Hye-Kyung Chung

Some Elements in Thyroid Tissue are Associated with More Advanced Stage of Thyroid Cancer in Korean Women.

Excessive exposure to heavy metals including cadmium and lead is known to have adverse effects on various types of cancer. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the associations between blood and tissue levels of heavy metals and trace elements and different stages of thyroid cancer in Korean women. Ninety-two Korean women undergoing thyroidectomy were included in this study. Blood and thyroid tissue levels of cadmium, lead, mercury, selenium, and zinc were measured, and histopathological results, cancer tumor node metastasis (TNM) stage, and cancer multifocality were assessed. The tissue levels of cadmium, selenium, and zinc were significantly higher in patients with TNM stages 3 and 4 compared to those in stage 1. The tissue level of cadmium was greater in patients with higher tumor stage (≥T2) than those with lower stage (T1). Also, the tissue levels of cadmium and zinc were higher in multifocal group than in unifocal group. A logistic multiple regression analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) for advanced tumor stage group (≥T2) increased in those with higher tissue cadmium level after adjustment (ORxa0=xa01.397, 95xa0% CIxa0=xa01.078–1.811). The accumulation of cadmium in thyroid tissue may be one of important etiologic factors for the thyroid cancer progression and aggravation in Korean women.

The association between dietary cholesterol intake and subclinical atherosclerosis in Korean adults: The Kangbuk Samsung Health Study

BACKGROUNDnThe Scientific Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (2015) concluded that restriction of dietary cholesterol is unnecessary in most adults for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.nnnOBJECTIVEnWe aimed to assess the risk for subclinical atherosclerosis according to coronary artery calcium score (CACS), based on dietary cholesterol intake in apparently healthy Korean adults.nnnMETHODSnThis was a cross-sectional study performed in 30,068 participants (mean age 40.8xa0years; 84.5% men) in a health screening program in Korea. The data were collected from 2001 to 2013 and analyzed in 2015. Total energy intake and dietary cholesterol intake were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. The participants were stratified according to quartile of dietary cholesterol intake. CACS was measured by multi-detector computed tomography. Lipid profiles were measured, and the participants were divided into 6 groups according to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level: <70, 70 to 99, 100 to 129, 130 to 159, 160 to 189, and ≥190xa0mg/dL.nnnRESULTSnThe presence of coronary artery calcification was defined as CACS>0. Dietary cholesterol intake did not correlate with mean value of serum LDL-C level. For both genders, the odds ratio for coronary artery calcification was not significantly greater with greater amounts of dietary cholesterol (as assessed by quartile). The risk for coronary artery calcification was not higher in subjects with LDL-C 70-129xa0mg/dL compared with those with LDL-Cxa0<xa070xa0mg/dL; however, the risk was significantly greater in subjects with LDL-Cxa0≥xa0130xa0mg/dL compared with those with LDL-Cxa0<xa070xa0mg/dL.nnnCONCLUSIONSnDietary cholesterol intake did not have an association with LDL-C level or with risk for coronary artery calcification in apparently healthy Korean adults. The results have to be translated with consideration of limitation of population-based studies.

Effects of Diet Modification on Meal Quality and Quality of Life in Korean Diabetic Patients: Data from Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2011)

It is generally accepted that diet modification provides beneficial effects on the management of diabetes. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of diet modification on nutrient intake and quality of life in a large sample of diabetic patients. This study was conducted using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV and V (2007-2010). A total of 2,484 of diabetic patients were included in the analysis. Then, we compared the overall quality of dietary intake between diabetic patients with diet modification and those without dietary modification. The result showed that subjects on diabetic diet (DDG) showed lower levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, and AST before and after the adjustment for covariates (all p < 0.05). The results of nutrient assessment showed that DDG had lower intakes of total energy, fat, and carbohydrate (all p < 0.05), but higher intakes of energy from protein, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin and vitamin C than NDG. (all p < 0.05). In addition, nutritional adequacy ratio of calcium and vitamin B2 were significantly higher in DDG than those in normal diet group (NDG) (p < 0.05). However, we observed no significant differences in quality of life between two groups. In conclusion, diet modification in diabetic patients seemed to be effective to improve blood lipid profile and the adequacy of nutrient intake without sacrificing the quality of life.

Effects of Activity-Based Personalized Nutrition Education on Dietary Behaviors and Blood Parameters in Middle-Aged and Older Type 2 Diabetes Korean Outpatients

This study aimed to compare the effects of activity-based personalized nutrition education (APNE) with a general instruction for diabetes (control, CTRL) in middle-aged and older Korean outpatients with type 2 diabetes. After an initial screening, 70 subjects were randomly assigned to APNE (n = 37) or CTRL (n = 33) group. APNE considered each patient’s anthropometry, blood chemistry data, and dietary habits in addition to planning meal choices with the aid of registered dietitians. After 3 months, dietary behavior, food intake, and anthropometric and blood measurement results were evaluated. Fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial blood glucose, and glycated hemoglobin levels decreased in the APNE group (n = 33) but not in the CTRL group (n = 23). In the APNE group, the meal intervals and number of days of consuming high-fat food were decreased, while the number of days following a meal plan and balanced diet that entailed consuming fruits, vegetables, and healthy food was increased. A lower consumption of carbohydrates, saccharides, grains, and tuber crops and a higher protein, pulses, and fat-derived calorie intake compared with the initial values were observed in the APNE group. In contrast, only the number of days following the meal plan and balanced diet was increased in the CRTL group, without significantly changing the individual macronutrient-derived calorie intake. The APNE approach appeared to effectively educate outpatients with type 2 diabetes about changing their dietary behavior and food intake and improving the clinical parameters related to diabetic conditions.

Composition of dietary macronutrient intake is not associated with prevalence of coronary artery calcification in healthy Korean adults.

Background and Aims: There is little information supporting the relationships between macronutrients and pre-clinical atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to identify whether dietary macronutrient content is related with CAC. Methods: 10,793 healthy Korean adults in a cohort were enrolled. Subjects were divided into CAC (CAC score >0) or non-CAC group (CAC score = 0). Intake of energy, carbohydrate (CHO), protein and fat were obtained using food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Macronutrient composition was expressed as the ratio of energy from each macronutrient to total energy. Subjects were classified into three groups according to tertiles of intake for each macronutrient. To investigate the association between macronutrient intake and CAC, multiple regression analysis was conducted according to tertile groups of each macronutrient. Results: The prevalence of CAC significantly differed among tertile groups of CHO and fat intake in men (p < 0.001, p < 0.01) and women (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). However, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratios (ORs) for CAC were not significantly different among tertile groups of each macronutrient intake after adjustment in men (CHO: OR = 0.965 [95% CI = 0.826-1.129]; protein: OR = 1.029 [95% CI = 0.881-1.201]; fat: OR = 1.015 [95% CI = 0.868-1.188]) and women (CHO: OR = 1.158 [95% CI = 0.550-2.438]; protein: OR = 1.261 [95% CI = 0.629-2.528]; fat: OR = 0.625 [95% CI = 0.286-1.365]). Conclusions: The prevalence of CAC may not be associated with composition of dietary macronutrient intake in in healthy Korean adults.

The relationship between cholesterol concentration and carotid intima media thickness differs according to gender and menopausal status in Korean type 2 diabetic patients

BACKGROUNDnWe investigated the associations between cardiometabolic factors and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) in Korea type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients, and assessed the possible difference with respect to gender and menopausal status.nnnMETHODSnWe conducted a cross-sectional study with 1288 T2DM patients from the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Gangnam Severance Hospital. Carotid IMT and various biochemical parameters were measured, and the postmenopausal status was assessed.nnnRESULTSnIn partial correlation analysis, total cholesterol (TC) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) were positively correlated with right maximum IMT in men. For postmenopausal women, TC and LDL-C were positively correlated with IMT (all p<0.05) while no such correlation was observed in premenopausal women. In regression analysis, age was the most predominant factor for IMT in all 3 groups. For men, insulin and TC were predictive factors for maximum IMT (all p<0.05), and for postmenopausal women, TC and LDL-C were significant factors for mean and maximum IMT (all p<0.01). However, cholesterol concentrations were not related to all types of IMT in premenopausal women.nnnCONCLUSIONnThe association between LDL-C and carotid IMT seems to differ according to gender and menopausal status in T2DM patients.