Effect of Kelulut honey supplementation on bone health in male rats on high-carbohydrate high-fat diet

Purpose: To determine the effects of Kelulut honey (KH) on the bone health of rats with metabolic syndrome. Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomised into normal control and metabolic syndrome is fed with a diet enriched with carbohydrate and fat. The rats in the metabolic syndrome arm were further assigned into the negative control group and honey group supplemented orally with Kelulut honey (1g/kg) daily for eight weeks. After the rats were sacrificed, the trabecular and cortical micro-architecture of the harvested femur was analysed using X-ray micro-computed tomography, while histomorphometric method was used to determine bone cell indices. Femoral biomechanical properties were analysed using a universal mechanical tester. Results: Total cross-sectional area, osteoid surface and volume, displacement and strain reduced significantly, while eroded surface increased significantly in the rats with metabolic syndrome than the normal rats (p < 0.05). The honey group showed a significant reduction in osteoclast surface than the normal healthy control (p < 0.05). Other skeletal parameters did not show a significant intergroup difference. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is harmful to bone health and honey has limited effects in reversing these negative effects

Tocotrienol-rich Fraction Modulates Cardiac Metabolic Profile changes in Isoprenaline-Induced Myocardial Infarction rats

In myocardial infarction (MI), the occurrence of energy depletion, oxidative stress, and decreased amino acids metabolism alter tissue metabolites. Evidence has shown that tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) prevents myocardial injury in MI. However, the protective mechanism at the metabolite level is unknown. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped into control, isoprenaline (ISO)-induced MI (MI), healthy rats receiving 200 mg/kg TRF (200TRF), and MI rats receiving 200 mg/kg TRF (200TRF+MI) groups. TRF was administered via oral gavage daily for 12 weeks followed by intraperitoneal ISO injection (85 mg/kg) for two consecutive days at a 24-hour interval to induce MI. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed to analyze serum α-tocopherol and tocotrienol concentration whereas ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for the untargeted metabolomic study. Serum α-tocopherol but not tocotrienol was increased in the 200TRF (p=0.121) and 200TRF+MI (p<0.05) following TRF supplementation. Multivariate analysis by Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures Discriminant Analysis showed high predictability of the group comparison models for MI vs control and 200TRF+MI vs MI (cross-validation: Q2 >0.7, R2 Y>0.8, p<0.05). A total of 84 and 37 metabolites [when covariance of p≥|0.05| (magnitude) and p(corr)≥|0.5| (reliability)] were significantly different in the myocardial homogenates of MI vs control and 200TRF+MI vs MI, respectively. MI rats had reduced S-adenosylmethionine and L-cystathionine that might worsen MI by disturbing glutathione metabolism; decreased phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate and purine salvage process that might impair DNA synthesis, and elevated glucose-6-phosphate suggesting enhanced anaerobic glycolysis possibly for rapid production of energy. Conversely, TRF supplementation reversed the impaired metabolic pathways caused by MI

Tocotrienol-rich fraction modulates cardiac metabolic profile changes in isoprenaline-induced myocardial infarction rats

In myocardial infarction (MI), the occurrence of energy depletion, oxidative stress, and decreased amino acids metabolism alter tissue metabolites. Evidence has shown that tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) prevents myocardial injury in MI. However, the protective mechanism at the metabolite level is unknown. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped into control, isoprenaline (ISO)-induced MI (MI), healthy rats receiving 200 mg/kg TRF (200TRF), and MI rats receiving 200 mg/kg TRF (200TRF+MI) groups. TRF was administered via oral gavage daily for 12 weeks followed by intraperitoneal ISO injection (85 mg/kg) for two consecutive days at a 24-hour interval to induce MI. High-performance liquid chromatography was performed to analyze serum α-tocopherol and tocotrienol concentration whereas ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used for the untargeted metabolomic study. Serum α-tocopherol but not tocotrienol was increased in the 200TRF (p=0.121) and 200TRF+MI (p0.7, R2Y>0.8, p<0.05). A total of 84 and 37 metabolites [when covariance of p≥|0.05| (magnitude) and p(corr)≥|0.5| (reliability)] were significantly different in the myocardial homogenates of MI vs control and 200TRF+MI vs MI, respectively. MI rats had reduced S-adenosylmethionine and L-cystathionine that might worsen MI by disturbing glutathione metabolism; decreased phosphoribosyl-pyrophosphate and purine salvage process that might impair DNA synthesis, and elevated glucose-6-phosphate suggesting enhanced anaerobic glycolysis possibly for rapid production of energy. Conversely, TRF supplementation reversed the impaired metabolic pathways caused by MI

Prevalence of Obesity and Correlated Hypertension and Hyperglycaemia Status among Participants of a Health Screening Programme in Inanam Sub-district, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

Obesity is a known risk factor for non-communicable diseases, including hypertension and diabetes mellitus, with Malaysia having the highest prevalence of obesity among Southeast Asian countries. Additionally, the delivery of medical services to the rural communities remains challenging despite efforts to increase accessibilities to the healthcare facilities. Therefore, regular health screening programmes specifically aiming at these communities are necessary for early diagnosis and intervention to prevent complications while improving the patients' quality of life. A health screening programme was conducted in a sub-district of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, where 50 participants were examined for general obesity based on body mass index (BMI) together with central obesity according to waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). Bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed to estimate body fat percentage (fat%) and body fat mass, along with the measurement of systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and capillary blood glucose. The median age of the participants was 39.50 years. The prevalence of general obesity, central obesity based on WC and WHR, hypertension, and hyperglycaemia was 28%, 78%, 74%, 24%, and 20%, respectively. Both fat% and fat mass had positive correlations to the BMI (fat%: r = 0.656, p = 0.001; fat mass: r = 0.868, p = 0.001) and WC (fat%: r = 0.505, p = 0.001; fat mass: r = 0.761, p = 0.001). DBP had positive correlations with the BMI (r = 0.390, p = 0.005), WC (r = 0.467, p = 0.001), and WHR (r = 0.331, p = 0.019), while SBP had a positive correlation only with WC (r = 0.341, p = 0.015). Conversely, capillary blood glucose had no significant correlation with either BMI, WC, or WHR. The higher prevalence of central obesity among participants of the health screening program compared to the national level should raise concern among the healthcare providers regarding the future risk for hypertension and hyperglycaemia in this community

Coronary Heart Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Genetic Factors and Their Mechanisms, Gene-Gene, and Gene-Environment Interactions in the Asian Populations

Asians are more susceptible to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and its coronary heart disease (CHD) complications than the Western populations, possibly due to genetic factors, higher degrees of obesity, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction that could occur even in healthy individuals. The genetic factors and their mechanisms, along with gene-gene and gene-environment interactions associated with CHD in T2D Asians, are yet to be explored. Therefore, the objectives of this paper were to review the current evidence of genetic factors for CHD, summarize the proposed mechanisms of these genes and how they may associate with CHD risk, and review the gene-gene and gene-environment interactions in T2D Asians with CHD. The genetic factors can be grouped according to their involvement in the energy and lipoprotein metabolism, vascular and endothelial pathology, antioxidation, cell cycle regulation, DNA damage repair, hormonal regulation of glucose metabolism, as well as cytoskeletal function and intracellular transport. Meanwhile, interactions between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from different genes, SNPs within a single gene, and genetic interaction with environmental factors including obesity, smoking habit, and hyperlipidemia could modify the gene&rsquo;s effect on the disease risk. Collectively, these factors illustrate the complexities of CHD in T2D, specifically among Asians

The Beneficial Effects of Stingless Bee Honey from Heterotrigona itama against Metabolic Changes in Rats Fed with High-Carbohydrate and High-Fat Diet

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of conditions including central obesity, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hypertension that increases the risk for cardiometabolic diseases. Kelulut honey (KH) produced by stingless honey bees has stronger antioxidant properties compared to other honey types and may be a functional food against MetS. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of KH in preventing metabolic changes in rats with MetS induced by high-carbohydrate and high-fat (HCHF) diet. Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the control (C), HCHF diet-induced MetS (S), and MetS supplemented with KH (K) groups. The K group was given KH (1 g/kg/day) for eight weeks. Compared to the control, the S group had significant higher omental fat mass, serum triglyceride, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressures, adipocyte area, and adipocyte perimeter (p &lt; 0.05). KH supplementation significantly prevented these MetS-induced changes at week 16 (p &lt; 0.05). Several compounds, including 4-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid, coumaric and caffeic acids, had been detected via liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis that might contribute to the reversal of these changes. The beneficial effects of KH against MetS-induced rats provide the basis for future KH research to investigate its potential use in humans and its molecular mechanisms in alleviating the disease

A Review on the Protective Effects of Honey against Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of diseases comprising of obesity, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. There are numerous pre-clinical as well as human studies reporting the protective effects of honey against MetS. Honey is a nutritional food low in glycemic index. Honey intake reduces blood sugar levels and prevents excessive weight gain. It also improves lipid metabolism by reducing total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL), which leads to decreased risk of atherogenesis. In addition, honey enhances insulin sensitivity that further stabilizes blood glucose levels and protects the pancreas from overstimulation brought on by insulin resistance. Furthermore, antioxidative properties of honey help in reducing oxidative stress, which is one of the central mechanisms in MetS. Lastly, honey protects the vasculature from endothelial dysfunction and remodelling. Therefore, there is a strong potential for honey supplementation to be integrated into the management of MetS, both as preventive as well as adjunct therapeutic agents

Pretravelling health-seeking behavior, knowledge of vaccines, and attitudes toward travel health among Malaysian travelers

Background: Travelers are at higher risk of developing health‑related problems, especially travel‑related diseases, and this remains a major public health burden. Aims: To assess pretravel health behavior‑seeking factors, knowledge of vaccine, and travel health attitudes. A cross‑sectional design among Malaysian travelers. Methods: An online survey was conducted from December 2017 till March 2018 among 226 participants. Demographic data, pretraveling health behaviors, knowledge of vaccine‑preventable diseases, and travel health were asked. Independent t‑test and ANOVA were performed using SPSS version 20. Results: Among travelers, 51.3% and 63.7% used health‑related information on their destination before departure and collected information on possible travel hazards at their destination. Participant age (P = 0.02), monthly income (P = 0.01), predeparture health information (P = 0.03), information on possible hazards (P = 0.04), and travel health advice from medical professionals (P = 0.03) have been reported as a major predictor of knowledge of vaccine‑preventable disease. Travelers’ gender (P = 0.01), household income (P = 0.01), and travel health advice from professionals (P = 0.002) were significantly associated with travel health attitude. Conclusions: Sociodemographic and pretravel health‑seeking behavior influence knowledge of vaccine‑preventable disease and attitudes towards travel health which requires a public health need for community outreach programs targeting this group

Levels of Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Measured by DASS-21 and their Associated Factors in a Rural Village of Ranau District, Sabah, Malaysia

Background. The prevalence of mental illness in Malaysia is rising each year, with the highest recorded in a mostly rural state of Sabah, possibly due to challenges in accessing healthcare services and the maldistribution of mental health professionals. Moreover, the data on mental illness burden among the rural Sabahans are insufficient. Objective. To identify the levels of depression, anxiety, and stress and their associated factors in a rural village of Sabah, Malaysia. Methods. Demographic data and the risk factors for depression, anxiety, and stress were collected from 115 respondents, followed by the administration of 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Score (DASS-21) and Short Form International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). Results. The respondents’ median age was 43 years. The levels of depression, anxiety, and stress were 28.7%, 42.6%, and 19.1%, respectively. Male had significantly lower odds for anxiety (OR: 0.44), while those with a history of hypertension had lower odds for depression (OR: 0.20). Individuals with a history of diagnosed stress had higher chances of having depression (OR: 11.17) and stress (OR: 7.18). Respondents with a history of other illnesses (self-reported gastritis, bloody stools, bronchial asthma, and brain carcinoma) were more likely to have depression (OR: 7.14), anxiety (OR: 9.07), and stress (OR: 34.50). Meanwhile, moderate-high physical activity was associated with higher odds for anxiety (OR: 2.39). Conclusion. In this study, the rural village community had higher depression and anxiety levels than the currently available epidemiological data that may necessitate more rigorous and appropriate mental health intervention by the relevant authorities