This study was performed to develop a Kdiet-index based on the definitions and characteristics of traditional Korean food. The Korean Food Pattern Index (Kdiet-index) for diseases was applied using dietary data from the 2017 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the association between Kdiet-index and metabolic disease was confirmed. The study subjects were 1,971 Korean adults aged >40, and the components were classified according to 14 criteria used to establish the Kdiet-index. Main ingredients up to the top 3 were designated using dish names, ingredients, and contents using KNHANES dietary data. Kdiet-index was classified using scores of ≤3 points, 4-7 points, and ≥8 points and total Kdietindex were calculated by summing dietary scores. Correlations between Kdiet-index and obesity, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes were analyzed. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for obesity were 0.531, 0.385~0.732 and for elevated cholesterol (≥240 mg/dL) indices were 0.471, 0.282~0.788, respectively, which showed a significant decreased in the risk for each disease for Kdiet-index of ≥8 points. This study confirms that metabolically related clinical results improved significantly as Kdiet-index increased and that higher Korean food pattern indices are associated with lower risks of metabolic disease

Diet is important for muscle health and offers a protective effects against the loss of skeletal muscle mass and physical functions with advancing age. We analyzed the relationship between diet, metabolic disease risk, and sarcopenia in Korean female adults using the 2009-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). A total of 2038 adult women aged 50-64 years were classified into four groups based on the diagnosis of menopause and sarcopenia. The groups were the non-menopause and non-sarcopenia group (NMNS, n=249), the non-menopause and sarcopenia group (NMS, n=14), the menopause and non-sarcopenia group (MNS, n=1,653), and the menopause and sarcopenia group (MS, n=122). The socio-demographics, anthropometrics, blood profile, and dietary data of the subjects were collected. Those who were in both the sarcopenia groups were more obese (p<0.001), had greater waist circumferences (p<0.001), higher body mass index (p<0.001), and higher obesity rates (p<0.001) after adjustment for covariants. Both the sarcopenia groups also had higher plasma levels of total cholesterol (p<0.001), HbA1c (p=0.001), and vitamin D (p=0.020) than both the non-sarcopenia groups. Both the sarcopenia groups demonstrated a decreased intake of calcium (p=0.05), potassium (p=0.008), and niacin (p=0.008) than both the non-sarcopenia ones. Among the four groups, the NMS group showed the highest levels of total cholesterol, obesity, and lowest intake of micronutrients such as calcium, niacin, and potassium. Thus, muscle mass maintenance through weight control and adequate nutrient intake appears to demonstrate a potential association with preventing sarcopenia in Korean middle-aged women.

Dietary components can modulate stress, inflammatory indicators, and health risk. This study examined the relationship among diet, metabolic disease risk, and perceived stress in Korean adult females using the 2017-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 4,353 adult women aged 19-64 years were classified into four groups according to perceived stress level: very high stress group (VHSG, n=225), high stress group (HSG, n=1,079), moderate stress group (MSG, n=2,532), and low stress group (LSG, n=517). Data collection included the sociodemographics, anthropometrics, blood profile, and dietary survey. After adjusting for covariates, those in the VHSG had a higher body mass index (p=0.013) and obesity rate (p=0.053) with a shorter sleep time than the LSG group. The VHSG also tended to have a higher plasma LDL-cholesterol, hsC-reactive protein and lower levels of HDL-cholesterol, vitamin A, and vitamin E than the low stress group. High stress subjects demonstrated increased breakfast skipping frequency (p<0.0001), decreased fiber intake (p=0.001), potassium (p=0.041), and vitamin A (p=0.011) than the low stress ones. Therefore the perceived stress level was associated with the inflammatory indicators, obesity, and lack of anti-inflammatory or antioxidant nutrients. The dietary components may be an important mediator of stress and metabolic disease.