Evaluation of Nutrient Intake and Food Variety in Korean Male Adults according to Framingham Risk Score

Intakes of Dairy and Soy Products and 10-Year Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Korean Adults

Dairy and soy products are healthy food. However, studies have reported conflicting results associating their intake with coronary heart disease (CHD). Thus, this study determined the association between intake of dairy or soy products and 10-year CHD risk. Participants aged 40~69 years were grouped into those who consumed dairy products (more or less than twice a week) and those who consumed soy products (more or less than twice a week). Ten-year CHD risk (%), atherogenic index (AI), and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were calculated. The CHD risk, according to the level of dairy and soy product intake, was expressed as an odds ratio (OR) and a confidence interval (CI). Significant differences were observed in sex, age, education, income, and living area according to dairy intake frequencies, whereas only age showed significant differences according to soy products' intake frequencies. Relative effects of Framingham Risk Score (FRS) factors on 10-year CHD risk in Korean adults were found to be significant in the order of age, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), smoking, blood total cholesterol (TC), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diabetes, and sex. Overall, participants who consumed dairy products ≥2/week had a significantly lower OR of 10-year CHD risk compared to those who consumed dairy products <2/week after adjusting for confounding factors (OR: 0.742, 95% CI: 0.619 to 0.890). Otherwise, intake of soy products ≥2/week tended to decrease the OR of 10-year CHD risk, although the decrease was not statistically significant. In conclusion, Korean adults who consumed dairy products ≥2/week had higher HDL-C and lower 10-year CHD risk than those who consumed dairy products <2/week. However, these results did not appear when consuming soy products.

Cow's Milk Intake and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease in Korean Postmenopausal Women

Numerous studies have reported conflicting results associated with cow’s milk intake and coronary heart disease (CHD). However, studies involving postmenopausal women are very limited. This study was therefore undertaken to identify the relationship between cow’s milk intake and CHD risk in postmenopausal women, using data from the 6th period of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013−2015). A total of 1825 postmenopausal women, aged 50−64 years old, were included in the final analysis. The frequency of cow’s milk consumption for each subject was determined using the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and was classified into four groups (Q1−Q4): Q1, group that did not drink milk (no milk, n = 666); Q2, 0 < frequency of milk intake per week ≤ 1 (n = 453); Q3, 1 < frequency of milk intake per week ≤ 3 (n = 319); and Q4, frequency of milk intake >3 times per week (n = 387). General characteristics, such as education, living area, household income, and obesity level, were compared between the four groups. Percentages of daily nutrient intake compared to the dietary reference intake for Koreans (KDRIs) were determined, and the Framingham Risk Score (FRS), atherogenic index (AI), and atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) were determined as the CHD risk indicators. Except household income, no significant difference was obtained among the four groups with respect to age, education, living area, or obesity. Compared to KDRIs, the intake ratio of calcium, phosphorus, and riboflavin were significantly higher in the Q4 group than in the Q1−Q3 groups. Blood HDL-cholesterol was significantly higher in Q4 than in Q1. The CHD risk factors FRS (%), AI, and AIP were significantly lower in the Q4 group as compared to the other groups (CHD risk (%): Q1 9.4, Q4 8.5; AI: Q1 3.06, Q4 2.83; API: Q1 0.37, Q2 0.31, Q4 0.32). FRS was determined to be significantly and positively correlated to AI or AIP, and negatively correlated with the cow’s milk intake frequency and calcium intake. In conclusion, compared to women who do not consume cow’s milk, postmenopausal women who consume cow’s milk frequently have a better nutritional status of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin B12, higher HDL levels, and a lower level of CHD risk indicators, such as FRS, AI, and AIP, contributing to decreased CHD risk in a 10-year period. Therefore, to prevent the risk of CHD in postmenopausal women, there needs to be a greater emphasis for cow’s milk consumption four or more times per week.

Diet diversity of urban households in India during the COVID-19 lockdown

BACKGROUND

The nature of the COVID-19 pandemic forced several nations to impose country-wide lockdowns. The lockdown impacted several aspects of life including the economy. Food security became a growing concern for many households.

AIM

The aim of the study was to explore the diet diversity of urban households in India during the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown.

METHODS

Information regarding socioeconomic status (SES), family size and information regarding availability and access to food were gathered from 450 households. Diet diversity was assessed using a 69-item food frequency questionnaire. Food variety scores (FVS) were computed for individual food groups and overall.

RESULTS

The majority of the households (86.4%) belonged to the upper-middle or upper SES. Households did not experience any constraints in accessibility and availability of food except the meat group. Overall, 84% of the households had low FVS for most of the food groups except for sugar and milk and milk products. The household SES score was positively associated with the milk FVS (B = 0.039, p = 0.020) and negatively with the fat FVS (B = -0.062, p < 0.001). The number of adults (B = 6.773, p < 0.001) in the household positively predicted the FVS of cereal, vegetable, fruit, fat and total FVS.

CONCLUSIONS

The higher SES households in urban India did not experience food insecurity. Despite this, their poor diet diversity is a serious cause for concern, especially in the wake of the evolving pandemic. This highlights the need to promote consumption of a diverse variety of foods.

Relationship between Dietary Patterns and Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Korean Older Adults

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between dietary patterns and the 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the elderly population in Korea.

METHODS

Cluster analysis was conducted on the data of 1687 elderly participants (797 men and 890 women) aged ≥65 years from the 2014-2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), using a 24-h dietary recall survey to assess dietary patterns. Dietary patterns were classified into clusters 1 (typical Korean diet), 2 (high carbohydrate diet), and 3 (healthy diet). The 10-year risk of CVD was calculated based on age, total and HDL-cholesterol levels, systolic blood pressure level, antihypertensive medication use, smoking status, and presence of diabetes. A complex sample general linear model was applied to determine the association between dietary patterns and the 10-year risk of CVD.

RESULTS

In total, 275 (33.7%), 141 (17.9%), and 381 (48.3%) men, and 207 (22.6%), 276 (30.9%), and 407(46.6%) women were included in clusters 1, 2, and 3, respectively. The 10-year risk of CVD was lower in men in cluster 3 (healthy diet) than in those in cluster 1 (typical Korean diet) (t = 2.092, p = 0.037). Additionally, the 10-year risk of CVD was lower in men who performed strength training than in those who did not (t = 3.575, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in women.

CONCLUSIONS

After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, men who consumed a healthy diet had a lower 10-year risk of CVD than those who consumed a typical Korean diet. When organizing nutrition education programs to improve dietary habits in the elderly, content on diets that consist of various food groups to prevent CVD is required. In particular, it is necessary to develop content that emphasizes the importance of healthy eating habits in men.