Open Access, Peer-reviewed
pISSN 2288-3886
eISSN 2288-3959
    Korean J Nutr. 2010 Jun;43(3):294-303. Korean.
    Published online Jun 30, 2010.
    https://doi.org/10.4163/kjn.2010.43.3.294
    © 2010 The Korean Nutrition Society
    Original Article

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

    Sun-Hyo Kim,1 Ji-Hye Han,2 and 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. (Email: shkim@kongju.ac.kr )
    Received February 24, 2010; Revised March 27, 2010; Accepted April 23, 2010.

    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

    Tables

    Table 1
    Demographic characteristics of users and nonusers of health functional foods

    Table 2
    Health related variables of users and nonusers of health functional foods

    Table 3
    Mini dietary assessment scores of users and nonusers of health functional foods1)

    Table 4
    Nutritional beliefs concerning health functional foods of users and nonusers1)

    Table 5
    Usage behaviors of users of health functional foods

    Table 6
    Preferred type of nutrient of vitamin·mineral supplements belonged to health functional foods by users

    Table 7
    Selected variables affecting the use of health functional foods of subjects by logistic regression analysis

    Notes

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

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    MeSH Terms
    Agaricales
    Functional Food
    Humans
    Insurance Benefits
    Korea
    Medicine, East Asian Traditional
    Morinda
    Panax
    Pharmacy
    Prevalence
    Social Class
    Metrics
    Share
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