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Fulltext Red palm olein-enriched biscuit supplementation lowers Ascaris lumbricoides reinfection at 6-month after anthelmintic treatment among schoolchildren with vitamin A deficiency (VAD)

Tan PY, Loganathan R, Teng KT, Lee SC, Mohd Johari SN, Selvaduray KR, et al.

Acta Trop, 2023 Apr;240:106860.
PMID: 36775004 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106860

Notwithstanding the global efforts made to control intestinal parasitic infections, soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections are still one of the most prevalent infections globally, especially in developing countries. A double-blinded, randomized controlled trial was conducted on 343 primary schoolchildren (8-12 years old) with vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in rural areas of Malaysia to investigate the effects of red palm olein (RPO)-enriched biscuits on STH reinfection rates and infection intensities. The effects of the RPO-enriched biscuits (experimental group, n = 153) and palm olein (PO)-enriched biscuits (control group, n = 190), were assessed at 3- and 6-month after the administration of complete triple-dose albendazole (one dose of 400 mg for three consecutive days). The overall STH infection rate at baseline was recorded at 65.6%. At 6-month, a significantly lower reinfection rate of A. lumbricoides was observed in the experimental group (35.3%) compared to the control group (60.0%) (P0.05). These findings suggest the potential beneficial effects of RPO-enriched biscuit supplementation on the reinfection of A. lumbricoides, which could be attributed to its high carotenoids content by enhancing host immune response and mucosal epithelium integrity. However, further studies are warranted to confirm whether RPO supplementation could result in similar parasite-specific beneficial effects in other community settings, as well as to explore the underlying mechanisms.
Fulltext Stabilization and Release of Palm Tocotrienol Emulsion Fabricated Using pH-Sensitive Calcium Carbonate

Tan PY, Tey BT, Chan ES, Lai OM, Chang HW, Tan TB, et al.

Foods, 2021 Feb 07;10(2).
PMID: 33562391 DOI: 10.3390/foods10020358

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) has been utilized as a pH-responsive component in various products. In this present work, palm tocotrienols-rich fraction (TRF) was successfully entrapped in a self-assembled oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion system by using CaCO3 as the stabilizer. The emulsion droplet size, viscosity and tocotrienols entrapment efficiency (EE) were strongly affected by varying the processing (homogenization speed and time) and formulation (CaCO3 and TRF concentrations) parameters. Our findings indicated that the combination of 5000 rpm homogenization speed, 15 min homogenization time, 0.75% CaCO3 concentration and 2% TRF concentration resulted in a high EE of tocotrienols (92.59-99.16%) and small droplet size (18.83 ± 1.36 µm). The resulting emulsion system readily released the entrapped tocotrienols across the pH range tested (pH 1-9); with relatively the highest release observed at pH 3. The current study presents a potential pH-sensitive emulsion system for the entrapment and delivery of palm tocotrienols.
Supplementation of red palm olein-enriched biscuits improves levels of provitamin A carotenes, iron, and erythropoiesis in vitamin A-deficient primary schoolchildren: a double-blinded randomised controlled trial

Tan PY, Loganathan R, Teng KT, Mohd Johari SN, Lee SC, Selvaduray KR, et al.

Eur J Nutr, 2024 Apr;63(3):905-918.
PMID: 38240773 DOI: 10.1007/s00394-023-03314-6

PURPOSE: Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) remains a significant contributor to childhood morbidity and mortality in developing countries; therefore, the implementation of sustainable and cost-effective approaches to control VAD is of utmost pertinence. This study aims to investigate the efficacy of red palm olein (RPO)-enriched biscuit supplementation in improving vitamin A, haematological, iron, and inflammatory status among vitamin A-deficient schoolchildren.
METHODS: We conducted a double-blinded, randomised controlled trial involving 651 rural primary schoolchildren (8-12 years) with VAD in Malaysia. The schoolchildren were randomised to receive either RPO-enriched biscuits (experimental group, n = 334) or palm olein-enriched biscuits (control group, n = 317) for 6-month duration.
RESULTS: Significant improvements in retinol and retinol-binding protein 4 levels were observed in both groups after supplementation (P
Fulltext Mental Health and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Observational Evidence from Malaysia

Tan ESS, Chin SAFX, Sathapan MSP, Dewi AD, Amini F, Bustami NA, et al.

Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2023 Feb 24;20(5).
PMID: 36901057 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20054046

The interplay of physical, social, and economic factors during the pandemic adversely affected the mental health of healthy people and exacerbated pre-existing mental disorders. This study aimed to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of the general population in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study involving 1246 participants was conducted. A validated questionnaire consisting of the level of knowledge and practice of precautionary behaviors, the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) was used as an instrument to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results revealed that most participants possessed a high level of knowledge about COVID-19 and practiced wearing face masks daily as a precautionary measure. The average DASS scores were beyond the mild to moderate cut-off point for all three domains. The present study found that prolonged lockdowns had significantly impacted (p < 0.05), the mental health of the general population in Malaysia, reducing quality of life during the pandemic. Employment status, financial instability, and low annual incomes appeared to be risk factors (p < 0.05) contributing to mental distress, while older age played a protective role (p < 0.05). This is the first large-scale study in Malaysia to assess the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the general population.
High prevalence of xerophthalmia linked to socio-demographic and nutritional factors among vitamin A-deficient rural primary schoolchildren in Malaysia

Seng KBH, Tan PY, Lim CC, Loganathan R, Lim YA, Teng KT, et al.

Nutr Res, 2024 Nov;131:14-26.
PMID: 39357258 DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2024.07.003

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) remains a major health issue in developing nations, contributing to preventable childhood blindness. However, there is lack of recent data on xerophthalmia, especially among school-aged children in Malaysia. We hypothesized that xerophthalmia persists among rural schoolchildren in Malaysia and potentially associated with socio-demographic status and malnutrition. We conducted a cross-sectional study on 596 schoolchildren (8-12 years) from ten rural primary schools located in five states across Malaysia. Children meeting the criteria for xerophthalmia assessment included those diagnosed with vitamin A deficiency (VAD) (plasma retinol < 0.70 µmol/L) and marginal VAD (plasma retinol 0.70 to < 1.05 µmol/L). The overall prevalence of xerophthalmia was 48.8%, with the most common ocular sign being conjunctival xerosis (38.9%). The occurrence of xerophthalmia was negatively associated with retinol-binding protein 4 (RPB4) (P=0.003), alpha-carotene (P=0.04), hemoglobin (P=0.004), weight (P=0.02), body mass index (BMI) (P=0.04) and WAZ (weight-for-age z-score) (P=0.04) status. Based on multivariate logistic regression analysis, a higher risk of xerophthalmia was observed in boys (Adjusted odd ratio [AOR]: 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2-2.5) and Orang Asli (OA, indigenous) schoolchildren (AOR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.3-3.0), while schoolchildren with overweight/obesity status (AOR: 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0.8) were associated with a reduced risk of xerophthalmia. The present study unveils a high prevalence of xerophthalmia among vitamin A-deficient primary schoolchildren in rural areas of Malaysia, especially among the indigenous community. The identified socio-demographic and nutritional factors associated to xerophthalmia would facilitate the implementation of more targeted interventions in addressing these issues.