Korean J Intern Med.  2010 Jun;25(2):132-139. 10.3904/kjim.2010.25.2.132.

Diet and Airway Obstruction: A Cross Sectional Study from the Second Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

• Lee JH
• Sim YS
• Suh GY
• Ryu JS
• Shin DH
• Koh KH
• Kim YJ
• Park W
• Yoon HK
• Lee MJ
• Chang JH

• KMID: 1785669
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2010.25.2.132

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Several dietary factors, such as antioxidant vitamins, have potential roles in the development of obstructive lung diseases. However, the results of studies on the relationships between dietary factors and obstructive lung diseases are inconsistent. The aim of this study was to determine which nutrients are related to airway obstruction (AO) in the Korean population. METHODS: We used data obtained as part of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES II) in 2001. Analysis was restricted to 1,005 adults who were 18 years of age and older, who had two or more acceptable spirometry curves, and who had participated in the nutrition examination survey. AO was defined as the ratio of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) of less than 0.7. RESULTS: Of the 1,005 study subjects, 78 (7.8%) had AO. Statistically significant factors associated with AO were 55 years of age or older (p = 0.032), central obesity (p = 0.047), hypertension (p < 0.001), smoking of 20 pack-years or more (p < 0.001), low income (p < 0.001), and low dietary protein intake expressed as a ratio of protein to recommended dietary allowance for Koreans (p = 0.037). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed four factors that were independently associated with AO: smoking of 20 pack-years or more (odds ratio [OR], 5.801; p < 0.001), hypertension (OR, 3.905; p < 0.001), low protein intake (OR, 0.992; p = 0.004), and low income (OR, 1.962; p = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: In the Korean NHANES, smoking, hypertension, and low income were related to AO. Among dietary factors, only low protein intake was associated with AO.

Keyword

Airway obstruction; Respiratory function tests; Nutrition surveys; Proteins; Diet

MeSH Terms

Adult
Airway Obstruction/*epidemiology
Antioxidants/administration & dosage
Body Mass Index
Cross-Sectional Studies
Dietary Proteins/administration & dosage
Female
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Malnutrition/*epidemiology
Middle Aged
Minerals/administration & dosage
Nutrition Surveys
Obesity/epidemiology
Prevalence
Republic of Korea/epidemiology
Risk Factors
Smoking/*epidemiology
Spirometry
Vital Capacity
Vitamins/administration & dosage