Young-Nam Kim

Comparison of the chemical compositions and nutritive values of various pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae) species and parts

Pumpkins have considerable variation in nutrient contents depending on the cultivation environment, species, or part. In this study, the general chemical compositions and some bioactive components, such as tocopherols, carotenoids, and β-sitosterol, were analyzed in three major species of pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae pepo, C. moschata, and C. maxima) grown in Korea and also in three parts (peel, flesh, and seed) of each pumpkin species. C. maxima had significantly more carbohydrate, protein, fat, and fiber than C. pepo or C. moschata (P < 0.05). The moisture content as well as the amino acid and arginine contents in all parts of the pumpkin was highest in C. pepo. The major fatty acids in the seeds were palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids. C. pepo and C. moschata seeds had significantly more γ-tocopherol than C. maxima, whose seeds had the highest β-carotene content. C. pepo seeds had significantly more β-sitosterol than the others. Nutrient compositions differed considerably among the pumpkin species and parts. These results will be useful in updating the nutrient compositions of pumpkin in the Korean food composition database. Additional analyses of various pumpkins grown in different years and in different areas of Korea are needed.

Vitamin E status of 20- to 59-year-old adults living in the Seoul metropolitan area of South Korea

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin and functions primarily as a lipid antioxidant. Inadequate vitamin E status may increase risk of several chronic diseases. Thus, the objectives of this study were to estimate intake and plasma concentration of each tocopherol and to evaluate vitamin E status of Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS Three consecutive 24-h food recalls and fasting blood samples were collected from healthy 20- to 59-y-old adults (33 males and 73 females) living in the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea. α-, β-, δ-, and γ-tocopherol intakes and plasma concentrations of tocopherols (α-, δ-, and γ-tocopherol) were analyzed by gender. RESULTS Dietary vitamin E and total vitamin E intake (dietary plus supplemental vitamin E) was 17.68 ± 14.34 and 19.55 ± 15.78 mg α-tocopherol equivalents, respectively. The mean daily α-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol intakes were 3.07 ± 2.27 mg and 5.98 ± 3.74 mg, respectively. Intakes of total vitamin E and each tocopherol of males were significantly higher than those of females (P < 0.05). Plasma α-tocopherol concentration was 15.45 ± 10.16 of males and 15.00 ± 4.54 µmol/L of females, respectively. There were no significant differences in plasma tocopherol concentrations by gender (P ≥ 0.05). Plasma α-tocopherol was negatively correlated with γ-tocopherol intake (P < 0.05). Twenty-three percent of the subjects had plasma α-tocopherol concentrations < 12 µmol/L indicating a biochemical deficiency of vitamin E. Approximately 8% and 9% of these participants had plasma α-tocopherol:total lipid ratio less than 1.59 µmol/mmol and plasma α-tocopherol:total cholesterol ratio less than 2.22 µmol/mmol, respectively, which are also indicative of vitamin E deficiency. CONCLUSIONS Vitamin E intakes of Korean adults were generally adequate with the Korean Dietary Reference Intakes for vitamin E. However, α-tocopherol intake was lower than that reported in other countries, and 23% of the subjects in the current study were vitamin E deficient based on plasma α-tocopherol concentrations.

Dietary intakes and lifestyle patterns of Korean children and adolescents with atopic dermatitis: Using the fourth and fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV,V), 2007–11

ABSTRACT We investigate dietary intake and lifestyle patterns of atopic children and adolescents (N = 539) by obesity level using a national survey of South Korea. Intakes of calcium, iron, and vitamin C in the underweight group were less than those of other groups. The frequency of drinking milk of the overweight group was higher than that of the normal weight group. Majority of the subjects had not applied nutrition labeling in food choices, had no experience of nutrition education, and were vitamin D deficient. In conclusion, most of the atopic subjects had little knowledge of nutrition and were vitamin D deficient.

Regular moderate exercise training can alter the urinary excretion of thiamin and riboflavin.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Physical exercise promotes energy producing pathways requiring thiamin and riboflavin as a coenzyme. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of regular exercise training on urinary excretion of thiamin and riboflavin. MATERIALS/METHODS Fifty rats were randomly assigned to one of two groups: non-exercise training (NT, n = 25) and regular exercise training (ET, n = 25) for 5 weeks. The rats performed moderate exercise on a treadmill (0.5-0.8 km/hour) for 30 min/day, 5 days/week. Twenty-four hour urine samples were collected at the end of the 0 week, 3rd week, and 5th week of training and thiamin and riboflavin were analyzed. RESULTS No significant differences in thiamin and riboflavin intakes for each week were observed between the NT and ET groups. Urinary thiamin excretion of each group was the highest at the 5th week compared to the levels at 0 and 3rd week. Urinary thiamin at the 5th week was significantly lower in the ET group than in the NT group. Urinary riboflavin excretion was increased by training duration, however, no difference was observed between NT and ET for each week. At 0 and 3rd week, no significant relationships were observed between dietary intake and urinary excretion of thiamin and riboflavin, however, at the 5th week, urinary excretion was significantly increased by dietary intake only in the NT group (P < 0.05). Thiamin excretion of both NT and ET groups was significantly increased with riboflavin excretion at the 5th week (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Regular moderate exercise training increased urinary excretion of thiamin. Dietary intakes and urinary excretions of thiamin and riboflavin showed positive correlation in both the exercise training and non-exercise training groups as the exercise training period went by, while the correlations in the exercise training group were weaker than those in the non-exercise training group. Therefore, regular exercise training can alter the urinary excretion of thiamin and riboflavin in rats.

One-half of Korean adults studied had marginal vitamin B12 status assessed by plasma vitamin B12

Information is limited on the current vitamin B12 status of South Koreans, including the results of biochemical indices. The objective of this study was to assess vitamin B12 status with vitamin B12 intake, major food sources, and plasma vitamin B12 concentration in Korean adults. We hypothesized that vitamin B12 intake and status would be different between sex and age groups. Three consecutive 24-hour recalls and fasting blood samples were obtained from healthy 20- to 64-year-old adults (N=141). The dietary vitamin B12 intake of the men (10.77±6.11 μg/d) was significantly higher than that of the women (7.93±5.01 μg/d). The mean dietary vitamin B12 intake was significantly lower in the subjects aged 20-29 years than in the subjects aged 50-64 years. Only 2.1% of the subjects consumed less vitamin B12 than the estimated average requirement for Koreans. The top 4 major food sources of vitamin B12 were seafood, which provided 35.36% of the dietary vitamin B12 intake. There was no significant difference in plasma vitamin B12 concentration between sex and among age groups. Approximately 17% of total subjects had a plasma vitamin B12 concentration <125 pmol/L, indicating vitamin B12 deficiency, and 36.2% had marginal vitamin B12 status (125 to <250 pmol/L). The reported vitamin B12 intake was affected by both sex and age. However, plasma vitamin B12 concentration did not differ between sex and among age groups. One-half of the subjects had marginal vitamin B12 status using plasma vitamin B12.

Protective effects of blueberry drink on cognitive impairment induced by chronic mild stress in adult rats

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Stress-induced cognitive impairment is related to the suppression of hippocampal neurogenesis that results from an increase of oxidative stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of administration of a blueberry drink, having a high antioxidant power, on the cognitive performance of adult rats exposed to chronic mild stress. MATERIALS/METHODS Twelve-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 48) were randomly divided into four groups: control (CO), stress (ST), control + 5% blueberry drink (CO + B), and stress + 5% blueberry drink (ST + B). After eight weeks, the cognitive performance was assessed using a multiple T-maze water test. Levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and ascorbic acid were measured in the brain, and catecholamine concentrations were measured in plasma. RESULTS The brain weights of the rats from the ST and ST + B groups were significantly lower than those of the rats from the CO and CO + B groups. The cognitive performance of the ST group was impaired when compared to that of the CO group. This impairment was significantly improved by the blueberry drink supplementation (P < 0.05). The brain SOD and CAT concentrations were not influenced by the stress or by the blueberry drink. However, the brain levels of GPx and ascorbic acid were significantly lower in the ST group than those in the CO group and were increased by the blueberry drink supplementation. The plasma catecholamine concentrations were affected by chronic mild stress and by the blueberry drink. The plasma norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations were decreased by the chronic stress and improved by the blueberry drink supplementation. The plasma epinephrine level was only influenced by the stress. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that the blueberry drink may protect against the cognitive impairment induced by chronic mild stress.

Obesity Rate and Nutrient Intakes of 20- to 69-year-old Women Living in Rural Kampong Spue Province in Cambodia

The purpose of this study was to determine anthropometric measurements, dietary nutrient intakes, simple food intake frequencies, and rates of obesity in Cambodian women. A total 186 women, aged 20-69 years, living in Kampong Spue province of Cambodia and having the responsibility to prepare family meals participated in this study. Height and weight were measured body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and one-day 24-hour recall and food frequency questionnaires were conducted. In total, 18.8% were underweight, 49.5% were normal weight, 13.4% were overweight, and 18.3% were obese according to the World Health Organization BMI standard for Asians. No significant difference in height by obesity level was determined (). The mean energy intake was 1571.2 kcal/day and protein intake was 43.6 g/day. There were significant differences in protein, niacin, and vitamin C intakes by obesity level (p. Approximately 50% of subjects reported intake frequency of bread, cookies, and chips. In total, 35% indicated no intake of beans or bean products. For intake frequencies of carbonated beverages and sports drinks, there was a significant difference by obesity level (p