Male Malin x Polled Dorset crossbred sheep were stall-fed with grass (10%) and PKC (90%) and supplemented with either zinc at 500 ug/g, as zinc sulfate (PKC+Zn group) or zinc (113 ug/g) and ammonium molybdate (500 ug/g) (PKC+Zn+Mo group) or unsupplemented diet (PKC group) for 20 weeks. Another group which acts as a control was fed with a diet consisting of corn and fish meal (2 0%) and grass (80%). The animals were monitored daily and the body weights were recorded at a period of two weeks intervals throughout the trial. Blood samples were also collected for mineral analysis. At the end of the trial the animals were slaughtered. The carcasses were examined for gross lesions, whilst the right liver lobes and renal cortex were isolated for histopathological evaluation and mineral analysis. All animals in the PKC group died before the end of the trial with the main clinical signs of generalised jaundice and haemoglobinuria. The kidneys were firm, enlarged and reddened or darkened. Histologically, the hepatocytes were swollen, vacuolated and necrotized, particularly at the periacinar zone. Hepatic fibrosis was observed at the periportal zone. Cellular swelling, vacuolation and necrosis were found in the tubular epithelial cells of the renal cortex. Neither clinical signs nor gross or remarkable histological lesions were observed in the other groups of animals. The hepatic, renal and blood copper levels In the PKC group were elevated when compared to the control. Addition of zinc either with or without ammonium molybdate in PKC diet inhibit the copper content in the organs, however the zinc contents were increased. The average daily gain of the PKC group was remained consistent to those of the other groups, except it was reduced starting at about 1 to 2 weeks prior to death. It was concluded that feeding PKC In excess in sheep can cause chronic copper toxicity. However, this effect can be prevented by dietary zinc supplementation either with or without ammonium molybdate.
Antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging activity and phenolic content of red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata rubra), Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa pekinensis var cylindrica), green cabbage (Brassica oleracea var capitata), mustard cabbage (Brassica juncea var rugosa) and Chinese white cabbage (Brassica rapa var chinensis), grown in Malaysia, were evaluated. Red cabbage had the highest antioxidant activity and phenolic content compared to the other cruciferous vegetables studied (p < 0.05). The contributions of all cruciferous vegetables to the antioxidant activity was >79%. The radical scavenging activity was in the order of Chinese white cabbage > red cabbage > mustard cabbage > Chinese cabbage > green cabbage. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the means of scavenging activity observed between cabbage, Chinese cabbage and Chinese mustard. Phenolic content was significantly different (p < 0.05) among all the cruciferous vegetables studied, and was in the order of red cabbage > Chinese white cabbage > green cabbage > Chinese cabbage >mustard cabbage. The study indicated that red cabbage possessed the highest antioxidant capacity and phenolic compounds concentration among all the cruciferous vegetables studied.
This study was aimed at assessing the antioxidant capacity and phenolic (free, bound, and total) contents in selected commercial beverages. Three different types of beverages commonly available in Malaysian supermarkets namely, cocoa, coffee and tea were selected. Phenolic contents were determined using a Folin-Ciocalteu assay. Antioxidant capacity (ferric reducing power and scavenging activity) was determined using FRAP and TEAC assays. Based on analysis of variance, coffee showed the highest amount of free phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity compared to cocoa and tea (p < 0.05). The major phenolic compound detected in coffee was chlorogenic acid. Cocoa showed higher phenolic content than tea. However, cocoa and tea have similar catechin content and possessed comparable antioxidant capacity. The free phenolic content in the three beverages was found to be highly correlated with antioxidant capacity. In addition, moderate correlation was observed between total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. On the other hand, there was no significant contribution of bound phenolic compounds towards antioxidant capacity. The contribution of antioxidant capacity in these beverages could be due to phenolic compounds in the free form. The study indicated that the beverages studied possessed varying degrees of antioxidant capacity and phenolic contents.
Food insecurity exists whenever people are not able to access sufficient food at all times for an active and healthy life. This study used the Radimer/Cornell hunger and food insecurity instrument to assess food insecurity and to determine the risk factors and consequences of food insecurity among low-income households in Kuala Lumpur. One hundred and thirty-seven Malay pre-school children (4-6 years old) from Taman Sang Kancil were measured for their weights and heights. Questionnaires were used to collect food security and socioeconomic information on the households. The findings indicated that 34.3% of the households were food secure, while 65.7% experienced some kind of food insecurity, (27.7% households were food insecure, 10.9% individuals were food insecure and 27.0% fell into the child hunger category). The prevalence of underweight, stunting and wasting were 44.5%, 36.5% and 30.7% respectively. The prevalence of high weight-for-height (overweight) was 13.1%. Based on multinomial logistic regression, larger household size (OR=1.418; p<0.01) and lower educational level of mothers (OR=0.749; p<0.01) and fathers (OR=0.802; p<0.05) were found to be significant risk factors for food insecurity. The study, however, did not find any significant difference in children's nutritional status according to household food security levels. It is recommended that for the Malaysian population, the Radimer/Cornell hunger and food insecurity instrument should be modified and further validated with various ethnic groups in a variety of settings. The validation should include the appropriateness of the statements to the target grounds and their different risk factors and outcomes of food insecurity.
Introduction: Obesity and excess weight gain in adults are linked to an increased
risk of cardiometabolic abnormalities. The changing lifestyle experienced by the
Orang Asli predisposes the population to the risk of obesity and non-communicable
diseases. This study aimed to describe the prevalence of overweight and obesity as
well as body-weight change over a period of four years among Orang Asli adults.
Methods: Data were collected from Orang Asli adults aged ≥18 years, who were
enrolled in the 2011-2012 and 2015-2016 surveys, and who were residing within
the Krau Wildlife Reserve. Weight and height of the adults (N2011-2012=828; N2015-
2016=662) were measured at both time points. Follow-up data were available for 378
adults (male:113; female:265). Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity
were 18.8% and 7.4% in 2011-2012 and 26.1% and 9.5% in 2015-2016. In the
follow-up group, significant differences in body weight and body mass index (BMI)
were observed in men and women, respectively. More than one-third (35.5%) of the
adults had weight gain of more than 5.0%. The increasing percentage of body weight
change was associated with being female, younger age, more years of schooling and
reduced household income. Conclusion: Obesity is a growing health problem in
the Orang Asli adult population. Weight gain was associated with socioeconomic
indicators and it was more prominent in women. Effective strategies are needed to
address the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity in this population to
further reduce adverse health outcomes.
Introduction: Changes in dietary habits are known to be associated with changes in health outcomes. This study determined food choices among Malaysian adults using secondary data of the Malaysian Adults Nutrition Survey (MANS) in 2003 and MANS in 2014.
Methods: A total of 6,742 and 3,000 adults aged 18 to 59 years participated in MANS 2003 and MANS 2014, respectively. Both studies used a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) to assess habitual food intake.
Results: Overall, the prevalence of adults consuming rice twice daily were 97.3% and 86.9% in 2003 and 2014, respectively. While the percentage of urban dwellers who consumed rice daily differed significantly between 2003 (96.7%) and 2014 (86.9%), the percentage remained quite similar among rural adults in 2003 (97.8%) and 2014 (96.3%). Other top ten food items consumed daily were sugar (2003, 58.5% vs 2014, 55.9%), marine fish (40.8% vs 29.4%), green leafy vegetables (39.9% vs 43.2%) and sweetened condensed milk (35.2% vs 29.3%). In both surveys, a higher percentage of men consumed rice, sugar and sweetened condensed milk on a daily basis compared to women, a higher proportion of whom daily consumed green leafy vegetables and marine fish. Majority of the adults reported drinking plain water daily. Other beverages taken daily were tea, coffee and chocolate-malt drinks.
Conclusion: Rice, sugar and sweetened condensed milk were among the top food items consumed daily in 2003 and 2014. Educational efforts to improve dietary intake of Malaysian adults is recommended.
Study name: Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey (MANS-2003); Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey (MANS-2014)
Understanding the experiences of household food insecurity is essential for better measurement and assessment of its nutritional, physical and psychological consequences. This qualitative study explored coping strategies and their perceived severity in relation to household food insecurity. Women (n=57; 20-50 years old) from rural and urban areas in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan participated in this study. These women were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into two parts, that is, demographic and socio-economic information and women's experiences of coping with household food insecurity. Women were chosen since they were primarily responsible for food acquisition and preparation for the all household members. Thematic analysis was utilized in data analysis. Thematic analysis is a method for identifying, analysing and reporting patterns and themes of the qualitative data. Themes capture something important related to the study objectives and describe an integrating as well as relational idea from the data. Results showed that households displayed a variety of non-food related coping strategies and food-related coping strategies. Women's descriptions of non-food related coping strategies to food insecurity were categorised into five themes i.e. cloth purchasing behaviors, reduce school-going children's expenditure, delay the payment of bills, adjust lifestyle and increase cash and income earning. Food related coping strategies were categorised into four themes i.e. food stretching, food rationing, food seeking and food anxiety. Food stretching is a strategy of food insecurity that affects the quality of diet. Food rationing comprises coping strategies of food insecurity related to the quantity of food available for household's consumption. Food seeking is a strategy of acquiring food through socially unacceptable ways and food anxiety is a strategy that indicates households allocating money to buy staple food in order to prevent food insecurity. Each coping strategy showed a different level of perceived severity, that is, less severe, quite severe, severe and very severe. In conclusion, the qualitative data provide valuable information for understanding the experiences of food insecurity that can be used as a basis to develop direct indicators that can capture the core behaviours and their level of severity to measure household food insecurity.
Public Health emphasizes the plurality of the determinants of health of individuals, families and communities. Nutrition, as a major determinant of health, is itself influenced by a multitude of determinants that are under the purview of several agencies. Thus, inter-sectoral collaboration among the relevant agencies is imperative for promoting optimal health and nutrition such a partnership is manifested in the development and implementation of the National Plan of Nutrition (NPAN) of Malaysia pursuant to the International Conference on Nutrition (ICN) held in 1992. While the overall coordination of NPAN is at the Family Development Division in the Ministry of Health, the body that sees to the coordination is again a multi-agency group in the form of the National Coordinating Committee for Food and Nutrition (NCCFN). The NCCFN has representation for the nine thrust areas of NPAN that cut across various sectors including health, agriculture, education, community development and economic planning. Capacity building is a central strategy in the NPAN through the creation of positions and special budgetary allocations, and the implementation of activities including research, training, development of dietary guidelines and the National Nutrition Policy. This policy will be a major driving force for strengthening and building of capacity for nutrition-related activities, and more importantly it will facilitate a coordinated and coherent approach to capacity building, including sharing of resources.
Introduction: This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of children below 24 months in the district of Pekan, Pahang, and identify the contributing factors. Methods: Using a cross-sectional methodology, a total of 910 children was selected by random sampling from four public health clinics. Anthropometric measurements were taken and weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for- height were calculated in Z scores. Immediate caregivers of children were interviewed by using a pretested validated questionnaire to assess their socio- economic, demographic, educational and occupational status. Results: Of the 910 children who participated in the study, the majority were Malay (70.1%), while the remaining comprised indigenous or Orang-Asli (OA) children. Prevalence of wasting, stunting and underweight were 28.7 %, 15.6 % and 19.0% respectively. There were more underweight males than females. Wasting was most common among children aged below 6 months. Stunting was more prevalent in children between 12 to 24 months. Obesity was seen in 7.3% of the sample. Maternal education, employment and socio-economic status had a significant influence on wasting and underweight. Children were vulnerable to stunting as age advanced, whereas prevalence of wasting tended to decrease. Conclusion: Malnutrition exists in significant proportions among children below 24 months in the Pekan district. This study identified low birth weight along with age, race, gender, large family size and socio-economic status as important risk factors of malnutrition.
A study was carried out to determine the anti-obesity effects of pink guava (Psidium guajava) puree in high fat diet (HFD) induced-obese rats. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups: control negative (CN), fed normal rat pellet; control positive (CP), low, medium and high dosage group (LDG, MDG, HDG) were fed HFD, respectively. CN and CP groups were given distilled water; meanwhile treated groups were given the aqueous puree dissolved in distilled water administered orally for six weeks. The results obtained showed that pink guava puree significantly decreased the body weight and systolic blood pressure of HFD induced-obese rats as compared to control. Blood glucose values for treated groups (4.3-4.9 mmol/L) were significantly lower as compared to CN and CP (5.7 and 5.8 mmol/L) respectively. HDG showed a significant reduction in 34.47% total cholesterol (TC) levels followed by MDG (23.30%) and LDG (22.33%). Triglycerides (TG) levels for all treated groups especially HDG (43.59%) showed significant difference as compared to control. High density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels showed an increase in the treated group as compared to control. Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels significantly decreased in HDG (69.70%), MDG (39.40%) and LDG (37.12%) as compared to control. Kidney function tests showed significant changes in urea concentrations in treated groups as compared to control. Liver function tests showed significant differences in globulin, A:G ratio, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and CK-Nac in treated groups as compared to control. Specific enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was significantly higher in LDG (2787.50±266.36 U/L), MDG (2819.50±262.04 U/L) and HDG (2897.33±674.97 U/L) respectively, as compared to CN (2184.50±816.59 U/L) and CP (2610.17±61.63 U/L). Significant differences were also seen in superoxidase dismutase (SOD) activities in treated groups as compared to control. In conclusion, this study found that pink guava puree had anti-obesity properties and high enzyme activities.
Introduction: Tocotrienol exerts neuroprotective effects resulting in an improved circulating oxidative status. However, accumulation of tocotrienol due to longterm intake may exert pro-oxidant effects. Thus the effects of short- and longterm supplementation of vitamin E tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) on the parameters of oxidative status in rat brains were determined. Methods: Wistar rats aged 3 months were supplemented with TRF for 3 or 8 months. Control groups received equivolume of distilled water. Rats were sacrificed and brains
harvested, weighed and homogenised. Supernatants were analysed for catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities, vitamin E and protein carbonyl. Results: A significant decline in the level of total vitamin E and its isomers with increasing age were found. TRF supplementation increased the level of total vitamin E with alpha-tocotrienol (ATT) being the major isomer raised. Glutathione peroxidase activity was also
significantly increased in the long-term supplemented group compared to the short-term supplemented and control groups. The results also showed significantly higher superoxide dismutase activity (p
Introduction: Appropriate oral health knowledge is essential to enable parents to be responsible for the oral health care of their children especially those with special needs. This study aimed to determine the oral health knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of parents and cariogenic food intake of their non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate children (NSCLP) compared to non-cleft children.
Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected parents with children aged 1 to 6 years at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia and Kota Bharu Dental Clinic. A face-to-face interview using a validated questionnaire on oral health KAP and cariogenic food intake of their children was done. Data were analysed by using IBM SPSS version 22.0.
Results: Sixty-four Malay parents with NSCLP (n=33) and non-cleft (n=31) children were recruited. The mean (SD) percentage score of oral health knowledge of parents in both groups (NSCLP and non-cleft) was fair, 59.5%(11.85) and 62.0%(15.00), P=0.4722; oral health attitude was good, 78.0% (9.30) and 80.2% (15.40), P=0.504; but oral health practice was poor 33.8% (5.94) and 36.1 (8.44), P=0.220. The cariogenic food frequency score was significantly higher in noncleft children; 40.2(10.32) compared to NSCLP children, 34.8(9.46), P=0.032.
Conclusions: Parents of both groups had fair knowledge and good attitude but poor oral health practice. Cariogenic foods were consumed more by the non-cleft children. Oral health awareness among the parents needs to be strengthened towards good oral health attitude and practice and non-cariogenic food choices for the betterment of oral health status of their children.
This study reports the food consumption patterns of adults aged 18 to 59 years in the Malaysian Adults Nutrition Survey (MANS) carried out between October 2002 and December 2003. A total of 6,742 subjects comprising 3,274 men and 3,468 women representing the northern, central , southern and east coast of Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah and Sarawak were interviewed. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) which consisted of 126 food items was used to evaluate the food consumption pattern (habitual food intake) of the respondents during the previous one- year period. The results demonstrate that nasi putih (cooked rice) was consumed by 97% of the population twice daily (average 2½ plates per day). Other food items consumed daily were marine fish, (one medium fish per day), green leafy vegetables (one cup per day) and sweetened condensed milk (three teaspoons per day. The mean frequencies for daily intake of rice, leafy vegetables, marine fish, local kuih, anchovy (ikan bilis) and biscuits were significantly higher among the rural compared to the urban adults. In contrast, more urban dwellers consumed chicken and eggs more frequently than their rural counterparts. More men than women consumed chicken and eggs more frequently. Malaysian adults showed a satisfactory habit of drinking plain water, with 99% drinking at least six glasses of plain water daily. Other beverages such as tea (47%), coffee (28%), chocolate-based drinks (23%) and cordial syrup (11%) were also consumed on daily basis, however, in a smaller proportion of the population. There were differences in the prevalence of daily consumption of foods when comparing urban and rural population, and also between men and women. The prevalence of daily consumption of marine fish among rural and urban adults was 51% and 34% respectively. For sweetened condensed milk, men and women consumed 43% and 28% respectively; however, more women drank full cream milk than men. Between the age groups, 21% of adults below 20 years old consumed chicken at least once a day, while this pattern of intake was not shown in the older age groups. Our findings show that adults, aged 50 to 59 years old, had the highest prevalence of daily consumption of full cream milk with 24% while those aged 18 to 19 years old had the lowest prevalence of daily consumption at 15%. The food consumption pattern of Malaysian adults appears to be satisfactory. However, some changes in food habits are recommended especially in substituting the less wholesome sweetened condensed milk with the more nutritious full cream or skimmed milk.
Study name: Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey (MANS-2003)
Among the chemicals, pesticides which are mainly used in agriculture pose major health problems to human beings. Indiscriminate use of pesticides belonging to the class organophosphate, organochlorine, carbomate, and pyrethroid leads to various health problems affecting the nervous, endocrine, reproductive and immune systems. The toxicity of pesticide in human beings is influenced by various factors such as age, gender and health status of the individual in addition to the intensity and frequency of pesticide used. Comparatively, children are at greater risk than the adults. The human detoxification system plays a vital role in reducing the harmful effects of the pesticides. However, when the toxic level is increased beyond the capacity of the detoxification system, health condition deteriorates. Human diet plays a crucial role in maintaining the overall health of a person. Vitamins such as Vitamin C and E are effective in preventing DNA damage because of their antioxidant properties. Intake of fruits and vegetables improves the antioxidants level in the blood. Phenolic substances present in certain spices possess potent anticarcinogenic activities. Organic farming may be a viable solution to reduce the toxic effects of chemicals.
Introduction: It is widely recognised that health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is
impaired in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Most previous
studies were conducted among the younger adult population and there is limited
information on the elderly population. This study aimed to determine the COPD
assessment test (CAT) score in the elderly with COPD. Methods: This was a crosssectional study involving 140 elderly patients who had been diagnosed with COPD
at two selected government institutions. Data on socio-demographic and health
status were collected by interviewing patients and reviewing their medical records.
The HRQOL was measured using CAT. The independence sample t-test and one-way
ANOVA were conducted to compare the CAT scores with socio-demographic and
health status. Results: The socio-demographic and health characteristics of the
patients were as follows: majority (54%) were aged 60-70 years, male (97%), Malay
(59%), married (75%), ex-smokers (72%), had attained primary education (48%),
had co-morbidities (54%), no history of hospitalisation or visits to the emergency
department due to COPD (57%), and were in moderate stage of airflow obstruction
(53%). The mean of CAT score was 21.87±6.85 and the majority of the patients were
classified as having worst symptoms of COPD (93%) as they had high CAT score
which was ≥ 10. Conclusion: Majority of the patients in this study had high scores
of CAT, which indicated poor HRQOL. Ex-smokers had higher scores compared
to non-smokers. More attention need to be given to these subgroups in order to
increase their quality of life.
Introduction: Validation of a culturally specific FFQ is important in assessing habitual dietary intake of ethnic population groups. This study aimed to assess the validity and reproducibility of a FFQ developed specifically for determining the dietary intake of Malaysian Punjabis.
Methods: Subjects were approached through voluntary participation for the development and validation phase in the Klang Valley. A list of foods consumed by participants (n=100) was documented through a 3-day dietary recall. The validation process was conducted by verifying the developed FFQ against another group of Punjabi adult volunteers (n=101) who kept a 2-day dietary record. Macronutrients, dietary fibre, fatty acids, cholesterol, three types of minerals (calcium, sodium, iron) and four vitamins (B12, folate, C, A) were included in the analysis. Reproducibility was shown with intraclass correlation (ICC) values between FFQ1 vs FFQ2 that were administered 6 months apart among 32 participants.
Results: In the validation study, the FFQ1 was found to have over-estimated almost all nutrients compared to those in the dietary records. The Spearman correlation coefficients for energy, carbohydrate, protein and fat intake based on the FFQ1 and 2-day dietary records were 0.54, 0.38, 0.47, and 0.31, respectively. The classification into the same and adjacent quartiles was between 61- 84% for the nutrients consumed. Bland Altman plots showed relatively good agreement (between ±2 standard deviation) for both the dietary methods used. Reproducibility analysis of ICC (FFQ1 vs FFQ2) was between 0.46-0.76 for macronutrients and 0.20-0.92 for micronutrients.
Conclusion: The developed FFQ could be used as a valid tool for assessing dietary intake of Malaysian Punjabis, as it showed a moderate agreement with dietary record for intake of energy and macronutrients.
Introduction: Studies have found that breastfeeding problems are associated with negative breastfeeding outcomes. Unfortunately, assessing breastfeeding problems can be quite difficult. The objective of the paper is to share the process of tool development for the assessment of breastfeeding problem in an Indonesian setting. Methods: The development of the tool was a two-stage process, consisting of understanding the range and pattern of breastfeeding problems (through literature review, discussions with lactation experts, and in-depth interviews with nursing mothers) and the production of the tool (through discussions with graphic designers and communication practitioners, pre-testing the tools, and finalising a workable, viable tool). The process led the authors to use flash cards for assessing the breastfeeding problems. Each card consisted of information about age, a code number, an image and a description of the breastfeeding problem. Each set of the flash cards represented an age period of 0-1, 1-3, and 3-6 months. The final flash cards were used in a cross-sectional study of 205 mothers of infants aged 6-12 months in Maros District, South Sulawesi. Results: The flash cards captured patterns of breastfeeding problems experienced by mothers within the first month, such as sore nipple, no milk production, fatigue, breast engorgement, and sleepy baby, or those problems that persisted throughout the six-month period such as infants' refusal to breastfeed and mothers feeling fatigued. The decreasing or increasing magnitude of a problem over time was also reflected in the flash cards. Conclusion: Identification of the dynamic patterns and magnitude of breastfeeding problems was successfully captured with the use of flash cards.
Introduction: This study aimed to identify dietary patterns (DPs) and their
association with successful aging (SA). Methods: A comparative cross-sectional
study was conducted among 579 elderly subjects recruited from four states in
Malaysia through a multistage random sampling method. SA was defined as having
no chronic illnesses, no functional limitation, normal global function, no depression,
a good quality of life and good self-perceived health. Information on dietary intake was
obtained using a diet history questionnaire. Cognitive functions were assessed using
the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), depressive symptoms using Geriatric
Depression Score-15 items (GDS-15) and a question regarding their perceived health
and quality of life. Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily
Living (IADL) questionnaires were used to determine functional status. DPs were
obtained using the principal component analysis (PCA) approach. An ordinal logistic
regression model was used to examine associations between DP scores and SA.
Results: Five DPs were identified namely ‘sweet foods-beverages’, ‘meat-vegetablesrice and noodles’, ‘local snacks-fish and seafood-high salt foods’, ‘fruits-legumes’, and
‘tropical fruits-oats’. A higher score for ‘tropical fruits-oats’ DP was associated with
SA [Adjusted OR=1.59 (95% CI: 1.08-2.32)]. However, the association diminished
when the model was adjusted for education level. Further analysis indicated that
this DP increased the chance of SA among those with secondary education and above
[Adjusted OR=2.43 (95% CI: 1.09–5.42)]. Conclusion: ‘Tropical fruits-oats’ DP is
associated with SA among elderly with secondary education and above. There is a
need to investigate DPs among those with lower education.
Introduction: Often considered a legitimate strategy to enhance health and
performance, the consumption of nutritional supplements (NS) has become
a common practice which frequently results in unintentional doping among
athletes. Despite a probable association between NS and doping, there are limited
studies on this topic in developing countries such as Malaysia. Thus, this study
aimed to identify the prevalence of NS usage among national elite athletes and
assess their knowledge and attitude regarding its use and doping.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Malaysian National Sports
Institute among national elite athletes (n=50) recruited via convenience sampling.
The athletes completed a self-administered questionnaire documenting their
demographic characteristics, training information, NS consumption, knowledge
and attitude related to supplement-doping. The total knowledge and attitude
scores were compared according to demography, training information, and NS
consumption.
Results: The prevalence of NS use among the athletes was 72%.
NS usage was significantly associated with training duration (p=0.029), source of
nutrition information (p=0.047) and self-exploration on supplements (p=0.045).
Supplement-doping knowledge was significantly higher among athletes with
tertiary level education (p=0.027), NS users (p=0.044), those obtaining information
from nutritionists (p=0.048) and those who had attended nutrition workshops
(p