Korean Journal of Community Nutrition

[English]
Comparison of Children's Body Weights and Eating Habits by Maternal Parenting Attitudes Perceived by Children: Yun Jung Choe, Hyesun Min; Korean J Community Nutr 2009;14(1):77-86. Published online February 28, 2009

Abstract PDF: Effective parenting attitudes have been known to be associated with children's health practices including dietary intake and physical activity. The objective of this study is to compare children's body weights and eating habits by maternal parenting attitudes. Data were collected at school (N = 396; 4th and 5th grade students) using self-administered questionnaires on maternal parenting attitudes, eating habits and physical activity. Parenting attitudes were categorized as 1 of 4 parenting attitudes (overprotective, authoritarian, democratic, and neglectful) using affection and control median cut points. Children's body weights, frequency of breakfast, eating out and fastfood, and physical activity were compared by maternal parenting attitudes. Children's body weights were related with mother's employment status (p < 0.05) and parenting attitudes (p < 0.01). Children of unemployed mothers were more likely to be overweight. Children of neglectful mothers (p < 0.01) were more likely to be underweight, compared with children of mothers with other parenting attitudes. Since, unfortunately, the number of children of neglectful mothers was very limited in this study, we could hardly assess eating habits of children of neglectful mothers. Children of authoritarian mothers ate breakfast more regularly (p < 0.05), but ate snacks less regularly (p < 0.01). Children of democratic mothers ate fastfood less frequently (p < 0.01) and ate snacks more regularly (p < 0.01). Meanwhile, children of overprotective mothers ate breakfast less regularly (p < 0.05) and ate out less frequently (p < 0.01). However, maternal parenting attitudes were not related to children's physical activities. In conclusion, the maternal democratic parenting attitude was associated with healthy eating habits including regular snack time and less fastfood. On the other hand, the maternal neglectful parenting attitude was associated with high risk of children's underweight. Understanding the mechanism through which parenting attitude is related with underweight risk and healthy eating habits may lead to the development of better interventions.

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[English]
Risk Factors Affecting the Health of Pregnant Women and Fetus: Hyun Sook Bae; Korean J Community Nutr 2008;13(6):805-817. Published online December 31, 2008

Abstract PDF: The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of desirable pregnancy outcomes. The subjects were 795 pregnant women participating in the 2007 Mom and Baby Expo. They were grouped by gestational age: group I (3-12 wk: n = 95), group II (13-25 wks: n = 263) and group III (26-42 wks: n = 437). We collected data for general characteristics, sociocultural factors, life styles and nutrient intakes. We also collected pregnancy outcome data of 634 pregnant women including birth weight, maternal weight gain and gestational age. Dietary intakes of the subjects were estimated by Food Frequency Questionnaire. folate, iron and calcium intakes from foods of pregnant women were 88%, 79% and 58% of KDRIs, respectively. Bivariate analysis showed that birth weight was significantly associated with pre-pregnancy BMI, maternal weight gain, maternal age, gestational age and intakes of iron, potassium, vitaminB1, B6, fatty acids, MUFA. And also, bivariate analysis showed that maternal weight gain was significantly associated with pre-pregnancy BMI, maternal age, gestational age and intakes of energy, potassium. Further multivariate analyses suggest that vitaminB6 may be a significant predictor for low birth weight and energy intake and maternal age for maternal weight gain. Our findings suggest that dietary and lifestyle interventions during pregnancy can improve maternal and infant pregnancy outcomes. Prepregnancy weight control and intakes of energy and vitamin B6 need to be taken into considerations in developing strategic prenatal care programs to promote desirable pregnancy outcome.

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[English]
Characteristics of Infants' Temperaments and Eating Behaviors, Mothers' Eating Behaviors and Feeding Practices in Poor Eating Infants: Yoonjung Kim, Young Shin Han, Sang Jin Chung, Yoonna Lee, Sang Il Lee, Haymie Choi; Korean J Community Nutr 2006;11(4):449-458. Published online August 31, 2006

Abstract PDF: The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of infants' temperaments and eating behaviors, mothers' eating behaviors and feeding practices in poor eating infants. The participants were 80 infants of 12 - 24 months (27 poor eaters and 53 matched normal controls) from a hospital and a public health center. Mothers were questioned about their eating behaviors and feeding practices, and infants' temperaments, eating behaviors, and nutrient intakes by one day food recall. Subjects were divided by mean nutrient adequacy ratio (MAR, < 0.75; poor eater). Intakes of Ca, P, Fe, Zn, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin C, E, folate were below 75% RDA in poor eaters, whereas protein, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, C, folate exceeded 125% RDA in good eaters. Rhythmicity of infants' temperaments and eating behaviors, restriction of mothers' eating behaviors and feeding practices were significantly lower, whereas activity levels of infants' temperaments were higher than good eaters. In multiple logistic regression model of poor eaters, activity of infants' temperaments (T, OR: 1.19, CI: 1.05 - 1.35) and attention spans of infants' eating behaviors (A, OR: 1.18, CI: 1.03 - 1.35) were significantly positive, whereas rhythmicity of infants' eating behaviors (R, OR: 0.79, CI: 0.67 - 0.94) was significantly negative [E (the logit) = -6.8644 + 0.1712 x T - 0.2337 x R + 0.1641 x A]. Our findings suggest that examination of eating behaviors, feeding practices, and temperaments will help target interventions to improve infants' food intakes, and these variables should be examined at the time of nutrition counseling.

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[English]
The Characteristics of Infants' Temperament, Maternal Feeding Behavior and Feeding Practices in Picky Eaters: Yoon Jung Kim, Sang Jin Chung, Young Shin Han, Yoonna Lee, Sang Il Lee, Ki Won Byun, Haymie Choi; Korean J Community Nutr 2005;10(4):462-470. Published online August 31, 2005

Abstract PDF: The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of infants' temperaments, maternal feeding behaviors and feeding practices in picky eaters. Participants were 83 infants (aged 12 - 24 months) from "A" hospital (Seoul) and "B" public health center (Kyunggido). Mothers completed questionnaires that assessed their own feeding behavior, feeding practices, infants' temperament and infants' feeding behavior. Picky eaters' demographics were not significantly different from non-picky eaters after adjusting sex and age. The average of thiamin, niacin and vitamin E intakes of picky eaters were below 75% Korean RDA, whereas vitamin A intakes exceed 120% RDA in both groups. Activity level of infants' temperament and disinhibition of maternal feeding behavior in picky eaters were significantly higher than those in non-picky eater. All constructs of infants feeding behavior were significantly associated with certain constructs of infants' temperament, maternal feeding practice and maternal feeding behavior. The pickiness of infants feeding behavior was positively correlated with activity level of infants' temperament, pickiness and disinhibition of maternal feeding behavior and negatively correlated with adaptability of infants' temperament. Findings suggest that maternal feeding behavior and feeding practices as well as infants' temperament should be addressed in nutrition education for picky eaters.

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[English]
Maternal Plasma Homocysteine Levels and Pregnancy Outcomes: Hong Seok Ahn; Korean J Community Nutr 2004;9(4):483-490. Published online August 31, 2004

Abstract PDF: Elevated maternal plasma homocysteine concentrations have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including birth defects, low birth weight, preeclampsia, spontaneous abortion, placental abruption, and other maternal or fetal complications. The purpose of this study was to assess the maternal plasma homocysteine level during pregnancy and to investigate the relationship between the plasma homocysteine concentrations and pregnancy outcomes. Venous blood samples were drawn from 82 pregnant women who were grouped with gestational age, 1st trimester (n = 26), 2nd trimester (n = 27) and 3rd trimester (n = 29). The concentration of plasma homocysteine was analyzed by HPLC, and pregnancy outcomes including gestational length, maternal weight gain, infant birth weight, and Apgar score were collected with the medical records of the pregnant women. The levels of plasma homocysteine of the pregnant women at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester were 5.7 +/- 3.7 micronmol/L, 5.6 +/- 4.1 micronmol/L and 7.0 +/- 4.5 micronmol/L, respectively, which had not showed any significant difference. The result of this study showed that in case of the pregnant women at the 1st trimester, the maternal plasma homocysteine level of the pregnant women whose gestational length was less than 38 weeks was significantly high (p < 0.01) compared to that of the pregnants whose gestational length was more than 38 weeks. And also, the level of homocysteine of the pregnant women at the 2nd trimester was significantly low when the maternal weight gain was high (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that maternal plasma homocysteine level at early stage of gestation will be a predicter of gestational length and maternal weight gain.

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[English]
Retinol, beta-Carotene, and alpha-Tocopherol Concentrations in Maternal-Umbilical Cord Plasma and Their Relationships to Pregnancy Outcome: Geum Ju Lee, Min Sook Lee, Hong Seok Ahn; Korean J Community Nutr 2004;9(2):151-160. Published online April 30, 2004

Abstract PDF: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intake of antioxidant vitamins and plasma concentrations of those in 60 maternal-infant pairs (30 in normal term delivery group, NT; 30 in preterm delivery group, PT). We also investigated the relationship between vitamin levels of maternal-umbilical cord plasma and pregnancy outcome. Mean energy intakes of NT and PT pregnant women were 93.2% and 85.4%, and their protein intakes were 113.3% and 110.9 % of the recommended dietary allowance (RDA), respectively. While vitamin A intakes were only 51.2% and 39.6% of the RDA in NT and PT pregnant women. The vitamin E intake was about 50% of the RDA (NT 6.27 mg, PT 7.78 mg). The levels of retinol in maternal plasma of NT and PT were 1.51 micronmol/l and 1.43 micronmol/l, respectively. The retinol levels in umbilical cord plasma in NT and PT were 0.72 micronmol/l and 0.61 micronmol/l, respectively. The level of beta-carotene in maternal plasma of NT was 0.49 micronmol/l, significantly (p < 0.01) higher than that of PT (0.31 micronmol/l). The beta-carotene of umbilical cord plasma of NT and PT were 0.02 micronmol/l and 0.01 micronmol/l, respectively. The plasma alpha- tocopherol of maternal of NT and PT were 29.51 micronmol/l and 27.17 micronmol/l, respectively. The alpha-tocopherol of umbilical cord plasma of NT and PT were 4.16 micronmol/l and 3.80 micronmol/l, respectively. The antioxidant vitamin levels retinol, beta-carotene, and alpha-tocopherol) in maternal plasma were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than those in umbilical cord plasma. However, there was no correlation between the vitamin levels in maternal plasma and those in umbilical cord plasma. The maternal plasma beta-carotene level showed a positive correlation to gestational age. Also Apgar score at 1 min produced a positive correlation to maternal plasma beta-carotene level.

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[English]
The Dietary Behavior of Obese and Normal Weight Elementary School Children with Maternal Guidance for Their Dietary Behavior: Hye Sang Lee, Woon Seon Jeong, Ung Im Park; Korean J Community Nutr 2003;8(6):831-839. Published online December 31, 2003

Abstract PDF: This study was conducted to investigate whether there were any differences in the body image perception, dietary behavior and maternal dietary guidance between an obese group ("OG") and a normal weight group ("NWG"), and furthermore, to provide basic informations for comprehensive educational programs for obese children. For this purpose, the questionnaire method was used. The subjects were 1,501 elementary school children, in the 4th to the 6th grades in Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Gwangju, and Andong, and their mothers (1,459). The percentage of the children who misperceive their body image was higher among the girls (30.4%) than the boys (22.6%). The average scores for balanced dietary behavior as assessed by the children was higher in the OG than in NWG; the average scores for dietary control as assessed by their mothers was higher in the NWG than in the OG. The scores for dietary behavior as assessed by the children was different from those as assessed by their mothers. Assuming that the mothers would give more correct and balanced answers, the development of a reliable questionnaire for dietary behavior that could be more accurately answered by the children is necessary. Maternal dietary guidance for dietary control was more frequently given in the OG as compared with the NWG and more frequently in girls as compared with boys ; while that for balanced diet was more in the NWG as compared with the OG. The worse the mothers estimate of the dietary behavior for their children, the more they tried to guide their children in dietary behavior. It is recommended that the children should be taught to correctly recognize the degree of their obesity, and receive the appropriate educational program accordingly, including the maternal dietary guidance.

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[English]
A Longitudinal Study on Maternal Iron and Folate Status During and After Pregnancy in Korean Women: Jong Im Lee, Hyeon Sook Lim; Korean J Community Nutr 2001;6(2):182-191. Published online May 31, 2001

Abstract PDF: Anemia in women during pregnancy and after delivery has been known to affect the mother, the fetus, and the infant's growth and health status. Studies examining, changes in iron and folate status associated with anemia during pregnancy and during pregnancy, and those supplements are stopped after postpartum. However, the effects of those have not been clearly determined in pregnant and lactating Korea women. Therefore, this study was performed to determine the changes in maternal iron and folate status during pregnancy and six months after delivery longitudinally in six pregnant women who consumed supplements from 20 wk to delivery. We concluded that the iron status deteriorated during pregnancy and especially was weak in the third trimester, but had a tendency to recovery after delivery. On the other hand, the folate status deteriorated in the first and second trimester and was good in the third trimester, but had a tendency to decrease after delivery. These results suggested that the iron status was not improved despite consuming total iron supplements of 50 mg/day through diets and supplements during the second half of the pregnancy. On the other hand, the folate status improved at the end of pregnancy by consuming folate supplements of a total of 800 mg/day through diets and supplements. However, folate status was poor in the first half of the pregnancy, and the tendency of folate status to decrease during postpartum was advanced. At the point in which iron and therefore supplementation is essential. However, the effects of supplement intake time and intake dosage need to be verified and the nutritional status changes of postpartum women should be carefully monitored.

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[English]
A Study on Nutritional Status, Maternal Factors, and Lifestyles according to BMD in Rural Postmenopausal Women: Chung Ja Sung, Sun Hae Choi, Mi Hyun Kim, Yun Hee Choi, Da Hong Lee, Soo Kyung Baek, Hye Kyung Kim, Mi Kyeong Choi; Korean J Community Nutr 2001;6(2):192-204. Published online May 31, 2001

Abstract PDF: Osteoporosis and other related conditions pose a growing public health problem, especially in postmenopausal women. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the correlations among BMD, maternal factors, and life styles, and intake of nutrients in postmenopausal women. One hundred participants in Kyungge-do were divided into three groups according to their BMD measurements measured by DXA. Dietary analysis, anthropometric measurements, and questionares were administered to these women. The percentage of the osteoporosis, osteopenia(Osteopinia), and normal groups were 32%, 48%, and 20% respectively. The average age was significantly the highest in the osteoporosis group. The average age at menopause was 47.2. Osteoporosis group's age at menopause was significantly the lowest. The sleeping hours of the osteoporosis and osteopenia group were significantly longer than the normal group. The intake of vitamin B2 was positively correlated with the BMD of femoral neck. The BMD of these two sites was positively correlated with weight, BMI, waist, and hip size and negatively correlated with the length of the menstrual cycle, duration after menopause, the age at the last delivery, and sleeping hours. Spinal BMD positively correlated with hours of outdoor activity. Therefore, maternal factors, lifestyles, and intake of nutrients contribute to BMD.

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[English]
Effects of Maternal Anemia on the Iron Status of the Cord Blood and Pregnancy Outcomes: Hyeon Sook Lim, Hee Ah Kim; Korean J Community Nutr 1998;3(4):565-573. Published online October 31, 1998

Abstract PDF: Iron deficiency anemia in pregnant women has been of great concern because of its negative effects on the outcomes of pregnancy. Much of evidence has shown that there are associations between pregnancy outcomes and maternal iron status. Maternal iron status might affect pregnancy outcomes through the iron status of the cord blood. In this study, we divided 91 subjects into two groups : the anemic and the normal groups. The groups were classified according to their hemoglobin(Hb) and hematocrit(Hct) values of the maternal blood in the third trimester of the pregnancies. We determined the parameters for the iron status of the cord blood and then analyzed the correlations between these parameters and the pregnancy outcomes. Mothers in the anemic group had a significantly higher parity number and a lower dietary score as well as a shorter duration of iron supplements consumed compared to those in the normal group. Maternal Hb values in the third trimester had positive correlations with the infant's head and chest circumferences, and the Hct values related positively to the infant's chest circumferences. On the other hand, Hb concentrations of the cord blood had positive correlations with the infant's height and head and chest circumferences. The Hct values of the cord blood had positive correlations with gestational periods and the cord lengths. These results suggest that the maternal iron status might influence fetal development through the iron status of the cord blood.

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