Skip to main content

Ji-hee Yoo

Korea University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Ji-hee Yoo's research lab focuses on the intersection of circadian biology, metabolic health, and chronic disease prevention, with a particular emphasis on diabetes, obesity, and their complications such as cardiovascular disease and dementia. The lab investigates the role of circadian rhythms in metabolic regulation, the pathophysiological mechanisms of insulin and gut hormone signaling, and the cardiorenal protective effects of incretin-based therapies like GLP-1 receptor agonists. A key research direction involves identifying modifiable risk factors—especially glycemic variability and chronotype—for preventing long-term complications in metabolic disorders.

circadian rhythmmetabolic syndromeglycemic variabilitydiabetic kidney diseaseincretin therapy

Research Overview

Papers
131
Total Citations
2,778
Papers (5y)
51
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
51total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
531total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|356 citations·2015
Evening Chronotype Is Associated With Metabolic Disorders and Body Composition in Middle-Aged Adults
Ji Hee Yu, Chang‐Ho Yun, Jae Hee Ahn, Sooyeon Suh, Hyun Joo Cho, Seung Ku Lee, Hye Jin Yoo, Ji A Seo, Sin Gon Kim, Kyung Mook Choi, Sei Hyun Baik, Dong Seop Choi
SJR Q1The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & MetabolismOA

At the population level, evening chronotype was independently associated with diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and sarcopenia. These results support the importance of circadian rhythms in metabolic regulation.

Endocrine and Autonomic SystemsNeuroscience
2
Article|139 citations·2012
Molecular Mechanisms of Appetite Regulation
Ji Hee Yu, Min‐Seon Kim
SJR Q1Diabetes & Metabolism JournalOA

The prevalence of obesity has been rapidly increasing worldwide over the last several decades and has become a major health problem in developed countries. The brain, especially the hypothalamus, plays a key role in the control of food intake by sensing metabolic signals from peripheral organs and modulating feeding behaviors. To accomplish these important roles, the hypothalamus communicates with other brain areas such as the brainstem and reward-related limbic pathways. The adipocyte-derived h

Endocrine and Autonomic SystemsNeuroscience
3
Article|79 citations·2022
GLP-1 receptor agonists in diabetic kidney disease: current evidence and future directions
Ji Hee Yu, So Young Park, Da Young Lee, Nan Hee Kim, Ji A Seo
SJR Q1Kidney Research and Clinical PracticeOA

With the emergence of various classes of blood glucose-lowering agents, choosing the appropriate drug for each patient is emphasized in diabetes management. Among incretin-based drugs, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists are a promising therapeutic option for patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Several cardiovascular outcome trials have demonstrated that GLP-1 receptor agonists have beneficial effects on cardiorenal outcomes beyond their blood glucose-lowering effects in p

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
4
Article|68 citations·2019
Incidence and Risk Factors for Dementia in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Nationwide Population-Based Study in Korea
Ji Hee Yu, Kyungdo Han, Sang Hyun Park, Hanna Cho, Da Young Lee, Jin Wook Kim, Ji A Seo, Sin Gon Kim, Sei Hyun Baik, Yong Gyu Park, Kyung Mook Choi, Seon Mee Kim
SJR Q1Diabetes & Metabolism JournalOA

The optimal management of modifiable risk factors may be important for preventing dementia in subjects with diabetes mellitus.

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
5
Article|44 citations·2019
Effects of long-term glycemic variability on incident cardiovascular disease and mortality in subjects without diabetes
Ji Hee Yu, Kyungdo Han, Sang Hyun Park, Da Young Lee, Ga Eun Nam, Ji A Seo, Sin Gon Kim, Sei Hyun Baik, Yong Gyu Park, Seon Mee Kim, Nan Hee Kim, Kyung Mook Choi
SJR Q3MedicineOA

Increased glycemic variability (GV) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular complications in patients with diabetes. We evaluated the risk of future development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death according to GV in a general population without diabetes.We used the National Health Insurance Service, providing a population-based, nationwide database of Koreans. We included individuals without diabetes who underwent glucose measurement at least 3 times during 2002 to 2006. GV was ca

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
6
Article|43 citations·2013
Long-term Changes in Serum IGF-1 Levels After Successful Surgical Treatment of Growth Hormone–Secreting Pituitary Adenoma
Mi-Seon Shin, Ji Hee Yu, Jong Han Choi, Chang Hee Jung, Jenie Yoonoo Hwang, Young Hyun Cho, Chang Jin Kim, Min‐Seon Kim
SJR Q1Neurosurgery

Satisfactory remission of acromegaly by IGF-1 criteria was delayed in a large proportion of acromegalic patients, especially those with high postoperative IGF-1 levels. Hence, additional treatment can be delayed in clinically stable acromegalic patients who show no evidence of residual tumors on postoperative magnetic resonance imaging and a normal growth hormone suppressive response to a glucose load.

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
7
Article|37 citations·2011
The Prevalence of Peripheral Arterial Disease in Korean Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Attending a University Hospital
Ji Hee Yu, Jenie Yoonoo Hwang, Mi-Seon Shin, Chang Hee Jung, Eun Hee Kim, Sang Ah Lee, Eun Hee Koh, Woo Je Lee, Min‐Seon Kim, Joong‐Yeol Park, Ki‐Up Lee
SJR Q1Diabetes & Metabolism JournalOA

The prevalence of PAD in diabetic patients was 3.2%, suggesting that the prevalence in Korean diabetic patients is lower than that of patients in Western countries.

SurgeryMedicine
8
Article|36 citations·2021
Sarcopenia is associated with decreased gray matter volume in the parietal lobe: a longitudinal cohort study
Ji Hee Yu, Regina E. Y. Kim, Jin‐Man Jung, So Young Park, Da Young Lee, Hyun Joo Cho, Nam Hoon Kim, Hye Jin Yoo, Ji A Seo, Sin Gon Kim, Kyung Mook Choi, Sei Hyun Baik
SJR Q1BMC GeriatricsOA

BACKGROUND: Substantial evidence supports an association between physical activity and cognitive function. However, the role of muscle mass and function in brain structural changes is not well known. This study investigated whether sarcopenia, defined as low muscle mass and strength, accelerates brain volume atrophy. METHODS: A total of 1284 participants with sarcopenic measurements and baseline and 4-year follow-up brain magnetic resonance images were recruited from the Korean Genome and Epidem

PhysiologyMedicine
9
Article|34 citations·2013
Enhanced carbohydrate craving in patients with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes mellitus
Ji Hee Yu, M. S. Shin, D. J. Kim, J. R. Lee, Soo‐Young Yoon, S. G. Kim, Eun Hee Koh, Wookjin Lee, Jun-Young Park, Myung-Soo Kim
SJR Q1Diabetic Medicine

AIMS: Although hyperphagia is a common manifestation of diabetes mellitus, data on food craving in patients with diabetes are limited. This study compared food craving in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and a control group without diabetes. METHODS: A total of 210 subjects (105 with Type 2 diabetes and 105 age-, sex- and BMI-matched control subjects) participated in two food craving surveys. The surveys were as follows: the General Food Cravings Questionnaire--Trait, which assesses the ge

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational HealthMedicine
10
Article|30 citations·2014
Decreased sucrose preference in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Ji Hee Yu, Mi-Seon Shin, Jeong Rim Lee, Jong Han Choi, Eun Hee Koh, Woo Je Lee, Joong‐Yeol Park, Min‐Seon Kim
SJR Q1Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Nutrition and DieteticsNursing
11
Article|25 citations·2015
Obstructive sleep apnea with excessive daytime sleepiness is associated with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease regardless of visceral fat
Ji Hee Yu, Jae Hee Ahn, Hye Jin Yoo, Ji A Seo, Sin Gon Kim, Kyung Mook Choi, Sei Hyun Baik, Dong Seop Choi, Chol Shin, Nan Hee Kim
SJR Q2The Korean Journal of Internal MedicineOA

In the present study, OSA was closely associated with NAFLD in Korean adults. This association was particularly strong in those with EDS or short sleep duration regardless of VFA.

PhysiologyMedicine
12
Article|23 citations·2018
U-shaped association between sleep duration and urinary albumin excretion in Korean adults: 2011-2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Ji Hee Yu, Kyungdo Han, Nam Hoon Kim, Nam Hoon Kim, Hye Jin Yoo, Ji A Seo, Sin Gon Kim, Kyung Mook Choi, Sei Hyun Baik, Nan Hee Kim, Nan Hee Kim
SJR Q1PLoS ONEOA

Although sleep duration has been extensively studied in metabolic diseases, few studies have investigated the impact of sleep duration on chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between sleep duration and albuminuria in the general population. Among 24,948 adults who participated in the 2011-2014 KNHANES, a total of 19,994 subjects were included in this analysis. Subjects were categorized into the following five groups according to self-reported sleep durati

Experimental and Cognitive PsychologyPsychology
13
Article|21 citations·2021
Morphologic changes of the incisive canal and its proximity to maxillary incisor roots after anterior tooth movement
Ji Hee Yu, Tung Nguyen, Yong‐Il Kim, Soonshin Hwang, Kyung‐Ho Kim, Chooryung J. Chung
SJR Q1American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial OrthopedicsOA
OrthodonticsDentistry
14
Article|17 citations·2022
Association of long‐term hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance with brain atrophy and cognitive decline: A longitudinal cohort study
Ji Hee Yu, Regina E. Y. Kim, So Young Park, Da Young Lee, Hyun Joo Cho, Nam Hoon Kim, Nam Hoon Kim, Hye Jin Yoo, Ji A Seo, Sin Gon Kim, Kyung Mook Choi, Sei Hyun Baik
SJR Q1Diabetes Obesity and Metabolism

AIM: To investigate the longitudinal changes in brain volume and cognitive function associated with diabetes at midlife, and to examine whether long-term hyperglycaemia, insulin resistance or secretory function is associated with brain atrophy and cognitive decline. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used data from 2377 participants with both baseline and 4-year follow-up brain magnetic resonance images and neuropsychological measures from the Ansan cohort of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. Time-we

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine
15
Article|10 citations·2022
Night blood pressure variability, brain atrophy, and cognitive decline
Ji Hee Yu, Regina E. Y. Kim, So Young Park, Da Young Lee, Hyun Joo Cho, Nam Hoon Kim, Nam Hoon Kim, Hye Jin Yoo, Ji A Seo, Seong Hwan Kim, Sin Gon Kim, Kyung Mook Choi
SJR Q2Frontiers in NeurologyOA

Background: Although blood pressure variability (BPV) has emerged as a novel risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, few studies have examined the effects of night BPV on brain structure and function. This study investigated the association of night BPV with brain atrophy and cognitive function changes. Methods: The analysis included 1,398 participants with valid ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring at baseline and both baseline and 4-year follow-up brain magnetic resonance images who were rec

Psychiatry and Mental healthMedicine

Research Areas

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismPhysiologyEpidemiologyNephrologySurgeryOncology

Dive deeper into Ji-hee Yoo's research on Nubint

Open this lab's papers in the app to read with AI, summarize, and cite in your writing.