Banana Peels as Potential Prebiotic and Functional Ingredient

This study aims to determine the prebiotic potential of the banana peel on the growth of probiotic Lactobacillus spp. in vitro and to utilize the peel as a functional ingredient in preparing biscuits. Peels of dessert banana (pisang berangan) and plantain (pisang nangka) were oven-dried and homogenized, and the total sugar content was determined. Subsequently, different cultivation media were made by substituting the carbon source with Banana Peel Powder (BPP), Plantain Peel Powder (PPP), glucose, and inulin. These media were later fermented with probiotic Lactobacillus spp., extracted from a probiotic drink. The growth performance was accessed following 24 hours of incubation. BPP and PPP were incorporated into the preparation of biscuits as functional ingredients. A portion of wheat flour was substituted with 10%, 20%, and 30% of BPP and PPP, respectively, during the preparation of the biscuits. These biscuits were then analyzed for proximate composition, physical properties, and estimated Glycaemic Index (eGI). The supplementation of BPP and PPP in the media improved the probiotic bacteria's growth rate and generation time as the media had a significantly higher amount of Lactobacillus spp. compared to others. Both BPP- and PPP-supplemented media had significantly low pH, indicating intense metabolic activity of the bacteria utilizing the peels. Results also showed significant differences in the total dietary fiber and protein content of BBP- and PPP-incorporated biscuits. The addition of BPP and PPP did not significantly affect the physical properties of the biscuit, and such incorporation resulted in lower eGI when compared to the control. BPP and PPP possess potential prebiotic properties and can be utilized as functional ingredients. Further study is warranted to explore other prebiotic properties of banana peels and to investigate consumers' acceptance of banana peel-incorporated foods

The Relationship between Folic Acid Intake and Depression among College Students

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between folic acid intake and the incidence of depression among students of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, department of Nutrition. This cross-sectional study recruited 40 participants following the inclusion criteria. Sample collection was done by random sampling. Data collection on the adequacy of folic acid intake was carried out using the non-consecutive three days 24 four Food recall. The prevalence of depression was obtained by measuring the level of depression in the last two weeks using the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) questionnaire. The results showed that 2.5% of the subjects had sufficient folic acid intake and 97.5% had insufficient folic acid intake with mean 78,5 mcg. About 47.5% of subjects experienced minimal depression, 20% experienced mild depression, 25% experienced moderate depression, and 7.5% experienced major depression with mean score 13.4. Futher analysis, the p-value (p=0.145) indicated that there was no significant relationship between folic acid and depression status. Recommended for using the Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SQ-FFQ) to see acid intake folate and pay attention to other factors that cause depression

Effect of Sacha Inchi Oil on Human Blood Pressure and Lipid Profile: A Preliminary Study in Malaysia

This uncontrolled pre-post study aimed to assess changes in blood lipid profiles and blood pressure resulting from a 2-month consumption of Sacha Inchi Oil (SIO) (Plukenetia volubilis). Investigating the effects of SIO on Malaysians is essential for tailoring interventions to the local context, considering genetic, cultural, and dietary differences. A total of 13 adult participants, comprising 8 males and 5 females aged 35 to 74 years old, took part in this intervention study. Each participant was instructed to consume 2 softgels daily, with each softgel containing 530 mg of SIO. Blood lipid profiles and blood pressure were measured at baseline and at the end of the 2-month period, utilizing venipuncture for blood tests and a sphygmomanometer for blood pressure assessment. The results indicated a significant reduction in Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) levels following SIO supplementation (2 softgels daily) (p<0.05). However, there were no notable improvements in Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP), Total Cholesterol (TC), Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL-C), High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HDL-C), and Triglycerides (TG) after the 2-month supplementation. In conclusion, the daily supplementation of 2 softgels of SIO (1,060 mg) for 2 months demonstrated a beneficial effect on blood pressure, particularly in reducing SBP. These findings serve as preliminary data for future research into the potential health benefits of SIO in the Malaysian population

Mother’s Knowledge, Attitude and Practices and its Influence toward Nutritional Status of Children in Terengganu

This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the nutritional status, Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) regarding stunting among mothers and its relationship with stunting among children below two years old in Terengganu. A total of 330 mother-child pairs from Terengganu were recruited through purposive sampling. Anthropometric measurement comprised weight and height. Information on socio–demographic, and a validated questionnaire on knowledge, attitude and practice of stunting were selfreported. Chi-square test was applied in this study with p<0.05 considered significant outcome. The majority (61.2%) of the mothers aged 30−39 years old, with tertiary educational level (51.5%) and in the low income group (86.4%). The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight was 25.2%, 9.4% and 14.2% respectively for the children below two years old in Terengganu. KAP analysis revealed that 44.5% of mothers had moderate level of knowledge, while 68.8% and 92.7% had good level of attitude and practice, respectively. A significant association (p<0.05) was found between knowledge of mothers with stunting among the children, while no significant association between attitudes and practice with stunting. The present study found that mothers’ knowledge significantly impacted their child’s growth status in relation to stunting. Future intervention programmes should incorporate nutrition education focusing on mothers’ knowledge to prevent stunting among children

Dietary Adherence in Children with Amino Acid Metabolism Disorders and its Impact on Caregivers’ Quality of Life

This study explored the relationship among socio-demographic factors, patients’ dietary adherence, and the Quality of Life (QoL) experienced by their caregivers. A cross-sectional study was carried out, involving 66 caregivers of pediatric patients in Malaysia diagnosed Amino Acid Metabolism Disorders (AAMDs). Dietary adherence was assessed using a modified version of the Malaysia Medication Adherence Assessment Tool (MyMAAT-12), and the caregiver’s QoL was evaluated using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF 36) questionnaire. Majority of the patients were Malay (75.76%), and female (59.1%). Statistical analysis found that caregivers with a higher education level were associated with a higher dietary adherence (rs (64)=0.382, p=0.002) and better mental health (rs (64)=0.281, p=0.022). The age of patients had negative significant correlation with the physical function and general health (rs (64)=0.287, p=0.019) of their caregivers. Besides that, dietary adherence was negatively correlated with social functioning (p=0.010), role limited due to physical health (p=0.018), role limited due to emotional problems (p=0.022), vitality (p=0.021), mental health (p=0.014) and pain (p=0.011). Conclusion: Dietary adherence had a significant impact on the QoL for caregivers of patients with amino acid metabolism disorders. Therefore, it is crucial to explore appropriate treatment strategies and provide support to enhance patients' adherence to their dietary requirements, simultaneously improving the caregivers' QoL

Nutrition Management for Acute Stroke with Right-Sided Hemiparesis: A Case Study

This case study aims to report on the nutrition management of acute stroke with right-sided hemiparesis using an approach of early enteral feeding intervention to prevent malnutrition. Mr. R, a 77-year-old Malay man was admitted to the hospital due to an acute stroke with right hemiparesis with underlying disease of Atrial Fibrillation (AF), hypertension, type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) stage 3b, and significant Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). His BMI was 24kg/m2 with a weight of 67kg and height of 1.67m, and he was presented with abnormal blood results. All his vital signs were normal, and he appeared lethargic. The patient was on bolus Nasogastric (NG) feeding via Ryle’s tube with polymeric formula. Inadequate enteral nutrition infusion related to infusion volume not yet reached, as evidenced by a 47% energy and 60% protein adequacy feeding history. The polymeric formula was changed to a diabetic-specific formula for better blood sugar control, and feeding was given according to the patient's needs. Mr. R required at least 70% of 1,675 kcal of energy and 53.6 g of protein (0.8 g/kg body weight) to prevent malnutrition. The patient was still on Ryle’s tube feeding and already achieved the targeted energy and protein requirements. Before being discharged, the patient was allowed orally, and a sample menu was given as guidance to avoid weight loss and muscle wasting during longterm recovery. This case highlights the importance of early enteral feeding support in stroke recovery and the need to prioritize meeting nutritional needs in stroke patient care. Mr. R showed improvement in health and nutrition and concluded that early and focused enteral nutrition support can lead to improved results and better quality of life for stroke survivors

Assessment of Adult Individuals' Fear of COVID-19, Healthy Living Behaviors, and Nutrition Knowledge Levels during the COVID-19 Pandemic Period

This study determines the fear of COVID-19, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and nutrition knowledge levels of individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was conducted involving 509 people between the ages of 18 and 64 from December 2020 to April 2021. Data were collected online using a descriptive characteristics form, the COVID-19 Fear Scale, the Adult Nutrition Knowledge Level Scale, and the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II. It was found from the study that women feared COVID-19 more than men (p<0.05). Individuals aged 35–44 scored higher in basic nutrition knowledge, while those aged 18‒24 scored lower in food preference knowledge (p<0.05). It was also found that individuals who were between 55 and 64 years of age, married, highly educated, employed in the public sector, of good economic status, and ill scored higher on the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II (p<0.05). A weak positive correlation was found between the score of the Fear of COVID-19 Scale and scores of both food preference knowledge and health responsibility sub-dimensions (r=0.088, r=0.181; p<0.05). A weak positive correlation was also found between the nutrition knowledge score as well as the different sub-dimensions and the total score of the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II (r=0.164, r=0.196; p<0.05). It was observed that fear of COVID-19, nutrition knowledge level, and healthy lifestyle behaviors were influenced by various socio-demographic characteristics, and that there was a relationship between these three elements