Nutr Res Pract.  2010 Apr;4(2):136-141.

Still life with less: North Korean young adult defectors in South Korea show continued poor nutrition and physique

• Choi SK
• Park SM
• Joung H

Abstract

North Korean defectors who settle in South Korea have experienced severe food shortage and transition of food environment which could affect their health status. However, little is known about their anthropometric measurements and dietary intake after settlement in South Korea. The purpose of this study is to compare anthropometric measurements and dietary intake between North Korean young adults who defected to South Korea and those of South Koreans. We hypothesized that North Korean young adults' physiques and dietary intake would be poorer than that of South Koreans. We compared anthropometric measurements and dietary intake from 3-day food records in a cross-sectional study of 103 North Korean young adult defectors, aged 12 to 24 and 309 South Korean subjects. North Korean subjects were significantly shorter (4.9 to 10.8 cm) and lighter (6.0 to 12.5 kg) than the control group. Body mass index were significantly different between North and South Korean groups only in men. North Korean young adult defectors had lower mean daily intakes of energy and most nutrients and food groups compared to the control group, while North Korean subjects had higher nutrient density diet than that of South Koreans. The proportion of subjects who had dietary intakes of nutrients of less than the Estimated Average Requirement was higher in North Korean subjects than in controls except for in the cases of vitamin A and vitamin C. In conclusion, we recommend providing nutrition support programs for North Korean young adult defectors to secure adequate nutrient intake.

Keyword

North Korean; under-nutrition; growth retardation

MeSH Terms

Aged
Ascorbic Acid
Body Mass Index
Cross-Sectional Studies
Diet
Humans
Male
Republic of Korea
Vitamin A
Young Adult
Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin A

Reference

1. Korean Ministry of Unification. Report of North Korean refugees in South Korea. 2009.

2. Chang N, Kang EY, Lee JM, Lee MK. Anthropometric measurements and dietary patterns of North Korean migrant children in China. The Korean Journal of Nutrition. 2000. 33:324–331.

3. Central Bureau of Statistics, DPRK. Report on the DPRK nutrition assessment. 2002.

4. Shim JE, Yoon J, Jeong SY, Park M, Lee YS. Status of early childhood and maternal nutrition in South Korea and North Korea. Korean Journal of Community Nutrition. 2007. 12:123–132.

5. Pak S. A study about growth, developmental psychology and welfare service needs of North Korean children and adolescence defectors settled in South Korea. 2006. Seoul: Institute of Unification, Seoul National University.

6. Painter RC, De Rooij SR, Bossuyt PM, Simmers TA, Osmond C, Barker DJ, Bleker OP, Roseboom TJ. Early onset of coronary artery disease after prenatal exposure to the Dutch famine. Am J Clin Nutr. 2006. 84:322–327.

7. Eriksson JG, Forsen T, Tuomilehto J, Osmond C, Barker DJ. Early growth and coronary heart disease in later life: longitudinal study. BMJ. 2001. 322:949–953.

8. Walker SP, Gaskin P, Powell CA, Bennett FI, Forrester TE, Grantham-McGregor S. The effects of birth weight and postnatal linear growth retardation on blood pressure at age 11-12 years. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2001. 55:394–398.

9. McCarron P, Hart CL, Hole D, Smith GD. The relation between adult height and haemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke in the Renfrew/Paisley study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2001. 55:404–405.

10. Forsen T, Eriksson J, Qiao Q, Tervahauta M, Nissinen A, Tuomilehto J. Short stature and coronary heart disease: a 35-year follow-up of the Finnish cohorts of The Seven Countries Study. J Intern Med. 2000. 248:326–332.

11. Grantham-McGregor S. A review of studies of the effect of severe malnutrition on mental development. J Nutr. 1995. 125:2233–2238.

12. Darnton-Hill I, Nishida C, James WP. A life course approach to diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases. Public Health Nutr. 2004. 7:101–121.

13. Aboderin I, Kalache A, Ben-Shlomo Y, Lynch JW, Yajnik CS, Kuh D, Yach D. Life course perspectives on coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes: key issues and implications for policy and research. 2002. Geneva: World Health Organization.

14. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention [Internet]. cited 2008 October 20. Atlanta: CDC Growth chart for the United States;Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts.

15. The Korean Nutrition Society. Food composition table. Recommended dietary allowances for Koreans. 2000. 7th ed. Seoul:

16. Pak S. The growth status of North Korean refugee children in China. Cross Cult Stud. 2000. 6:199–219.

17. Kim YY. An evaluation of the health status of children from North Korea. Nurs Sci. 2005. 17:55–63.

18. Min SK, Jeon WT, Yoon DR. Life and development of adolescents in North Korea. Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. 1999. 38:1047–1062.

19. Lee AR. A study on dietary behavior of North Korean defectors in South Korea -focused on demographic characteristics and psychological acculturation strategy types-[master's thesis]. 2002. Seoul: Ewha Womens University.

20. Weise Prinzo Z, De Benoist B. Meeting the challenges of micronutrient deficiencies in emergency-affected populations. Proc Nutr Soc. 2002. 61:251–257.

21. Witte KK, Clark AL, Cleland JG. Chronic heart failure and micronutrients. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2001. 37:1765–1774.

22. Walter T. Impact of iron deficiency on cognition in infancy and childhood. Eur J Clin Nutr. 1993. 47:307–316.

23. Chandra RK. Nutrition and the immune system. Proc Nutr Soc. 1993. 52:77–84.

24. Strategic implications of global health. National Intelligence Council [Internet]. cited 2009 May 2. Available from: http://www.dni.gov/nic/PDF_GIF_otherprod/ICA_Global_Health_2008.pdf.

25. Korean Ministry of Education & Human Resources Development. Report of preparation for unification in education - Adjustment of North Korean refugee adolescents and scheme of founding a school for them. Symposium of policy study. 2004. Seoul: