Dietary Patterns and Metabolic Health in Korean Adults

Dietary patterns in Korea encompass a spectrum from a traditional rice-centric cuisine—rich in vegetables, legumes, fermented foods and moderate in animal protein—to increasingly Westernised regimens characterised by higher fat, processed meats and refined sugars. Amid rapid urbanisation and lifestyle shifts, metabolic disorders such as obesity, dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and hypertension have risen markedly in Korean adults. The balanced Korean diet, defined by a favourable ratio of carbohydrates, proteins and fats alongside abundant phytochemicals and probiotics, appears protective against components of metabolic syndrome. Conversely, excessive intake of refined carbohydrates and sodium, coupled with low micronutrient density, underlies elevated waist circumference, hypertriglyceridaemia and impaired glycaemic control. Contemporary research has employed dietary indices, metabolomic profiling and causal inference methods to dissect these associations, revealing gender-specific responses and interactions with genetic and inflammatory markers. The convergence of epidemiological, clinical and biochemical evidence underscores the potential of tailored dietary interventions to mitigate metabolic risk and inform public health guidelines both within Korea and in other populations experiencing nutritional transition.

Research from Nature Portfolio

A four-week randomised crossover trial in obese Korean adults compared the balanced Korean diet with two Westernised dietary regimens. The balanced diet exhibited significantly higher total antioxidant capacity and phenolic content than Western diets, as measured by ABTS, DPPH and FRAP assays. Post-intervention serum markers of oxidative stress and inflammation showed marginal shifts, whereas urine metabolomic profiles clearly differentiated the balanced diet from Western patterns. Notably, participants following the balanced Korean diet excreted higher levels of benzoic acid and phenolic derivatives, suggesting enhanced antioxidant metabolism. These findings provide mechanistic insight into how traditional dietary components modulate systemic redox balance and may attenuate metabolic dysregulation.

Dietary Patterns and Metabolic Health in Korean Adults publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in dietary patterns and metabolic health in korean adults across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Metabolic syndrome: A cluster of interrelated metabolic risk factors—abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance—that increase the likelihood of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.

Balanced Korean diet (BKD): A dietary regimen centred on rice, vegetables, legumes (including fermented soy), seaweed and moderate animal protein, with controlled fat and sodium content, reflecting traditional Korean cuisine.

Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI): A composite score assessing adherence to dietary guidelines in Korea, encompassing intake of grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy, fats and moderation of sodium and sweets.

Mendelian randomisation: An analytical approach using genetic variants as proxies for modifiable exposures (such as dietary patterns) to infer causality in observational data.

References

1. A Causal and Inverse Relationship between Plant-Based Diet Intake and in a Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study. Foods (2023).
2. Urine metabolomics unravel the effects of short-term dietary interventions on oxidative stress and inflammation: a randomized controlled crossover trial. Scientific Reports (2024).