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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Public Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 December 2025) | Viewed by 2638

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Hae Sang Lee

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Guest Editor

Department of Pediatrics, Ajou University Hospital, Ajou University School of Medicine, 164 World Cup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16499, Republic of Korea
Interests: puberty; nutrients; obesity; pituitary; growth

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, titled “Nutritional Interventions and Public Health Insights in the Korean Population”, aims to advance the understanding of nutritional strategies that enhance public health within the Korean population. While the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) offers valuable population-based data, this issue seeks to embrace a wider array of research methodologies. We welcome papers employing cohort studies, randomized controlled trials, metabolic trials, and community-based participatory research. These approaches can provide deeper insights into dietary patterns, trends in nutritional status, and health outcomes specific to Korea. Research that examines the impact of nutritional interventions on chronic disease prevention, the development of culturally tailored dietary guidelines, and the assessment of public health nutrition policies is highly encouraged. By incorporating diverse research methods, we aim to highlight the complexity of nutritional issues and the importance of evidence-based strategies for improving public health. This Special Issue will serve as a platform allowing researchers to share findings that can inform effective nutrition policies and interventions, ultimately contributing to the well-being of the Korean population.

Prof. Dr. Hae Sang Lee
Guest Editor

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Keywords

Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
public health
nutrition policy
dietary habits
health outcomes
disease prevention
national health data
nutrition surveillance
health and nutrition trends

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 677 KB

Open AccessArticle

Associations Between Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Metabolic Syndrome Among Korean Adolescents: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2022–2023

by Min Hyung Cho, Young Suk Shim and Hae Sang Lee

Nutrients 2026, 18(2), 360; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18020360 - 22 Jan 2026

Viewed by 689

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Vitamin D is a nutrient involved not only in bone metabolism but also in metabolic functions, and deficiency is common during adolescence. This study aimed to describe the distribution of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels among Korean adolescents and to examine their associations with metabolic syndrome and its individual components. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2022–2023 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Adolescents aged 10–18 years with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D measurements were included (unweighted N = 880). Weighted analyses were performed by categorizing serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels into quartiles. Associations between vitamin D quartiles and anthropometric and metabolic parameters were examined using complex-sample general linear models, and odds ratios for metabolic syndrome and its individual components according to vitamin D deficiency were estimated using complex-sample logistic regression models. Results: Weighted prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) was 62.4%, higher in females than males. Higher 25(OH)D quartiles were inversely associated with obesity-related indices, including BMI, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio, after full adjustment (p for trend < 0.05). No significant associations were observed for blood pressure, fasting glucose, or lipid parameters. In dichotomous analyses (<20 vs. ≥20 ng/mL), vitamin D deficiency was associated with higher odds of waist circumference ≥ 90th percentile (OR 2.59), waist-to-height ratio > 0.5 (OR 2.63), and BMI ≥ 95th percentile (OR 1.89), while metabolic syndrome was not significant. Conclusions: Vitamin D appears to play an important role in metabolic health in adolescents and was particularly associated with general and central obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Interventions and Public Health Insights in the Korean Population)

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9 pages, 342 KB

Open AccessArticle

Non-HDL Cholesterol in Dyslipidemia Screening Among Korean Adolescents: A National Population-Based Survey

by Hyo-Kyoung Nam, Eungu Kang and Young-Jun Rhie

Nutrients 2026, 18(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18010037 - 22 Dec 2025

Viewed by 729

Abstract

Background/Objectives: In pediatric lipid screening, non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol has gained relevance as a clinically feasible indicator that is increasingly applied. We assessed the population-level diagnostic performance and the influence of familial lipid risk in Korean adolescents. Methods: A nationally representative sample of 6989 adolescents aged 10–19 years (3684 boys and 3305 girls) was examined from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We analyzed this nationally representative data to evaluate weighted and adjusted associations among non-HDL cholesterol level at or above 145 mg/dL, dyslipidemia, and parental lipid status. Results: The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia was 28.2% and 26.3% in Korean adolescent boys and girls, respectively. The prevalence of non-HDL cholesterol at or above 145 mg/dL was 7.2% and 9.2% in adolescent boys and girls, respectively. Elevated non-HDL cholesterol levels detected high directly measured or calculated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels with a sensitivity of 72.9% and 54.0%, and a specificity of 99.7% and 99.8%, respectively, in adolescent boys, and a sensitivity of 77.5% and 64.8%, and a specificity of 99.5% and 99.2%, respectively, in adolescent girls. Compared with total cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol more accurately identified adolescents with elevated LDL cholesterol in both sexes. These associations remained stable regardless of familial dyslipidemia history in adjusted weighted logistic regression models. Conclusions: Non-HDL cholesterol consistently distinguished adolescents with dyslipidemia independent of familial lipid status. Although a positive parental history increased the risk, non-HDL cholesterol remained a feasible pediatric screening tool in population-based evaluation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Interventions and Public Health Insights in the Korean Population)

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11 pages, 547 KB

Open AccessArticle

Association Between Exposure to Age Discrimination and Nutritional Risk: Findings from a Nationwide Sample of Older Adults in South Korea

by Seong-Uk Baek and Jin-Ha Yoon

Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3643; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233643 - 21 Nov 2025

Viewed by 808

Abstract

Background: Ageism and age-related discrimination are growing public health concerns that can have detrimental effects on the health of older adults. However, their association with nutritional health remains unexplored. This study explored the association between age discrimination and nutritional risk among older adults in Republic of Korea. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of the 2023 National Survey of Older Korean. 9951 adults aged ≥ 65 years from the 2023 National Survey of Older Koreans. Age discrimination was assessed based on the reported experiences in six everyday settings: public transportation; commercial facilities; public institutions; healthcare facilities; workplaces; and family. Nutritional status was measured using the Nutrition Screening Initiative and categorized into low; moderate; and high nutritional risk groups. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to determine the association between age discrimination and nutritional risk and estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The mean age of participants was 74.0 years. Among the participants, 73.7% reported no age discrimination, whereas 15.4%, 6.0%, and 4.9% experienced age discrimination in one; two; and three or more settings, respectively. After adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics and health factors, compared to individuals who did not experience age discrimination, those who experienced discrimination in one, two, or three or more dimensions had 1.40-fold (95% CI: 1.17–1.69), 1.46-fold (95% CI: 1.13–1.89), and 1.89-fold (95% CI: 1.44–2.48) higher odds of being at high nutritional risk, respectively. Conclusion: Age discrimination exposure may be a risk factor for poor nutritional health in older adults. Policy efforts are needed to reduce age-related discrimination and stigmatization and promote equitable conditions for healthy aging. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Interventions and Public Health Insights in the Korean Population)

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