Korean journal of community nutrition最新文献

{"title":"The association between sodium index and the risk of obesity in Korean and Chinese university students: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Linan Wang, Jin-Ah Seok, Yeon-Kyung Lee","doi":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00318","DOIUrl":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00318","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Korea and China have the highest sodium intakes globally. The sodium index is a quantitative measure of the estimated sodium intake, calculated using a regression equation with proven validity and reliability in individuals aged 19-69 years. This study aimed to compare the sodium index of Korean and Chinese university students and analyze the association between the sodium index and the risk of obesity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 218 university students-110 Korean (63 males, 47 females) and 108 Chinese (60 males, 48 females)-participated in this study in 2019. Sodium-related awareness, nutritional knowledge, and sodium index were compared between Korean and Chinese students. Obesity indicators were compared according to three criteria for the sodium index of Korean and Chinese students: \"moderate,\" \"careful,\" and \"severe. \" The association between sodium index levels and risk of obesity was analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for age and sex.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 84% of students recognized that they consumed large amounts of sodium. Korean students demonstrated higher nutritional knowledge scores than Chinese students. The average estimated sodium intake was 3,751 mg, and no significant difference was observed between Korean (3,857 mg) and Chinese (3,643 mg) students. The overall average sodium index was 187, which falls under the \"careful\" level. As the sodium index levels increased, the students' body mass index, waist-hip ratio (WHR), and fat-related indicators significantly increased. At the \"severe\" level of the sodium index, Korean and Chinese students had 2.402-fold and 1.636-fold increases in the risk of obesity based on body fat percentage, and 3.682-fold and 1.622-fold increases based on WHR, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study demonstrated an association between sodium index and obesity risk, showing that excessive sodium intake affects body fat-related indicators in university students.</p>","PeriodicalId":74046,"journal":{"name":"Korean journal of community nutrition","volume":"30 6","pages":"419-430"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12854795/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146069228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nutrition Quotient and nutrient intake among older adults in a rural Korean community: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Ji-Sook Park, Hyeon-Mi Bae, Jung-Eun Yim","doi":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00283","DOIUrl":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00283","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Korea is experiencing rapid population aging, with older adults forming a large proportion of rural communities. Aging leads to physiological and functional declines, resulting in lower physical activity, poor diet quality, and higher risk of chronic diseases. Although the Nutrition Quotient for the Elderly (NQ-E) is a validated tool to assess dietary quality, few studies have applied it to rural populations. This study aimed to compare nutrient intake and NQ-E scores by age and sex and examine their associations with lifestyle factors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study investigated the relationship between nutrient intake and NQ-E scores among older adults in rural Korean community, considering age, sex, and lifestyle factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 79 community-dwelling older adults (24 male and 55 female; mean age: 76.3 years) residing in Geochang-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. Participants were recruited from community centers and health posts between June 2024 and December 2024. Data collection included general characteristics, 24-hour dietary recalls, and NQ-E questionnaires.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Female aged > 75 years had significantly lower intakes of energy, protein, fat, vitamin E, riboflavin, folate, and zinc than their male counterparts (P < 0.05). The mean NQ-E score was 55.01, which was lower than the national average reported for urban older adults (57.6). Participants with higher NQ-E grades had significantly higher intakes of dietary fiber, vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, potassium, and magnesium, and regular physical activity and dietary supplement use were positively associated with higher NQ-E grades (P < 0.01).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings suggest that older female in rural communities are particularly vulnerable to inadequate nutrient intake and lower dietary quality, and that the NQ-E is a useful screening tool for identifying nutritional risk in this population. Community-based nutrition interventions promoting physical activity, supplement use, and dietary diversity are warranted to improve dietary quality and support healthy aging.</p>","PeriodicalId":74046,"journal":{"name":"Korean journal of community nutrition","volume":"30 6","pages":"397-409"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12854797/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146069175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toward the development of a digital self-nutrition management education program for elderly: findings from focus groups study.","authors":"Hae-Song Yoo, Jin-Myong Lee, Min-Sun Jeon","doi":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00234","DOIUrl":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00234","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim of this qualitative study was to explore and understand the behaviors and challenges of self-nutrition management from the perspective of elderly.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In May 2025, ten elderly aged 65-83 years with prior experience using digital devices were recruited through purposeful sampling. Data were collected via focus group interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire until saturation was reached, and all interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using traditional content analysis methods. The collected interview data were extracted focusing on phrases or sentences relevant to the research purpose, and various concepts derived through memo writing and the constant comparison were categorized based on common meanings. Subsequently, the categorized statements were deeply interpreted and reclassified into subcategories for final analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Under the overarching theme of development directions for a digital self-nutrition management education program for elderly, three main categories and 13 subcategories were derived. The three main categories include: (1) processes of acceptance and utilization of digital technologies; (2) potential for applying digital self-nutrition management; and (3) strategies for implementing digital-based nutrition education.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings indicate that elderly face barriers to utilizing digital tools for self-nutrition management not only due to physical or technical limitations, but also because of the confusion arising from limited nutrition knowledge and information overload. To overcome the barriers that may arise during the digital-based education process for elderly, strategies (educational topics, delivery strategies, and operational strategies) were derived to vitalize a digital self-nutrition management education program. These results highlight the necessity of developing tailored digital nutrition education programs that reflect the characteristics of elderly, which may enhance their practical applicability and provide foundational evidence for establishing a digital-nutrition integrated care model within the senior customized care service.</p>","PeriodicalId":74046,"journal":{"name":"Korean journal of community nutrition","volume":"30 6","pages":"431-440"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12875723/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146069197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of coronary artery disease according to lifestyle characteristics, nutrient intake level, and comorbidities among Koreans aged 40 years and older: a cross-sectional study using data from the 7th (2016-2018) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.","authors":"Areum Song, Sook-Bae Kim","doi":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00346","DOIUrl":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00346","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To examine the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) according to lifestyle characteristics, nutrient intake level, and comorbidities among Koreans aged ≥ 40 years.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Data were derived from 11,025 participants aged ≥ 40 years in the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants were assigned to a CAD group (n = 470) or a non-CAD group (n = 10,555). Socio-demographic characteristics (age, sex, residence, income, marital status, education level, and employment status), lifestyle characteristics (smoking, drinking, walking, strength training, sleep duration, stress level, and subjective health perception), energy and nutrient intakes, and comorbidities, including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, stroke, cancer, depression, renal failure, cataract, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis were analyzed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The prevalence of CAD was higher in older participants and in male. Participants with CAD had higher rates of smoking, engaged in less strength training, experienced higher stress, and had poorer perceived health. They had lower intakes of energy, fiber, folate and iron. The prevalence of obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, stroke, depression, renal failure, cataract, asthma, allergic rhinitis, osteoarthritis, or osteoporosis was significantly higher in the CAD group. The likelihood of having CAD was significantly higher among participants with renal failure (odds ratio [OR], 4.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.24-8.08), depression (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.55-2.95), asthma (OR, 2.07; 95% CI 1.48-2.91), and dyslipidemia (OR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.69-2.44).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In Koreans aged ≥ 40 years, CAD was associated with unhealthy lifestyle habits, low nutrient intake, and increased comorbidities such as renal failure, depression, asthma, and dyslipidemia. These findings suggest the need for lifestyle management and intensive chronic disease management to reduce the risk of CAD.</p>","PeriodicalId":74046,"journal":{"name":"Korean journal of community nutrition","volume":"30 6","pages":"457-470"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12854792/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146069162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ultra-processed food intake and dietary behaviors in Korean adolescents: a cross-sectional study based on the 2019-2023 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.","authors":"Jin-A Kim, Sim-Yeol Lee","doi":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00297","DOIUrl":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00297","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to investigate the intake of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and dietary behaviors in Korean adolescents.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study used 24-hour dietary recall data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019-2023). In total, 1,720 adolescents aged 12-18 years were included in this study and categorized into quartiles based on the percentage of energy intake from the UPF. Nutritional status, contributing subgroups of UPF intake, and healthy dietary practices were examined using Health Plan 2030 indicators across quartiles of UPF intake.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The nutrient intake of protein, vitamins (A, B1, B2, niacin), and minerals (iron, potassium) was the lowest in the fourth quartile of UPF intake compared with the first quartile (P for trend < 0.001), whereas calcium intake increased across quartiles, from 47.68% in the first quartile to 58.51% in the fourth quartile (P for trend < 0.001). The main contributing subgroups to UPF intake differed across quartiles of UPF intake, and the highest contributing subgroups were 'instant noodles and dumplings,' 'desserts, cakes, and ice cream,' and 'sauces and seasonings.' Healthy dietary practices were the lowest in the fourth quartile (22.18%, P < 0.001), and the proportions of appropriate fat and fruit/vegetable intake were significantly lower in the higher quartiles of UPF intake (P < 0.001).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study suggests that a lower UPF intake was associated with better nutritional status and healthy dietary practices in Korean adolescents. These findings provide fundamental evidence for promoting healthier food choices and balanced dietary practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":74046,"journal":{"name":"Korean journal of community nutrition","volume":"30 6","pages":"410-418"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12854793/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146069173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Parents' needs and perceptions of dietary and nutrition education in early childhood education institutions in South Korea: a mixed methods study.","authors":"Jounghee Lee, Sookyung Choi, Minseo Kim, Seonghyun Lim, Jeong-Weon Kim","doi":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00304","DOIUrl":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00304","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This study aimed to clarify parental perceptions of dietary and nutritional education provided to young children, identify parental support needs, and suggest directions for improvement.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A mixed-method sequential explanatory design was followed. Quantitative data were collected through an online survey conducted nationwide that included 200 parents of children aged three to six years in South Korea. Qualitative data were subsequently obtained through focus group interviews with fifteen parents to explore their contextual insights and experiences.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Needs ratings prioritized expanding activity-based/experiential education (3.65 ± 0.88), followed by strengthening home-school communication and connectivity (3.59 ± 0.84), diversifying topics and content (3.55 ± 0.88), and increasing instructional time (3.39 ± 0.94). Integrated with the focus group interview findings, multilevel barriers were revealed-individual level: strong preferences of children for sweet/processed foods; interpersonal level: strong parental modeling and peer effects counterbalancing limited teacher expertise/time; organizational level: insufficient effective event-based experiential activities, and resource gaps across institutions; community/policy level: infrequent external support, uneven access to local resources, lack of standardized guidance, and limited opportunities for parental participation. Parents favored short, interactive digital content and expressed concerns about overexposure. These convergent findings indicate needs to 1) formalize and extend experiential programs within the regular curriculum, 2) provide standardized guidelines and home resource kits, and 3) institutionalize parental involvement.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings reveal that dietary and nutritional education for young children should move beyond fragmented, event-based programs toward an integrated three-tiered model incorporating (1) a structured, experiential curriculum, (2) home-linked educational packages, and (3) safe and interactive digital content. Establishing standardized guidelines, enhancing educational infrastructure, and institutionalizing parental participation are essential for sustainable improvement of early childhood dietary education.</p>","PeriodicalId":74046,"journal":{"name":"Korean journal of community nutrition","volume":"30 6","pages":"441-456"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12854798/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146069205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"[A study on the development of nutrition counseling manual and curriculum for the disabled in Korea: a mixed-methods study].","authors":"Kyoung-Min Lee, Woo-Jeong Kim, So-Young Kim, Young-Mi Park, Hwa-Young Yoon, Min-Sun Jeon","doi":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00192","DOIUrl":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00192","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":74046,"journal":{"name":"Korean journal of community nutrition","volume":"30 5","pages":"376-388"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12615151/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145544130","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation and standardized dietary strategies for dysphagia in older adults: a narrative review.","authors":"Jean Kyung Paik","doi":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00290","DOIUrl":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00290","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>This review aimed to elucidate the characteristics of dysphagia and age-related swallowing changes (presbyphagia) in older adults and to comprehensively examine assessment tools and standardized meal management strategies applicable in community settings to propose effective meal management strategies for healthy longevity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Domestic and international literatures were analyzed regarding the definition and causes of dysphagia, physiological and structural characteristics and clinical impacts of presbyphagia, assessment and diagnostic tools Korea version of EAT-10 (K-EAT-10) and Korea version of Dysphagia Risk Assessment for the Community-dwelling Elderly (K-DRACE), and the International Dysphagia Diet Standardization Initiative (IDDSI).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Dysphagia compromises safe swallowing and nutritional intake in older adults, leading to serious complications, such as aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, malnutrition, sarcopenia, and reduced quality of life. The K-EAT-10 and K-DRACE proved effective for rapid screening of dysphagia risk in community-dwelling older adults. Moreover, texture-modified meals and viscosity adjustments based on the IDDSI standards are useful for reducing the risk of aspiration and improving nutrient intake. Meals can be classified as liquidized, minced, chopped, or regular, allowing for individualized management.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Presbyphagia is a multidimensional problem, and the integrated use of assessment tools and standardized meals is crucial. Community-based dysphagia management programs and collaboration among dietitians and healthcare professionals are needed to improve the nutritional status and quality of life of older adults.</p>","PeriodicalId":74046,"journal":{"name":"Korean journal of community nutrition","volume":"30 5","pages":"323-330"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12615149/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145544150","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Self-reported weight change and diet quality in relation to metabolic syndrome among Korean cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019-2021.","authors":"Hye Won Kim, Ji-Myung Kim","doi":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00241","DOIUrl":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00241","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Using data from the 2019‒2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we examined the association between dietary quality and metabolic syndrome by self-reported weight change among adult Korean cancer survivors.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed 340 cancer survivors (≥ 5 years post-diagnosis) by one-year weight change (stable, loss, and gain). Dietary quality was assessed using the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), and metabolic syndrome was defined according to standard criteria. Relative risks (RR) were estimated using a modified Poisson regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The weight loss group was older than the weight gain group (<i>P</i> < 0.001). Females were more prevalent in the loss and gain than in the maintenance group (<i>P</i> = 0.008). Hypertension prevalence was highest in the loss and lowest in the gain group (<i>P</i> = 0.028); other risk factors were similar. The gain group had the highest body mass index (<i>P</i> = 0.011). KHEI scores were highest in the maintenance (66.59 ± 0.76) and lowest in the gain group (60.42 ± 1.77; <i>P</i> = 0.006), with significantly lower whole grain (<i>P</i> = 0.036) and fruit intake (<i>P</i> = 0.014). Compared with the maintenance group, the gain group demonstrated higher risks of metabolic syndrome (RR: 2.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.40-3.06; <i>P</i> < 0.001), abdominal obesity (RR: 1.93, 95% CI: 1.36-2.74; <i>P</i> < 0.001), and impaired fasting glucose (RR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.23-2.34; <i>P</i> < 0.01). Within the gain group, participants in the lowest KHEI quartile had increased risks of metabolic syndrome (RR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.06-7.43; <i>P</i> < 0.05) and hypertriglyceridemia (RR: 7.29, 95% CI: 1.54-34.61; <i>P</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Accordingly, weight change and dietary quality may critically affect the metabolic health of cancer survivors. Lifestyle management, including weight control and tailored diets, may help prevent metabolic disorders and support long-term health.</p>","PeriodicalId":74046,"journal":{"name":"Korean journal of community nutrition","volume":"30 5","pages":"341-351"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12615148/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145544246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex differences in the association between Korean Healthy Eating Index and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Korean adults: a prospective cohort study.","authors":"Yeeun Park, Minji Kim, Kyong Park","doi":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00227","DOIUrl":"10.5720/kjcn.2025.00227","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>Dietary quality is a modifiable determinant of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, evidence on the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) and sex-specific differences in its association with T2DM risk remains limited. This study is to examine the longitudinal association between KHEI and incident T2DM in Korean adults, with a focus on potential sex differences.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We analyzed 56,000 adults (37,684 women and 18,316 men) from the Health Examinee cohort of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and KHEI scores were constructed based on national guidelines. Incident T2DM was defined using physician diagnosis, treatment history, or biochemical criteria. Cox proportional hazards models and restricted cubic spline analyses were applied to evaluate associations, with adjustments for demographic, lifestyle, and clinical covariates.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Over a median follow-up of 4.2 years, 2,252 women and 1,776 men developed T2DM. Women in the highest quartile of KHEI had a 18% lower risk of T2DM compared with those in the lowest quartile (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71-0.93; <i>P</i> for trend = 0.007). In men, no significant association was observed (HR: 1.11, 95% CI: 0.95-1.29). The interaction by sex was statistically significant (<i>P</i> for interaction < 0.05). Spline analyses indicated a linear inverse association between KHEI and T2DM risk in women, whereas no trend was evident in men.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Higher diet quality, as measured by the KHEI, was associated with a reduced risk of T2DM in women but not in men, suggesting sex-specific effects of dietary patterns on diabetes prevention. These findings highlight the need for tailored nutritional strategies that consider biological and behavioral differences between women and men in Korea.</p>","PeriodicalId":74046,"journal":{"name":"Korean journal of community nutrition","volume":"30 5","pages":"331-340"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12615150/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145544263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}