Seon-Joo Park

A Prospective Study Investigating the Association Between Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and the Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Never Smokers

PURPOSE We studied a cohort of individuals to assess whether intensity of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is associated with the incidence of type 2 diabetes. METHODS Study subjects were selected from an ongoing population-based cohort of Korea Genome and Epidemiology Study. Participants of the baseline study 10,038 persons within the age range of 40 to 69 years old. Among 4,442 never smokers without prevalent diabetes, 465 type 2 diabetes cases were identified through biennial active follow-ups for a 6-year period. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) after adjustment for covariates. RESULTS The risk of type 2 diabetes was higher in subjects exposed to ETS compared with the nonexposure group (HR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.1-1.70). Daily exposure to ETS at home increased the risk of type 2 diabetes when compared with the risk level of nonexposure (HR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.16-1.83). Over 4 hours exposure to ETS at home and in the workplace was associated with increased the risk of type 2 diabetes (HR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.21-3.19). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that ETS exposure is a significant risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes with dose-response relationship.

Rice-eating pattern and the risk of metabolic syndrome especially waist circumference in Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES)

BackgroundMetabolic syndrome poses a serious health threat in Asian countries. Rice is a staple food in Korea, and carbohydrate intake is associated with the risk of MetS. We hypothesized that various rice-eating patterns in a carbohydrate-based diet would have different effects on the risk of MetS.MethodsParticipants were 26,006 subjects enrolled in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study between 2004 and 2006. They were classified into four dietary patterns - white rice, rice with beans, rice with multi-grains, and mixed based on their food frequency questionnaire responses. We compared metabolic risk traits according to the rice-eating patterns.ResultsNutrients consumption and the presence of MetS risk factors differed according to rice-eating patterns. In men odds ratio(OR) for central obesity was slightly elevated in mixed group(1.18). In women, the risk for central obesity and abnormal fasting glucose were lower in the rice with beans group (adjusted OR =0.79, 0.83 respectively) and central obesity in rice with multi-grains(adjusted OR=0.91) than the white rice group. In postmenopausal women, ORs for central obesity (0.78) and abnormal fasting glucose (0.75) in the rice with beans group and ORs for central obesity (0.83), abnormal HDL-cholesterol (0.87) and MetS(0.85) in the rice with multi-grains group was lower than those in white rice group. In premenopausal women, the risk for central obesity (OR=0.77) was reduced in the rice with beans group.ConclusionThe risk for MetS was lower in the rice with beans and rice with multi-grains groups compared with the white rice group, particularly in postmenopausal women.

Plasma isoflavone concentration is associated with decreased risk of type 2 diabetes in Korean women but not men: results from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

Aims/hypothesisTo examine the association between soybean products and risk of type 2 diabetes, we measured four isoflavone biological markers—genistein, daidzein, glycitein and equol—in a nested case–control study.MethodsThe study population was composed of 693 cases (316 women and 377 men) and 698 matched controls (317 women and 381 men) within the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. The concentrations of isoflavone biomarkers were measured using HPLC-MS/MS on plasma samples that were collected at baseline. A stratified analysis was undertaken to examine the association between plasma isoflavone concentrations and risk of type 2 diabetes according to sex and equol production. Logistic regression models were used to compute ORs and 95% CIs adjusted for confounders.ResultsIn women, compared with the lowest quartile of plasma concentration of genistein, the highest quartile exhibited a significantly decreased risk of diabetes (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.35, 0.95). When stratified by equol-producing status in women, the OR for diabetes in the highest vs the lowest quartile of genistein concentration was 0.31 (95% CI 0.16, 0.60) in equol producers, but genistein concentration was not associated with risk of diabetes in equol non-producers (p for interaction = 0.013). In men, isoflavone concentrations were not associated with risk of diabetes, regardless of equol-producing status.Conclusions/interpretationHigh plasma concentrations of genistein were associated with a decreased risk of type 2 diabetes in women. This inverse association was prominent in equol-producing participants. These results suggest a beneficial effect of a high intake of soybean products on risk of type 2 diabetes in women.

Dietary patterns and osteoporosis risk in postmenopausal korean women.

Objectives The prevalence of osteoporosis and related fractures has increased rapidly in Korean women. Proper nutrition intake is associated with the prevention of osteoporosis. We analyzed the association between dietary patterns and the risk of osteoporosis during a 4-year follow-up in postmenopausal Korean women. Methods Postmenopausal women (n = 1,725) who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were enrolled. Food intake was assessed using a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, and a quantitative ultrasound device was used to measure the speed of sound at the radius and tibia. Results Three major dietary patterns were identified using factor analysis based on baseline intake data: traditional (high intake of rice, kimchi, and vegetables), dairy (high intake of milk, dairy products, and green tea), and western (high intake of sugar, fat, and bread). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate relative risk for osteoporosis. An inverse association was detected between the dairy dietary pattern and the osteoporosis incidence [relative risk (RR): 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.42–0.93, p-trend=0.055 in radius; RR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.35–0.90, p-trend=0.048 in tibia]. Individuals in the highest quintile for the traditional dietary pattern (p-trend = 0.009 in tibia) and western dietary pattern (p-trend = 0.043 in radius) demonstrated a higher risk of osteoporosis incidence than those in the lowest quintile. Conclusion These results suggested that high consumption of milk, dairy products, and green tea may reduce the risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal Korean women.

High consumption of salt-fermented vegetables and hypertension risk in adults: a 12-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate the causal relationship between high consumption of salt-fermented vegetables and hypertension risk in adults. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN Data came from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, an ongoing community-based cohort study that began in 2001. In the final analysis, a total of 5,932 participants (men=2,822, women=3,110) was included. Daily energy, nutrient, and major salt-fermented vegetables for Korean (kimchi) intakes were assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Relative risks and 95% CIs associated with kimchi intake by gender and body mass index (BMI) were estimated using the multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS Out of the 5,932 participants, 1,798 (905 men, 893 women) developed hypertension during the 12-year follow-up period. A significant difference in baseline BMI was shown between the non-hypertension and hypertension groups. There was no significant difference with regard to the risk of developing hypertension across quintiles for total kimchi intake and quartile or quartiles for specific kimchi intake in multivariate models by gender and baseline BMI. The trend for increased risk of hypertension according to increasing quartile of watery kimchi intake was significant for obese men in the multivariate model (p<0.05). CONCLUSION High consumption of salt-fermented vegetables was not shown to be associated with increased risk of hypertension. The trend for increased risk of hypertension according to increasing quartile of watery kimchi intake was significant only in obese men.

Association between Egg Consumption and Metabolic Disease

Abstract The effect of high egg intake on metabolic syndrome (MetS), a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), has not been clearly elucidated. This study was conducted to review the literature related to egg consumption and the risk of metabolic disease as well as to examine the association between high egg intake and MetS in Korean adults. A literature review was conducted using published papers in PubMed and EMBASE through December 2017. We have reviewed 26 articles, which were associated with egg consumption and metabolic diseases, and found that the results were controversial. Therefore, we analyzed data from 23,993 Korean adults aged 19 yrs and older. MetS was defined based on criteria from the Adult Treatment Panel III. Egg consumption of 4-6 times/wk and 1 time/day were significantly associated with reduced prevalence of MetS (Odds ratio (OR)=0.82; 95% Confidence interval (CI)=0.71-0.95 for 4-6 times/wk, OR=0.83; 95% CI=0.69-0.99 for 1 time/day) compared to those who consumed eggs less than once monthly. However, consuming two or more eggs per day was not associated with MetS. As for the components of MetS, an egg intake of once daily decreased the prevalence of abdominal obesity and an intake of 2-7 eggs weekly was shown to prevent a reduction in the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. This study suggests that while consuming eggs 4-7 times weekly is associated with a lower prevalence of MetS, consuming two or more eggs daily is not associated with a reduced risk for MetS.

Plasma Calcium and Risk of Hypertension: Propensity Score Analysis Using Data From the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

Objective To investigate associations between plasma calcium and future incidence of hypertension in a healthy population. Methods We used prospective data from Ansung and Ansan cohorts (n = 10,038) of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. Data from baseline (2001–02) to the fourth study (2007–08) were used. After excluding hypertensive cases at baseline, missing data, and outliers, 5560 participants were analyzed. Propensity scores for having higher plasma calcium (≥2.37 mmol/L) were created for each participant. After propensity score matching (1:1 nearest neighbor matching within caliper), 2153 pairs were left for analysis. Factors that were significantly different between the lower and higher plasma calcium groups before matching either became nonsignificant or the difference decreased in size. Results Using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models with robust standard errors accounting for clustering of matched pairs, higher plasma calcium was associated with higher incidence of hypertension (adjusted HR, 1.24; robust 95%CI, 1.07–1.43). Among those with higher plasma calcium, low dietary calcium intake increased the development of hypertension, but the effect was not significant. Sensitivity analysis showed that our results were robust to hidden bias. Conclusions Plasma calcium was positively associated with incidence of hypertension. These results expand on cross-sectional associations between hypercalcemia and the metabolic syndrome, and extend the link to future risk of hypertension.

Healthy dietary pattern and prevalence of depressive symptoms in Korean middle-aged and elderly women

H diet is literally indispensible to sustain a healthy life. However, it is always an issue to reach reliable and sustainable food sources and to keep the food fresh longer and get the maximum benefits from them due to the problems of modern world with increasing human population, industries and technology. Thus, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions to supply the food of high quality. In this sense, use of nanotechnology is very important and it is considered as an enabling technology to contribute food technology. Currently, nanotechnology has evolved more to the food industry in the areas of food production, processing, conservation, packaging, safety, sensing, nutraceuticals delivery and functional food etc. There are variety of nanosystems including quantum dots, nanoparticles, nanofibres, nanocapsules or nanoemulsions which are designed to take the role for developing better methods to enhance the food quality and quantity. Graphene derivatives are class of one of these nanosystems which have been recently under investigation to serve in nutrition industry. Recent studies have proved that it is possible to get incremental benefits from use of such nanosystems in food industry, in a very large span from therapy to agricultural production. However, it is always an issue of debate to cope with the possible disadvantages of such systems since technology brings the problems along with its solutions. Thus, to minimize these problems is another issue. My talk will focus on the use of nanotechnology in the area of nutrition and will shortly debate its advantages, possible unfavorable outcomes and solutions.Lactoferrin (Lf) is known for its physiologically pleiotropic properties. In the present study, we investigated whether Lf affects glycemic regulation, including glucose absorption from the small intestine. Bovine Lf (bLf, 100 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered to rats before intravenous glucose injection (intravenous glucose tolerance test, IVGTT) or oral glucose administration (oral glucose tolerance test, OGTT). In IVGTT, bLf pretreatment had no significant effect on plasma glucose or insulin. In OGTT, the bLf group tended to show lower plasma glucose at and after the 15-min peak than the control group, and decreased at 180 min. The change in plasma insulin from 0 to 30 min was higher in the bLf group than in the control group. Total plasma glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) was lowered at 60 min by the bLf treatment, while an immediate increase in total plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) was observed within the bLf group undergoing OGTT. In addition, bLf was associated with ...

Dairy product consumption and gastritis/stomach ulcer risk in Korean middle-aged and elderly men

Previous studies have supported the benefit of increased intakes of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) omega-3 fatty acid during pregnancy and lactation (or via infant formula) on visual acuity in infants and young toddlers. The present study was directed to investigate the potential benefit of enhanced dietary omega-3 fatty acid intakes in children ages 7-12 on visual acuity. The study population comprised of 179 children (average age being 9.6 years) of whom 88 had lower IQs and 91 had ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder). The children were randomized to the omega-3 group (consuming an omega-3 egg daily markedly enriched in alpha-linolenic acid plus DHA) or a ‘regular’ egg (very low levels of omega-3 fatty acids). Before and after consuming the eggs each day for a period of 3 months, blood measures of omega-3 fatty acids were performed by gas-liquid chromatography as well as optical assessments for visual acuity.I frying oil “Spil Innova Fryoil” which contain antioxidant, emulsifier and antipolymerizing additive constituents was developed and the quality profiles of improved frying oil and fried food products with above-mentioned oil was evaluated. The physicochemical quality, sensory quality profile, gas chromatography (GC) fatty acid profile, total polar compound, oxidative stability (rancimate) and overall fried food quality of new oil and fried food were performed. It was determined that the total polar compound levels of Spil Innova Fryoil were stable between 1-15th (even 10th-15th) frying process. Linoleic acid (C18:2; omega-6) was preserved and no trans-acid increasing was found by repetitive frying; no increased amount of trans-oleic acid (elaidic acid) and trans-linoleic acid. It was observed that the used Jujube extract additive gave more stability to innovative frying oil; polar compounds of fried potato oils by 5th, 10th, 15th frying process and also the fried potato color was stable after repetitive frying.The food is necessity for keeping in life humans and animals, but it can also be a threat for their health and wellbeing. Food can be contaminated by a range of microorganisms and their toxins causing foodborne illnesses. Among them the mycotoxigenic molds produce mycotoxins as metabolic products. Most of them are carcinogenic causing acute damage to human and animal organs. The most important genera in the spoilage of foods and animal feeds are Aspergillus and Penicillium species which produce a variety of aflatoxins having deleterious effects on human and animal health.