Clinical Nutrition Research

Association between plant-based diet indices and depressive symptoms among South Korean adults: a cross-sectional study using the 2014 and 2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys: Soohyun Park, Yoon Jung Park; Clin Nutr Res 2026;15(2):79-90. Published online April 30, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2026.0007

Objective

This study investigated the association between plant-based diet indices—overall plant-based diet index (PDI), healthful PDI (hPDI), and unhealthful PDI (uPDI)—and depressive symptoms in South Korean adults.
Methods
This cross-sectional study analyzed 5,846 participants (aged 19–64 years) using data from the 2014 and 2016 South Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Dietary intake was assessed with a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire, from which PDIs were derived. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Survey-weighted linear and logistic regression models were applied to assess associations, adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and clinical factors.
Results
In fully adjusted models, higher overall PDI and hPDI were associated with lower PHQ-9 scores (β=−0.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], −0.41 to −0.04 and β=−0.16; 95% CI, −0.30 to −0.02 per 10-unit increment, respectively), whereas higher uPDI scores were associated with higher PHQ-9 scores (β=0.21; 95% CI, 0.07 to 0.35 per 10-unit increment). For clinical depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 ≥10), each 10-unit increase in overall PDI was associated with a 33% reduction in odds (odds ratio, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.89). Associations for hPDI and uPDI were attenuated and not statistically significant. Subgroup analyses revealed that these associations varied by sex, age, and obesity status.
Conclusion
Greater adherence to healthy plant-based foods and lower intake of less healthy plant-based foods were associated with fewer depressive symptoms among South Korean adults. These findings highlight the importance of plant-based food quality, rather than quantity alone, in supporting mental health.

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Sex-Specific Factors Associated With Diet Quality in Cancer Survivors: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008–2019: Sujin Jung, Youjin Je; Clin Nutr Res 2025;14(1):41-54. Published online January 23, 2025; DOI: https://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2025.14.1.41

Previous studies have shown the inverse association between diet quality and cancer mortality. Therefore, this study aims to discover the factors that affect diet quality among cancer survivors. We analyzed the 12 years of Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data, which included 2,756 cancer survivors. We analyzed 30 factors considered to be associated with diet quality. As a result, factors related to diet quality differed between males and females. A male cancer survivor who is aged < 65, living with members of the household, living without a spouse, having a lower household income, a blue-collar worker, a beneficiary of national basic livelihood, sleeping > 9 hours a day, unaware of a nutritional fact label, insecure in food, non-user of dietary supplements, not on diet therapy, limited in activity, perceiving stress, and obese, are more likely to have lower Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) scores. On the other hand, a female cancer survivor who is aged < 65, a pink-collar worker, inexperienced in nutritional education, non-users of dietary supplements, obese, and has a lower education level, and cervical or stomach cancer is prone to have lower KHEI scores. In conclusion, factors associated with diet quality among cancer survivors are sex-specific. Therefore, sex-specific factors should be considered when identifying and intervening in cancer survivors at risk for lower diet quality scores.

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Food and Nutrition Insecurity in Cancer Survivorship: A Global Scoping Review
Susannah K. Ayre, Rachael J. Madders, Brooke P. Baker, Emily F. Mitchell, Belinda C. Goodwin, Elizabeth A. Johnston, Danielle Gallegos
Cancer Medicine.2026;[Epub] CrossRef

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The Association of Serum Vitamin D With Anthropometric Indices, Lipid Profile, ICAM-1, and IL-17 in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery: Nazanin Tafteh, Shahab Rezaeian, Hadi Abdollahzad, Feridoun Sabzi; Clin Nutr Res 2024;13(3):165-175. Published online July 23, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.7762/cnr.2024.13.3.165

Abstract
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This study aimed to assess the relationship between serum levels of vitamin D with anthropometric indices, lipid profile and vascular inflammatory factors, in patients who candidate for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in patients who were candidate for CABG. Demographic information, medical records, anthropometric indicators, blood samples, and physical activity of 150 patients were collected. 146 participants with mean ± standard deviation of age: 61.8 ± 10.0 years and body mass index: 26.9 ± 3.7 kg/m² completed the study. Based on serum levels of vitamin D, patients were divided into 2 groups; groups with sufficient (≥ 30 ng/mL) and insufficient amount of vitamin D (< 30 ng/mL). The 30.14% of the patients had serum vitamin D deficiency. Ejection fraction (EF) % between the 2 groups had significant difference. Unexpectedly the EF% increased 7% in patients with insufficient level of vitamin D (odds ratio [OR], 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.11; p = 0.001). Vitamin D status had a significant inverse association with body weight. The odds of vitamin D deficiency significantly increased by 4% with increasing one kg in weight (OR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1–1.08; p = 0.044). There were no significant association between serum vitamin D level and intra cellular adhesion molecule-1, interleukin-17, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile (p > 0.05). Considering the inverse association observed between serum vitamin D with EF% and body weight, vitamin D may play a role in modulating of these indices.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Improved hemodynamic and cardiorespiratory instability with vitamin D supplementation in an obstructive sleep apnea rat models
Abdulmueen A. Alotaibi, Syed Shahid Habib, Hayam Gad, Tamadar Al Doheyan, Mubarak Aldosary, Alanoud T. Aljasham, Asma F. Alotaibi, Yasser A. Alshawakir, Abeer AbdulMoati Al-Masri
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal.2026;[Epub] CrossRef
A Meta‐Analysis on the Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Endothelial Function in Adults
Vali Musazadeh, Mahsa Mahmoudinezhad, Pedram Pam, Negar Karimi Javan, Ahmad Saedisomeolia, Farzad Shidfar, Ziqing Li
International Journal of Clinical Practice.2025;[Epub] CrossRef