METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for relevant publications in English focusing on but not limited to the use of the key words stated below.
RESULTS: Studies since the 1950s of different population groups worldwide affirmed the recognition that breastmilk fatty acid compositions are highly sensitive to maternal diet. Colostrum is richer in long-chain PUFA (LC-PUFA) metabolites of both linoleic and linolenic acids than mature milk. Among these LC-PUFA, both DHA and AA are incorporated preferentially and rapidly within the cerebral cortex and the retina during the last trimester of pregnancy and postnatal 18 months. Maternal supply of DHA and AA include maternal fatty acid stores, endogenous synthesis or directly from diet. Decreasing fish intake concomitant with increased intake of meat and vegetable oil leading to decreased intake of DHA and EPA, and an increase in AA intake, have resulted in an imbalanced n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio in breastmilk.
CONCLUSIONS: A balanced intake of PUFAs during pregnancy and lactation is recommended for fetal and childhood growth and development.
METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: Collective food data from MyHeARTs 2012 database were used to construct the MyUM Adolescent FFQ. Seventy-eight participants between 13 and 15 years old in 2014 were selected through convenient sampling for test-retest study. They completed the MyUM Adolescent FFQ twice, with an interval period of one week. One hundred and fifty-six MyHeARTs study participants who were 15 years old in 2014 were randomly selected for this comparative valid-ity study. They completed a 7-day diet history (7DDH) and subsequently completed the self-administered MyUM Adolescent FFQ.
RESULTS: Pearson's correlations between the FFQ and 7DDH for all macronutrients were statistically significant. Energy-adjusted correlations for protein, carbohydrate, and fat were 0.54, 0.63 and 0.49 respectively. Most of the micronutrients and minerals, were statistically correlated ranging from 0.31 to 0.49 after energy adjustment. Cross-classification analyses revealed that more than 70 percent of adolescents were classified into either the same or adjacent quartile of nutrient intake when comparing data of 7DDH and FFQ. No serious systematic bias was evident in the Bland-Altman plots.
CONCLUSION: The 200-item FFQ developed for Malaysian adolescents has moderate to good comparative validity for assessment of macronutrient and micronutrient intake.
METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 184 Malaysian HD patients. Anthropometric measurements and handgrip strength (HGS) were obtained using standardized protocols. Relevant biochemical indicators were retrieved from patients' medical records. Nutritional status was assessed using the dialysis malnutrition score. The sleep quality of patients was determined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire on both dialysis and non-dialysis days.
RESULTS: Slightly more than half of the HD patients were poor sleepers, with approximately two-third of them having a sleep duration of <7 hours per day. Sleep latency (1.5±1.2) had the highest sleep component score, whereas sleep medicine use (0.1±0.6) had the lowest score. Significantly longer sleep latency and shorter sleep duration were observed in the poor sleepers, regardless of whether it was a dialysis day or not (p<0.001). Poor sleep quality was associated with male sex, old age, small triceps skinfold, hypoproteinemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, and poorer nutritional status. In a multivariate analysis model, serum potassium (β=1.41, p=0.010), male sex (β=2.15, p=0.003), and HGS (β=-0.088, p=0.021) were found as independent predictors of sleep quality.
CONCLUSIONS: Poor sleep quality was evident among the HD patients in Malaysia. The sleep quality of the HD patients was associated with nutritional parameters. Routine assessment of sleep quality and nutritional parameters indicated that poor sleepers have a risk of malnutrition and may benefit from appropriate interventions.
METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: A prospective observational cohort study was conducted at the mixed medical- surgical of a tertiary ICU in Kuantan, Malaysia. The study was registered under the National Medical Research Register (NMRR-14-803-19813) and has received ethical approval. Inclusion criteria include adult admission longer than 48 hours who were started on enteral feeding. Chronic renal failure patients and those receiving dialysis were excluded. RH was defined as plasma phosphate less than 0.65 mmol/L and a drop of more than 0.16 mmol/L following feeding.
RESULTS: A total of 109 patients were recruited, of which 44 (42.6%) had RH. Patients with RH had higher SOFA score compared to those without (p=0.04). There were no differences in the APACHE II and NUTRIC scores. Serum albumin was lower in those with RH (p=0.04). After refeeding, patients with RH had lower serum phosphate, magnesium and albumin, and higher supplementation of phosphate, potassium and calcium. There were no differences in mortality, length of hospital or ICU stay.
CONCLUSIONS: Refeeding hypophosphataemia occurs in almost half of ICU admission. Risk factors for refeeding include high organ failure score and low albumin. Refeeding was associated with imbalances in phosphate, magnesium, potassium and calcium. Future larger study may further investigate these risk factors and long-term outcomes.