Nutrition Research and Practice最新文献

{"title":"Vitamin/mineral and non-vitamin/non-mineral supplement use of breast cancer survivors in Korea.","authors":"Jioh Kang, Jiyoung Youn, Hyun Jeong Cho, Hyeong-Gon Moon, Dong-Young Noh, So-Youn Jung, Eun Sook Lee, Zisun Kim, Hyun Jo Youn, Jihyoung Cho, Young Bum Yoo, Se Kyung Lee, Jeong Eon Lee, Seok Jin Nam, Jun Won Min, Yoo Seok Kim, Jihyoun Lee, Seho Park, Joon Jeong, Jung Eun Lee","doi":"10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.333","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.333","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Dietary supplement use is common among breast cancer survivors, but studies on Asian populations remain limited. This study investigated dietary supplement use among Korean breast cancer survivors, distinguishing between vitamin/mineral (VM) and non-vitamin/non-mineral (NVNM) supplements.</p><p><strong>Subjects/methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study included 1,136 stage I-III breast cancer survivors from 12 Korean hospitals, who survived more than 6 mon post-surgery. The participants completed a questionnaire on post-diagnostic dietary supplement use. Stepwise logistic regression was applied, calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to identify the demographic and clinical factors associated with VM and NVNM use.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seventy percent of survivors reported supplement use, with 25% using a single product. The most common VM supplements were multivitamins/minerals, vitamin D, and vitamin C, while the most common NVNM supplements included omega-3 fatty acids, probiotics, and ginseng. Survivors with higher education and greater physical activity were more likely to use VM supplements (ORs [95% CIs], 2.74 [1.76-4.25] for college graduates or above vs. middle school or below; 1.38 [1.02-1.88] for the most active group vs. the least active group). NVNM use was associated with higher education, greater physical activity levels, and a history of smoking (ORs [95% CIs], 2.29 [1.46-3.58] for college graduates or above vs. middle school or below; 1.52 [1.13-2.06] for the most active group vs. the least active group; 2.00 [1.23-3.25] for ever smokers vs. never smokers). Survivors who had undergone chemotherapy were also more likely to use NVNM supplements than those who had not (OR [95% CI], 1.37 [1.02-1.84]).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Seventy percent of Korean breast cancer survivors used dietary supplements in this study. VM use was associated with higher education and physical activity, while higher NVNM use was associated with higher education, greater physical activity, a history of smoking, and chemotherapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":19232,"journal":{"name":"Nutrition Research and Practice","volume":"20 2","pages":"333-345"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13062572/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675289","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nicotinamide mononucleotide attenuates hepatic endoplasmic reticulum stress and modulates circadian rhythms in young mice with diet-induced obesity.","authors":"So Young Kwon, Khuhee Na, Yerim Han, Seungmin Song, Yoon Jung Park","doi":"10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.220","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.220","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Supplementation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) precursors has been investigated for its potential to counteract age-related physiological decline. While decreased NAD⁺ level is associated with conditions such as obesity and dyslipidemia, few studies have explored its metabolic impact in relatively young animals. Here, we hypothesized that nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) could alleviate high-fat diet-induced metabolic stress in young mice and sought to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Materials/methods: </strong>We first conducted a secondary analysis of hepatic transcriptome datasets from multiple NMN intervention studies to identify target pathways. Next, 11-week-old lean and obese C57BL/6N mice administrated NMN (500 mg/kg/day) for 1 mon were analyzed for metabolic parameters and gene expression for the target pathways. <i>In vitro</i> study using AML12 cell line was then conducted to confirm the effects of NMN. Additionally, transcriptomic data from liver-specific nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT)-deficient mice were analyzed to examine the relationship between NAD⁺ metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and circadian rhythm.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The secondary analysis of hepatic transcriptome datasets revealed potential target pathways related to circadian regulation and hepatic ER stress. In mouse study, short-term NMN administration significantly decreased body weight and fat mass. NMN also alleviated hepatic ER stress response <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i>. Additional analysis revealed that the mice with diet-induced metabolic stress or NAMPT deficiency led to phase shifts of the hepatic circadian core clock oscillation by advancing the peak time, while time-restricted feeding shifted the opposite, indicating the metabolic regulation of the circadian phase.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Short-term NMN administration effectively attenuated obese condition in young mice and mitigated hepatic ER stress. The altered ER stress was regulated by NAMPT, potentially through the phase shift of the hepatic circadian rhythm.</p>","PeriodicalId":19232,"journal":{"name":"Nutrition Research and Practice","volume":"20 2","pages":"220-238"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13062564/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of early administration of total enteral feeding with different regimens of nutritional preparations on the growth status of very low birth weight preterm infants.","authors":"Wei Liu, Wei Shen, Mingwu Chen","doi":"10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.239","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.239","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants face significant nutritional challenges, and the selection of an appropriate enteral nutrition protocol is critical for promoting growth and development while minimizing the risk of complications. This study aimed to analyze the impact of early administration of total enteral feeding with various nutritional preparations on the growth status of VLBW preterm infants.</p><p><strong>Subjects/methods: </strong>A retrospective study was conducted on 79 cases of VLBW preterm infants. The subjects were categorized into 3 groups based on the differences in nutritional intervention: the breastfeeding group (BF group, n = 28), the standard preterm formula group (SPF group, n = 25), and the extensively hydrolyzed protein formula group (EHF group, n = 26).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The discharge weight, weight gain, and growth rate of infants in the EHF group were significantly higher than those in the SPF and BF groups, and the growth rate in the SPF group was higher than that in the BF group. Upon discharge, the SPF group exhibited greater length and head circumference compared to the BF and EHF groups. The incidence of diarrhea in the SPF group was higher than that in the BF and EHF groups. Upon discharge, the uric acid level in the EHF group was higher than that in the SPF group. The hospital stay for infants in the SPF and EHF groups was shorter than that in the BF group. The EHF group had a significantly higher mean daily protein intake compared to the SPF and BF groups, while the SPF group exhibited a higher carbohydrate intake than the other 2 groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>While SPF feeding is effective in improving the head circumference and body length of VLBW preterm infants, it is associated with a higher incidence of diarrhea. In contrast, EHF feeding yields better weight gain outcomes and demonstrates superior safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":19232,"journal":{"name":"Nutrition Research and Practice","volume":"20 2","pages":"239-252"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13062568/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rhamnogalacturonan rich fractions isolated from <i>Saururus chinensis</i> alleviate ulcerative colitis via regulation of MAPK/NF-κB pathway and tight junction.","authors":"Tae Eun Kim, Seung-U Son, YangKook Rho, Kwang-Soon Shin","doi":"10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.182","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.182","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Backgrouond/objectives: </strong><i>Saururus chinensis</i> has been used as a traditional medicinal herb in many Asian countries such as Republic of Korea, Japan, and China. Previous studies on their pharmacological effects against anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammation have mainly dealt with low-molecular-weight compounds, including flavonoids, saponins, and polyphenols. Nevertheless, the polysaccharide fraction of <i>S</i>. <i>chinensis</i> has received limited scholarly attention, and investigations regarding its effect on ulcerative colitis (UC) remain inconclusive. The present study was aimed to investigate effects of rhamnogalacturonan (RG) rich fraction (SCPE-II) isolated from <i>S. chinensis</i> on anti-UC.</p><p><strong>Materials/methods: </strong>SCPE-II was isolated from <i>S. chinensis</i> using hot water extraction, ethanol precipitation, enzymatic hydrolysis, and gel filtration chromatography. SCPE-II was characterized by chemical properties, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Congo red reaction, and methylation analysis. The anti-UC effects of the SCPE-II were preliminarily investigated <i>in vitro</i> using interleukin (IL)-1β-induced inflammatory Caco-2 cells. The preventive effects of polysaccharides on UC <i>in vivo</i> were evaluated in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced UC mice model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The SCPE-II was characterized as a typical RG type polysaccharide. In addition, tight junction (TJ) imbalance and inflammatory cytokines in IL-1β-induced inflammatory epithelial cells was inhibited by SCPE-II. Moreover, SCPE-II suppressed various clinical symptoms in DSS-induced UC mice. These preventive effects were strongly correlated with the regulation of inflammatory cytokine, immunoglobulin, mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor kappa B, TJ, short chain fatty acid.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Consequently, the present finding strongly suggests that SCPE-II isolated from <i>S. chinensis</i> is an effective ingredient for preventing UC.</p>","PeriodicalId":19232,"journal":{"name":"Nutrition Research and Practice","volume":"20 2","pages":"182-200"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13062557/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-protein diets for weight loss and their associations with bone status and diet quality in female college students.","authors":"Seon-Young Park, Jee-Young Yeon, Mi-Hyun Kim","doi":"10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.317","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.317","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>High-protein diets are increasingly used by young women for weight loss; however, concerns have been raised regarding their potential impact on bone health under insufficient calcium intake. This study investigated the associations between high-protein diet use for weight loss and bone status and diet quality among female college students.</p><p><strong>Subjects/methods: </strong>In total, 260 female college students residing in Chungcheong, Korea, participated in this cross-sectional study. Data were collected using questionnaires, anthropometric measurements, 24-h dietary recall, and calcaneal ultrasound assessment. Participants were classified according to self-reported weight loss attempts during the past year into non-weight control (NWC; n = 108) and weight control (WC; n = 152) groups. The WC group was further subdivided into high-protein diet (HP-WC; n = 82) and non-high-protein diet (NHP-WC; n = 70) groups on the basis of high-protein diet practices.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The mean body weight and body mass index (BMI) were significantly greater in the WC group than in the NWC group (<i>P</i> < 0.001 for both). Although calcium intake was significantly lower in the HP-WC group, protein intake exceeded the recommended level more frequently in this group (<i>P</i> < 0.05). A dietary diversity score less than 3 was more common in the HP-WC group (<i>P</i> < 0.05). Osteopenia prevalence was highest in the NWC group (64.8%), followed by the HP-WC group (50.0%) and the NHP-WC group (41.4%; <i>P</i> < 0.05). After adjustment for BMI and other confounding factors, the bone quality index and speed of sound values were significantly lower in the HP-WC group than in the NHP-WC group.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that high-protein weight-control practices may be associated with less favorable bone parameters among female college students during early adulthood, particularly in the context of lower calcium intake and reduced dietary diversity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19232,"journal":{"name":"Nutrition Research and Practice","volume":"20 2","pages":"317-332"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13062554/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675067","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Association of vitamin K intake with physical function, handgrip strength, and mortality among U.S. adults: NHANES 2003-2016.","authors":"Hyunmi Han, Clara Yongjoo Park","doi":"10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.289","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.289","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Vitamin K (VK) plays a key role in regulating calcium homeostasis in bone and soft tissues and may be associated with physical function (PF), handgrip strength (HGS), and mortality; however, nationally-representative studies are scarce.</p><p><strong>Subjects/methods: </strong>In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the association of VK intake with PF, HGS, and mortality in adults aged 50 and older using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2016 (n = 4,950). VK intake was assessed using two 24-h dietary recalls and dietary supplement use questionnaires and categorized as < or ≥ the Adequate Intake (AI). Self-reported PF was categorized into 5 activities (activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living [IADL], lower extremity mobility [LEM], general physical activities, and leisure and social activities). HGS was measured using a grip strength dynamometer. Linear models, odds ratios, and Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed. All analytical models were adjusted for potential confounders.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>VK intake meeting the AI was associated with a 0.60-fold (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43-0.84) and 0.64-fold (95% CI, 0.47-0.89) decrease in the odds of IADL and LEM difficulty, respectively. When stratified by sex, these associations were significant only in males. However, VK intake was not associated with HGS or mortality.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>VK intake meeting the AI is associated with lower odds of impaired IADL and LEM, especially in males.</p>","PeriodicalId":19232,"journal":{"name":"Nutrition Research and Practice","volume":"20 2","pages":"289-300"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13062555/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Skim milk hydrolysate (SMH-AP) containing AVPYP and GLPQE ameliorates adipogenic lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells.","authors":"Sekyung Lee, Hyung Joo Suh, Eun-Jin Jung, Hyeon-Son Choi","doi":"10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.201","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.201","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>This study evaluated the anti-adipogenic effects of skim milk hydrolysate with alcalase and prozyme (SMH-AP) in 3T3-L1 cells and identified its bioactive peptides.</p><p><strong>Materials/methods: </strong>After adipogenic differentiation, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with SMH-AP.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>SMH-AP, produced via sequential hydrolysis with Alcalase and Prozyme, significantly inhibited lipid accumulation and modulated adipogenic and lipogenic biomarkers. It downregulated <i>CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein</i> (<i>C/EBP</i>) <i>β</i>, <i>C/EBPα</i>, <i>peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma</i>, and <i>sterol regulatory element-binding protein</i> (<i>SREBP</i>) <i>1c</i>, while upregulating <i>Krüppel-like factor 2</i>. SMH-AP suppressed the cholesterogenic markers (<i>SREBP2</i> and <i>3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase</i>) and activated AMP-activated protein kinase alpha, which phosphorylated acetyl-CoA carboxylase and activated hormone-sensitive lipase. Molecular analysis confirmed extensive proteolysis into small, cell-permeable peptides (~330 Da). Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry identified Ala-Val-Pro-Tyr-Pro and Gly-Leu-Pro-Gln-Glu as major bioactive peptides.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that SMH-AP may serve as a promising functional food ingredient for preventing obesity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19232,"journal":{"name":"Nutrition Research and Practice","volume":"20 2","pages":"201-219"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13062567/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675101","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of the provision of senior-friendly food packages on nutritional status and dietary habits among community-dwelling older adults living alone in South Korea.","authors":"Jin-Suk Han, Jihyeon Kim, Sangju Lee","doi":"10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.272","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.272","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>South Korea is transitioning into a super-aged society, where inadequate dietary intake among community-dwelling older adults leads to frailty, chronic diseases, and diminished quality of life. This study assessed the effects of providing senior-friendly foods on dietary intake and nutritional status, generating evidence to support food-based interventions that promote healthy, independent living among older adults.</p><p><strong>Subjects/methods: </strong>In total, 144 participants were enrolled, comprising 103 and 41 individuals in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Over a 3-mon intervention period, the control group continued receiving existing meal services from the local government (the Customized Care Service for Older Adults), while the intervention group received senior-friendly food packages instead. Data were collected at baseline, upon concluding the 12-week intervention, and at 8 weeks post-intervention. General characteristics, oral health status, Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Nutrition Quotient for Elderly, nutrient intake, and the Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ) were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The intervention group (mean age: 79.2 yrs) had 2.1 chronic diseases and 2.6 medications, and 86% resided alone. Compared with the control group, the intervention group exhibited significant improvements in MNA scores over time, as well as in the time × group interaction (F = 4.439, <i>P</i> = 0.013; F = 7.480, <i>P</i> < 0.001). Nutrient intake, including energy, carbohydrates, fats, dietary fiber, calcium, and cholesterol (time, group, group × time <i>P</i> < 0.001), also significantly differed. INQ analysis revealed substantial improvements in protein, iron, magnesium, and vitamin B₂. However, fat intake and certain INQ values declined at follow-up, and vitamin D intake remained low in both groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Senior-friendly food packages improve the nutritional status of community-dwelling older adults in the short term. To sustain these benefits and foster healthy, independent aging, establishing sustainable food support systems, implementing policy-level backing, and promoting the diversified development of senior-friendly food are imperative.</p>","PeriodicalId":19232,"journal":{"name":"Nutrition Research and Practice","volume":"20 2","pages":"272-288"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13062571/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors associated with vegetarian orientation among Seoul citizens: focusing on food literacy and sociodemographic characteristics.","authors":"Minjeong Jeong, Eunjin Jang, Youngmi Lee, Sohyun Park","doi":"10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.301","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.301","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>This study examined factors associated with vegetarian orientation among adults in Seoul, with a focus on food literacy (FL) and sociodemographic characteristics.</p><p><strong>Subjects/methods: </strong>A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from the 2023 Seoul Food Survey in Seoul, South Korea. The study included 3,592 adults aged ≥ 18 yrs, who were categorized into vegan, lacto-ovo vegetarian, pollo-pesco vegetarian, flexitarian, and omnivore groups. FL was assessed using a 33-item scale covering 3 domains: nutritional and safety, cultural and relational, and socioecological. Descriptive statistics, general linear models, and logistic regression analyses were performed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the participants, 16.0% followed a vegetarian-oriented diet, with flexitarians comprising the largest subgroup (10.9%). Vegetarian orientation was positively associated with being female (odds ratio [OR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.90), age of ≥ 65 yrs (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.50-4.21) and having a college education (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.78-3.53). Negative associations were found for higher household income (≥ 5 million KRW/month) (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.47-0.85) and low food security (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.24-0.44). Vegetarian-oriented individuals had higher FL scores, particularly in the socioecological domain. In the multivariable models, higher FL scores remained significantly associated with vegetarian orientation. Health management (63.8%) was the most commonly reported motivation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Gender, age, educational level and FL in the socioecological domain were significantly associated with vegetarian orientation. Our study findings underscore the need for policies and programs that promote sustainable diets tailored to specific sociodemographic groups with varying FL levels.</p>","PeriodicalId":19232,"journal":{"name":"Nutrition Research and Practice","volume":"20 2","pages":"301-316"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13062563/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioavailability of lutein following short-term consumption of raw vegetables and juice.","authors":"Seung-Hui Choi, Kyoung Yun Kim, Ha-Rin Moon, Ha-Yun Jeong, Min-Jung Kang, Soomin Lee, Eunju Park, Young-Shick Hong, Jung-Mi Yun","doi":"10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.253","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4162/nrp.2026.20.2.253","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>Lutein, a dietary carotenoid, plays a crucial role in protecting eye health as an anti-inflammatory agent and antioxidant. Green leafy vegetables constitute a major source of lutein; however, comparative studies on different consumption methods are limited. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the bioavailability of lutein from lutein-rich foods, namely, raw vegetables and raw vegetable juice.</p><p><strong>Subjects/methods: </strong>In this study, 18 adults were recruited. They were randomly divided into three groups: commercial lutein supplement (LUT, 20 mg), raw vegetable (RV), and raw vegetable juice (RVJ) groups. Blood was collected at 0-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 12-, 24-, and 30-h intervals after the consumption of each test meal. Participants' serum lutein levels were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Considering lutein's well-established anti-inflammatory properties, changes in inflammatory status were assessed by measuring serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels. Furthermore, urinary metabolomic profiling was conducted using ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to evaluate metabolic alterations.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>After consuming each lutein-rich food, participants' blood lutein levels were analyzed, and the serum concentration peaked at 12 h (0.37 ± 0.13 μg/mL), 24 h (0.61 ± 0.18 μg/mL), and 30 h (0.42 ± 0.16 μg/mL) after RV, LUT, and RVJ consumption, respectively. Additionally, hs-CRP levels decreased following lutein-rich food consumption. Twelve hours after consumption, hs-CRP levels decreased to 0.81 and 0.83 mg/L in the RV and RVJ groups, respectively. Twenty-four hours after consumption, they further decreased to 0.68 and 0.74 mg/L in the LUT and RVJ groups, respectively. Thirty hours after consumption, a reduction to 0.61 mg/L was observed in the RVJ group. Furthermore, after consuming each lutein-rich food, N-acetyl glycoprotein levels decreased at 24 h, reflecting metabolic alterations potentially associated with lutein metabolism.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that the short-term consumption of lutein-rich foods, regardless of their type or source, potentially yields health benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":19232,"journal":{"name":"Nutrition Research and Practice","volume":"20 2","pages":"253-271"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13062561/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147675150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}