1.Dietary Polyphenols Consumption and Its Relation with Cognitive and Mental Health in Aging: A Review
Hanisah Rosli ; Suzana Shahar ; Normah Che Din ; Hasnah Haron
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2014;12(2):1-8
Literature review suggests that polyphenols in particular fl avonoids, are benefi cial for mental health during aging
process. This review examines the effect of consumption of all polyphenols groups on mental health and cognitive status
during aging process. The keywords searched were “mental health,” “depression,” “anxiety,” “stress” and “cognitive”
combined with “dietary,” and “polyphenols.” The databases including PubMed, Web of Science and CAB Abstracts were
searched for a period of 10 years. A total of 11 studies were identifi ed to fulfi ll the inclusion criteria. From this review,
polyphenols may confer benefi cial effects towards mental health, in particular the decline in cognitive functions during
aging process, however, some studies showed contradictory results. Polyphenols have been proven to improve language
and verbal ability, which is among the main vulnerable aspects in cognitive decline in pathological brain aging. In
contrast, polyphenols intake did not seem to affect executive functioning. The effects of polyphenols towards cognitive
status were more prominent among the elderly as compared to young and middle-aged adults. This review also shows that
fl avonoids is the main type of polyphenols that confer positive effects towards cognitive status during aging. This review
provides evidence that consumption of polyphenols may lead to cognitive and mental health benefi ts. Further clinical
trials involving human subjects are required with carefully designed methodology to elucidate the potential mechanisms
underlying the relationship between polyphenols consumption and improvement in cognitive and mental health status
2.Identification of Older Adults with Sarcopenia: Comparison of Two Methods
Hanisah Rosli ; Suzana Shahar ; Manal Badrasawi ; Devinder Kaur Ajit Singh ; Noor Ibrahim Mohamed Sakian
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2017;15(2):103-108
To compare the ability of methods based on skeletal muscle index (SMI) and another one by the European Working Group
on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) based on both muscle mass and physical function in identifying older adults
with sarcopenia. Anthropometric measurements and physical performance (hand grip strength and gait speed) were
performed. In order to determine the value of SMI, body impedance analysis was also carried out. A total of 426 older
adults, mostly women (60.8%) with mean age of 68.4 ± 6.2 years participated in this study. Methods based on SMI and
EWGSOP identified 50.5% and 32.2% older adults as sarcopenic respectively. Method based on SMI showed a significantly
higher percentage of men (70.7%) were sarcopenic as compared to women (37.5%) (p < 0.05). No such difference was
noted for EWGSOP method, with 28.7% of men were sarcopenic as compared to women (34.4%). Binary logistic regression
indicated that aged 75 years and above (adjusted odds ratio: 3.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.9 – 5.6) and having arthritis
(adjusted odds ratio: 2.5, confidence interval: 1.3 – 4.7) to be associated with sarcopenia as assessed using method
recommended by EWGSOP. The lower prevalence of sarcopenia by EWGSOP as compared to SMI may be due to the more
comprehensive method by EWGSOP. Further research regarding validation of these two screening methods against a gold
standard of screening for sarcopenia is needed in order to identify the best method..
3.Dietary Polyphenol Intake Associated with Adiposity Indices among Adults from Low to Medium Socioeconomic Status in a Suburban Area of Kuala Lumpur: A Preliminary Findings
Hanisah Rosli ; Yifang Kee ; Suzana Shahar
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2019;26(6):67-76
Background: Researches on polyphenols have been the interest of few parties due to its
possible roles in the prevention of obesity. However, studies regarding this topic are still limited.
Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the relationship between the intake of polyphenols
with adiposity indices among middle-aged adults.
Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 227 adults aged 40 to 59 years at low-cost
housing flats in suburban area of Cheras, Kuala Lumpur. Data collection involved food frequency
questionnaire (FFQ) for polyphenols and international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ).
Subjects were measured for anthropometric parameters including height, weight, waist and neck
circumferences (NC), and body fat percentage. The polyphenol intake from the diet was estimated
using local polyphenol database built according to PHENOL-EXPLORER.
Results: The average intake of polyphenol of subjects was 1815 (672) mg/day. The main
food sources of polyphenol were coffee with milk, followed by chocolate milk and red beans.
A higher polyphenol intake according to quartile was significantly associated with a lower neck
circumference (χ² = 8.30, P = 0.040), waist circumference (χ² = 8.45, P = 0.038) and body fat
percentage (χ² = 8.06, P = 0.045). Binomial logistic regression analysis showed that the association
remained significant for the neck circumference (P = 0.032), after controlling for age, household
income, energy intake and physical activity level. More subjects with normal NC had higher intake
of polyphenols (50th percentile and above). In contrast, subjects with high NC showed lower
percentiles of polyphenols intake (50th percentile and below).
Conclusion: The result showed that polyphenol intake was associated with neck
circumference and thus it can be suggested that polyphenol intake is associated with obesity
4.Prevalence of Poor Mental Health and Cognitive Status among Middle-Aged Adults and Its Predictors in Relation to Polyphenols Intake
Hanisah Rosli ; Suzana Shahar ; Normah Che Din ; Hasnah Haron ; Nor Fadilah Rajab
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2019;26(3):72-89
Background: Decline in mental health and cognitive status starts to show its sign during
middle-age and is affected by dietary factors, namely the polyphenols intake. Polyphenols have
received attention in improving health issues related to aging, including decline in mental health
and cognitive. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of poor mental health and
cognitive status among middle-aged adults and its predictors in relation to polyphenols intake.
Methods: Subjects’ food intakes were calculated by using dietary history questionnaire
and food frequency questionnaire for polyphenols. The subjects’ mental health and cognitive status
were measured by general health questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) and Rey’s auditory verbal learning
test (RAVLT).
Results: More than 40% of middle-aged adults were identified as having signs of poor
mental health. A total of 67.9% of the subjects had poor cognitive status according to RAVLT
immediate recall. Hierarchical binary logistic regression indicated that fat intake was associated
with somatic symptoms for both men [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.04; P < 0.05] and women
(AOR = 1.06; P < 0.05). Intake of lignan (AOR = 1.071; P < 0.05) was associated with better RAVLT
immediate recall among women. Additionally, high cholesterol (AOR = 3.14; P < 0.05) was
associated with poor score of RAVLT delayed recall for women.
Conclusions: Early detection of poor mental health and cognitive is crucial to prevent
Alzheimer’s disease in old age.