industrial areas. The purpose of this study is to suggest an effectiveapproach to implement HACCP chain system in domestic dairy products. Most lactic acid bacteria has been useful toimprove gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea, constipation and reduce colon cancer risk and hydrocholesterol inKorea. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has increasingly applied the HACCP-chain system to secure the safety oflivestock products. Therefore, we suggest for the introduction of HACCP chain system in the dairy industry as follows.First, the system needs political support to activate. Second, the enterprise needs to recognize that it is essential system inan era of a consumer. Third, it should be utilized as an effective tool to enhance a brand value in the market. If there areobstacles in the implementation process for dairy products, governments, academia and relevant institutions should resolvea dispute together, which might enhance the level of livestock processing industry and hygiene safety management.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception of health functional foods and preference for desired onion peel products. Questionnaires were distributed to 582 adults (34.2% male, 65.8% female) living in Gyeongnam province. The major information sources on biological effects of onions cited by respondents were TV/radio (37.1%), followed by nearby people (32.8%) and Internet (11.0%), in that order. Reducing cholesterol effect was the most important factor in terms of perception and concerns relating to biological function of onions. Over 73% of subjects had experience of eating processed onion products, and among all types of onion products, onion juice (53.5%) was the most frequently eaten. The most considered factors for processing onion peel-derived functional foods were taste & odor (29.6%), convenience of eating (28.9%), and nutrition value (27.1%), in that order.

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors influencing sales of health functional foods by door-to-door saleswomen. A total of 450 women who worked as door-to-door salespersons in Seoul were enrolled. The survey questionnaire was composed of five parts as follows: general characteristics, factors related with door-to-door sales process, task education, competency required for door-to-door salespersons, and customer relationship beliefs. The survey was conducted in October 2011. Finally, data on 302 subjects were statistically analyzed using the SPSS 17.0 package program. Reason for sales of health functional foods (p<0.01), time required for sales promotion (p<0.001), difficulties during sales of health functional foods (p<0.05), satisfaction of task education (p<0.01), and failure of salesperson's memory as problems of task education (p<0.01) were significantly associated with sales of health functional foods. However, means of sales promotion, frequency and time of task education, and competency required for door-to-door salespersons were not significantly related with sales of health functional foods. Customer relationship beliefs did not show significant association with sales of health functional foods either. In conclusion, certain factors were associated with sales of health functional foods by door-to-door saleswomen. These results provide an understanding for sales of door-to-door health functional foods and provide basic information for preparation of task education for health functional food saleswomen and marketing.

The purpose of this study was to estimate the consumption prevalence of vitamin and mineral supplements as health functional foods (VM-HFF) and to examine the factors associated with VM-HFF consumption behaviors in adolescents. A total of 1,407 adolescents attending middle or high schools from various cities and rural communities in Korea participated in this study. The prevalence of VM-HFF consumption was 41.7%, with boys showing a higher consumption than girls (p<0.01). VM-HFF consumption was higher in families with higher socioeconomic status and for families with parents that exhibited higher concerns about their child's health, growth, and nutritional intake (p<0.001). Most consumers of VM-HFF consumed HFFs 'when healthy' (50.1%), and acquired nutritional information from 'their families & relatives' (50.9%). Most consumers responded that VM-HFF was 'a little effective' (54.3%), followed by 'no obvious effects' (37.1%), and 'very effective' (7.4%). The effectiveness of consuming VM-HFF was mainly for 'fatigue recovery' (39.0%) and 'health improvement' (28.2%). Most consumers purchased HFFs at 'pharmacies & oriental medicine clinics' (53.8%) and at 'health functional food stores' (18.8%). Most consumers 'occasionally' (51.1%) or 'seldom' (27.3%) checked nutrition facts when purchasing, with 58.9% of consumers understanding the nutritional label for 'the most part', but only 8.7% of them understanding it 'very well'. Among the VM-HFF, consumers preferred calcium- and vitamin C-supplements. Consumers' mini-dietary assessment scores were higher than those of non-consumers. The results above showed that VM-HFF consumption was widely spread among adolescents, but few consumers checked and understood the nutrition label when they purchased VM-HFF, and were highly dependent on the advice and information from non-professional nutritionists, such as families & relatives. Therefore, it is necessary to educate adolescents to help them read nutrition labels and select the proper VM-HFF.

In this study, we analyzed the database for items reported to Korea Food and Drug Administration as for manufactured health/functional food during 2010. There were 183 health functional food products manufactured in domestic having over 2 functional ingredients (hereinafter, combinational health functional food) among total 7319 products. Among 183 products, there were 177 products having over two kinds of functional ingredient and 6 products were over 3 ingredients. The most commonly used functional ingredients in the combinational health functional food were Garcinia cambogia extracts which were used in 41 products, Octacosanol and Saw Palmetto extract. When we searched the safety information for the pair of ingredients used in combinational health functional food using several database, there were no reports for safety concern. However, as there are still safety concerns when intake various functional ingredients at once, we suggested to enforce the reporting system of adverse event in order to strength safety management of health functional food. With these complement, the safety management of health functional food might be achieved including a combinational products.

The purpose of this study is to predict the economic size of foods-for-elderly market, which will be valuable information for establishing related policy and backup system. After setting the scope of related industry, detailed information for current market situation was investigated and a systematic forecast for market changes in the future was performed. Economic growth, changes in consumer expenditure and economic status of the elderly, current subscription of medical insurance and saving for pension were reflected. In addition, a survey toward related firms was completed and changes in aged population and incidence of chronic disease in the elderly were taken into account. Results show that the annual growth rate of the market was predicted to be the minimum 4.54% through the maximum 8.32% from 2010 to 2025 and its market size was forecasted to be the minimum 7,073 ten million won through the maximum 10,976 ten million won. It is expected that the market of foods-for-elderly will grow rapidly with development of foods technology and fast increase of aged population. Especially, growth of health functional foods and foods for special dietary uses for elderly will be distinguished. However, it seems that related firms are on the hedge, watching current trend of the related industry. This may results in insufficient supply against the demand. Therefore, policy for foods-for-elderly should be introduced and systematically administered, including R&D support, standardization and authentication for foods-for-elderly, construction of related database system.

The objective of this study was to investigate the perception of ginseng and ginseng products among university students living in Yeongsu, Ganwon-do. 196 university students participated in the survey for our study. The ginseng intakes of male students(59.1%) was significantly(p<0.05) higher than the intake of female students(40.9%). The primary reasons for consuming ginseng were to “Maintain my [one’s] health” and to, “Restore my [one’s] energy”. The reasons for not consuming ginseng were “Taste” and, “Physical constitution”. Consumers purchased the following ginseng products at the market: For males, ginseng wine(21.7%), ginseng beverage(17.4%), ginseng candy(17.4%) and ginseng kimchi(17.4%) for females, Korean ginseng snacks(23.3%), ginseng yogurt(20.9%), ginseng candy(14.0%), and ginseng jelly(11.6%).

Proper skin care promotes good metabolism and the biological activity of skin, helps maintain the skin in a healthy and beautiful state when combined with nutritional nourishment. Health functional foods are being used for the purpose of enhancing efficient skin care. Health functional foods related to skin care maintain the epidermis, dermal fibroblast layer and subcutaneous tissue that form the skin. Efficient functional foods alleviate the signs of endogenous aging that come with getting older and exogenous aging caused by sunlight. Even though the field of skin care related to health functional foods has received less attention and been the subject of less research compared to functional cosmetics which are developing widely, this area of skin care that maintains and improves the layer of dermal fibroblast through the intake of food, is expected to progress with the commercialization of products in many fields when the related technical research development is galvanized and the related patents are applied for. Research into health functional foods related to skin care in Korea started rather late in comparison to other advanced countries where patents for relevant techniques have been applied for since 1990's together with research conducted on how they might be used for practical purposes. This study used the key words ‘skin care, health functional food’ to search for Korean patents that have been applied for at the Korean Intellectual Property Office from 1983 to 2011 using the KIPRIS database, in order to help researchers in the related fields by organizing the patented formulas for health functional foods for skin care which have gained attention recently. According to the number of registrations in each industry field, the total number of patents was 1, 120 we screened the major patents among them, the field with the largest number was food foodstuff non-alcoholic beverage and preparation or treatment(A23L) with 135, then natural plant medicine & medical supplies and cosmetics(A61K) with 112, microorganisms or enzymes(C12N) with 63, heterocyclic compounds(C07D) with 44, horticulture or cultivation of sea weeds, forestry(A01G) 16 times, listed from the highest to the lowest number of applications. It has been revealed that food, foodstuff, non-alcoholic beverage and preparation or treatment(A23L) was the industry field where the most patents for health functional foods related to skin care were registered.

One of the most important objectives of post-marketing monitoring of dietary supplements is the early detection of unknown and unexpected adverse events (AEs). Several causality algorithms, such as the Naranjo scale, the RUCAM scale, and the M&V scale are available for the estimation of the likelihood of causation between a product and an AE. Based on the existing algorithms, the Korea Food & Drug Administration has developed a new algorithm tool to reflect the characteristics of dietary supplements in the causality analysis. However, additional work will be required to confirm if the newly developed algorithm tool has reasonable sensitivity and not to generate an unacceptable number of false positives signals.

A method based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet detection has been developed to quantify coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in raw materials and dietary supplements. Single-laboratory validation has been performed on the method to determine linearity, selectivity, accuracy, limits of quantification (LOQ) and repeatability for CoQ10. An excellent linearity (r = 0.999) was observed for CoQ10 in the concentration range 15.625~500 μg/mL in dietary supplement. Observed recovery of CoQ10 was found to be between 98.33 and 99.38%. LOQ was found to be 250 μg/mL Repeatability precision for CoQ10 was between 0.15 and 0.21% relative standard deviation (RSD). Further, limited studies showed that some adulterants and degraded material could be satisfactorily separated from CoQ10 and identified.

The elderly is a target group for health functional foods (HFFs). We surveyed 825 Korean elderly (71.4- years-of-age) for HFF use and significant variables for HFF use including demographic characteristics, health related variables, and nutritional beliefs. The prevalence of HFF use was 48.7%, and among all types of HFF, red ginseng products were eaten most frequently, followed by ginseng products, nutritional supplements, and mushroom products. The mean age of users of HFFs was lower than nonusers (p<.01). HFFs were eaten more frequently by subjects from families living with a spouse or unmarried children (p<.01) and those with higher levels of monthly pocket money (p<.001). HFFs were also eaten more frequently by subjects or their spouses with a higher education level (p<.001). The social activity participation ratio (p<.01) of subjects and the HFF usage ratio by the spouse (p<.001) were higher in users of HFF than in nonusers. Dietary assessment scores were not different between the two groups, and users had a more positive view concerning the potential health benefits of HFFs than did nonusers (p<.001). Most users of HFF ate HFFs "when they were healthy" (52.2%) and experienced some effect through HFF use (45.8%). Most users of HFFs received information on HFFs through their families or relatives (38.1%) and most purchased HFFs at the pharmacy or oriental medicine clinic (44.8%). HFF users preferred multivitamin- and Ca-supplements most among the vitamin and mineral supplements belonged to HFFs. The above results show that HFF use is widely spread among subjects, and that use of HFF is influenced by various factors. Thus, practical guidelines for HFF use should be provided for the elderly through elderly focused-nutrition education based upon significant variables and consumption behaviors for their HFF use of present study.

Various functional foods, marketing health and functional effects, have been distributed in the market. These products, being in forms of foods, tablets, and capsules, are likely to be mistaken as drugs. In addition,non-experts may sell these as foods, or use these for therapy. Efforts for creating health food regulations or building regulatory system for improving the current status of functional foods have been made, but these have not been communicated to consumers yet. As a result, problems of circulating functional foods for therapy or adding illegal medical to such products have persisted, which has become worse by internet media. The cause of this problem can be categorized into (1) product itself and (2) its use, but in either case, one possible cause is lack of communications with consumers. Potential problems that can be caused by functional foods include illegal substances, hazardous substances,allergic reactions, considerations when administered to patients, drug interactions, ingredients with purity or concentrations too low to be detected, products with metabolic activations, health risks from over- or under-dose of vitamin and minerals, and products with alkaloids. (Journal of Health Science, 56, Supplement (2010)). The reason why side effects related to functional foods have been increasing is that under-qualified functional food companies are exaggerating the functionality for marketing purposes. KFDA has been informing consumers, through its web pages, to address the above mentioned issues related to functional foods, but there still is room for improvement, to promote proper use of functional foods and avoid drug interactions. Specifically, to address these issues, institutionalizing to collect information on approved products and their side effects, settling reevaluation systems, and standardizing preclinical tests and clinical tests are becoming urgent. Also to provide crucial information, unified database systems,seamlessly aggregating heterogeneous data in different domains, with user interfaces enabling effective one-stop search, are crucial.

인간이 지구상에 존재하는 생물체를 식품으로 섭취할 수 있는 것은 크게 세가지로 나눌 수 있는데 우리가 흔히 알고 있는 소고기나 돼지고기, 어패류 등의 동물성식품, 곡류나 야채, 과일 등의 식물성 식품, 그리고 마지막으로 미생물 식품을 들 수 있다. 미생물 식품이라고 하면 우리가 흔히 섭취하는 유산균과 효모 그리고 버섯을 들 수 있다.일반적으로 유산균이나 효모는 미생물 식품이라고 생각 하지만 버섯의 경우에는 미생물 식품으로 인식하기보다 식물성 식품으로 생각하는 사람들이 많은 것이 사실이어서 버섯의 식품학적 가치에 대해 적극적인 홍보가 필요하다고 생각한다. 버섯은 분류학적으로 진핵세포를 가진 고등균류(菌類)로 대부분의 담자균류(Basidiomycota)와 일부 자낭균류(Ascomycota)에 속하며 세계도처에 만 여종 이상의 버섯이 서식하고 있고 이중 1천여 종의 버섯이 예로부터 식용 및 약용으로 사용되어 왔다. 고대 그리스와 로마인들은 버섯을 '신의 식품'이라 하였고, 중국에서는 불로장수의 영약으로 귀하게 다루었다. 우리나라에서는 삼국사기에 신라 성덕왕 시대에 이미 목균(木菌 : 金芝)을 이용한 기록이 있고, 세종실록(世宗實錄)에 세종대왕시대에 식용 버섯으로 송이, 표고, 약용버섯으로 복령, 복신의 주산지까지 기록하고 있는 것으로 보아 아주 오래 전 부터 버섯이 중하게 이용되었음을 알 수 있다. 신농본초경(新農本草經)에 의하면 상약에 속하는 것이 표고와 영지로 “독은 없고 많이 오래도록 복용하여도 사람에게 해하지 않으며 몸을 가볍게 하고 마음을 젊게 다스리게 한다“ 라고 기록되어 있다. 버섯은 식품으로서 영양학적 가치와 독특한 향기, 물성, 맛, 무기질 및 비타민을 가지고 있으며 추출 분획물이나 단리한 성분 중에는 혈당조절, 면역기능강화, 항 종양 또는 항암 활성작용, 콜레스테롤 저하, 고혈압, 간 보호 등 순환계작용과 항산화, 항염증, 항알러지 등 다양한 기능이 밝혀지고 있어 향후 산업적으로 고부가 가치를 올릴 수 있는 잠재력을 가지고 있는 소재이기도 하다. 최근에 흰목이버섯의 경우 신경성장인자(NGF)로서 신경성장과 관련한 뇌 질환(기억력, 인지능력 포함) 예방 및 치료 식품으로 개발이 기대된다. 특히 올해부터 건강기능식품 공전이 개정됨에 따라 다양한 버섯들이 건강기능식품으로 등재되어 과학적이고 신뢰성 있는 원료와 제품으로 소비자들에게 다가갈 수 있기를 희망한다.

일반적으로 버섯류는 항암, 면역, 항염증 등 여러 가지 기능성을 가지고 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 그러나 기 능성 내용을 표시/광고할 수 있는 “건강기능식품”은 2000년 11월 29일 발의되어 2002년 8월 26일 공포되어 시 행된“건강기능식품에 관한 법률”에따른 과학적 근거자료를 토대로 그 기능성을 입증할 수 있는 것이어야 한 다. 건강기능식품은 건강기능식품 공전에 등재되어 있는 고시형 건강기능식품과 등재되어 있지 않아 새로이 인정받아야 하는 개별인정형 건강기능식품으로 나눌 수 있다. 식약청은 2004년부터 3년 간 고시형 품목(대부 분이 건강보조식품으로 분류되던 품목들)의 기능성 재평가 연구사업을 수행하였고, 2007~2008년에는 연구사 업의 결과물을 우선 입안예고 한 후 각 계의 의견을 취합하는 과정을 밟았으며 2008년에는 이를 반영한 건강 기능식품 기준 및 규격 전면개정을 하기 이르렀다(식약청 고시 제2008-12호). 재평가 사업 결과 버섯제품 중 과학적 근거자료가 확보된 “영지버섯 자실체 추출물”과 “목이버섯”은 당/탄수화물 원료의 일부로서 잔류하게 되었으나 나머지 기존의 버섯제품은 “일반원료”로 분류되어 2009년 12월31일 까지 고시형으로 잔류하였으나 현재는 식품공전의 기타식품류 중 버섯가공식품으로 이관되었다(2010년 1월7일 “식품의 기준 및 규격” 전면 개정). 현재 건강기능식품공전에 등재된 버섯 원료는 당/탄수화물 중 식이섬유 중 “목이버섯(배변활동 원활)” 과 당/탄수화물 중 “영지버섯 자실체 추출물(혈행개선)”이며, 개별인정받은 원료로는 “금사상황버섯(면역기 능개선)”, “표고버섯균사체 AHCC(면역기능증진)”및 “표고버섯균사체추출물분말(간 건강)”의 3가지이다. 따 라서 신규 버섯의 건강기능식품 원료인정("기능성표시"를 위해서)을 위해서는 개별인정형을 위한 조건을 충족 시켜야 할 것이다. 기능성 원료로 인정받기 위한 개별인정 제출 자료는 법에 자세히 명시되어있다. 기능성분 또는 지표성분을 명확히 해야 하는데 기능성분은 말 그대로 기능성을 나타내는 성분으로서 추출물 자체가 될 수도 있고 특정 버섯 추출물에 함유된 특정한 베타글루칸 등이 될 수도 있다. 지표물질은 기능성 원료의 identity를 결정짓는 중요한 물질로서 버섯의 제조 형태에 따른 표준화 관리 목적으로 반드시 설정해야 한다. 즉, 버섯이 건강기능식품 기능성 원료로 인정받기 위해서는 버섯마다, 사용부위마다, 제조방법, 기능성분에 따른 기능성과 안전성 등에 차이가 있음을 인식하고 in vitro, in vivo, human study에 이르는 체계화 되고 일관 성 있는 연구 및 개발이 필요하다.

We surveyed 848 university students, 21.4±2.5 years of age, attending university in Seoul, Kongju, Chongyang-Gun in the Chungnam province of Korea, for their use of health functional foods (HFF) and for significant variables in this use, namely demographic characteristics, health related variables, dietary variables and nutritional beliefs. The prevalence of the use of HFF was 33.6%. Among all types of HFF, nutritional supplements were taken most frequently, followed by (in order) red ginseng products, apricot extract products and ginseng products. HFF use was higher in females (p<.05), in subjects living in a dormitory (p<.05) and those from families with a relative high socioeconomic status (p<.001). Self-health concern (p<.05) and usage ratio of HFF by family (p<.001) was higher in users than in nonusers of HFF. The total score of dietary assessment was higher in users than in nonusers of HFF (p<.001), and users had a more positive point of view concerning the potential health benefits of HFF than did nonusers (p<.001). Most users took HFF when they were healthy (37.2%) or when they were sick (27.4%). They did not feel special effects through the HFF use (49.8%). Most users got the information about the specifics of HFF from family and/or relatives (55.8%). Most of users confirmed nutrition facts when they purchased the HFF (70.9%), but a considerable number of users could not understand these nutrition facts (48.1%). Users preferred vitamin C- and Ca-supplements most among vitamin · mineral supplements belonged to HFF. These results show that the use of HFF is common among university students. As well, the use of HFF by students is affected by various variables. Supplementary nutritional education should be undertaken among university students, in order to give them a reasonable guideline for the use of HFF, based upon influencing factors and usage behaviors that we learned from this survey.