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Kim, Han, and Kim: Health Functional Food Use and Related Variables Among the Middle-Aged in Korea
Research Article
Korean Journal of Nutrition

Korean Journal of Nutrition 2010; 43(3): 294-303.

Published online: 30 June 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4163/kjn.2010.43.3.294

Health Functional Food Use and Related Variables Among the Middle-Aged in Korea

Sun-Hyo Kim1, Ji-Hye Han2, Wha-Young Kim3

1Department of Foodservice Management and Nutrition, Kongju National University, Kongju 314-701, Korea.

2Department of Home Economics Education, Graduate School of Kongju National University, Kongju 314-701, Korea.

3Department of Food and Nutrition, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 120-750, Korea.

To whom correspondence should be addressed. (shkim@kongju.ac.kr)

Received 24 February 2010       Revised 27 March 2010       Accepted 23 April 2010

© 2010 The Korean Nutrition Society

Abstract

Various types of health functional foods (HFF) are popularly used among middle-aged. We surveyed 946 middle-aged in Korea for HFF use and significant variables for their HFF use including demographic characteristics, health related variables and nutritional beliefs. The use prevalence of HFF was 58.9%, and among all types of HFF, red ginseng products were taken most frequently, followed by nutritional supplements, ginseng products > mushroom products. HFF was taken more frequently in subjects from high monthly family income (p < .001), and in those from families with a high socioeconomic status (p < .001) in comparison to each corresponding group. Mean age of users was higher than nonusers (p < .001). Self concern about health (p < .001) and usage ratio of HFF by family (p < .001) were higher in users than in nonusers of HFF. Total dietary assessment score was not different in two groups, and users had a more positive view concerning the potential health benefit of HFF than nonusers (p < .001). Most users of HFF took HFF when they were healthy (52.8%) and experienced a little effect through the HFF use (51.2%). Most users of HFF obtained the information on HFF through family and relatives (30.5%) and most of them purchased HFF at pharmacy or oriental medicine clinics (44.5%). HFF users preferred multivitamin and Ca-supplements most among the vitamin·mineral supplements belonged to HFF. Given the widespread use of HFF and inappropriate usage of HFF among subjects, the proper use of these products for the contribution to their optimal nutrition and overall health is a subject that should be formed through practical nutrition education considering the various variables affecting their HFF use.

Keywords: health functional foods, middle-aged, use prevalence, demographic characteristics, nutritional beliefs, usage behavior

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Demographic characteristics of users and nonusers of health functional foods
kjn-43-294-i001

1) Mean ± SD, 2) Number of subject, 3) Percentage of subtotal subjects of same column, 4) Socioeconomic status of the family was determined by combining the father's education level and occupation with the monthly family income,19,20) 5) Percentage of total subjects, **: p < .01, ***: p < .001, NS: Not significant at α=.05

Table 2
Health related variables of users and nonusers of health functional foods
kjn-43-294-i002

1) Number of subject, 2) Percentage of subtotal subjects of same column, 3) Percentage of total subjects, ***: p < .001, NS: Not significant at p < .05

Table 3
Mini dietary assessment scores of users and nonusers of health functional foods1)
kjn-43-294-i003

1) Minimum & maximum score for each statement is 1-3 and that for total statements is 10-30. 1 = seldom, 2 = sometimes, 3 = usually, 2) Mean ± SD, *: p < .05, **: p < .01, ***: p < .001, NS: Not significant at α=.05

Table 4
Nutritional beliefs concerning health functional foods of users and nonusers1)
kjn-43-294-i004

1) Minimum & maximum score for each statement is 1-5 and that for total statements is 9-45. 1 = very strongly disagree, 2 = strongly disagree, 3 = so so, 4 = strongly agree, 5 = very strongly agree, 2) Mean ± SD, **: p < .01, ***: p < .001

Table 5
Usage behaviors of users of health functional foods
kjn-43-294-i005
Table 6
Preferred type of nutrient of vitamin·mineral supplements belonged to health functional foods by users
kjn-43-294-i006
Table 7
Selected variables affecting the use of health functional foods of subjects by logistic regression analysis
kjn-43-294-i007

Notes

This work was supported by the KFDA, No. 04052 KFDA 124.

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