The Effects of Rice Bran and Blended Race Bran Oils On Indices of Coronary Heart Disease

Reducing dietary saturated fatty acid, increasing dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid together with the presence of naturally occurring plant minor components in fats and oil have been shown to be able to reduce plasma cholesterol level. In this study, the hypocholesterolemic effects of rice bran and blended rice bran oils were investigated. In an animal study to determine the effect of defatted and fullfat rice brans, hypercholesterolemia-induced male Sprague Dawley rats (n=77) were divided into five groups receiving diets containing; normal chow (Control), defatted rice bran diet (10% TDF; DFBC), full-fat rice bran diet (10% TDF; FRBC), cellulose diet (10% TDF; CC) and normal chow containing cholesterol (NC). All experimental diets contained 0.3% cholesterol and 0.1 % cholic acid except for the Control group. Blood samples were collected at week 3 for lipid profile determination. Results of this study showed that animals on FRBC diet had lower plasma total and LDL cholesterol levels compared to animals on DFBC and CC diets. Animals fed both DFBC and CC diets, however had higher plasma total and LDL cholesterol levels compared to the NC group. These results demonstrated that only full-fat rice bran diet caused significant reduction (pc0.05) in plasma total and LDL cholesterol. The higher content of unsaturated fatty acids (75%) and the presence of high unsaponifiable matter in the rice bran lipid fraction are suggested to contribute to the cholesterol reduction. In summary, local full-fat rice bran could be used as a good agent to reduce plasma cholesterol level. A human feeding study was carried out to determine the effects of experimental oils [palm oil (100% PO), rice bran oil (100% RBO) and blended rice bran-palm oils; 45% RBO and 60% RBO] on CHD indices of norrnocholesterolemic to mild hyper cholesterolemic subjects (n=18). The subjects received normal diets prepared using each experimental oil for 5 weeks in a single blind crossover design. In this study, diets prepared using experimental oils, did not significantly (p>0.05) alter the plasma lipid profile of subjects. However, blended oil diets (45% and 60% RBO) improved the LDUHDL ratio of subjects with 45% RBO favourable for normo- and 60% RBO favourable for mild hyper cholesterolemic subjects. Other indicators such as apo A?, apo B, Lp(a) and plasma antioxidant enzymes (glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase) of subjects were not affected by the dietary changes induced in the experimental oils used. The 45% RBO and 60% RBO diets also caused significant reduction ( ~ ~ 0 . 0i5n) p lasma conjugated diene and malondialdehyde levels of subjects. Plasma total antioxidant status of subjects increased following intake of blended oil diets with the highest total antioxidant status level during intake of 60% RBO diet. The increased total antioxidant status was related to significantly (pc0.05) higher level of plasma tocotrienol (5.19 ppm) compared to other diets (<2 ppm). These results demonstrated that both blended oils (45% RBO and 60% RBO) have shown some functional properties (relative to 100% RBO and 100% PO) in improving indicators of CHD. Blending of RBO and PO at specific ratios improved the fatty acid composition and antioxidant contents of the resulting oils. There could be some interactions between palm tocotrienol and rice bran oryzanol in the blended oil diets that resulted to these beneficial effects. In future, further studies are needed to determine the exact mechanisms involved

Nutritional, phytochemical and pharmacological properties of Canarium odontophyllum Miq. (dabai) fruit

Canarium odontophyllum Miq. fruit, popularly recognized as dabai fruit in Sarawak, is a seasonal fruit found in the tropical rainforest of East Malaysia. A dabai fruit can be divided into several anatomical parts, and different parts of the fruit have different valuable phytochemicals. Due to the lack of promotion, dabai fruit is viewed as nutritionally inferior fruit by the public. On the contrary, the fruit is rich in nutrients such as protein, fat, carbohydrates, sodium, calcium and iron. Many phytochemicals have been detected from different parts of dabai fruit, and these molecules have been linked to beneficial properties such as hypolipidemic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-cholinesterase, antimicrobial and potentially anti-diabetic. The aim of this article is to review research studies on this fruit in order to provide adequate baseline information for commercial exploitation as well as for future studies

Antioxidant properties of selected varieties of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) commercially available in Malaysia

This study aimed to determine total antioxidant and antioxidant activity of selected local varieties of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Five varieties (iceberg, butterhead, romaine, green coral and red coral) were subjected to DPPH radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP) assays for determination of antioxidant activity. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were determined as total antioxidant. The EC50 values obtained from the DPPH radical scavenging assay ranged from 303.56 to 4485.41 μg/ml. The red coral lettuce had the lowest EC50 value indicating it possesses the highest antioxidant activity among the varieties. This variety also showed the highest FRAP value compared with the other varieties, where the values ranged from 48.05 to 2135.82 mM Fe2+/100 g fresh weight. Total phenolic content of samples ranged from 4.85 to 76.05 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g fresh weight, with the red coral lettuce had the highest value. Total flavonoid content of the lettuce samples ranged from 2.28 to 21.96 mg quercetin equivalent/100 g fresh weight, and were significantly different (p &lt; 0.05) among the samples. The EC50 values of DPPH radical scavenging activity and FRAP values among samples were highly correlated with total phenolic content and total flavonoid content. Among the different varieties of lettuce, red coral lettuce showed the highest total antioxidants and antioxidant activity. Therefore, consumers are encouraged to consume this lettuce more on a regular basis for gaining a better health

Trans fatty acids in selected bakery products and its potential dietary exposure

High intake of trans fatty acids (TFA) may cause adverse changes in blood lipids as shown in many epidemiological studies. The major sources of TFA in human diet come from bakery products such as cookies, cakes, muffins, breads and pastries. In this study, total fat of baked products was determined using Soxhlet method while TFA content was determined on gas chromatograph using a highly polar capillary column and flame ionization detector. Exposure to TFA from the baked product was estimated based on Food Consumption Statistics of Malaysia 2003. High level of TFA was observed in muffins (3.21-7.34 g per 100 g food) followed by pastries (2.90-6.03 g per 100 g food) and cakes (2.26-8.36 g per 100 g food) regardless of products having brand name or not. Among the TFA isomers, trans 18:1 6t was the most abundant followed by trans 18:1 9t, trans 16:1 9t, trans 18:2 and small quantities of trans 18:1 11t. Exposure to TFA based on the Malaysian Food Consumption Statistics 2003 of the baked products was ranging from 0.14-0.18 g/day. Even with the low estimated exposure, actual intake of baked products must be monitored closely as other high fat food as these products is one of main contributor to TFA in the diet following their high frequency of daily intake

Comparison of vitamin C content in citrus fruits by titration and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) methods

Vitamin C is one of the essential vitamins for human and animal. Many methods were developed for the determination of vitamin C such as spectrophotometry, electrophoresis, titration, and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). This study aims to compare vitamin C content of citrus fruits (orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, kaffir lime and musk lime) using indophenol titration and HPLC-PDA methods. In the titration method, orange has the highest vitamin C content (58.30 mg/100g) followed by grapefruit (49.15 mg/100g), lemon (43.96 mg/100g), kaffir lime (37.24 mg/100g), lime (27.78 mg/100g) and musk lime (18.62 mg/100g). While, in the HPLC method orange also leads with the highest vitamin C content (43.61 mg/100g) followed by lemon (31.33 mg/100g), grapefruit (26.40 mg/100g), lime (22.36 mg/100g), kaffir lime (21.58 mg/100g) and musk lime (16.78 mg/100g). Orange is the best source of vitamin C while musk and kaffir lime have lower content. Significant differences were observed in vitamin C of samples by both methods. Both methods are suitable for the determination of vitamin C, however HPLC method is more accurate, precise and specific

Safety issues related to polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in fish and shellfish in relation with current Malaysian laws.

Dioxins (PCDDs) and furans (PCDFs) exposure has been linked to birth detects, child growth retardation, reduced levels of male reproductive hormones, altered ratios of male to female births, diabetes and cancer. These show that PCDDs and PCDFs give awful impact to man-kind. This paper will highlight on the concentration of the contaminants in fish and shellfish as well as the estimate intake of the contaminants based on data from other countries. This paper also will identify the relevant regulatory framework presently available in Malaysia that governs the environmental management of PCDDs and PCDFs. In response to aggressive attempts globally to control PCDD/Fs emissions over the last 35 years, human exposures to PCDD/Fs from the environment have declined significantly. The primary source of human exposure to PCDDs and PCDFs is animal foods including fish and shellfish. The sources of these contaminants in the foods are not well understood and are probably varied. Data on the levels of PCDD/Fs measured in various fish samples collected from one country to another varies which correlate with the varied species of fish and shellfish available besides the human industrial activities nearby. As for Malaysia, the information on the level and type of PCDD/Fs present in food especially fish and shellfish is still lacking and need to be made available in order for specific recommendations (kind of species, frequency and size of meals) regarding human consumption to be made. This paper also has noticed that there is no specific legislation in Malaysia that governs the safety and environmental management on PCDDs and PCDFs. However, there are several legislations that regulate the safety and environmental management of PCDDs and PCDFs which include Environmental Quality Act (1974); the Occupational Safety and Health Act (1994); the Customs Act (1967) and the Food Act (1983). The enforcement of these legislations is not the responsibility of a single government agency. Different government departments may enforce the legislation relevant to the operation of that department. Hence, the Environmental Quality Act (1974) is the responsible of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (1994) is by the Ministry of Human Resources whilst the Food Act (1983) is by the Ministry of Health and as for the Customs Act (1967) under the supervision and administration of the Ministry of Finance. Finally, this paper concluded that Malaysia has a sufficient regulatory framework in which may adequately control on PCDDs and PCDFs emission in various life cycles. However, there is no legal provision on the control of exposure toward PCDDs and PCDFs especially for human consumption by setting specific maximum residue level for various groups of food

Dietary fiber and total phenolic content of selected raw and cooked beans and its combinations

Beans are distinctive among a diverse and broad class of legumes. Certain health products claimed their products are high in dietary fibers and total phenolic content (TPC) because they applied bean combinations. This study aimed to determine the dietary fibers and TPC of raw and cooked beans and its combinations. Individual beans studied were kidney bean, mung bean and chickpea. Bean combinations were done by mixing each of the homogenized beans flour in the ratio of 1:1 (w/w) and 1:1:1 (w/w/w). Dietary fibers were determined using enzymatic-gravimetrical method whereas TPC was determined spectrophotometrically. Results showed the insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), soluble dietary fiber (SDF), total dietary fiber (TDF) and TPC for individual raw beans varied from 20.52 to 26.61 g/100 g, 1.20 to 2.45 g/100 g, 22.08 to 27.81 g/100 g and 0.48 to 1.04 mg GAE/g, respectively. For raw bean combinations, the IDF, SDF, TDF and TPC varied from 20.74 to 23.96 g/100 g, 2.3 to 2.50 g/100 g, 23.05 to 26.46 g/100 g and 0.80 to 0.85 mg GAE/g, respectively. No significant different (p > 0.05) in IDF and SDF for raw bean combinations and individual raw beans. Meanwhile, certain raw bean combinations contained significant higher (p < 0.05) TDF and TPC than individual raw beans. The IDF, SDF, TDF and TPC for individual cooked beans varied from 14.49 to 26.30 g/100 g, 1.40 to 2.02 g/100 g, 15.88 to 28.31 g/100 g and 0.57 to 1.20 mg GAE/g, respectively. For cooked bean combinations, the IDF, SDF, TDF and TPC varied from 15.73 to 23.03 g/100 g, 1.73 to 2.36 g/100 g, 17.46 to 24.95 g/100 g and 0.61 to 1.08 mg GAE/g, respectively. After cooking, the IDF, SDF, TDF and TPC of certain beans combinations were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than individual beans. This study supports the proposal that bean combinations can possibly be used as a method to increase the amount of dietary fibers and TPC

The safety of drinking bottled water based on law of negligence : Malaysian perspectives.

The law of negligence plays an inmportant role in protecting individual from polluted and contaminated drinking water. The use of the law of negligence in the area of an individual's protections is largely in reply to the neccesity of each individual tp protect his right and interest in consuming drinking water. Therefore, this wil examine the use of the law of negligence in relation to the individual protection on the drinking water safety from Malaysian legal perspectives, identify cases and actions which deals with the individual protection on polluted and contaminated drinking water from the Malaysian legal perspectives and lastly, discuss the law of negligence as a means to protect individual from the polluted and contaminated drinking water in Malaysia

A 1H-NMR-based metabolomics investigation on the effect of saffron extract and crocin on rats fed a high fat diet

Overweight and obesity are rapidly growing health problem and indeed it has become a strong risk factor in many types of chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of saffron extract and its pure bioactive compound, crocin on obesity in in-vivo high fat diet (HFD) induced model in comparison to orlistat as the positive control. Obese model was successfully established in male Sprague Dawley rats fed by a HFD (40%) for 12 weeks. The obese rats were administered with saffron extract (40 and 80 mg/kg), crocin (40 and 80 mg/kg) and orlistat (20mg/kg) by mixing with HFD for consecutive 8 weeks. Changes in metabolic profiles of serum were determined by using 1H-NMR based metabolomics approach combined with multivariate statistical analysis. The Orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) on the serum 1H-NMR profiles showed a clear discrimination between obese rats from a normal control rats. This discrimination showed that obese rats serum had higher content of glucose, lactate, β-hydroxybutyrate, alanine and creatinine with lower content of taurine, betaine and trimetylamine N-oxide than those in normal control group. The metabolic profile of serum in obese rat after the administration of saffron extract (80mg/ kg) and crocin (80mg/kg) were deviated from negative control. This results indicated that administration of saffron extract (80mg/ kg) and crocin (80mg/kg) could effectively improve disturbed metabolism in obese rats induced by HFD. These study findings could demonstrated the potential anti-obesity effect of saffron extract and crocin at pre-clinical study

Therapeutic effects of vinegar: a review

Vinegar is a natural product derived from a process of fermentation. Carbohydrates-rich foods are excellent sources of substrate to produce vinegar. Vinegar is mainly used as an ingredient in food preparation due to its taste and aroma. It is one of the most famous folk medicines used to fight infections. Several studies have showed vinegar has a potential to ameliorate obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, cancer and microbial infections. Daily intake of a drink containing 15 mL vinegar (750 mg of acetic acid) was reported to improve lifestyle-related diseases, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. The presence of acetic acid and other components in vinegar could be responsible for its therapeutic effect. This paper reviews recent studies on therapeutic values of vinegar derived from different food sources. Possible mechanisms of therapeutic action of vinegar are also discussed