METHODS: The cross-sectional Family Diet Study (n = 236) was conducted at five primary schools in central of Peninsular Malaysia. Each family consisted of a Malay child, aged 8-12 years, and their main caregiver(s). Information on socio-demographics, dietary intake and anthropometry were collected. Correlations and regression analyses were used to assess dietary relationships within family dyads.
RESULTS: Approximately 29.6% of the children and 75.0% parents were categorised as being overweight or obese. Intakes of nutrients and food groups were below the national recommended targets for majority of children and adults. A large proportion of energy intake mis-reporters were identified: mothers (55.5%), fathers (40.2%) and children (40.2%). Children's body mass index (BMI) was positively associated with parental BMI (fathers, r = 0.37; mothers, r = 0.34; P < 0.01). For dietary intakes, moderate-to-strong (0.35-0.72) and weak-to-moderate (0.16-0.35) correlations were found between mother-father and child-parent dyads, respectively. Multiple regression revealed that maternal percentage energy from fat (β = 0.09, P < 0.01) explained 81% of the variation in children's fat intake.
CONCLUSIONS: Clear parental dietary relationships, especially child-mother dyads, were found. Despite a significant proportion of families with members who were overweight or obese, the majority reported dietary intakes below recommended levels, distorted by energy mis-reporting. The findings of the present study can inform interventions targeting parent-child relationships to improve family dietary patterns in Malaysia.
METHODS: Scoping review methodology was used to select relevant studies, as well as extract and collate the data. Four databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) were searched from the earliest available time up to December 2020. Observational studies, experimental studies and reviews that were conducted among children aged 5-12 years old and published from 2010 to 2020 were retrieved. Studies extracted involved children in hands-on healthy meal preparation activities and explored the associated nutrition outcomes.
RESULTS: In total, 28 studies (5 observational studies, 21 experimental studies, 2 reviews) were included in the final review. Studies conducted demonstrated improvement in children's psychosocial outcomes and actual nutrition behaviour/food consumption after participating in hands-on meal preparation activities, despite differences in methodology, programme content and settings (countries/cultural origins). Limited studies assessed children's nutrients intake and weight status.
CONCLUSIONS: The current review suggests that hands-on meal preparation comprises approach for instilling positive perceptions towards nutrition/healthy foods, potentially improving children's diet. Future studies should include the assessment of nutrient intake and weight status. The long-term sustainability of these nutrition outcomes should be explored.
METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 392 schoolchildren aged 9-11 years, cluster sampled from five randomly selected schools in Kuala Lumpur. Whole-grain and fatty acids intakes were assessed by 3-day, 24-h diet recalls. All whole-grain foods were considered irrespective of the amount of whole grain they contained.
RESULTS: In total, 55.6% (n = 218) were whole-grain consumers. Mean (SD) daily intake of whole grain in the total sample was 5.13 (9.75) g day-1 . In the whole-grain consumer's only sample, mean (SD) intakes reached 9.23 (11.55) g day-1 . Significant inverse associations were found between whole-grain intake and saturated fatty acid (SAFA) intake (r = -0.357; P
METHODS: We examined determinants and tracking of a dietary pattern (DP) associated with metabolic risk and its key food groups among 860 adolescents in the Western Australian Pregnancy (Raine) Cohort study. Food intake was reported using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) at 14 and 17 years. Z-scores for an 'energy-dense, high-fat, low-fibre' DP were estimated by applying reduced rank regression at both ages. Tracking was based on the predictive value (PV) of remaining in the DPZ-score or food intake quartile at 14 and 17 years. Early-life exposures included: maternal age; maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index; parent smoking status during pregnancy; and parent socio-economic position (SEP) at 14 and 17 years. Associations between the DPZ-scores, early-life factors and SEP were analysed using regression analysis.
RESULTS: Dietary tracking was strongest among boys with high DPZ-scores, high intakes of processed meat, low-fibre bread, crisps and savoury snacks (PV > 1) and the lowest intakes of vegetables, fruit and legumes. Lower maternal education (β = 0.09, P = 0.002 at 14 years; β = 0.14, P
METHODS: This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate (i) the effect of FTO rs9930506 on obesity and related parameters and (ii) the influence of diet on the above association in Malaysian adults. In total, 79 obese and 99 nonobese Malaysian adults were recruited.
RESULTS: In comparison with Chinese and Malays, Indians had significantly higher waist circumference (P ≤ 0.001 and P = 0.016), waist-hip ratio (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001), body fat percentage (P = 0.001 and P = 0.042), fasting insulin (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001), homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (P = 0.001 and P = 0.001) and lower high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001), respectively. Indians consumed significantly lower dietary cholesterol (P = 0.002), percentage energy from protein (P < 0.001) and higher fibre (P = 0.006) compared to the other two groups. Malaysian Indians expressed the highest risk allele frequency (G) of FTO rs9930506 compared to the Malays and the Chinese (P < 0.001). No significant association was found between FTO rs9930506 and obesity (dominant model). Risk allele carriers (G) consumed significantly lower vitamin E (P = 0.020) and had a higher fibre intake (P = 0.034) compared to the noncarriers (A). Gene-diet interaction analysis revealed that risk allele carriers (G) had lower high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels with higher energy from protein (≥14% day-1 ; P = 0.049) and higher vitamin E (≥5.4 mg day-1 ; P = 0.038).
CONCLUSIONS: The presence of the risk allele (G) of FTO rs9930506 was not associated with an increased risk of obesity. Malaysian Indians had a significantly higher frequency of the risk allele (G). Indian participants expressed higher atherogenic phenotypes compared to Chinese and Malays. FTO rs9930506 may interact with dietary protein and vitamin E and modulate hsCRP levels.
METHODS: Participants with CKD Stage 4-5, enrolled in the Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish oils) and Aspirin in Vascular access Outcomes in Renal Disease (FAVOURED) trial, completed a lifestyle questionnaire at baseline on their dietary intake.
RESULTS: Of 567 participants, 538 (ANZ, n = 386; Malaysian, n = 152; mean ± SD age 54.8 ± 14.3 years, 64% male) completed the questionnaire. Dietary fruit and vegetable intakes were higher in ANZ participants; 49% (n = 189) consumed ≥2 serves day-1 of fruit and 61% (n = 235) ate ≥2 serves day-1 of vegetables compared to 24% (n = 36) and 34% (n = 52) of Malaysians, respectively (p 2 chicken serves week-1 and 65% (n = 251) ate >2 serves week-1 of red meat compared to 43% (n = 65) and 15% (n = 23) of Malaysians, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Significant regional variation in dietary intake for fruit, vegetables and animal protein is described that likely reflects cultural and economic differences. Barriers to meeting recommended dietary intakes require further investigation.
METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 292 personnel working in Klang Valley preschools. The participants completed an online questionnaire asking about sociodemographic information and food allergy KAM. Mann-Whitney U and chi-squared tests were used to compare the KAM level between public and private preschool personnel and examine the association of KAM of food allergy with various sociodemographic factors, respectively.
RESULTS: Some 86.3% of the participants demonstrated a low level of food allergy knowledge, 64.7% showed a negative food allergy attitude and 57.9% indicated fair food allergy management. The total mean score for food allergy knowledge was higher (p
METHODS: A qualitative study with purposive sampling was conducted using face-to-face semistructured interviews. A total of 20 participants from a tertiary general hospital in Kuantan, Malaysia, were recruited in this study. Data were analysed using framework analysis.
RESULTS: Two themes emerged from the analysis. The first theme explained the changes in the dietary practice of the participants postdiagnosis. The second theme revealed that the participants' dietary changes were greatly influenced by personal factors and external support from professionals, family and peers.
CONCLUSIONS: Urinary stone patients highlighted the fear of complications, self-determination and knowledge of nutrition as the main drivers of their dietary change postdiagnosis. Emphasising proper nutritional care by assessing and evaluating dietary self-management among patients can facilitate effective self-care in stone prevention management.
METHODS: We evaluated food environment by geospatial mapping of food outlets through a transect walk across the "food ecosystem" from rural to urban areas. Diet quality was assessed using the Diet Quality Index - Vietnamese (DQI-V) comprising Variety, Adequacy, Moderation and Balance components. Malnutrition status was determined using body mass index. We performed a mediation analysis utilising mixed effect models to control for neighbourhood clustering effects. Confounders included age, education, income and nutrition knowledge score.
RESULTS: Analysis of data from 595 adult participants (mean ± SD age: 31.2 ± 6.4 years; 50% female) found that longer distance to the nearest food outlet was associated with higher overall DQI-V (β = 2.0; 95% confidence interval = 0.2-3.8; p = 0.036) and the Moderation component (β = 2.6; 95% confidence interval = 1.2-4.0; p = 0.001). Outlet density shows a negative association with the odds of underweight among women (odds ratio = 0.62; 95% confidence interval = 0.37-0.96). However, we did not observe statistically significant relationships between diet quality and malnutrition. Education and nutrition knowledge scores were positively associated with diet diversity, while income was negatively associated with diet moderation.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present study have important implications for nutrition and dietetics practice in Vietnam and globally. It emphasises the need to consider various dimensions of sustainable diets, including economic, health and socio-cultural/political factors. Longer distances to food outlets are associated with higher diet quality, whereas lower food outlet density increases the odds of underweight among women. This poses challenges in balancing modernisation and its adverse effects on sustainable food systems. Socio-economic status consistently correlated with diet quality and malnutrition, necessitating further research to promote healthy diets across socio-economic strata.