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Objective: To date, there have been few studies on dietary supplement (DS) use in Korean children and adolescents, using nationally representative data. This study aimed to investigate the current status of DS use and its related factors, among Korean children and adolescents from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) data.Design: A cross-sectional study.Setting: Data from the KNHANES 2015-2017. Participants completed 24-h dietary recall interviews, including DS products that the subjects consumed.Participants: The study population was 4380 children and adolescents aged 1-18 years.Results: Approximately 20.3 % of children and adolescents were using DS; the highest use was among children aged 1–3 years old, and the lowest use was among adolescents aged 16–18 years. The most frequently used DS was prebiotics/probiotics, followed by multivitamin/mineral supplements. Factors that were associated with DS use were lower birth weight in children aged <4 years; younger age, higher household income, regular breakfast intake and lower BMI in children aged 4-9 years; and regular breakfast intake and use of nutrition facts label in adolescents aged 10-18 years. Feeding patterns in infancy and having chronic diseases were not associated with DS use.Conclusions: We report that over 20 % of children and adolescents use DS. Nutritional education for parents and children about proper DS consumption is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveThe present study aimed to assess the adequacy of Ca intake and major food sources of Ca in Korean children and adolescents.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingData from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2007–2010. We analysed the daily Ca intake, major food sources of Ca and the prevalence of inadequate Ca intake in the study population. Ca intake was categorized as inadequate when the participant's daily Ca intake was less than the Estimated Average Requirement.SubjectThe study population consisted of 7233 children and adolescents (3973 boys, 3260 girls; aged 1–18 years).ResultsMean Ca intake was 510·2 mg/d in boys and 431·7 mg/d in girls. Overall, 75·0 % of adolescents (boys 71·6 %, girls 79·1 %) had inadequate Ca intake. The prevalence of inadequate Ca intake increased significantly from toddlers (45–55 %) to adolescents (78–86 %) in both genders. The highest ranked food sources for Ca were dairy products (35·0 %), followed by vegetables (17·3 %), grains (11·3 %) and seafood (9·9 %). Ca intake from dairy products decreased significantly from 57 % in toddlers to 30 % in adolescents, while Ca intakes from other foods increased with age.ConclusionsInadequate Ca intake is highly prevalent and increased with age in Korean children and adolescents. It should be emphasized to encourage children and adolescents to eat more Ca-rich products to meet their Ca needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of vitamin D deficiency in healthy adolescents and to determine parent–adolescent association in vitamin D status.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingData from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008–2009. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels were measured using 125I-labelled RIA kits. Vitamin D deficiency in adolescents was defined as 25(OH)D level <27·5 nmol/l, and 25(OH)D levels between 27·5 and <50 nmol/l were considered insufficient. For the parents, vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25(OH)D level <50 nmol/l.SubjectsThe study population consisted of 2062 adolescents (1095 boys, 967 girls; aged 10–18 years) and their parents (1005 fathers, 1341 mothers).ResultsOverall, 13·4 % of adolescents (boys 11·7 %, girls 15·4 %) were 25(OH)D deficient, 54·7 % were 25(OH)D insufficient. Prevalence of vitamin D deficiency increased with age (P < 0·0001). Parental vitamin D deficiency was more prevalent in vitamin D-deficient adolescents than in non-deficient adolescents (all P < 0·0001). In multivariate logistic regression analyses, predictors for vitamin D deficiency were senior high school students (OR = 3·45–4·33), winter/spring season (OR = 3·18–5·11/5·35–7·36) and parental vitamin D deficiency (OR = 1·78–4·88; all P < 0·05).ConclusionsVitamin D insufficiency is prevalent among healthy Korean adolescents and the parent–offspring association warrants vitamin D screening for family members of deficient individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]