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We hypothesized that a well-balanced intake of total essential amino acids (EAAs) may be associated with lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Korean adults. This population-based cross-sectional study included 25,787 participants aged ≥30 years from the 2008–2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Dietary information was obtained from 24 h recall data. Demographic and lifestyle factors were assessed using self-administered questionnaires, and metabolic biomarkers were obtained from a health examination. Total essential amino acid score (EAAS) was calculated to determine whether essential amino acid (EAA) intake meets the recommended nutrient intake (RNI). Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression models. After adjusting for multiple confounding factors, participants with higher EAAS had a significantly lower prevalence of high blood pressure (OR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.75–0.98), hypertriglyceridemia (OR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.76–0.98), and Metabolic syndrome (MetS) (OR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.74–0.996). Spline regression analysis confirmed linearity of the association between total EAAS and MetS. EAA intake and MetS are associated with an inverse dose–response relationship in which metabolic disease may be prevented when the overall EAA intake meets the RNI.

The relationship between daily dietary intake of an individual or all essential amino acids (EAAs) and muscle strength in older adults is still inadequately characterized. This population-based cross-sectional study included 5971 participants aged ≥65 years from the 2014–2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Dietary information was derived from the 24 h recall data. Total essential amino acid score (EAAS) was calculated with an intake that satisfied the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) in each essential amino acid (EAA). The mean handgrip strength was estimated from triplicate measurements obtained using the dominant hand, and high muscle strength was defined as handgrip strength ≥28 kg for men and ≥18 kg for women. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression models. After multivariable adjustment, we found that a high total EAAS was associated with high muscle strength in Korean older adults (OR: 1.38, 95% CI: 1.07–1.79). High muscle strength was significantly enhanced with increased total EAA intake from animal sources (OR: 1.27, 95% CI: 1.02–1.58), but there was no significant association with total EAA intake from non-animal sources. EAA intake and high muscle strength are associated based on a positive dose-response relationship in which high muscle strength is further increased when the overall EAA intake meets the RNI. Thus, Korean older adults should ensure an adequate intake of all EAAs from various food sources (especially animal sources) to meet the RNI as a prerequisite for achieving high muscle strength.

The relatively high levels of vegetable consumption have highlighted the need to examine the association between phytochemical intake and disease prevention. We examined the association between the phytochemical index (PI) and obesity/abdominal obesity among Korean adults. We analyzed the data of 57,940 adults aged &ge, 19 years obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We calculated PI using the 24 h recall data, and multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression models. Dose&ndash, response patterns were analyzed using restricted cubic spline regression. After multivariable adjustment, a higher PI was found to be associated with a lower prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity, this association was notable in women (obesity, OR: 0.86, CI: 0.78&ndash, 0.94, p for trend = 0.01, abdominal obesity, OR: 0.81, CI: 0.73&ndash, 0.90, p for trend &lt, 0.001). Spline regression showed linearity of the associations between PI and obesity/abdominal obesity in women. Our findings suggested that maintaining a phytochemical-rich diet may help to prevent obesity and abdominal obesity, especially in women, as an increased PI corresponded to lower prevalence of obesity. This study, using evidence-based data, highlighted the importance of consuming plant-derived foods to prevent obesity.

The association between soy food and soy isoflavone intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is uncertain, especially in women. We aimed to investigate this association in Korean women. We analyzed data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, including 4713 Korean women aged 40–69 years with no CVD or cancer at baseline. Dietary information was obtained using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and the incidence of CVD was assessed using biennial self-reported questionnaires on medical history. The mean follow-up time was 7.4 years, during which 82 premenopausal and 200 postmenopausal women reported CVD incidence. The highest tofu, total soy foods, and dietary soy isoflavone intake groups were significantly associated with a decreased CVD risk in premenopausal women (tofu: hazard ratio (HR) 0.39, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.19–0.80, total soy food: HR 0.36, 95% CI, 0.18–0.70, dietary soy isoflavones: HR 0.44, 95% CI, 0.22–0.89), whereas no association was observed in postmenopausal women. Other soy foods showed no association with CVD incidence. Dietary soy isoflavones and total soy foods are associated with a decreased CVD risk in premenopausal women. Among soy foods, only tofu showed significant health benefits.

This study aimed to compare adherence to dietary guidelines between elderly and non-elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Korea. Data of 4,577 participants with T2DM were collected from the 1998-2015 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. The participants were classified into two groups based on age: non-elderly T2DM group comprising participants aged 30–64 years and elderly T2DM group comprising participants aged ≥ 65 years. Adherence to dietary guidelines was assessed using the Korean Diabetes Association-Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare (KDA-KMHW) index, comprising six components of dietary guidelines for T2DM patients. Multivariable generalized linear regression analysis was performed to analyze the KDA-KMHW index scores. The adherence levels to the individual components of the KDA-KMHW index were mostly lower in non-elderly group (p < 0.001) than elderly group, except for moderate carbohydrate consumption. The total KDA-KMHW index score was significantly lower in non-elderly T2DM group than in the elderly T2DM group (p < 0.001). The study results suggest the need for developing patient-specific education programs that focus on adherence to dietary guidelines, particularly for non-elderly patients, to adequately intervene with the difficulties experienced in T2DM dietary management.

Background Breast cancer is the most common type of malignancy in women worldwide. Euphorbia humifusa Willd (EuH) is a plant that is widely used as a traditional medicine. However, no systemic studies on the anti-cancer effects of EuH have been reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate the anti-metastatic effect of the EuH. Methods Ethyl acetate fraction was prepared from EuH methanol extracts (EA/EuH). Inhibitory effect of EA/EuH on cell migration was determined using an in vitro scratch-wound healing assay. The anti-invasive activity was determined by in vitro three-dimensional spheroid culture system and in vivo syngenic experimental lung metastasis experiment. Gene expression profiles were analyzed by using RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and luciferase reporter assay systems. Results Ethyl acetate fraction from the EuH extract (EA/EuH) inhibited the migration and invasive capabilities of highly metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and attenuated syngeneic lung metastasis of mouse 4 T1 breast cancer cells in vivo. Mechanistically, EA/EuH decreased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 mRNA expression through the inhibition of NF-κB activity in MDA-MB-231 cells. Conclusion EuH may be beneficial in the prevention of invasion and metastasis of early stage breast cancer and can be served as an anti-metastatic agent or adjuvant therapy against metastatic breast cancer.