Pure olive oil triglycerides (POLO), free from all unsaponifiable matter, were isolated from Virgin Spanish olive oil (COLO) by alumina-charcoal column chromatography. COLO and POLO were used as sources of dietary fat in two animal studies. The responses of serum and liver lipids to the two types of dietary fat were examined. Our results show that animals fed POLO-diet gave somewhat higher serum total and LDL cholesterol levels as compared to those on COLO-diet. The increase in serum cholesterol level is followed by a parallel increase in liver cholesterol content. These results indicate that the hypocholesterolemic effect of olive oil was partly due to the presence of the unsaponifiable matter. Supplement of the POLO-diet separately with a-tocopherol and squalene resulted in serum lipid responses similar to that observed with the COLO-diet. The serum and liver triglyceride levels are not affected by the removal of unsaponifiable components but addition of a--T and squalene to the POLO-diet appeared to lower both the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the serum but increased only the liver cholesterol content. These results show that the unsaponifiable components modulate the hypocholesterolemic effect of olive oil.
Atherosclerosis, the cholesterol deposition in and around cells of the intimal layer of the aorta, has been recognized as one of the main causative factors for cardiovascular diseases. Intensive research has been carried out throughout the world but the precise atherogenesis has yet to be fully understood, though hypercholesterolaemia is considered to be the prime risk factor. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of high cholesterol diet consumption on the formation of atherosclerosis in vivo. Three groups of adultWhite New Zealand male rabbits (six animals per group) were used in this study. Except for one group which acted as a control (K), the other two groups were given 1% and 2% high cholesterol diet respectively for 10 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken from the marginal ear vein for plasma cholesterol estimation. The animals were sacrificed and the aorta was excised for histomorphometric analysis. The result shows that despite no significant differences in plasma cholesterol levels being observed between the groups treated with 1% and 2% cholesterol, high cholesterol consumption was able to induce hypercholesterolaemia significantly (p
Introduction: The aims of this study were to determine the proximate composition, functional properties and antioxidant activity of pumpkin seeds and rind. Besides, the effects of dietary fibre in pumpkin seeds and rinds on bread qualities and properties were evaluated. Methods: Formulations for bread substituted with 0%, 5% and 10% pumpkin seed and rind, respectively were produced. Sensory evaluation of the prepared bread samples for such attributes as appearance, aroma, flavour, texture and overall acceptability was undertaken. The physical properties of the bread samples, including dough expansion, loaf volume, crumb colour and bread texture, were determined. Proximate analysis and determination of antioxidant activity of the bread samples were also conducted. Results: Crude fibre of the pumpkin seeds and pumpkin rinds was high at 31.48% and 14.83%, respectively. The total phenolic compound (TPC) and DPPH radical scavenging activity for the pumpkin rinds were 38.60 mg GAE/ 100 g dry weight and 69.38%, respectively, which were higher than those of pumpkin seeds. A 5% level of pumpkin rind bread gave the best overall acceptability and sensory attributes, followed by 5% pumpkin seed bread. Total dietary fibre, total phenolic compound and DPPH radical scavenging activity in breads substituted with 5% pumpkin seed and 5% pumpkin rind flour were higher than the values in control bread. Conclusion: Pumpkin seeds and rinds can be used as dietary fibre sources in bakery.
This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity (total antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities) of seaweeds commercially available in the Malaysian supermarket. Four types of seaweeds namely Nori (Porphyra sp.), Kumbu (Laminaria sp.), Wakame (Undaria sp.) and Hijiki (Hijikia sp.) were used in the study. The extracts were prepared with water and ethanol, respectively. The b-carotene bleaching and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays were used to determine antioxidant properties of seaweeds by measuring the decrease in absorbance at 470 and 517 nm. In water extract, Kumbu showed the highest total antioxidant activity of 63% compared with other samples. Kumbu, Nori and Hijiki exhibited higher radical scavenging activity than Wakame when extracted with water. Wakame exhibited the highest antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities in ethanolic extract with 58% and EC50 = 0.42 mg/ml respectively. The results of ANOVA analysis show significant differences (p<0.05) in the means of total antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of the seaweeds. The results showed that processed commercial seaweeds exhibited varying degrees of antioxidant properties.
This is a cross-sectional study which investigated the association between non-exclusive breastfeeding and maternal, paternal, obstetric and infant factors. Data on maternal, paternal, obstetric and infant factors were collected through face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire from 498 mothers with four-week-old infants who attended government clinics in Klang district between 17 and 28 July 2006. The prevalence of non-exclusive breastfeeding at four weeks was 45.8%. Factors significantly associated with non-exclusive breastfeeding at four weeks included Indian ethnic mother (OR = 4.06), working mother (OR = 3.55), mother from high household income (OR = 1.90), mother who smokes (OR = 7.27), primiparous (OR = 1.97), infant not sharing a bed with mother (OR = 1.75) and infant born prematurely (OR = 7.69). Identification of risk factors should assist in targeting women who are at increased risk of non-exclusive breastfeeding.
The effects of dietary fat during pregnancy and lactation on growth performance of pups, milk composition and very low density lipoprotein composition in rats were studied. A total of 33 dams were used in this study and each litter was adjusted to 8 pups per dam. The dams were fed on high fat (150 g fat/kg diet, HF), medium fat (75 g fat/kg of diet, MF) and low fat (2.5 g fat/kg diet, LF) diets. The body weights of dams increased during pregnancy and decreased after pregnancy. The HF pups had a higher body weight and higher weight gain than those of LF pups. The amount of feed intake of HF dams was significantly higher than LF and MF dams. The HF dams had significantly higher milk fat and water concentrations than LF dams. The milk protein was not significantly different among the treatment groups. All dams showed hypertriacylglycerolaemia in their very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) in late pregnancy. The VLDL-protein concentrations increased during the first week after parturition. The HF dams showed a greater response to the dietary fat than that of LF and MF dams. The findings suggest that addition of fat in the diet during pregnancy and lactation may improve the milk quality through modifying the composition of VLDL contents, leading to better growth of pups.
The effects of dietary fat during pregnancy and lactation on growth performance of pups, milk composition and very low density lipoprotein composition in rats were studied. A total of 33 dams were used in this study and each litter was adjusted to 8 pups per dam. The dams were fed on high fat (150 g fat/kg diet, HF), medium fat (75 g fat/kg of diet, MF) and low fat (2.5 g fat/kg diet, LF) diets. The body weights of dams increased during pregnancy and decreased after pregnancy. The HF pups had a higher body weight and higher weight gain than those of LF pups. The amount of feed intake of HF dams was significantly higher than LF and MF dams. The HF dams had significantly higher milk fat and water concentrations than LF dams. The milk protein was not significantly different among the treatment groups. All dams showed hypertriacylglycerolaemia in their very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) in late pregnancy. The VLDL-protein concentrations increased during the first week after parturition. The HF dams showed a greater response to the dietary fat than that of LF and MF dams. The findings suggest that addition of fat in the diet during pregnancy and lactation may improve the milk quality through modifying the composition of VLDL contents, leading to better growth of pups.
Introduction: Child malnutrition continues to be a major public health problem in developing countries. This study aims to determine the current nutritional status of Malaysian school children using the anthropometric indicators of weight for age (WAZ), height for age (HAZ), and body mass index for age (BAZ). Methods: A nationwide school-based survey was undertaken in all Malaysian
states and territories, which included 18,078 children aged 8-10 years attending 445 primary schools. The software WHO AnthroPlus was used to calculate zscores for the nutritional status (WAZ, HAZ and BAZ) of the target population relative to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2007 reference. Results: The national prevalence of underweight among school children was 13.6% and in
rural areas, this rate was nearly double that of urban areas. The national prevalence rate for stunting was 10.9%, double among rural school children compared to their urban counterparts. As for thinness, the national prevalence was 6.5%. Using the WAZ indicator, we found that the national prevalence of overweight children was 7.6%. Additionally, we found that urban areas showed a higher
prevalence of overweight children (8.8%) than rural areas (5.9%). Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that Malaysian school children face the burden of malnutrition, suffering from both undernourishment and overweight. Malaysia must make a concerted effort to overcome the problems of malnutrition among children.
The Malaysian Adults Nutrition Survey (MANS) was carried out between October 2002 and July 2003, involving 6,775 men and 3,441 women aged 18 - 59 years. Anthropometric assessment showed that the overall mean body weight and BMI were 62.65 kg (CI: 62.20, 63.09) and 24.37 kg/m2 (CI: 24.21, 24.53) respectively. Based on the WHO (1998) classification of BMI, 12.15% (CI: 11.26, 13.10) were obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2), and 26.71% (CI: 25.50, 27.96) overweight (BMI > 25 - 29.9 kg/m2). Significantly, more women were obese [14.66% (CI: 13.37, 16.04)] while significantly more men were overweight [28.55% (CI: 26.77, 30.40)]. Ethnicitywise, prevalence of obesity was highest among the Malays [15.28% (CI: 13.91, 16.77)] while overweight was highest for the Indians [31.01% (CI: 26.64, 35.76)]. Both obesity and overweight were highest among those aged 40 - 49 years. Obesity was highest for those whose household income was between RM1,500 - 3,500 while overweight was more prevalent for those whose household income exceeded RM3,500. The prevalence of overweight was highest for those with primary education [31.90% (CI: 29.21, 34.72)]. There was no significant urban rural differential in both obesity and overweight. The study found 9.02% (CI:8.82, 10.61) with chronic energy deficiency (CED) (BMI < 18.5 kg/m2). The prevalence of CED was relatively higher in the indigenous population (Orang Asli) [14.53% (CI: 5.14, 34.77)], subjects aged 18-19 years [26.24% (CI: 21.12, 32.09)], and with monthly household income of < RM1,500 [10.85% (CI: 9.63, 12.20)]. The prevalence of CED was not significantly different among the geographical zones and educational levels, and between urban/rural areas and sexes. The results call for priority action to address the serious problem of overweight and obesity among Malaysian adults as it poses a grave burden to the country's resources and development.
Study name: Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey (MANS-2003)
A cross-sectional study was carried out to investigate accelerometer-determined physical activity level of 233 Malay government employees (104 men, 129 women) working in the Federal Government Building Penang, Malaysia.
Stress is a common phenomenon. Every individual experiences it. There are many ways of combating stress. Stress is necessary for preparation against challenging situations and danger. It is necessary to have stress before a test so that we are prepared. For instance, stress actually motivates students to prepare for examination but excessive stress can lead to poor performance. This study evaluates the effect of a commercial essence of chicken (CEC) on the various parameters related to stress and cognition of human volunteers. CEC is produced by a hot-water extraction process from chicken meat under high pressure condition. It contains concentrated amounts of proteins, amino acids and peptides such as carnosine compared to homemade traditional chicken soup. Due to the unique extraction process, it has been postulated that readily absorbed amino acids and bioactive peptides are present in CEC. In this experiment, we evaluated the effect of CEC in comparison with a placebo and carageenan on a group of stressed medical students before their examinations. Students were divided into three groups at random and given either CEC, placebo or a carageenan drink daily for two weeks. Before and after the two weeks, the students were given a series of tests to assess their mental and physical well-being as well as attention and memory. The tests were the general health questionnaire (GHQ), SF36, digit span, construction of figures, 3-min memory test, comprehension and mental arithmetic. The students who ingested essence of chicken fared significantly better than the other two groups of students. The ability of essence of chicken to control anxiety by distraction and promoting attention and memory is discussed.
Introduction: Depression and depressive symptom are common among the
elderly. This study aimed to determine the influence of multiple factors and their
correlations on the prevalence of depressive symptoms among elderly residents in
selected FELDA schemes in Johor state.
Methods: A total of 269 respondents were
recruited through systematic sampling. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to
obtain information on socio-demographic and psychosocial characteristics using
pre-tested validated questionnaires; For functional status, the Lawton-IADL Scale
was used to assess independent living skills; the Short Physical Performance Battery
(SPPB) questionnaire was used to assess physical performance; cognitive function
was assessed by the Hodkinson Abbreviated Mental Test (HAMT); physical activity
level was determined using the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA);
and depressive symptoms were assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale-15.
Results: Mean age of the respondents was 69.5±5.2 years. Prevalence of depressive
symptoms was determined as 3.7%. Almost half (47.6%) were unable to perform
one or more Lawton-IADL items, 30.9% had low physical performance, 15.6% had
abnormal cognitive function and only 30.6% were physically active. There were
significant correlations between the socio-demographic characteristics (age and
monthly income; r=-0.135 and rs
=-0.133 respectively; p
Introduction: Malnutrition is a growing problem but quite often under-recognised in elderly people. Calf circumference (CC) is a simple measurement that can be used to identify elderly people who are at high risk of malnutrition; however, a population-specific cut-off point must be developed. Therefore, this study aimed to determine suitable cut-off points and evaluate the predictive value of the CC cut-off point for elderly Malaysians.
Methods: A total of 820 persons comprising 433 men and 387 women were recruited as subjects. The mean age was 69.0 ± 6.8 and ranged between 60 to 97 years. Data were collected from Sabak Bernam, Selangor; Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan; Pasir Mas, Kelantan, and Kodiang, Kedah. A linear regression analysis with the z-score procedure by gender was used to derive the CC prediction equations.
Results: The CC cut-off points for men and women at risk of malnutrition were 30.1 cm and 27.3 cm, respectively. The final predictive CC equations for men was CC (cm) = 3.69 (z score) + 33.81, R2 = 1 and CC (cm) = 0.7103 (BMI) + 18.54, R2 = 1; and for women, CC (cm) = 4.31 (z score) + 31.63, R2 = 1 and CC (cm) = 0.6698(BMI) + 16.847, R2 = 1. Based on these equations, using the z-score equal to negative 1 for men (BMI 16.30 kg/m2 ) and women (BMI 15.64 kg/m2 ), the mean of the predictive value of the CC cut-off point was 32.0 ± 4.2 cm in men and 30.5 ± 4.6 cm in women.
Conclusion: It is suggested that these cut-off points be used to screen elderly individuals who are at risk of malnutrition. Further studies should be undertaken to further verify the application of the findings of this study.
Introduction: Nutrient profiling is the science of ranking food based on the nutrient
content that enables an individual to make healthier food choice without exceeding
the daily energy recommendation. This study was aimed at developing and validating
a nutrient profiling model for Malaysian older population. Methods: A total of six
nutrient profiling models comprising different combinations of nutrients were
developed. Each model was tested by scoring 94 food items in terms of 100 kcal and
100 g, and the Recommended Nutrient Intakes for Malaysian (2017) as the reference
value. The scores in each model were correlated with energy density per 100 g of
food. The best model to correctly rank food according to nutrient density was chosen
for validation. Validation was done by comparing the healthiness classification of
174 food items as determined by Towards Useful Aging Food Nutrient Density Index
(TUA FNDI) nutrient profiling model and the Malaysian Dietary Guidelines. Results:
Models with sodium and total fat were better correlated with energy density. All
six models were inversely correlated with energy density. TUA FNDI 9-2 model was
chosen as the best model for validation. Overall, there was substantial agreement
between TUA FNDI 9-2 model and the food-based dietary guidelines (κ=0.644,
p=0.001). Conclusion: The inverse correlation between nutrient profiling models
to energy density shows that foods with higher nutrient density contain lower
energy. The validated TUA FNDI 9-2 model is recommended for older adults to make
healthier food choices.
A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine bone health status and nutrient intakes among post-menopausal women residing in low cost houses in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur.
The protein nutritive value of anchovy, mackerel and canned sardine samples together with casein as a reference formulation were evaluated. Proximate composition, protein quality and protein digestibility were determined. Procedures for evaluation included Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) using the rat bioassay and in vivo Apparent Digestibility (AD). Rats fed with canned sardine diet had the highest mean body weight (154.8±12.28g) while rats fed with anchovy diet had the lowest mean body weight (145.27±15.89g) with significant differences between all the groups. Mean body weight of rats fed with selected fish diet was higher compared to rats fed with casein diet. For PER value, canned sardine has the highest value (2.48), followed by anchovy (2.46) and mackerel (2.34). PER value for all selected fish is lower than that for casein (3.14). Mackerel had the highest value of in vivo AD (96.99%), followed by casein (96.96%), canned sardine (96.88%) and anchovy (91.29%). In conclusion, among the types of fish compared, sardine had the highest protein quality while mackerel showed the highest digestibility.
Body fatness distribution is a useful epidemiological and clinical marker of health risk among European and other populations. Prevalence of obesity among adults is rising in many parts of Malaysia, and it is important to understand the extent to which fat patterning is robust across different age groups and between the sexes. This analysis examines fatness and fat distribution in rural Sarawakian adults aged 20 to 80 years to determine the extent to which fat patterning varies by sex and age. Principal component analysis of five skinfolds (biceps, triceps, subscapular, suprailiac and medial calf) shows upper body-lower body fat distribution as contributing most to within-group variation in the sum of five skinfolds for both males and females. When divided into younger and older age groups, clear differences were identified. For the males, while absolute fatness does not change with age, there is a change in fat patterning, with a trunk-extremity component disappearing, and a trunk-lower body pattern persisting. Females experience a decline in subcutaneous fatness across age groups, and while the most important component of fat distribution, trunk to lower body subcutaneous fatness, the same for younger and older women, the second component is different, with upper limb-lower body distribution in the younger age group being replaced with upper to lower trunk distribution. The similarities in fat patterning among males and females suggest that the use of fat patterning indices in this Malaysian population need not be sex-specific, but age group- and sex-dependent differences in the second principal component indicate that they should be used with caution, since the relationships between fat patterning and mortality are still poorly understood among Malaysian populations.
The antimicrobial activity of the Centipeda minima L. (Asteraceae) extract was evaluated against seven microorganisms using the disc diffusion method. The extract showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against all the tested bacterial strains, especially Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus and Yersinia enterocolitica. The chemical composition of the extract obtained from Centipeda minima was analysed by GC-MS. Twentythree compounds, constituting about 84.75 % of the total extract, were identified. The main constituents were palmitic acid (7.47%), (Z,Z)-9-,12-octadecatrienoic acid (6.52%), (Z,Z,Z)-9-,12-octadecatrienoic acid (7.01%), phytol (7.01%), naptho[2.3-b]furan-2-(3H)-on (6.21%), 1-(1,2,3,4,7,7a-hexahydro-1,4,4,5-tetramethyl-1,3a-ethano-3aH-inden-6-yl)etanon (7.95%), 1,3,5-tri-tertbutyl- benzene (4.52%), (3Z)-2-methyl-3-octen-2-ol (5.95%) and artemisia ketone (4.98%). The extract was also tested against brine shrimp for toxicity. There was no significant toxicity as it only recorded a LC50 value of 4.92 mg/ml. The study shows that the extract is a good antimicrobial agent with potential applications in public health against diseases.
Introduction: Dietitians play an essential role in the management of childhood obesity and consistency in dietetic practices is required to ensure the effectiveness of treatment. This study assessed dietitians’ current practices in the management of childhood obesity, compared the practices with nutrition practice guidelines used by dietitians in other countries and identified practice components for the development of nutrition practice guidelines for the management of childhood obesity in Malaysia.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 40 dietitians in 16 Ministry of Health hospitals and three teaching hospitals. Information on current dietetic practices in the management of childhood obesity was obtained through a mailed survey questionnaire. The practices included nutritional assessment, determination of energy requirement, dietary prescription and physical activity modification. Emails were sent to 31 dietetic associations in other countries to obtain information on practice guidelines used by dietitians.
Results: Frequently used dietary intervention and physical activity modification approaches were high fibre diet (65%), low fat diet (40%), reduction of sedentary pursuits and screen times (67.5%) and an increase in duration of current physical activities (60%). In comparison to other dietetic practice guidelines, the current dietetic practices in Malaysia do not usually include waist circumference, biochemical and blood pressure data. However, similar to other guidelines, the current dietetic practices included low dietary fat, high fibre diet, decreased sedentary activity and increased physical activity level.
Conclusions: The dietetic practices in the management of childhood obesity in Malaysia are diverse. A comprehensive nutrition practice guideline for management of childhood obesity is urgently needed for standardisation of dietetic practices in Malaysia.
University students may encounter personal, family, social, and financial stresses while trying to cope with their academic challenges. Such constraints could affect their eating behavior and health status which, in turn may have negative effects on their studies. In light of little information in Malaysia on this subject, this study was undertaken on a sample of 180 students pursuing different academic programs in a Malaysian university. The study objectives were to determine the students' eating behavior including body weight control and the extent of fear of being fat, their social self concept that reflects the five selves namely, the psychological self, the social self, the sexual self, the family self and the physical self. Eating behavior and social self concept were determined based on various methods previously validated in studies on young adults in Asia and Australia. This article focuses on gender comparisons for these determinants. The results showed that psychological and emotional factors have a significant bearing on the eating behavior of university students. Uninhibited eating behavior of both the males and females showed significant and negative correlations with feelings pertaining to personal worth, the physical self, and their relationships with peers and families. Gender differences were manifested for some determinants. The females showed more restrained eating behavior than the males; the females have a significantly higher score for family relationship, which appears to be a significant factor on male students' eating behavior. Future studies on a larger sample size may help to unravel the extent to which psychological factors influence eating behavior of students, and the underlying psychosocial basis for some of the gender differences reported in this study.