Korean J Nutr.  2010 Apr;43(2):161-170. 10.4163/kjn.2010.43.2.161.

Consumption of Health Functional Foods by Elementary Schoolchildren in Korea

• Kim SH
• Han JH
• Kim WY

• KMID: 2267980
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4163/kjn.2010.43.2.161

Abstract

We surveyed 837 students attending elementary schoolchildren in Korea for health functional foods (HFF) consumption and significant variables for their HFF consumption including demographic characteristics, parental health concern on offsprings, food eating frequency of subjects and beliefs on potential efficacy of HFF by subjects. The consumption prevalence of HFF was 45.9%, and among all types of HFF, nutritional supplements were taken most frequently, followed by apricot extract-fermented products > lactic acid bacteria containing products > EPA/DHA containing products > red ginseng products. HFF consumption was higher in subjects had parents of high education level (p < .05) and those from families with a high socioeconomic status (p < .01) in comparison to each corresponding group. Health concern on offsprings by parents (p < .001) and consumption ratio of HFF by family (p < .001) was higher in consumers than in nonconsumers of HFF. Total score of dietary assessment was higher in consumers than in nonconsumers of HFF (p < .01), and consumers had a more positive view concerning the potential efficacy of HFF than did nonconsumers (p < .001). Most consumers of HFF took HFF when they were healthy (42.5%), and they did not feel special effects through HFF consumption (47.7%). Most consumers of HFF got the information on HFF from family and relatives (24.8%), and most of them purchased HFF at pharmacy or oriental medicine clinics (53.9%). HFF consumers preferred multi-vitamins and Ca-supplements most among the vitamin . mineral supplements belonged to HFF. Given the widespread consumption of HFF by elementary schoolchildren, the reasonable consumption of these products for the contribution to their overall health and well-being should be emphasized through nutrition education for them and their family.

Keyword

health functional foods; elementary schoolchildren; demographic characteristics; nutritional beliefs; score of dietary assessment

MeSH Terms

Bacteria
Eating
Functional Food
Humans
Korea
Lactic Acid
Medicine, East Asian Traditional
Panax
Parents
Pharmacy
Prevalence
Prunus armeniaca
Social Class
Vitamins
Lactic Acid
Vitamins

Reference

1. Korea Health Supplement Association. Dietary Health Supplement Act. 2008. Seoul:

2. KFDA Homepage. www.kfda.go.kr.

3. Park JS, Lee JH. Elementary school children's intake patterns of health functional foods and parent's requirements in Daejeon area. Korean J Community Nutr. 2008. 13(4):463–475.

4. Kim SH, Han JH, Hwang YJ, Kim WY. Use of functional foods for health by 14-18 year old students attending general junior or senior high schools in Korea. Korean J Nutr. 2005. 38(10):864–872.

5. Lee SS, Kim MK, Lee EK. Nutrient supplement usage by the Korean adult in Seoul. Korean J Nutr. 1990. 23(4):287–297.

6. Kim SH, Keen CL. Vitamin and mineral supplement use among children attending elementary schools in Korea: a survey of eating habits and dietary consequences. Nutr Res. 2002. 22(4):433–448.

7. Song BC, Kim MK. Patterns of vitamin/mineral supplement use among preschool children in Korea. Korean J Nutr. 1998. 31(6):1066–1075.

8. Kim SH, Han JH, Keen CL. Vitamin and mineral supplement use by healthy teenagers in Korea: motivating factors and dietary consequences. Nutrition. 2001. 17(5):373–380.

9. Kim SH, Keen CL. Patterns of vitamin and mineral supplement usage by adolescents attending athletic high schools in Korea. Int J Sport Nutr. 1999. 9(4):391–405.

10. Kim SH. Patterns of vitamin/mineral supplement usage among the middle-age in Korea. Korean J Nutr. 1994. 27(3):236–252.

11. Song BC, Kim MK. Patterns of vitamin/mineral supplement usage by the elderly in Korea. Korean J Nutr. 1997. 30(2):139–146.

12. Kim SH, Han JH, Zhu QY, Keen CL. Use of vitamin and mineral and other dietary supplements by 17-and 18-year-old students in Korea. J Med Food. 2003. 6(1):27–42.

13. Kim SH. A study on the current patterns of vitamin/mineral supplement usage. Korean J Nutr. 1997. 30(5):561–570.

14. Han JH, Kim SH. Vitamin · mineral supplement use and related variables by Korean adolescents. Korean J Nutr. 1999. 32(3):268–276.

15. Suh YS, Chung YJ. Comparison of mineral and vitamin intakes according to the stage of change in fruit and vegetable intake for elementary school students in Chungnam province. Korean J Nutr. 2008. 41(7):658–666.

16. Lee JE, Jung IK. The perception of parents on the eating habits and nutritional education of their elementary school children. J Korea Home Econ Assoc. 2005. 43(7):67–77.

17. Lee HO. A comparison of nutrient intakes and food lifestyle between double income families' and full-time housewives' children. Korean J Food Nutr. 2008. 21(1):106–113.

18. Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Korea Health Industry Development Institute. In-Depth Analysis on the 3rd (2005) Korea Health and Nutrition Examination Survey -Nutrition Survey-. 2007. Seoul:

19. Koo NS, Park JY. Consumption aspects of health supplements or health foods by adult male and female in Daejon. J Korean Living Sci Assoc. 2001. 10(2):205–213.

20. Yoo YJ, Hong WS, Youn SJ, Choi YS. The experience of health food usage for adults in Seoul. Korean J Food Cookery Sci. 2002. 18(2):136–146.

21. Yoo YJ, Hong WS, Choi YS. The experience of nutrient supplement use among adults in the Seoul area. J Korean Soc Food Sci Nutr. 2001. 30(2):357–363.

22. Jun BH, Lee HG. An investigation of the intake of the health food among the salary men in Seoul. Korean J Food Cookery Sci. 2000. 16(1):9–16.

23. Chung HK, Cho MS, Kang NE, Yang EJ, Kang MH. Patterns of health foods usage by food lifestyle of the adults in Seoul. Korean J Food Cult. 2001. 16(3):195–202.

24. Kim WY, Cho MS, Lee HS. Development and validation of mini dietary assessment index for Koreans. Korean J Nutr. 2003. 36(1):83–92.

25. Hong DS. Preliminary study on the social status of Korea. Memorial Paper for the 60th Birthday of Professor Lee MK. 1983. 169–213.

26. Park KS. A study on adjustment of mid-life women-focused on women's attitudes toward the menopause and transitions of sex role identity [Master thesis]. 1990. Seoul: Sookmyeong Women's Universtiy.

27. Choung CY, Choi IG. Statistical Analysis Using a SPSSWIN. 1997. Seoul: Muyokpub.

28. Rhee HS, Lee HS, Yee JA, Kang KJ. A study on the intake patterns of health food of the elderly aged over 60 years in the Chuncheon area. Korean J Community Nutr. 2001. 6(4):635–644.