Mushroom cultivation has been more popular recently in Malaysia. They are favoured due to their delicious flavour and low calorific value. Apart from that, they also contain high amount of protein and other essential nutrients. As recommended by food pyramid, people should take in more of their calories from whole grains-based foods than any other sources. Three selected carbohydrate based products namely rice-porridge (RP), paratha flat bread (PB) and conventional cake (CC) were formulated with dried Pleurotus sajor-caju (PSC) powder. All three products were analyzed for proximate analysis and sensory evaluation. Result shows the percentage of moisture, ash, fat and protein of RP increased in line with the levels of PSC powder used except for carbohydrate. Whereas for PB and CCs added with 2%, 4% and 6% PSC, the percentage of all nutrients were higher than control (0%) except for fat. Mushroombased RP had significantly higher value of odour attribute as compared to control, with RP added with 6% PSC powder received the highest score. Meanwhile, mushroom-based PB received better score on textural attribute compared the control. In CC, panels prefer the cake added with 4% PSC powder as they gave higher scores for softness and flavour attributes. In conclusion, addition of PSC powder to partially replace rice and wheat flour in RP, CC and PB enhance essential nutritional components and well accepted by consumers. Thus, PSC powder can be considered to be utilized in carbohydrate–based food products with the purpose of enhancing nutrient compositions without affecting its sensory acceptance.
Chicken meat is widely consumed and it is the most common and popular poultry species in the world.The preference and consumption of chicken meat have been tremendously increasing in Malaysia. About 120 respondents who took part in the study were classified into four groups namely routine chicken eaters, chicken likers, chicken lovers with a health concern and real chicken lovers based on their preference and consumption of chicken meat. It is worthwhile to mention that the taste, price, and easy to cook were statistically significant between the four groups. In addition, race moderates the relationship with Malays dominating the chicken lovers’ category. It is interesting to observe that Malays prefer chicken meat with chilies, Chinese prefer chicken meat with sauce and Indians prefer chicken meat with salad.The findings of the study are useful to the broiler plants and agencies that are responsible in selling chicken meat. Further, the results may be used as a guide to the selection of chicken meat, and also to the restaurant owners in the selection of food to be offered to their consumers.
Previous literatures have demonstrated a significant research gap in terms of the quality of the management practices in the organizational performances of the SMEs particularly in the food processing industry in Malaysia. Subsequently, an exploratory study is conducted to verify the proposed critical success factors (CSF) and the model constructs for SMEs in the Malaysian
food industry that is in line with these practices. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to identify CSF of quality management practices of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Malaysian food industry and to develop a conceptual framework of quality management practices based on the Total Quality Management (TQM) in relation to the organizational performance of the SMEs in the food processing industry in Malaysia. The quality management framework consists of leadership, corporate planning, human resource management, customer focus, supplier focus, information management, process management and quality assurance as the CSF. Finding from the exploratory study has supported the proposed constructs and results show that the instrument is reliable in measuring the construct. Thus, this study is important to support the SMEs in the food processing industry in Malaysia to manage and prioritize the implementation of QM in order to improve the organizational performance.
MeSH terms: Food-Processing Industry; Humans; Leadership; Malaysia; Organizations; Research; Total Quality Management; Information Management; Food Industry
The attractiveness of food as tourism product has partly derived from the gastronomic aspect. The ingredients, the preparations, the end products, and the eating circumstances are cultural, educational, and entertaining. However, there is little research empirically demonstrates if there is a difference between first-time and repeat visitors in terms of food experience at destination, or how the various food experience attributes influence visitors’ overall satisfaction while visiting a destination. Hence, this study was undertaken to address the gap. Data were collected via on-site survey questionnaire administrated to a random sample of visitors at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and various touristic areas around Kuala Lumpur. The results indicated significant differences between first-time and repeat visitors in terms of their food experience. In addition, multiple regression analysis revealed that traditional food preparation was an important factor to tourists’ overall satisfaction for both first-time and repeat visitors. In sum, the study is the first to examine the effect of food experience attributes on first time and repeat visitors separately
MeSH terms: Eating; Food; Personal Satisfaction; Surveys and Questionnaires; Regression Analysis; Airports
The role of adolescents in family decision making related to food consumption in Malaysia has received comparatively little or no attention by researchers although there were evidences of differences in influences found in other countries. This study addressed the research gap by testing adolescents’ bilateral strategies in influencing their family decision using family power theory. A survey of 500 adolescents from urban area was conducted to investigate their influence based on their involvement in family consumer tasks. Key findings include strong relationship between perception of influence and rewards thus indicate the existence of strategies in adolescents influence attempt.
MeSH terms: Adolescent; Attention; Decision Making; Humans; Malaysia; Surveys and Questionnaires; Research; Research Personnel; Reward
Lactic acid bacteria is well known for it uses as starter culture in various fermented food, and it functions as a good natural antimicrobial agent. Cincaluk, a Malaysian fermented shrimp product commonly found in traditional dishes is commonly enriched with LAB. Out of 50 colonies from a local cincaluk, 7 strains were successfully isolated and shown to be positive in lactose utilization and catalase tests. The majority of the isolates from cincaluk showed Gram-positive cocci morphology and belonged to the group Staphyloccoccus spp. By using agar disc diffusion method, the anti-bacterial properties of these isolates (namely isolate 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7) moderately inhibited the growth of several pathogenic strains, i.e., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium and Bacillus subtilis which were used as indicator bacteria. Other than isolates 1, 2, 3 and 5; the 16S rRNA gene for isolate 6 and 7 were successfully amplified. The 16S rRNA gene fragment from isolate 7 was successfully cloned and sequenced. Based on rRNA sequences, both isolates 6 and 7 belonged to the group Staphylococcus piscifermentans, a rare strain previously reported to be specifically isolated exclusive from fish sources.
Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are non-pathogenic bacteria that have an important role in human daily life. LAB produce antimicrobial agents, such as bacteriocins, diacetyl and hydrogen peroxide which help to extend the shelf life of food products. In this study, LAB were isolated from selected seafood; threadfin salmon and grass shrimp. Antibacterial activity of LAB extracts against Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and Escherichia coli were determined using the disc diffusion method. Three strains of LAB were selected for the characterization of antibacterial agents produced by LAB. The parameters such as pH, heat, incubation period and medium, were analyzed in this experiment. Changes in environmental parameters affected the activity of antibacterial agents. The antibacterial agents produced by LAB were generally heat stable and stable in a wide range of pH levels. However, the inhibition activity of LAB was destroyed with a heat treatment of 121°C, and the antibacterial effect was reduced at a pH of 12, which occurs in most strains. The medium containing NaCl enhanced the
antibacterial activity of P1S1 and P3S3 strains against S. typhimurium, L. monocytogenes and E. coli. Moreover, the antibacterial agents exhibited the greatest inhibition activity at incubation times between 24 and 72 h. The antibacterial activity was reduced after an incubation time of 96 h. The characterization of antibacterial agents aids in the improvement of food products safety
A study was conducted to determine personal hygiene knowledge among 25 food handlers at 12 selected primary schools in Klang Valley area, Selangor, Malaysia. A qualitative approach using in-depth interviews was employed and respondents were selected by a convenience sampling. The results showed that the respondents had basic knowledge on personal hygiene practices, mainly on hand washing (30.7%) and glove use (18.7%). The food handlers (90%) practiced various good hand washing practices, with only 36% did not practice washing hands after eating or drinking. Most respondents (>70%) practiced glove use, however more than 50% did not wash hands with every glove change, change gloves when change type of products and after preparing raw material. The study showed that the food handlers have basic knowledge one good personal hygiene practices. However, some discrepancies were revealed in the proper hand washing procedure. This study recommended good hand washing procedure to be reiterated among the food handlers. There is also an immediate need for continuous training among food handlers regarding good personal hygiene practices.
MeSH terms: Eating; Food Handling; Hand Disinfection; Hygiene; Malaysia; Surveys and Questionnaires; Gloves, Protective
Bromelain is one of the vegetal proteases found in pineapple plant. It has numerous applications in food and pharmaceuticals. This review discussed different bromelain purification techniques which will assist in determining the effect of processing conditions on the purification efficacy. There are four purification techniques to be discussed, namely; reverse micellar system, aqueous two phase extraction, cation exchange chromatography and ammonium sulphate precipitation. Of the four techniques, cation exchange chromatography had shown the best bromelain purification technique with purification fold of 10.0 followed by reverse micellar system containing CTAB/ isooctane/ hexanol/ butanol, ATPE containing PEG polymer, ammonium sulphate precipitation and ATPE containing PEO-PPO-PEO with purification fold of 5.2, 4.0, 2.81 and 1.25, respectively.
Phytochemicals belonging to the group’s phenols, terpenes, betalains, organosulfides, indoles and protein inhibitors are important components in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts that have health promoting benefits and a variety of applications in food and pharmaceutical industries. Initially only a few of these important phytochemicals are produced commercially by chemical synthesis. However, recent developments in the field of biotechnology have provided metabolic engineering strategies that use microorganisms as cell factories for high production of these products. This review will discuss the general biosynthetic pathways, metabolic engineering and optimization strategies of functional phytochemicals that have received a lot of attention from investigators.
Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) has become a popular method for packaging foods as it can extend the shelf life of food with minimal quality defect. Oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide are the common gases used in MAP, Oxygen and carbon dioxide inclusive as only these two gaseous have the preservative effects on the packed food product. Their effect on microbial changes of any food product throughout storage period is highly depend on type of the product and packaging materials, appropriate gas composition, storage temperature, the ratio between gas and product volume, and hygienic manner during processing and packaging. MAP with highest percentage of carbon dioxide is proven to be more effective than vacuum packaging in inhibiting the growth of spoilage and pathogenic bacteria in many fishery products. This article reviews the consequences of MAP towards microbial changes in fishery products.
This research aims to evaluate the effects of different cognitive training using imagery, general cognitive (CG) and specific cognitive (CS) (Paivio, 1985) to the achievement of service by the tekong in sepak takraw. The effects of imagery training with physical training towards achievement, imagery ability and exercise heart rate were also collected. The subjects consisted of 24 elite players sepak takraw (tekong) school level player that involved in Tunas Cemerlang program, aged 13 to 17 years old (M = 14.66, SD = 1.40). The subjects were divided into three groups, the test (CG & CS) and control (C) group with an exercise program to different imagery and physical training for eight weeks. Pre-test was conducted by testing the service performance appraisal based on the results of 25 landings repeated as in training, Miq-R questionnaire (Hall & Martin, 1997) and pulse rate immediately prior to the exercise of a service. ITP imagery training program adapted from Morris et at. (2005) was conducted using different imagery scripts for CG and CS groups and post-test was conducted at the end of the program. Independent samples t-test showed no significant difference when comparing the two test groups. Paired t-test and one-way ANOVA analysis showed that CG group significantly improved performance while not among C group. Analysis Miq-R and the average training heart rate is not significant for all subjects. The study has found that the imagery of CG and CS are not differed in terms of the effectiveness in improving achievement but both are suggested to be conducted in the training program to improve the service by the tekong.
Otot memainkan
peranan penting dalam setiap pergerakan utama manusia seperti berjalan, bernafas,
mengangkat barang dan sebagainya. Harris dan Watkins (1993) mentakrifkan kekuatan otot
sebagai keupayaan otot rangka untuk membangunkan daya untuk tujuan memberikan
kestabilan dan mobiliti di dalam sistem otot, fungsi pergerakan boleh berlaku. Kekuatan otot
berbeza mengikut umur dan jantina. Terdapat pelbagai kajian yang dilakukan untuk mengukur
kekuatan otot bagi golongan dewasa. Namun demikian, masih kurang penyelidikan telah
dijalankan ke atas kekuatan otot bagi kanak-kanak yang bersekolah di peringkat taska atau pra
sekolah. Kanak-kanak yang belajar di peringkat taska atau pra sekolah adalah kanak-kanak
yang berumur dari 4 hingga 6 tahun. Kajian ulasan ringkas ini mengupas beberapa faktor
yang mempengaruhi kekuatan otot dalam kalangan kanak-kanak pra sekolah. Kajian-kajian
yang dipilih telah menepati kriteria-kriteria yang telah di tetapkan iaitu: a) hasil dapatan
menunjukkan kaitan antara kekuatan otot dan pelajar pra sekolah dan b) faktor mempengaruhi
kekuatan otot di kalangan kanak-kanak.
MeSH terms: Ataxia Telangiectasia; Autonomic Nervous System Diseases; Fenofibrate
Kecergasan fizikal adalah kebolehan tubuh badan untuk berfungsi secara efisien dan efektif, menikmati masa kesenggangan untuk sihat, menghindari penyakit, dan untuk bertindak balas ketika keadaan kecemasan. Aktiviti fizikal berkait rapat dengan tahap kecergasan fizikal seseorang. Aktiviti fizikal adalah pergerakan badan yang dihasilkan oleh rangka otot yang akan mengakibatkan pengeluaran tenaga. Kualiti kehidupan bagi rakyat di Malaysia dipercayai akan memberi kesan terhadap pertumbuhan pembangunan fizikal di sesebuah tempat tersebut. Kawasan bandar ialah kawasan yang diwartakan serta kawasan tepu bina yang bersempadan dengannya dan gabungan kedua-dua kawasan ini mempunyai penduduk seramai 10,000 orang atau lebih semasa Banci Penduduk dan Perumahan 2000. Kawasan selainnya yang diwartakan dan mempunyai jumlah penduduk kurang daripada 10,000 orang serta kawasan yang tidak diwartakan, dikelaskan sebagai luar bandar. Perbezaan kawasan tempat tinggal di kawasan yang dibezakan oleh saiz penduduk boleh dikaitkan dengan perbezaan dalam tabiat makan, akses untuk ke tempat kemudahan sukan dan peluang untuk aktiviti fizikal, dan lain-lain lagi. Pendedahan-pendedahan ini terhadap alam sekitar juga mungkin menentukan gaya kehidupan serta risiko terhadap kardiovaskular dan ia mungkin dikaitkan dengan tahap kecergasan. Justeru, kajian ulasan ini dijalankan untuk mengenalpasti faktor yang mempengaruhi tahap kecergasan dalam kalangan remaja dan kanak-kanak di kawasan bandar dan luar bandar.
This study was conducted to investigate i) while the shoulder was in 180° of flexion and the elbow extended, which of the forearm position (supination, pronation and neutral) can generate the greatest handgrip strength, ii) is there any correlation of the handgrip strength between the dominant hand (right hand) and non-dominant hand (left hand) in each forearm position, and iii) will the dominant hand possessed 10% higher handgrip strength than the non-dominant hand. 100 right handed sedentary active students age 22.20 years old (± 1.03), height 172.83 cm (± 6.37), body mass 68.87 (± 11.52) and grip position 3.77 (± 0.77) were recruited in this study. The result indicated that for both the dominant and non-dominant hand, when the shoulder is in 180˚ flexion of the body with the elbow extended, the greatest grip strength was obtained when the forearm was in neutral position followed by pronation and supination position. Post Hoc analysis showed that for both dominant hand and non-dominant hand, pronation and supination forearm position produced greater strength score compared to supination forearm position (p0.05). In all forearm position, participants were shown to produced significantly greater strength in their dominant hand and all the scores were more than 10% greater compared to when using non-dominant hand. Positive relationships were also found for the strength score between dominant hand and non-dominant hand. As the conclusion, different shoulder, elbow and forearm position can affect handgrip strength.
MeSH terms: Elbow; Elbow Joint; Forearm; Hand; Pronation; Shoulder; Students; Supination; Range of Motion, Articular; Hand Strength
exhibits extensive first pass metabolism with poor oral bioavailability (27%–50%) limiting its therapeutic efficiency. The present study involved an attempt to enhance its aqueous solubility by formulating as solid dispersions (SDs) using sodium starch glycollate (SSG) as a carrier. The dispersions were formulated by dispersion method and evaluated by phase solubility, drug content, in vitro release and mathematical modelling. Solid state characterisation of samples was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetric (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (FTIR), near infrared (NIR), Raman analysis and wettability studies. The phase solubility and thermodynamic parameters indicated the spontaneity and solubilisation effect of carrier. The release rate from the dispersions was higher than pure drug and found to increase with an increase in carrier content. The optimised dispersions were selected based on release studies, profiles and dissolution parameters. XRD, DSC, FTIR, NIR and Raman analysis proved the crystallinity reduction, changes in crystal quality and compatibility between drug and carriers. Wettability studies proved the increased wettability in selected dispersions. Based on the findings, possible mechanisms that would have contributed to dissolution enhancement of CLZ were suggested. Such findings could be extrapolated to enhance the aqueous solubility of other poorly water-soluble drugs.
Non-communicable diseases are raising much concern in Malaysia due to changing lifestyles which is parallel to the economic development. Intervention program like community health screening (CHS) allows early detection, prevention and reduction of chronic diseases and its risk factors. This study aimed to assess the obesity level, risk factors for chronic diseases and blood cholesterol level among the Malaysian public. A health screening program was conducted on April 2012 at Sungai Pinang township, in the state of Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. A convenient sample of the general public was recruited. Screening tests consisted of measurements of blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), body fat percentage, visceral fat accumulation (VFA) and blood cholesterol. Chi-square analysis was used to determine the difference between prevalence of obesity among subjects with different age groups and gender. Out of 76 recruited subjects, 23.7% had systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or greater and 7.9% had diastolic blood pressure of 90 mmHg or greater. Approximately 51% of the subjects were obese (BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m2). Body fat percentage was high in 63.6% and 63.0% of male and female subjects, respectively. High VFA (≥15) was found in 19.8% of subjects. There were three newly discovered hypercholesterolemia cases (total cholesterol ≥ 5.2 mmol/L). Counselling was given during the health screening program to help the public to take necessary measures to reduce risk factors while preventing complication resulting from these chronic diseases. In conclusion, prevalence of obesity found to be high in the present screened population.
MeSH terms: Blood Pressure; Blood Pressure Determination; Cholesterol; Chronic Disease; Counseling; Female; Hypercholesterolemia; Life Style; Malaysia; Male; Obesity; Residence Characteristics; Risk Factors; Body Mass Index; Prevalence; Intra-Abdominal Fat; Economic Development
Studies were conducted to assess the percutaneous absorption of the triacyglycerols (TAGs), tocols and carotenoids present in crude and refined palm oil. In vitro experiments using upright Franz diffusion cells were employed to investigate the permeability of these compounds across full thickness human skin and into the receptor solution. Cetrimide, a cationic surfactant was chosen to be used as a solubilising agent in the receptor phase with an optimum concentration of 3.0 mg/mL and was able to provide sink conditions throughout the permeation. TAGs, tocols and carotenoids all permeated human skin from crude palm oil (CPO), whereas only TAGs permeated when refined palm oil (RPO) was used. Of the TAGs, oleic acid-containing TAGs was preferentially absorbed despite palmitic acid being the most prevalent fatty acid (FA) in TAGs. Tocols in the form of α-T3 showed the highest permeation followed by γ-T3, α-T and the lowest permeation was observed for δ-T3. Carotenoids (α-carotene and β-carotene) also showed an appreciable amount of permeation from CPO.
Introduction: Breakfast skipping is an unhealthy eating behaviour reportedly common among adolescents. A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the differences in body weight status, socio-demographic, behavioural, and psychological characteristics between daily breakfast takers and breakfast skippers.
Methods: Data were collected from form four students of four randomly selected secondary schools in Sibu, Sarawak using a self-administered questionnaire. Body weight and height were measured using standard procedures and BMI-for-age z-scores were determined.
Results: A total of 375 students were recruited (male: 32.0%, female: 68.0%; Chinese: 39.5%, Than: 26.4%, Malay: 17.1% and Melanau: 17.1 %; mean age = 16.45 ± 0.53 years). The prevalence rate of breakfast skippers at 40.3% was higher compared to the national prevalence of 32.7%. About 19.7% of the students were found to be at risk of eating disorders. In addition, the prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 10.9% and 7.7%, respectively. Significant associations were found between breakfast skipping with sex, lunch skipping, dinner skipping, eating attitudes, and body weight status. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that female students and those who skipped lunch or dinner were more likely to skip breakfast.
Conclusion: Breakfast skipping was quite common in this sample of adolescents in Sarawak. As frequent breakfast skipping has negative health and academic performance implications, increased nutrition education and health awareness campaigns on the importance of breakfast taking among school students should be undertaken.
MeSH terms: Adolescent; Attitude; Body Weight; Cross-Sectional Studies; Eating; Female; Humans; Malaysia; Male; Obesity; Surveys and Questionnaires; Students; Body Mass Index; Prevalence; Logistic Models; Overweight; Breakfast; Lunch
Critical time windows exert profound influences on foetal physiological and metabolic profiles, which predispose an individual to later diseases via a 'programming' effect. Obesity has been suggested to be 'programmed' during early life. Foetuses and infants who experience adverse growth are subjected to a higher risk of obesity. However, the key factors that link adverse foetal growth and obesity risk remain obscure. To date, there is considerable evidence showing that the overall balance between free radical damage and the anti.oxidative process being challenged occurs throughout gestation. With the view that pregnancy is a pro-inflammatory state confronted with enhanced oxidative stress, which possesses similar characteristics to obesity (a chronic inflammatory state with increased oxidative stress), oxidative stress is thus biologically plausibly be proposed as the underlying mechanism between this causal-disease relationship. Oxidative stress could act as a programming cue for the development of obesity by inducing complex functional and metabolic deregulations as well as inducing the alteration of the adipogenesis process. Thereby, oxidative stress promotes adipose tissue deposition from early life onwards. The enhancement of fat accumulation further exaggerates oxidative derangement and perpetuates the cycle of adiposity. This review focuses on the oxidative stress pathways in prenatal and early postnatal stages, from the aspects of various endogenous and exogenous oxidative insults. Because oxidative stress is a modifiable pathway, this modifiability suggests a potential therapeutic target to fight the obesity epidemic by understanding the causal factors of oxidant induction.