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Glycaemic and insulin responses of diabetic patients to traditional Malaysian meals and the effect of guar gum

Khalid BA, Lee LF, Samad AH, Ng ML

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 1996 Dec;5(4):239-43.
PMID: 24394617

The aims of the project were to determine the glycaemic and insulin responses of non-insulin dependent diabetic patients (NIDDM) to 3 traditional Malaysian meals compared to oral glucose, and to determine whether guar gum would affect these responses. Patients with NIDDM were tested with 75 g oral glucose and three common breakfast meals of the three main ethnic groups of Malaysia. When compared with the oral glucose group, significantly by lower blood glucose responses were seen at 90 and 120 minutes post prandial for nasi lemak (p<0.05) and at 60, 75 and 90 minutes for mee sup (p<0.05). No significant difference was seen for roti telur. There was no significant difference in plasma glucose at any time point of the study when the three test meals were compared with each other. Addition of 5g granulated guar gum mixed with water taken prior to the glucose significantly lowered the plasma glucose at 60, 120 and 150 minutes postprandially (p<0.05). Similarly for the test meals, guar gum significantly lowered plasma glucose concentration between 15 and 45 minutes (p<0.03) postprandial for nasi lemak and between 15 and 30 minutes (p<0.03) for mee sup but not with roti telur. With addition of guar gum, there was no significant change of insulin responses with the three meals but a significant increase was seen at 30 minutes (p<0.02) after ingestion of glucose.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
Fulltext Ethnic characteristics of coronary heart disease risk factors and mortality in peninsular Malaysia

Khor GL

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 1994 Jun;3(2):93-8.
PMID: 24351241

The types and prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors vary somewhat among the three main ethnic groups in peninsular Malaysia. Indians consistently show the highest prevalence for hypercholesterolemia and diabetes mellitus. Among the Malays, a relatively high prevalence of hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia have been reported. Overweight is also a risk factor among the Indians and Malays. In general, Chinese tend to have a lower prevalence for these CHD risk factors than the Indians and Malays. Parallel to the rapid socio-economic development and urbanization in recent decades is a rise in the percentage of deaths due to cardiovascular disease in peninsular Malaysia, that is from 1.8% of total deaths from all causes in 1950 to about 30% in 1991. Coronary heart disease accounts for 40% of all cardiovascular diseases. The mortality rate for CHD has more than doubled between 1965 and 1991, from 24.6 per 100 000 to 57.2. While Indians have been showing the highest CHD mortality rate so far, that of the Malays has been increasing most rapidly since 1970, concomitant with the latter's increase in their proportion of the urban population in peninsular Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
Fulltext Prevalence of overweight and obese school children aged between 7 to 16 years amongst the major 3 ethnic groups in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kasmini K, Idris MN, Fatimah A, Hanafiah S, Iran H, Asmah Bee MN

Asia Pac J Clin Nutr, 1997 Sep;6(3):172-4.
PMID: 24394759

6239 children aged 7 to 16 years, attending 22 primary and secondary schools in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were screened using a self report questionnaire, with their heights and weights measured using a digital electronic SECA beam balance. The selection was done by a two staged stratified random sampling from a total of 226 schools in Kuala Lumpur. The racial distribution was 56.7% Malays, 33.8% Chinese and 8.1% Indians; 3.6% (n:222) of the children were identified as obese and 6% (n:373) identified as overweight. The definitions of obese and overweight were computed using growth charts of the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) from the median of the reference population. There were no significant differences amongst the 3 major ethnic groups in the obese group. The differences were significant in the overweight group with the Indians most overweight, followed by the Chinese and the Malays.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
Genetic microdifferentiation in the Semai Senoi of Malaysia

Fix AG, Lie-injo LE

Am J Phys Anthropol, 1975 Jul;43(1):47-55.
PMID: 1155591

Blood samples, demographic and cultural data were collected from seven settlements of Semai Senoi, a swidden farming ethnic group of Malaysia. Three genetic loci (ABO blood group, hereditary ovalcytosis, and hemoglobin) were analyzed in a total sample of 546 individuals. These data indicate a considerable degree of genetic microdifferentiation in this area of the Semai distribution. Parent-offspring birthplace data (analyzed by means of a migration matrix) and settlement histories show that settlements are not strongly isolated. Genetic differences in the study area demonstrate a reasonable correspondence with migration and the history of the settlements. Genetic convergence also occurs through the addition of migrant groups to established populations leading to new patterns of marriage between donor and recipient groups. The genetic structure of the total Semai population through time thus comprises a mosaic of shifiting allele frequencies in a series of semi-isolated local populations.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
Multivariate statistical analysis on the physical interrelationship of native tribes in Sarawak, Malaysia

Kurisu K

Am J Phys Anthropol, 1970 Sep;33(2):229-34.
PMID: 5473088
Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
Seasonality of births for West Malaysia's two main racial groups

Johnson JT, Ann TB, Palan VT

Hum Biol, 1975 Sep;47(3):295-307.
PMID: 1176104
Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
Physical Activity of Malaysian Primary School Children: Comparison by Sociodemographic Variables and Activity Domains

Wong JE, Parikh P, Poh BK, Deurenberg P, SEANUTS Malaysia Study Group

Asia Pac J Public Health, 2016 Jul;28(5 Suppl):35S-46S.
PMID: 27257293 DOI: 10.1177/1010539516650726

This study describes the physical activity of primary school children according to sociodemographic characteristics and activity domains. Using the Malaysian South East Asian Nutrition Surveys data, 1702 children aged 7 to 12 years were included in the analysis. Physical activity was reported as a total score and categorized into low, medium, and high levels based on Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children. Higher overall activity scores were found in boys, younger age, non-Chinese ethnicity, and normal body mass index category. Sex, age, and ethnicity differences were found in structured or organized, physical education, and outside-of-school domain scores. Transport-related scores differed by age group, ethnicity, household income, and residential areas but not among the three physical activity levels. Participation of girls, Chinese, and older children were low in overall and almost all activity domains. Sociodemographic characteristics are important factors to consider in increasing the different domains of physical activity among Malaysian children.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
Fulltext Growth Charts for Tribal, School-Going Children in Jharkhand Using Anthropometry and Lambda-Mu-Sigma Methods to Create Growth Charts

Kumar D, Rishabh Kumar R, Kujur A, Kumar C, Sunderam S, Kashyap V, et al.

Malays J Med Sci, 2020 Jul;27(4):108-118.
PMID: 32863750 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.4.10

Background: This study intends to find the growth patterns of selected school children. Globally accepted statistical methods were used to evaluate the data and prepare a growth chart.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with school-going children from 16 selected schools of a tribal district in Jharkhand using multistage cluster random sampling. In each selected school, 60 students, 30 boys and 30 girls, were chosen randomly, totaling 960 children (full data was for 935 children only). Growth charts were created using Lambda-Mu-Sigma (LMS) chart maker version 2.5 for height, weight and body mass index (BMI). In the charts, the LMS values with Z scores for each age and respective height and weight for boys and girls were recorded.
Results: The 468 boys and 467 girls were in the range of 6-14 years of age. Percentile values obtained for the measured heights in centimetres were evaluated and compared with Indian Academy of Pediatrics reference charts for boys and girls for the same age group, and our values were found to be on the lower side. We were able to plot a growth chart of the data set; as the tribal children's ethnicity is different, this growth chart might be used to assess nutritional status.
Conclusion: We concluded that growth curves for height, weight, and BMI may be used for evaluating children of age 6-14 years in the tribal population. The measures can be a good indicator of their nourishment status and overall growth patterns, which might be indigenous to their ethnicity. A larger sample size of similar tribal populations may give a clearer picture.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
Fulltext Helicobacter pylori related functional dyspepsia in a defined Malaysian population

Nafeeza MI, Isa MR, Kudva MV, Ishak MS, Mazlam MZ, Haron A, et al.

Malays J Med Sci, 2000 Jan;7(1):22-6.
PMID: 22844211 MyJurnal

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of H. pylori in functional dyspepsia among the three main races in Malaysia. Gastric antral biopsies from 233 (98 males, 135 females; age range: 17-75 years, mean age 39.5 years) patients attending the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) gastroenterology clinic were assessed for the presence of H. pylori by culture and histology. About a third of the cases (79 of 233 (34%); 34 males, 45 females; mean age 42.6 yrs) were positive for H. pylori. The presence of H. pylori was always associated with antral gastritis. Malay patients were least likely to be positive for H. pylori (10 of 88 (11.4%); 5 males, 5 females; mean age 35.7 yrs) compared to the Chinese (43 of 95 (45%); 19 males; 24 females; mean age 40.2 yrs) and Indian patients (23 of 41 (56%); 10 males, 13 females; mean age 48.1 yrs). We found that H. pylori were most common among Chinese followed by Indians. However, the relative risk for the Indians was 8.58 and 6.29 for the Chinese compared to Malays. We conclude that the prevalence of H. pylori in patients with functional dyspepsia differs considerably with respect to ethnic groups.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
The Effectiveness of Tuberculosis Education Programme in Kelantan, Malaysia on Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Stigma Towards Tuberculosis among Adolescents

Idris NA, Zakaria R, Muhamad R, Nik Husain NR, Ishak A, Wan Mohammad WMZ

Malays J Med Sci, 2020 Dec;27(6):102-114.
PMID: 33447138 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2020.27.6.10

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is contagious and the transmission risk is high in congregate settings like school. Incidence of TB among adolescents is significantly high hence an education programme was developed to improve knowledge, attitude, practice and stigma (KAPS) among them.
Methods: This school-based, non-randomised controlled study was conducted among secondary school students with a total of 236 respondents. The KAPS score were assessed before and 1 month after using self-administered validated KAPS questionnaire on TB. Analysis was done using repeated measures ANOVA.
Results: The mean percentage score (SD) for baseline knowledge, attitude, practice and stigma score for the respondents were 54.0 (4.48), 65.6 (1.74), 70.0 (1.43) and 66.0 (6.88), respectively. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the knowledge and stigma score for intervention group compared to control group, adjusted for gender, ethnicity and smoking status 4 weeks post-TB educational programme. However, with regards to attitude and practice score, there was no significant difference (P = 0.210 and P = 0.243, respectively).
Conclusion: TB education programme was effective in improving knowledge and stigma related to TB. This health education programme can be used as one of the strategies for the prevention and control of TB in schools.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
Fulltext Awareness and Perception Towards Implementation of Dispensing Separation in Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abdul Ghani N, Kamaruddin N'F, Mokhtar NI

Malays J Med Sci, 2021 Feb;28(1):87-96.
PMID: 33679224 DOI: 10.21315/mjms2021.28.1.11

Background: Dispensing separation (DS) is a critical policy change that will reduce medical costs, improve population health and increase the quality of healthcare in Malaysia. This study aims to determine the awareness and perception of the public regarding the DS methods.
Methods: This cross-sectional study uses a pre-validated, self-administered questionnaire, which has been administered to 200 residents in Jitra, Kedah, Malaysia. Descriptive and inferential statistics have been used to analyse the data.
Results: Females formed 64.0% of the participants, with Malay being the dominant ethnic group (n = 167, 83.5%); 77.5% of the participants reported they were aware of the role of pharmacists in the healthcare system. However, 35.0% of the participants reported having never heard the term 'dispensing separation' in any mainstream media in Malaysia, whereas 73.5% of the participants reported that a pharmacist was more reliable than a physician in providing medicines once the diagnosis had been made and 77.5% of them acknowledged that pharmacists were experts in the field of medication. There was a significant association between the participant's awareness and the agreement on perceptions toward the implementation of the DS (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Awareness of the implementation of DS among residents in Jitra is still low. However, there is strong evidence of public support and the benefits of DS in Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
Fulltext The Use of SNPs in Pharmacogenomics Studies

Alwi ZB

Malays J Med Sci, 2005 Jul;12(2):4-12.
PMID: 22605952

Pharmacogenomics is the study of how genetic makeup determines the response to a therapeutic intervention. It has the potential to revolutionize the practice of medicine by individualisation of treatment through the use of novel diagnostic tools. This new science should reduce the trial-and-error approach to the choice of treatment and thereby limit the exposure of patients to drugs that are not effective or are toxic for them. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) holds the key in defining the risk of an individual's susceptibility to various illnesses and response to drugs. There is an ongoing process of identifying the common, biologically relevant SNPs, in particular those that are associated with the risk of disease. The identification and characterization of large numbers of these SNPs are necessary before we can begin to use them extensively as genetic tools. As SNP allele frequencies vary considerably across human ethnic groups and populations, the SNP consortium has opted to use an ethnically diverse panel to maximize the chances of SNP discovery. Currently most studies are biased deliberately towards coding regions and the data generated from them therefore are unlikely to reflect the overall distribution of SNPs throughout the genome. The SNP consortium protocol was designed to identify SNPs without any bias towards these coding regions. Most pharmacogenomic studies were carried out in heterogeneous clinical trial populations, using case-control or cohort association study designs employing either candidate gene or Linkage disequilibrium (LD) mapping approaches. Concerns about the required patient sample sizes, the extent of LD, the number of SNPs needed in a map, the cost of genotyping SNPs, and the interpretation of results are some of the challenges that surround this field. While LD mapping is appealing in that it is an unbiased approach and allows a comprehensive genome-wide survey, the challenges and limitations are significant. An alternative such as the candidate gene approach does offer several advantages over LD mapping. Ultimately, as all human genes are discovered, the need for random SNP markers diminishes and gene-based SNP approaches will predominate. The challenges will then be to demonstrate convincing links between genetic variation and drug responses and to translate that information into useful pharmacogenomic tests.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
Fulltext Association between physical activity and cognitive function in a multi-ethnic Asian older adult population

Chia YC, Low END, Teh JKL, Chew J, Thanaraju A, Lim WG, et al.

Sci Rep, 2025 Feb 28;15(1):7249.
PMID: 40021918 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-92074-w

Physical activity (PA) is regarded as a non-pharmacological preventive strategy against cognitive decline. This study aimed to examine the relationship between PA and cognitive function in cognitively normal older Malaysian adults from a multi-ethnic, urban-dwelling community. Participants completed a questionnaire with questions on demographic details, socioeconomic status, health conditions, and short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Bivariate analyses and hierarchical linear regression were conducted to examine the relationship between IPAQ and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores. Among the 382 participants (median age = 66 years), 51.6% were female. Median MoCA score was 24; and IPAQ levels were 28%, 39% and 33% 'Low', 'Moderate' and 'High' respectively. Bivariate analysis showed MoCA scores significantly differed across IPAQ levels (p-value

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups
Sex differences in acute coronary syndrome in a multiethnic asian population: results of the malaysian national cardiovascular disease database-acute coronary syndrome (NCVD-ACS) registry

Lu HT, Nordin R, Wan Ahmad WA, Lee CY, Zambahari R, Ismail O, et al.

Glob Heart, 2014 Dec;9(4):381-90.
PMID: 25592791 DOI: 10.1016/j.gheart.2014.06.001

Sex differences in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) have been well studied in major registries and clinical trials in Western populations. Limited studies have examined the sex differences in ACS using a large number of Asian women as the subjects.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups*
Polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a multi-ethnic population

Suthandiram S, Gan GG, Zain SM, Haerian BS, Bee PC, Lian LH, et al.

J Hum Genet, 2014 May;59(5):280-7.
PMID: 24646728 DOI: 10.1038/jhg.2014.19

An imbalance in folate metabolism can adversely affect DNA synthesis and methylation systems which can lead to susceptibility to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their haplotypes in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) are associated with NHL, remain inconclusive. We investigated the association between MTHFR C677T and A1298C SNPs and NHL risk in a population which is made up of Malay, Chinese and Indian ethnic subgroups. A total of 372 NHL patients and 722 controls were genotyped using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. Our results of the pooled subjects failed to demonstrate significant association between the MTHFR C677T and A1298C SNPs with NHL and its subtypes. The results were in agreement with the previous meta-analyses. In the Indian ethnic subgroup however, single locus analysis of MTHFR A1298C appears to confer risk to NHL (Odds ratio (OR) 1.91, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.22-3.00, P=0.006). The risk is almost doubled in homozygous carrier of MTHFR 1298CC (OR 4.03, 95% CI 1.56-10.43, P=0.004). Haplotype analysis revealed higher frequency of CC in the Indian NHL patients compared with controls (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.18-2.93, P=0.007). There is lack of evidence to suggest an association between MTHFR C677T and A1298C with the risk of NHL in the Malays and Chinese. In the Indians however, the MTHFR A1298C confers risk to NHL. This study suggests ethnicity modifies the relationship between polymorphisms in the folate-metabolizing gene and NHL.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups/genetics*
Prevalence, racial variations, and risk factors of age-related macular degeneration in Singaporean Chinese, Indians, and Malays

Cheung CM, Li X, Cheng CY, Zheng Y, Mitchell P, Wang JJ, et al.

Ophthalmology, 2014 Aug;121(8):1598-603.
PMID: 24661862 DOI: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.02.004

To describe the prevalence and risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a multiethnic Asian cohort of Chinese, Malay, and Indian persons.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups/ethnology*
Association of genetic and non-genetic risk factors with the development of prostate cancer in Malaysian men

Munretnam K, Alex L, Ramzi NH, Chahil JK, Kavitha IS, Hashim NA, et al.

Mol Biol Rep, 2014;41(4):2501-8.
PMID: 24443231 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-014-3107-8

There is growing global interest to stratify men into different levels of risk to developing prostate cancer, thus it is important to identify common genetic variants that confer the risk. Although many studies have identified more than a dozen common genetic variants which are highly associated with prostate cancer, none have been done in Malaysian population. To determine the association of such variants in Malaysian men with prostate cancer, we evaluated a panel of 768 SNPs found previously associated with various cancers which also included the prostate specific SNPs in a population based case control study (51 case subjects with prostate cancer and 51 control subjects) in Malaysian men of Malay, Chinese and Indian ethnicity. We identified 21 SNPs significantly associated with prostate cancer. Among these, 12 SNPs were strongly associated with increased risk of prostate cancer while remaining nine SNPs were associated with reduced risk. However, data analysis based on ethnic stratification led to only five SNPs in Malays and 3 SNPs in Chinese which remained significant. This could be due to small sample size in each ethnic group. Significant non-genetic risk factors were also identified for their association with prostate cancer. Our study is the first to investigate the involvement of multiple variants towards susceptibility for PC in Malaysian men using genotyping approach. Identified SNPs and non-genetic risk factors have a significant association with prostate cancer.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups/genetics
Fulltext Prevalence of PALB2 mutations in breast cancer patients in multi-ethnic Asian population in Malaysia and Singapore

Phuah SY, Lee SY, Kang P, Kang IN, Yoon SY, Thong MK, et al.

PLoS One, 2013;8(8):e73638.
PMID: 23977390 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0073638

The partner and localizer of breast cancer 2 (PALB2) is responsible for facilitating BRCA2-mediated DNA repair by serving as a bridging molecule, acting as the physical and functional link between the breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer 2 (BRCA2) proteins. Truncating mutations in the PALB2 gene are rare but are thought to be associated with increased risks of developing breast cancer in various populations.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups/genetics*
Fulltext Ethnic differences in the association between blood pressure components and chronic kidney disease in middle aged and older Asian adults

Sabanayagam C, Teo BW, Tai ES, Jafar TH, Wong TY

BMC Nephrol, 2013;14:86.
PMID: 23590421 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2369-14-86

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an emerging public health problem worldwide. Previous studies have shown an association between blood pressure (BP) and CKD. However, it is not clear if there are ethnic differences in this association. We examined the association between BP and CKD in a multi-ethnic Asian population in Singapore.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups/ethnology
Fulltext An exploration of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of young multiethnic Muslim-majority society in Malaysia in relation to reproductive and premarital sexual practices

Wong LP

BMC Public Health, 2012;12:865.
PMID: 23057505 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-865

BACKGROUND: The increasing trend of premarital sexual experience and unintended pregnancies in Malaysia warrants sustained and serious attention. The sensitivities of sex-related issues in a Muslim-majority country create various types of barriers to sexual and reproductive health information, support and practices. This study aims to gain understanding of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of young women in Malaysia concerning reproductive, contraception and premarital sexual practices.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed, using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire carried out among 1695 female university students in a public university in Malaysia.
RESULTS: Respondents had low scores for knowledge of reproduction and pregnancy (median=4, of maximum score 10), contraceptive uses (median=6, of maximum score 16) and contraceptive availability (median=3, of maximum score 13). The majority of women surveyed do not have liberal values in relation to premarital sexual behaviour (median=37, of maximum 40); higher scores on this scale corresponded to opposing premarital sex. The multivariate analyses showed that ethnic group was the strongest correlate of knowledge and attitude scores; being of Malay Muslim ethnicity was associated significantly with lower knowledge scores and premarital sex permissiveness. Other significant correlates were year of study, maternal occupational groups, level of religious faith, dating status and urban-rural localities. Level of premarital sex permissiveness was inversely correlated with reproduction and pregnancy knowledge score, and contraceptive knowledge scores.
CONCLUSION: Reproductive health knowledge and attitudes were intricately linked to religious values and cultural norms differences surrounding sexual issues.

Matched MeSH terms: Ethnic Groups/psychology*

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