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The health, physiological, and nutritional status of an athlete is a top priority in achieving success and career sustainability. Information about an athlete's health, such as blood biochemistry, anthropometry, and adequate nutritional intake, might indicate their ability to perform exceptionally well in different levels of competition. Objective: This research objective is to examine the correlation between athletes' sports achievements in Bandung and their anthropometric traits, nutritional status, and blood biochemical indicators. Methods: This study utilised a cross-sectional design and incidental data collection techniques. Participants: The study comprised 84 athletes from 27 different sports who received achievement allowances from KONI Bandung City. Instruments: n this study, we employed reliable and validated techniques to assess anthropometrics, body composition, somatotype, blood biochemistry, nutritional intake adequacy, and energy adequacy. Data analysis: Both the bivariate and multivariate analyses used logistic regression. Results: The findings of the analysis indicate a significant relationship between athlete performance and two variables: blood pressure (p=0.026) and dietary diversity (p=0.048). The findings from the multivariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between blood pressure and dietary variety, which influences the achievement of athletes. The calculation of the odds ratio (OR) revealed that among all the variables examined, the athlete's blood pressure exhibited strongest correlation with their performance. Conclusion: Blood pressure is a physiological measurement that can serve as an indicator of cardiac function and overall well-being. As a result, it is critical to regularly assess the physical well-being of athletes in Bandung to ensure their consistent optimal performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Malaysian Nutrition Research Priorities for the 12th Plan (2021-2025) has identified a critical need for research on the consumption of ultra-processed foods among public university students in Malaysia. Despite this need, there is a lack of empirical research on the relationship between ultra-processed food intake and body mass index (BMI) in this population. To address this gap, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and BMI in public university students in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study design was employed, involving 250 respondents aged 18 years and above. Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire, which consisted of three parts: a socio-demographic profile, anthropometric measurement, and a 24-hr dietary record. Food and beverage consumption was classified using the NOVA food categorization system (composed of Group 1: Unprocessed or minimally processed foods, Group 2: Processed culinary ingredients, Group 3: Processed foods, and Group 4: Ultra-processed foods), and energy intake was calculated using the Nutritionist Pro software and food guidance books. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20.0. The results showed that the average daily caloric intake was 1821.74 ± 439.03 kcal, with 31% of the total intake being contributed by ultra-processed foods (Group 4). The average energy intake from Group 1 and 2 was 1225.95 ± 414.90 kcal, Group 3 was 33.52 ± 73.83 kcal and Group 4 was 562.27 ± 344.71 kcal. The average BMI was 23.10 (7.38) kg/m², which falls within the normal category. The analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between ultra-processed food consumption and BMI (rs=0.16, n=250, p=0.014). This study provides valuable insights into ultra-processed food consumption patterns among Malaysian university students using the NOVA classification system and highlights the importance of reducing such consumption to prevent nutritionally related diseases among public university students in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The first "1000 days" is a critical period of opportunity for interventions to prevent stunting and other health problems. This paper describes a study protocol of a mobile phone-based nutrition education (MiNd) intervention on maternal, infant and young child nutrition. Methods: This is a six-months quasi-experimental intervention consisting of three phases; (i) Phase 1 - development of MiNd intervention modules, (ii) Phase 2 - evaluation of the effectiveness of MiNd intervention, and (iii) Phase 3 - a qualitative study exploring perceptions and experiences of the intervention. Discussion: Assessment of anthropometry, dietary intake, food security, mental health, knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of food intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding will be evaluated during pre and post intervention. This is the first comprehensive mobile phone-based nutrition intervention study on pregnancy, lactation, and infant growth in Malaysia. The findings will be useful in modulating health intervention programme to prevent stunting and other health issues nationwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The consumption of beverages contributes to diet quality and overall nutrition. Studies on malted drinks, one of the widely consumed beverage choices among children in Asia, however, have received limited attention. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of malted drink consumption and explored associations of sociodemographic characteristics, nutrient intakes, weight status and physical activity levels with malted drink consumption among primary school children in Malaysia.Methods: Data for this analysis were from the MyBreakfast Study, a national cross-sectional study conducted from April to October 2013 throughout all regions in Malaysia. A total of 2065 primary school children aged 6 to 12 years were included in the present analysis. Data on two days 24-h dietary recall or record, anthropometry, physical activity and screen time were recorded. Associations between malted drink consumption and related factors were examined using binary logistic regression, adjusting for region, area, gender, ethnicity and household income.Results: Among children aged 6 to 12 years, 73.5% reported consuming malted drinks for at least once per week. Consumption of malted drinks was significantly associated with region (χ(2) = 45.64, p < 0.001), gender (χ(2) = 4.41, p = 0.036) and ethnicity (χ(2) = 13.74, p = 0.008). Malted drink consumers had similar total energy intake but higher micronutrient intakes compared to non-consumers. High physical activity level (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.06, 2.99) and lower screen time during weekends (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.86, 0.99) were independently associated with malted drink consumption among 6 to 9 year-old children, but not among 10 to 12 year-old children. No association was observed between malted drink consumption and weight status.Conclusions: Malted drink consumption is prevalent among Malaysian primary school children, particularly higher among boys, indigenous children and those who lived in the East Coast region of Malaysia. Consuming malted drinks is associated with higher micronutrient intakes and higher levels of physical activity, but not with body weight status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Despite the strategic development plan by the authorities for the Orang Asli, there are six subtribes of which their population numbers are small (less than 700). These minorities were not included in most of the health related studies published thus far. A comprehensive physiological and biomedical updates on these small subtribes in comparison to the larger subtribes and the urban Malay population is timely and important to help provide appropriate measures to prevent further reduction in the numbers of the Orang Asli.Methods: A total of 191 Orang Asli from different villages in Peninsular Malaysia and 115 healthy urban Malays were recruited. Medical examinations and biochemical analyses were conducted. Framingham risk scores were determined. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, Version 20.0.Results: A higher percentage of the Orang Asli showed high insulin levels and hsCRP compared to the healthy Malays denoting possible risk of insulin resistance. High incidences of low HDL-c levels were observed in all the Orang Asli from the six subtribes but none was detected among the urban Malays. A higher percentage of inlanders (21.1% of the males and 4.2% of the females) were categorized to have high Framingham Risk Score.Conclusions: Orang Asli staying both in the inlands and peripheries are predisposed to cardiovascular diseases and insulin resistance diabetes mellitus. The perception of Orang Asli being healthier than the urban people no longer holds. We believed that this information is important to the relevant parties in strategizing a healthier community of the Orang Asli to avoid the vanishing of the vulnerable group(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review aimed to examine trends in overweight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among Malaysian adults, and to identify its underlying determinants. A review of studies published between 2000 and 2012 on overweight, obesity, and T2DM was conducted. The Cochrane library of systematic reviews, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Biosis, Scopus, and MyJurnal digital database were searched. According to national studies, the prevalence of overweight increased from 26.7% in 2003 to 29.4% in 2011; obesity prevalence increased from 12.2% in 2003 to 15.1% in 2011, and T2DM prevalence was reported as 11.6% in 2006 and 15.2% in 2011. Distal determinants of increased risk of overweight, obesity, and T2DM were as follows: female, Malay/Indian ethnicity, and low educational level. The limited number of studies on proximal determinants of these noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) indicated that an unhealthy diet was associated with increased risk, whereas smoking was associated with decreased risk. However, more studies on the proximal determinants of overweight, obesity, and T2DM within the Malaysian context are needed. Overall, our findings provide insights for designing both future investigative studies and strategies to control and prevent these NCDs in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Fe deficiency and Fe-deficiency anaemia are common in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Traditional clinical markers of Fe status can be skewed in the presence of inflammation, meaning that a patient's Fe status can be misinterpreted. Additionally, Fe absorption is known to be down-regulated in patients with active IBD. However, whether this is the case for quiescent or mildly active disease has not been formally assessed. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between Fe absorption, Fe requirements and standard haematological indices in IBD patients without active disease. A group of twenty-nine patients with quiescent or mildly active IBD and twenty-eight control subjects undertook an Fe absorption test that measured sequential rises in serum Fe over 4 h following ingestion of 200 mg ferrous sulphate. At baseline, serum Fe, transferrin saturation, non-transferrin-bound Fe (NTBI), ferritin and soluble transferrin receptor were all measured. Thereafter (30–240 min), only serum Fe and NTBI were measured. Fe absorption did not differ between the two groups (P = 0·9; repeated-measures ANOVA). In control subjects, baseline haematological parameters predicted Fe absorption (i.e. Fe requirements), but this was not the case for patients with IBD. Fe absorption is normal in quiescent or mildly active IBD patients but standard haematological parameters do not accurately predict Fe requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]