Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the recognition, purchase, and intake status of edible insects in adults, who are the main consumers of edible insects, and to provide the information necessary to expand the production and consumption of edible insects and related products in the future. Methods: A total of 453 adults (172 males and 281 females) aged 19 years and older were surveyed regarding their awareness of edible insects, purchase and consumption experience, and intention to purchase and consume, and the differences between them were analyzed according to gender and age groups. Data collection took place from December 2018 to January 2019. Results: Those who had knowledge of edible insects accounted for 87.0%, whereas those who had more than average knowledge were 75.9%, suggesting recognition was relatively high. Men had more experience than women in purchasing or consuming edible insects and related products (45.9% vs. 31.0%, p < 0.01). In terms of age, experience was 22.5% in 20-30s, 44.6% in 40-50s, and 63.1% in 60s and older, showing significant growth as age increased (p < 0.001). The satisfaction level of edible insects was highest in taste (3.4 points), and especially for shape and appearance, it decreased as age reduced (p < 0.001). The most common reason for not being willing to use edible insects was feeling repulsive (4.1 points), which was significantly more common in women than in men (4.3 vs. 3.9, p < 0.001), and lower with age (p < 0.001). The most needed information display for using edible insects was country of origin (63.8%), the main nutrient in edible insects was protein (93.6%), and the most preferred form of products was powder (39.5%). Conclusion: According to the above results, the recognition of edible insects was high, whereas experience of using edible insects and intention to use edible insects were low especially in women and younger groups. The reason for this is that consumers are dissatisfied with edible insects due to their appearance. This study is expected to be used

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Outbred mice (ICR) with different genotypes and phenotypes have been reported to be more suitable for scientific testing than inbred mice because they are more similar to humans. To investigate whether the sex and genetic background of the mice are important factors in the development of hyperglycemia, we used ICR mice and divided them into male, female, and ovariectomized female (FOVX) groups and treated them with streptozotocin (STZ) for five consecutive days to induce diabetes. Our results show that fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were significantly higher in diabetes-induced males (M-DM) and ovariectomized diabetes-induced females (FOVX-DM) than in diabetes-induced females (F-DM) at 3 and 6 weeks after STZ treatment. Furthermore, the M-DM group showed the most severe glucose tolerance, followed by the FOVX-DM and F-DM groups, suggesting that ovariectomy affects glucose tolerance in female mice. The size of pancreatic islets in the M-DM and FOVX-DM groups was significantly different from that of the F-DM group. The M-DM and FOVX-DM groups had pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction 6 weeks after STZ treatment. Urocortin 3 and somatostatin inhibited insulin secretion in the M-DM and FOVX-DM groups. Overall, our results suggest that glucose metabolism in mice is dependent on sex and/or genetic background.

Dietary supplements are popular worldwide and their use has been increasing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mineral contents of multi-vitamins and minerals (MVMs) in most commonly sold among dietary supplements. Ninety popular MVM supplements sold in South Korea were surveyed regarding their characteristics and ingredients including minerals listed on the labels through off-line and on-line search. Daily mineral contents of the MVM supplements were compared with Korean Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) by target populations. The average price of 90 MVM supplements was $41.3 per bottle, with a price of $0.9 per day and the average number of minerals contained per supplement was 4.7. A total 14 minerals were found in the MVM supplements including calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Nine minerals (e.g. calcium, magnesium, and iron) were included in more than 30% of the MVM supplements examined. When daily mineral dose of MVMs was compared to DRIs, calcium was the lowest (34.0% of recommended intake [RI]) and chromium was the highest (218.7% of adequate intake [AI]), and zinc, copper, selenium, and chromium were also higher than their RI or AI levels. The daily mineral contents of the 90 MVM supplements were below the tolerable upper-intake level, but some minerals were higher than RI or AI with high variance among products. Therefore, there is a great need to educate the public for the adequate selection and use of MVM supplements based on the contents of MVM supplements and individual's mineral intake derived from the diet.

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Objectives Home meal replacements (HMRs) are convenient foods that are cooked or semi-cooked to eat directly or after simple cooking in substitution for traditional home meals. The purpose of this study was to assess nutritional value focusing on minerals of HMRs currently sold in Korea. Methods This study examined nutritional content in 118 popular HMRs through nutrition labeling, analyzed the mineral content of 30 typical HMRs, and assessed the nutritional value focusing on minerals in the 8 types of HMRs (cup-rice with soup, cup-rice, instant rice, porridge, soup, stew, sauce, and side dish). Results The weight per HMR package of single serving was the highest for the porridge HMR. The energy and carbohydrate content per HMR package were the highest in cup-rice and instant rice, while the sugar, protein, and fat contents were the highest in side dish. The Na content per HMR package was the highest in cup-rice with soup. There was no significant difference in Ca content per package among HMR types. However, the contents of Mg, Fe, Cu, and Zn were the highest in cup-rice. Regarding the mineral's Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ), Ca did not reach 1 except for 1.4 of stew, while Fe was high over 2 except for soup and sauce without significant difference according to HMR type. And, Mg and Zn were the highest in stew, and Cu was in porridge. When instant rice was mixed with stew, sauce, and side dish, respectively, the protein INQ was significantly increased in the combination of instant rice with side dish, but the mineral INQ was not significantly changed except for a decrease in Cu. Conclusions When HMR is consumed as a meal, protein meets the Recommended Intake (RI) if the energy requirement is met, but minerals such as Ca, Mg, and Zn cannot meet the RI. Therefore, the findings suggest that consumers select HMRs with food sources of these minerals and that producers of HMRs develop products containing higher amounts of these minerals. Funding Sources None.

Objectives: Although water is essential for life and can supply essential minerals, studies that evaluate calcium intake through drinking water are limited. The aim of this study was to assess calcium contents of natural mineral water (NMW) and its possible contribution to calcium intake in healthy adults. Methods: This study examined water consumption in 640 Korean adults with selfselected diet, analyzed the calcium content of 10 different brands of bottled NMWs sold in Korea, and assessed the amount of calcium intake from drinking water and its daily contribution to the recommended nutrient intake (RNI) of calcium. Results: Mean calcium content in 10 bottled NMWs was 20.9 mg/l. Daily water intakes from food composition database and calculated using energy intake based on 0.53 ml/kcal were 957.2 ml and 1109.8 ml for men and 848.3 ml and 951.6 ml for women, respectively, with a significant difference by gender (p<0.001). Daily drinking water intake was significantly higher among men than women (1203.9 ml vs. 1004.3 ml, respectively, p<0.001). Daily calcium intakes from foods were 564.0 mg for men and 534.2 mg for women. Daily possible calcium intakes from drinking bottled water were 25.2 mg for men and 21.0 mg for women (p<0.001). The contribution of daily calcium intake from drinking bottled water to RNI of calcium was 3.3% for men and 2.9% for women without significant difference. Conclusions: One half of the daily total water intake was consumed as drinking water, and possible calcium intake through drinking water was about 3% of RNI.

Despite the importance of edible insects as future food sources, studies on their nutritional and functional properties are limited. The aim of this study was to assess the hypothesis that edible insects are nutritionally and functionally preferred and have potential for development as a food material. Seven commercially available edible insects (twin-star cricket, yellow mealworm larvae, rice locust, silkworm pupae, Baekgangjam, long-lived beetle larvae, and white-spotted beetle larvae) were purchased, and analysed for their proximate compositions, contents of nine minerals, antioxidant potential, and phenolic acid and flavonoid contents. Among the proximate components, the protein contents of rice locust, Baekgangjam, and white-spotted beetle larvae were high. The calcium, sodium, zinc, and copper contents were the highest in twin-star crickets, while the phosphorus and magnesium contents were highest in silkworm pupae, and the potassium and iron contents were highest in white-spotted beetle larvae. The total phenolic acid content was high in silkworm pupae and white-spotted beetle larvae. The flavonoid content was high in Baekgangjam. The antioxidant activity was high in Baekgangjam, white-spotted beetle larvae, and rice locust. These edible insects can be used in the development of nutritionally fortified foods for the public or in functional foods for elderly and medical patients.