skip to content
 

Ock K. Chun, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor
Office Phone: (860) 486-6275
Fax: (860) 486-3674
Email: ock.chun@uconn.edu

Education and Training

  • Doctorate of Philosophy in Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
  • Master of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
  • Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

Professional / Academic Experiences

  • Assistant Professor, Nutritional Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, 2008–present
  • Assistant Professor, Nutrition and Dietetics, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 2007–2008
  • Research Assistant Professor, Food Science & Human Nutrition (FSHN), Michigan State University (MSU), East Lansing, MI, 2006–2007
  • Research Associate, FSHN, MSU, East Lansing, MI, 2003–2006
  • Postdoctoral Fellow, Food Science & Technology, Cornell University, 2002–2003
  • Research Scientist, Seoul Institute of Public Health and Environment, 1992–2002
  • Research Assistant, Korean Public Health Association, 1989
  • Research Scientist, R & D Dept. Samho Food Co., 1989

Honors and Awards

  • Government Researcher Overseas Scholarships (Aug. 2002 – Aug. 2004), Seoul Metropolitan Government, Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs, Korea
  • Overseas Postdoctoral Fellowship (Aug. 2002 – Aug. 2003), Korea Science and Engineering Foundation, Ministry of Science & Technology, Korea
  • Graduated with Honors Thesis, Doctoral degree, Seoul National University, Feb. 1999
  • Honors Thesis, 2002 Annual Meeting of Korean Society of Food Science and Technology, May, 2002

Professional Affiliations

  • American Society for Nutritional Sciences
  • Clinical division: American Society for Clinical Nutrition
  • International division: Society for International Nutrition
  • American Chemical Society
  • Korean Public Health Association
  • Korean Society of food Science and Technology

Professional Licenses

  • Professional Engineer, Food Stuff, 1997, Human Resources Development Service of Korea
  • Engineer, 1990, Food Processing, Human Resources Development Service of Korea
  • Certified Dietitian, 1988, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Korea
  • Certified Sanitarian, 1988, Ministry of Health & Welfare, Korea

Member of Editorial Board

  • Journal of Nutritional Disorders and Therapy, since 2011
  • Journal of Nutrition and Food Sciences, since 2010
  • World Journal of Orthopaedics, since 2010

Ad hoc Reviewer for Journals

  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2011 – present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Clinical Biochemistry, 2011 – present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Public Health Nutrition, 2011 – present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Nutrition and Metabolism, 2010 – present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2010 – present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Nutrition and Dietary Supplements, since 2010
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Nutrition, 2009 – present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, British Journal of Nutrition, 2009 – present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Nutrition, 2009 – present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Medicinal Food, 2009 – present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2009 – present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Advances in Space Research, Elsevier, 2009 ­– present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2005 - present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of Food Science, 2004 – present
  • Ad Hoc Reviewer, Journal of AOAC International, 2003 – present

Research

My long-term research goal is to evaluate the dietary factors that modulate oxidative stress and inflammation that contribute substantially to development and progression of chronic diseases. In support of our goals, my research group recently has conducted a series of studies to estimate antioxidant intakes from diet and supplements in the U.S. population by utilizing the USDA flavonoid databases, food consumption data, and dietary supplement data in National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey datasets. As an extension of this work, we have documented the baseline dietary TAC of U.S. population by combining the antioxidant intake data with previously measured vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity of individual antioxidants. We have also developed and validated a dietary TAC database of the U.S. population for future applications in human antioxidant research. This investigative protocol has been further validated by comparing individual antioxidant intakes with their concentrations in plasma and urine collections. In our recent human observational studies, dietary TAC was validated for its relevance, reliability and predictability for in vivo antioxidant status under different physiological conditions. The estimated dietary TAC was inversely associated with CVD risk factors such as serum Hcy and CRP concentrations in the 8,809 representative sample of the U.S. population and in 40 obese postmenopausal women.

  • Nutritional Evaluation of Orange Juice in American Diet. Pepsi Co. $85,496 for July 12, 2010 – December 31, 2011 (PI)
  • Total antioxidant capacity: A useful tool in assessing antioxidant intake status. Donaghue Research Foundation Supported Nutrition Research Competition. $69,859 for April 1, 2010 – March 31, 2011 (PI).
  • Total Dietary Antioxidant Capacity Associated with the Risks of Cardiovascular Disease Mediated by Oxidative Stress. Submitted to the American Heart Association Beginning Grant-in-Aid (BGIA) for Mid-Atlantic Affiliate. $130,819 for July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2010 (PI).
  • Pharmacokinetics and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Quercetin. Donaghue Research Foundation Supported Nutrition Research Competition. $53,233 for July 1, 2009 – June 30, 2010 (Co-PI).
  • Development of an Algorithm to Establish Total Antioxidant Capacity Database of US Population. Faculty Large Grant, University of Connecticut Research Foundation. $20,000 for January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009 (PI).
  • Validation of the total antioxidant capacity database of the U.S. population. USDA Hatch Grant, University of Connecticut. $69,000 for October 1, 2009 – September 30, 2012 (PI).

Graduated Students

  • Catherine G. Davis (8/09-06/11)
    Master Thesis: Estimation of the Number of Days Required to Determine Usual Antioxidant Intakes and Assessment of the Prevalence of Nutrient Inadequacy among College Students
    Current Position: RD Internship at Emory University Hospital, GA
  • Anna Floegel (12/08- 8/09)
    Master Thesis: Development of an Algorithm to establish a Total Antioxidant Capacity Database of the U.S. Population
    Current Position: PhD & MPH Program in the Department of Epidemiology, German Institute of Human Nutrition in Potsdam, Germany

Current Students

  • Ying Wang, PhD (08/09- )
  • Meng Yang, PhD (08/09- )
  • Sang-Gil Lee, PhD (08/10- )
  • Terrence Vance, PhD (08/11-)

Visiting Professors

  • Dae-Ok Kim, PhD, Assistant Professor, Kyung Hee University, Korea (01/09-02/09, 06/09-08/09)

Publications in Peer-Review Journal Articles (since 2008)

  • Anna Floegel, Sang-Jin Chung, Anne von Ruesten, Meng Yang, Chin Eun Chung, Won O. Song, Sung I. Koo, Tobias Pischon and Ock K. Chun. Antioxidant intakes are inversely associated with serum C-reactive protein and plasma homocysteine concentrations in U.S. adults: a cross-sectional. Public Health Nutrition 2011. March 18 [Epub ahead of print]
  • Bong Han Lee, Sun Young Kim, Chi Heung Cho, Dae Kyun Chung1, Ock K. Chun, Dae-Ok Kim. Estimation of daily per capita intake of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacities from fruit and vegetable juices in the Korean diet based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008. Korean J Food Sci Technol 43(4): 475-82, 2011
  • Anna Floegel, Dae-Ok Kim, Sang-Jin Chung, Sung I. Koo and Ock K. Chun. Comaparison of ABTS/DHHP assays to measure antioxidant capacity in popular antioxidant-rich US foods. J Food Composition & Analysis 24(7):1043-1048, 2011 
  • Meng Yang, Sang-Jin Chung, Chin Eun Chung, Won O. Song, Sung I. Koo, Ock K. Chun. Estimation of total antioxidant capacity from diet and supplements in US adults. Br J Nutr 2011. Feb 15 [Epub ahead of print]
  • Ying Wang, Sang-Jin Chung, Won O. Song, Ock K. Chun. Estimated daily proanthocyanidin intake and major food sources in the U. S. diet. J Nutr 141(3): 447-52, 2011.
  • Meng Yang, Sung I. Koo, Won O. Song, and Ock K. Chun. Food matrix affecting anthocyanin bioavailability: review. Curr Med Chem 18(2): 291-300, 2011
  • Ock K. Chun, Chin E. Chung, Ying Wang, Andrea Padgitt, and Won O. Song. Changes in intakes of total and added sugar and their contribution to energy intake in the U.S. Nutrients. 2: 834-54, 2010.
  • Anna Floegel, Maria-Luz Fernandez, Richard Bruno, Sang-Jin Chung, Dae-Ok Kim, Ock K. Chun. Development of an Algorithm to Establish a Total Antioxidant Capacity Database of U.S. diet. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition (April 9, 2010, Epub ahead of print)
  • Ock K. Chun, Anna Floegel, Sang-Jin Chung, Chin Eun Chung, Won O. Song, Sung I. Koo. Estimation of antioxidant intakes from diet and supplement in U.S. adults. J Nutr 140(2):317-24, 2010.
  • Ock K. Chun, Sang-Jin Chung, Won O. Song. Estimated dietary isoflavone intake validated by urinary excretion of major isoflavones and their metabolites in US adults. J Am Diet Assoc. 109(2):245-54, 2009.
  • Won O. Song, Ock K. Chun. Tea consumption is major sources of flavan-3-ol and flavonol in US diet. J Nutr. 138(8): 1543S-1547S, 2008.
  • Ock K. Chun, Sang-Jin Chung, Kate Claycombe, Won O. Song. Serum C-reactive protein concentrations are inversely associated with dietary flavonoids intake in US adults. J Nutr. 138(4):753-60, 2008.

Peer-Review Journal Articles (Under Review)

  • Won O. Song, Chin Eun Chung, Ock K. Chun, Susan Cho and Saori Obayashi. Does added sugar consumption account for increased prevalence of obesity in the U.S.? Nutrition (Submitted in July 2011)
  • Ying Wang, Meng Yang, Beate Lloyd, Catherine G. Davis, Sang-Gil Lee, Wutae Lee, Sang-Jin Chung, Ock K. Chun. Impact of orange juice consumption on sugar and energy intake and body composition in the U.S. population. Public Health Nutrition (Submitted in June 2011)
  • Sang-Gil Lee, Beate Lloyd, Meng Yang, Ying Wang, Sang-Jin Chung, Ock K. Chun. Impact of orange juice consumption on bone health in the U.S. population. Am J Coll Nutr (Submitted in Aug. 2011)
  • Ying Wang, Meng Yang, Sang-Gil Lee, Catherine Davis, Anne Kenny, Sung I. Koo, Ock K. Chun. Plasma total antioxidant capacity is associated with dietary intake and plasma level of antioxidants in postmenopausal women. JNB (Submitted in Aug. 2011)
  • Catherine G. Davis, Yang, Ying Wang, Maria Luz Fernandez, Nancy R. Rodriguez, Ock K. Chun. Misreporting, variation of daily antioxidant intakes, and number of days required to assess usual antioxidant intakes in a sample of college population. J Am Diet Assoc (Submitted in Aug. 2011)
  • Catherine G. Davis, Meng Yang, Ying Wang, Caroline Yu, Maria Luz Fernandez, Nancy R. Rodriguez, Ock K. Chun. Assessment of nutrient adequacy with supplement use in a sample of healthy college students. Am J Coll Nutr (Submitted in Aug. 2011)
  • Meng Yang, Sang-Jin Chung, Chin Eun Chung, Won O. Song, Ock K. Chun. Dietary total antioxidant capacity is inversely associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease in U.S. adults. Public Health Nutrition (Submitted in Aug. 2011)
  • Meng Yang, Ying Wang, Catherine G. Davis, Sang-Gil Lee, Sang-Jin Chung, Beate Lloyd, Ock K. Chun. Contribution of orange juice consumption to micronutrient adequacy in U.S. population. Int J Food Sci Nutr (Submitted in Aug. 2011)

Book Chapters

  • Ying Wang, Sang-Gil Lee, Catherine Davis, Christopher Masterjohn, Anne Kenny, Richard Bruno, Ock K. Chun. Total antioxidant capacity: a useful tool in assessing antioxidant intake status. Natural compounds as inducers of cell death. New York, NY: Springer, 2011. (In press)
  • Textbook for Education of Environment, Training Institute for Secondary School Teachers, Yongin University, 2000

Conference Proceedings / Paper presentations (since 2008)

  • Ock K. Chun, Meng Yang, Ying Wang, Catherine G. Davis, Sang-Gil Lee, Sang-Jin Chung, Beate Lloyd. Contribution of orange juice consumption to micronutrient adequacy in U.S. population. 2011 Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington DC, April 9-13, 2011
  • Ock K. Chun, Ying Wang, Meng Yang, Catherine G. Davis, Sang-Gil Lee, Sang-Jin Chung, Beate Lloyd. Impact of orange juice on macronutrient intake and body composition. 2011 Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington DC, April 9-13, 2011
  • Ying Wang, Meng Yang, Sang-Gil Lee, Catherine G. Davis, Christopher Masterjohn, Anne Kenny, Richard S. Bruno, Ock K. Chun. Total antioxidant capacity: a useful tool in assessing antioxidant intake status. 2011 Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington DC, April 9-13, 2011
  • Ying Wang, Meng Yang, Catherine G. Davis, Sung I. Koo, Ock K. Chun. Dietary total antioxidant capacity reflects dietary and plasma antioxidant status in healthy college students. 2011 Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington DC, April 9-13, 2011
  • Ying Wang, Meng Yang, Sang-Gil Lee, Catherine G. Davis, Sung I. Koo, Ock K. Chun. Plasma total antioxidant capacity reflects plasma antioxidant status in overweight postmenopausal women. 2011 Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington DC, April 9-13, 2011
  • Meng Yang, Ying Wang, Catherine G. Davis, Sang-Gil Lee, Anne Kenny, Ock K. Chun. Dietary total antioxidant capacity is inversely associated with cardiovascular disease risks in overweight postmenopausal women. 2011 Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington DC, April 9-13, 2011
  • Meng Yang, Ying Wang, Catherine G. Davis, Sang-Gil Lee, Won O. Song, Ock K. Chun. Antioxidant Food Frequency Questionnaire in Healthy Young Adults: Validity and Reproducibility. 2011 Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington DC, April 9-13, 2011
  • Meng Yang, Ying Wang, Catherine G. Davis, Sang-Gil Lee, Anne Kenny, Won O. Song, Ock K. Chun. Validation and application of antioxidant food frequency questionnaire in overweight postmenopausal women. 2011 Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington DC, April 9-13, 2011
  • Catherine G. Davis, Yang, Ying Wang, Maria Luz Fernandez, Nancy R. Rodriguez, Ock K. Chun. Variations in antioxidant intake and determination of number of days required for assessing usual intake of antioxidants in diet. 2011 Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington DC, April 9-13, 2011
  • Catherine G. Davis, Meng Yang, Ying Wang, Caroline Yu, Maria Luz Fernandez, Nancy R. Rodriguez, Ock K. Chun. Assessment of nutrient adequacy and impact of lifestyle patterns on nutritional status of college students. 2011 Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington DC, April 9-13, 2011
  • Yi Guo, Catherine G Davis, Eunice Mah, Thunder Jalili, Ock K. Chun, Richard S Bruno. Dietary fat increases quercetin bioavailability in obese men and postmenopausal women. 2011 Experimental Biology Meeting, Washington DC, April 9-13, 2011
  • Na Young Park, Bong Han Lee, Young Jun Kim, Ock K. Chun, and Dae-Ok Kim. Daily per capita intake of total phenolics and antioxidant capacity from the most consumed fruits and vegetables in Korea. A Poster Presentation at 2010 International Symposium and Annual Meeting of The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition, Daegu, Korea Octorber 27-29, 2010
  • Anna Floegel, Dae-Ok Kim, Sang-Jin Chung, Ock K. Chun. Comparison of ABTS/DPPH assays for the detection of antioxidant capacity in foods. Experimental Biology Meeting, Anaheim, CA, April 25, 2010
  • Anna Floegel, Dae-Ok Kim, Sang-Jin Chung, Won O. Song, Sung I. Koo, Ock K. Chun. Development and validation of an algorithm to establish a total antioxidant capacity database of U.S. diet. Experimental Biology Meeting, Anaheim, CA, April 26, 2010 (oral presentation)
  • Meng Yang, Sang-Jin Chung, Chin Eun Chung, Won O. Song, Ock K. Chun. Estimation of total antioxidant capacity in US diet and dietary supplements. Experimental Biology Meeting, Anaheim, CA, April 25, 2010
  • Meng Yang, Sang-Jin Chung, Chin Eun Chung, Won O. Song, Ock K. Chun. Dietary total antioxidant capacity is inversely associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease in U.S. adults. Experimental Biology Meeting, Anaheim, CA, April 25, 2010
  • Ock K. Chun, Sang-Jin Chung, Won O. Song. Estimated intake of proanthocyanidin in the US population. Experimental Biology Meeting, New Orleans, LA, April 20, 2009.
  • Ock K. Chun, Sang-Jin Chung, Won O. Song. Serum carotenoid concentration predicted by dietary intake in the US. The 33rd National Nutrient Databank Conference, New Orleans, LA, April 17, 2009.  
  • Ock K. Chun, Sang-Jin Chung, Chin Eun Chung, Susan Cho, Won O. Song. Antioxidant intakes reduce the serum C-reactive protein concentrations in the U.S. The 32nd National Nutrient Databank Conference, Ottawa, Ca, May 12, 2008.
  • Ock K. Chun, Chin Eun Chung, Sang-Jin Chung, Won O. Song. Estimated intake of antioxidants from supplements in the US. Experimental Biology Meeting, San Diego, April 8, 2008.  
  • Ock K. Chun, Sang-Jin Chung, Chin Eun Chung, Won O. Song. Estimated intake of total antioxidants from diets and supplements in the U.S. Experimental Biology Meeting, San Diego, April 8, 2008.
News and Updates

Spring 2013 Seminar Series
A Seminar Series Presented by the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Connecticut
More Information

 

Scholarships

Please go to the CANR Scholarships and Financial Aid page for Scholarship information