Dietary pattern trajectories in early childhood and their associations with patterns of maternal feeding practices in a multi-ethnic Asian cohort.

Background: Maternal feeding practices play a major role in children's dietary intakes. However, there is limited data on the associations between trajectories of dietary patterns (DPs) and patterns of maternal feeding practices during early childhood.

Methods: Using data from a multi-ethnic Asian cohort study, namely the Growing Up in Singapore Towards healthy Outcomes (GUSTO), dietary intakes were measured using Food Frequency Questionnaires in children at 18 months, 5 and 7 years of age.

Prospective associations between an empirically derived dietary pattern and life satisfaction in Malaysian adolescents.

Background: Little is known on the prospective associations between an empirically derived dietary pattern (DP) and life satisfaction among adolescents. This PUTRA-Adol follow-up study aimed to assess the prospective associations between the empirically derived DP and life satisfaction during adolescence.

Methods: A total of 585 and 262 adolescents participated in the baseline PUTRA-Adol study in 2016 and PUTRA-Adol follow-up study in 2019-2020, respectively.

Double Burden of Malnutrition and Its Associated Factors in Urbanized Indigenous Peoples () of Peninsular Malaysia.

Double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is a global public health concern. This study determined the prevalence of DBM and its associated factors among 451 indigenous households in an urbanized state of Malaysia. Mothers and children were measured for weight and height/length.

Combined Effect of Dietary Acid Load and Cardiometabolic Syndrome on Bone Resorption Marker among Post-Menopausal Women in Malaysia.

Background: This study aimed to investigate factors associated with bone resorption status and determine the independent and interactive effects of dietary acid load (DAL) and cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) on bone resorption in post-menopausal women.

Methods: Overall, 211 community-dwelling post-menopausal women were recruited from the National Council of Senior Citizens Organization, Malaysia. DAL was estimated using the potential renal acid load from the food frequency questionnaire.

Maternal hemoglobin change from early pregnancy to second trimester is associated with risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: a retrospective cohort study.

Introduction: The accrual of iron that is reflected in high maternal hemoglobin (Hb) status is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Changes in maternal Hb level could also implicate glycemic status in pregnancy. This study aimed to determine the associations between maternal Hb levels and their changes with GDM.

Factors predicting health-related quality of life of the Malaysian B40 school-aged children living in urban-poor flats in the central region of Malaysia.

Background And Objectives: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multidimensional concept that indicated an individual's holistic health, whereby the urban-poor community are susceptible to low HRQoL due to their high vulnerability. This study aimed to determine factors that predicted the HRQoL among the urban-poor school-aged children.

Methods And Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study and a total of 408 primary school-aged children (male: 72.

Associations of alkaline water with metabolic risks, sleep quality, muscle strength: A cross-sectional study among postmenopausal women.

Much has been claimed on the health benefits of alkaline water including metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its features with scarcity of scientific evidence. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted to determine whether regular consumption of alkaline water confers health advantage on blood metabolites, anthropometric measures, sleep quality and muscle strength among postmenopausal women. A total of 304 community-dwelling postmenopausal women were recruited with comparable proportion of regular drinkers of alkaline water and non-drinkers.

Dietary Acid Load and Its Interaction with IGF1 (rs35767 and rs7136446) and IL6 (rs1800796) Polymorphisms on Metabolic Traits among Postmenopausal Women.

The objective of this study was to explore the effects of dietary acid load (DAL) and IGF1 and IL6 gene polymorphisms and their potential diet-gene interactions on metabolic traits. A total of 211 community-dwelling postmenopausal women were recruited. DAL was estimated using potential renal acid load (PRAL).

Impacts of a School-Based Intervention That Incorporates Nutrition Education and a Supportive Healthy School Canteen Environment among Primary School Children in Malaysia.

In this study, a school nutrition program (SNP) that incorporates nutrition education and a healthy school canteen environment was developed to improve nutrition knowledge among intervention respondents and provide a healthier environment for them to practice healthy eating. In the current study, we evaluated the impacts of the SNP on eating behaviors, physical activity, body mass index-for-age (BAZ), and cognitive performance at pre-intervention, post-intervention, and 3-month follow-up points between intervention and comparison groups. This intervention study involved 523 primary school children (7-11 years old) from six selected schools in Batu Pahat District, Malaysia.

No Interaction Effect between Interleukin-6 Polymorphisms and Acid Ash Diet with Bone Resorption Marker in Postmenopausal Women.

Background: Evidence is growing that a high-acid diet might accelerate the rate of bone loss, and gene polymorphisms such as Interleukin 6 () -174G/C and -572G/C are related to bone deterioration. However, no study of the interaction between diet and polymorphisms has been conducted among Asians. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine whether IL6 gene polymorphisms modified the association between dietary acidity and the rate of bone resorption.

Multiple micronutrient supplementation improves growth and reduces the risk of anemia among infants in Gaza Strip, Palestine: a prospective randomized community trial.

Background: Infants and young children 6-24 months of age are the most nutritionally vulnerable groups, as their needs for vitamins and minerals are high relative to the amount of food they consume. This study determines the effect of Micronutrient Powder Supplementation (MNP) on growth and hemoglobin of infants in Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Method: This was a two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial conducted in two health care clinics of the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) at the Middle Area governorate of Gaza Strip, Palestine.

Effect of Family-Based REDUCE Intervention Program on Children Eating Behavior and Dietary Intake: Randomized Controlled Field Trial.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a family-based intervention program (REDUCE) on children's eating behaviors and dietary intake. A two-arm randomized controlled field trial was conducted among parents and children of 7 to 10 years old who were either overweight or obese. The intervention was conducted via face-to-face sessions and social media.

Nutrition Indicators, Physical Function, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate how nutrition indicators and physical function may influence Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of breast cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study among a total of 163 breast cancer patients. Series of measurements including anthropometry, biochemical, and dietary were employed to assess patients' nutritional status while physical function was assessed by handgrip strength.

Does Food Insecurity Contribute towards Depression? A Cross-Sectional Study among the Urban Elderly in Malaysia.

With the aging of the population worldwide, there is an increasing concern for the mental health status as well as physical health. Depression is a common mental health problem among the elderly populations. Since the elderly are susceptible to food insecurity, this cross-sectional study is aimed to determine an association between food insecurity and depression among elderly people.

Do not neglect the indigenous peoples when reporting health and nutrition issues of the socio-economically disadvantaged populations in Malaysia.

The purpose of this correspondence is to express our disappointment with the coverage of the BMC Public Health supplement: Vol 19 (4) titled "Health and Nutritional Issues Among Low Income Population in Malaysia", which neglected to include the fundamental health and nutrition issues that are adversely affecting the lives and livelihood of the indigenous peoples. The Supplement comprised 21 papers. Two of these papers included indigenous peoples as study subjects.

Factors associated with dietary glycemic index and glycemic load in pregnant women and risk for gestational diabetes mellitus.

The risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) increases during the second trimester of pregnancy. However, the role of dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) on GDM risk is controversial. We aimed to determine the association of established risk factors of GDM with GI and GL among healthy pregnant women, and whether GI and GL were subsequently related to GDM risk.

School-based intervention that integrates nutrition education and supportive healthy school food environment among Malaysian primary school children: a study protocol.

Background: Malnutrition among school children may contribute to adverse health consequences such as non-communicable diseases, poor cognitive performance, psychological distress and poor quality of life that may persist into adulthood. In order to prevent childhood malnutrition, an intervention programme that integrates nutrition education and healthy school food environment is needed to provide nutrition information and reinforce the skills on healthy eating behaviours in schools. This paper describes a study protocol of a school-based intervention programme that integrates nutrition education and healthy school food environment, namely School Nutrition Programme (SNP).

Associations between the dietary patterns of pregnant Malaysian women and ethnicity, education, and early pregnancy waist circumference: A prospective cohort study.

Background/objectives: Little is known about the dietary patterns (DPs) of women during pregnancy. The present study aimed to identify the DPs of pregnant Malaysian women and their associations with socio-demographic, obstetric, and anthropometric characteristics.

Subjects And Methods: This prospective cohort study included 737 participants enrolled in Seremban Cohort Study between 2013 and 2015.

Psychological Factors and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors as Mediators of the Relationship between Overweight/Obesity and Cognitive Function among School Children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Background: Recent research suggests that a negative relationship exists between adiposity and cognitive function in children. However, limited information is known on how they are related. This study aimed to examine the mediators of the relationship between overweight/obesity and cognitive function among school children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

A case-control study on the association of abdominal obesity and hypercholesterolemia with the risk of colorectal cancer.

Background: Obesity has frequently been associated with the dyslipidemic state and with the risk of various chronic diseases.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between obesity and blood lipids with a risk of colorectal cancer (CRC).

Methodology: Histologically confirmed CRC patients from five local hospitals were matched with cancer-free controls for age, gender, and ethnicity ( = 140: 280).

Family-based intervention using face-to-face sessions and social media to improve Malay primary school children's adiposity: a randomized controlled field trial of the Malaysian REDUCE programme.

Background: Social media may be an effective medium by which parents could be trained to promote healthy eating behaviour and physical activity for their children. This trial evaluates the effectiveness of a family-based intervention using social media in combination with face-to-face sessions - the REDUCE (REorganise Diet, Unnecessary sCreen time and Exercise) programme - on adiposity of Malay children.

Methods: Five primary schools in an urban area in Selangor, Malaysia participated in this two-arm randomized controlled field trial.

Weight and height faltering in the indigenous children (Orang Asli) of Peninsular Malaysia during the first 2 years of life.

Background And Objectives: Information on the growth status of indigenous children is useful for developing intervention strategies, but the data are limited. This study determined the prevalence of undernutrition among under-five indigenous children (Orang Asli) and tracked the growth status of Orang Asli children aged 0-3 years.

Methods And Study Design: This study had two phases: a cross-sectional growth study of under-five Orang Asli children (N=304; Phase 1) and a 2-year prospective cohort growth study of Orang Asli children aged 0-3 years (N=214; Phase 2) in the Temerloh district of Pahang, Malaysia.

Dietary Acid Load, IGF-1 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism and Bone Resorption among Postmenopausal Chinese Women.

The interaction of dietary and genetic factors may affect the development of bone deterioration. This study investigated whether the effects of dietary acid load (DAL) on bone loss in postmenopausal Chinese women were moderated by the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) single nucleotide polymorphism, a known gene that plays a role in the regulation of bone formation and bone remodeling. A total of 217 healthy participants were recruited from the National Council of Senior Citizens Organizations Malaysia.

Growth patterns of Palestinian children from birth to 24 months.

Background: Growth faltering in early life can adversely affect health in later childhood and adulthood. Growth monitoring of children can provide evidence to help formulate effective strategies to address growth problems but such information on Palestinian children is lacking.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the growth patterns of children under 2 years in Gaza, Palestine.

Obesity indices predict hypertension among indigenous adults in Krau Wildlife Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia.

Background: The disease burden of indigenous peoples has been augmented by the rising prevalence of obesity and hypertension in this population. This study assessed the ability of obesity indices to predict hypertension among indigenous adults of Peninsular Malaysia.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 482 adults (223 men, 259 women) aged ≥18 years old were measured for body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and blood pressure.