Diet and women's health

 

  • Nutrition for breast cancer survivors

Maintaining a healthy diet is essential for breast cancer survivors. The survivors and their families are highly concerned about improving their health related behaviors and quality of life. However, little is known about the association between dietary factors and breast cancer prognosis, especially among Asian breast cancer survivors.

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We started Korean breast cancer survivors’ recruitment from 2012 and are still in progress of inviting more participants. Collection of information on demographic factors, clinical and reproductive factors, and various lifestyle factors including intakes of foods and nutrients, and supplemental use is ongoing. Biological specimens are being collected from a subset of study participants.

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The purposes of this study are 1) to evaluate the associations between dietary and anthropometric factors and breast cancer prognosis and 2) to provide important evidence to support the significance of promoting healthy diets for breast cancer survivors.

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Publications

  1. Cho HJ, Song S, Kim Z, Youn HJ, Cho J, Min JW, Kim YS, Choi SW, Lee JE. Associations of body mass index and weight change with circulating levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and adiponectin among breast cancer survivors. Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. In Press

  2. Okekunle AP, Yie GE, Song S, Kim Z, Youn HJ, Cho J, Min JW, Kim YS, Lee JE. Association of lipid profile with obesity among breast cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study. Lipids Health Dis. 2022;21(1):66.

  3. Moon SE, Shin WK, Song S, Koh D, Ahn JS, Yoo Y, Kang M, Lee JE. Validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire for breast cancer survivors in Korea. Nutr Res Pract. 2022;16:e31

  4. Youn J,  Park S, Song S, Moon HG, Noh DY, Jung SY, Lee E, Kim Z, Youn HJ, Cho J, Yoo YB, Lee SK, Hyun T, Lee JE.  Nutrient intakes from supplement and factors associated with supplement use among breast cancer survivors: A cross-sectional study. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl). 2021 Mar 28;e13447. doi: 10.1111/ecc.1344

  5. Kang NM, Hahn WH, Park S, Lee JE, Yoo YB, Ryoo CJ. Mediating and Moderating Factors of Adherence to Nutrition and Physical Activity Guidelines, Breastfeeding Experience, and Spousal Support on the Relationship between Stress and Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Oct 16;17(20):7532. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17207532

  6. Shim EJ, Jeong D, Moon HG, Noh DY, Jung SY, Lee E, Kim Z, Youn HJ, Cho J, Lee JE. Profiles of depressive symptoms and the association with anxiety and quality of life in breast cancer survivors: a latent profile analysis. Qual Life Res. 2020 Feb;29(2):421-429. doi: 10.1007/s11136-019-02330-6

  7. Koh D, Song S, Moon SE, Jung SY, Lee ES, Kim Z, Youn HJ, Cho J, Yoo YB, Lee SK, Lee JE, Nam SJ, Lee JE. Adherence to the American Cancer Society Guidelines for Cancer Survivors and Health-Related Quality of Life among Breast Cancer Survivors. Nutrients. . 2019 Dec 3;11(12):2924. doi: 10.3390/nu11122924

  8. Shin WK, Kim Z, Youn HJ, Cho J, Lee JE. Determinants of Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentrations among Breast Cancer Survivors in Korea. Nutrients. 2018 Mar 20;10(3):380. doi: 10.3390/nu10030380

  9. Kim NH, Song S, Jung SY, Lee E, Kim Z, Moon HG, Noh DY, Lee JE. Dietary pattern and health-related quality of life among breast cancer survivors. BMC Womens Health. 2018 May 10;18(1):65. doi: 10.1186/s12905-018-0555-7

  10. Shin WK, Song S, Jung SY, Lee E, Kim Z, Moon HG, Noh DY, Lee JE. The association between physical activity and health-related quality of life among breast cancer survivors. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2017 Jun 30;15(1):132. doi: 10.1186/s12955-017-0706-9

  11. Shin WK, Song S, Hwang E, Moon HG, Noh DY, Lee JE. Development of a FFQ for breast cancer survivors in Korea. Br J Nutr. 2016 Nov 15:1-6. doi: 10.1017/S000711451600372X

  12. Song S, Hwang E, Moon HG, Noh DY, Lee JE. Adherence to Guidelines for Cancer Survivors and Health-Related Quality of Life among Korean Breast Cancer Survivors. Nutrients. 2015 Dec 9;7(12):10307-19. doi: 10.3390/nu7125532

  13. Song S, Youn HJ, Jung SY, Lee E, Kim Z, Cho J, Yoo YB, Moon HG, Noh DY, Lee JE. Dietary Changes After Breast Cancer Diagnosis: Associations with Physical Activity, Anthropometry, and Health-related Quality of life Among Korean Breast Cancer Survivors. Korean J Community Nutr 2016;21(6):533-544. doi: 10.5720/kjcn.2016.21.6.533

  14. Song S, Youn J, Hwang E, Moon HG, Noh DY, Lee JE. The Association between the Adherence to Dietary Guidelines for Breast Cancer Survivors and Health-related Quality of Life among Korean Breast Cancer Survivors. Korean journal of community nutrition. 2015;20:129-140. doi: 10.5720/kjcn.2016.21.6.533

  15. Park M, Moon HG, Doh DY, Lee JE. Dietary Intake Status among Korean Female Breast Cancer Survivors. Korean J Community Nutr 2014;19(2):163-175. doi: 10.5720/kjcn.2014.19.2.163

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  • Filipino Women's Diet and Health Study (FiLWHEL)

The FiLWHEL study is a cohort study focusing on the health status of the Filipino women immigrants. The primary objectives of the FiLWHEL study are 1) to explore how lifestyle, environment, and genetic factors play a role in the health status of Filipino women; and 2) to promote healthy lifestyle and achieve the optimum level of well-being among Filipino immigrants.  

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The FiLWHEL study was launched on March 2014 and so far a total of 504 Filipino women, married to Korean men, are enrolled. The study collected biospecimen and a comprehensive information on various aspects of a participant's health-related life. 

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We are in progress of recruiting more Filipino women and presenting the results to provide a better and clearer understanding of the health status of this unique community that will play an integral part of the future of Korean society.

 

Publications

  1. Okekunle AP, Lee H, Provido SMP, Chung G, Hong S, Yu SH, Lee CB, Lee JE. Dietary branched-chain amino acids and odds of obesity among immigrant Filipino women: the Filipino women’s diet and health study (FiLWHEL). BMC Public Health. 2022;22(1):654

  2. Kim HS, Lee H, Provido SMP, Kang M, Chung GH, Hong S, Yu SH, Lee CB, Lee JE. Association Between Diet Quality and Prevalence of Obesity, Dyslipidemia, and Insulin Resistance Among Filipino Immigrant Women in Korea: The Filipino Women's Diet and Health Study. Front Public Health. 2021;9:647661

  3. Provido SMP, Abris GP, Hong S, Yu SH, Lee CB, Lee JE. Association of fried food intake with prehypertension and hypertension: the Filipino women's diet and health study. Nutr Res Pract. 2020 Feb;14(1):76-84. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2020.14.1.76

  4. Abris GP, Hong S, Provido SM, Lee JE, Lee CB. Filipino women's diet and health study (FiLWHEL): design and methods. Nutr Res Pract. 2017 Feb;11(1):70-75. doi: 10.4162/nrp.2017.11.1.70

  5. Abris GP, Provido SMP, Hong S, Yu SH, Lee CB, Lee JE. Association between dietary diversity and obesity in the Filipino Women's Diet and Health Study (FiLWHEL): A cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2018 Nov 1;13(11):e0206490. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206490

  6. Abris GP, Kim NH, Provido SMP, Hong S, Yu SH, Lee CB, Lee JE. Dietary diversity and nutritional adequacy among married Filipino immigrant women: The Filipino Women's Diet and Health Study (FiLWHEL). BMC Public Health. 2018 Mar 15;18(1):359. doi: 10.1186/s12889-018-5233-z

  7. Kim N, Kang M, Abris G, Provido SM, Joung H, Hong S, Yu SH, Lee CB, Lee JE. Consumption of Han-sik and its Association with Socioeconomic Status among Filipino Immigrant Women: the Filipino Women's Diet and Health Study (FiLWHEL). Korean Journal of Community Nutrition. 2018 Dec 1;23(6):475-87.  doi:10.5720/kjcn.2018.23.6.475

 

  • Korea Nurses' Health Study

​The Korea Nurses' Health Study is a prospective cohort study of female nurses, with the goal of providing evaluations on associations of occupational, environmental, and lifestyle risk factors with health outcomes of Korean women.

Dietary assessment research

 

  • ICT-based dietary monitoring and assessment

Assessment of dietary intake is essential in estimating nutritional status and investigating the role of diet in the maintenance of health and the reduction of disease risk. Information and communication technology (ICT) has a potential to be utilized in dietary assessment as a monitoring tool of nutritional status in public health and epidemiology. We are conducting a randomized intervention trial to examine the effectiveness of ICT-based dietary assessment and monitoring.

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  • Estimation of usual intake

​Estimating daily consumption of foods and nutrients has been challenging due to the within-person variability in intake. There is a special interest in methods for estimating the habitual dietary intake distribution and its application to nutritional epidemiologic studies. We study methods for estimating the distribution of usual intake for a population and examining associations between usual dietary intakes and health outcomes. 

Diet-Gene interaction research  

Although recent studies found genetic factors related to chronic diseases such as obesity and cancer, it has been suggested that only a small proportion of heritability may be explained by the genetic variants. It has been hypothesized that gene-environment interaction may explain the missing heritability. For example, the association between dietary factors and disease outcomes may vary depending on specific genetic profile. We study whether particular diets accentuate risk of chronic diseases in a population with a certain genetic variation.

Diet and cancer 

  • Cololectal neoplasia

​Diet serves an important role in the prevention of colorectal cancer. Colorectal adenoma is a precursor of colorectal cancer while screening prevents the development of colorectal cancer. Thus, the identification of risk factors of colorectal adenoma has great importance in public health implications in Korea, where colorectal cancer screening rate is high. Our research involves the investigation of dietary contributors to colorectal adenoma and cancer prevention.

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  • Asia Cohort Consortium

The Asia Cohort Consortium is a collaborative research with a focus to understanding the associations between the relationships among genetics, environmental exposures, and the etiology of disease including cancer in more than 1 million Asian population. Our research has focused on the roles of dietary factors in cancer prevention and progression.