ntroduction: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) is an emerging risk marker for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In Malaysia, CVD has become a major health problem and the risk factors of CVD have also increased among the middle-aged. Thus, this study aimed to determine factors that influence the level of hs-CRP among Malaysian adults aged 30-55 years-old. Methods: One-hundred and twenty-two (n=122) adults working at an institution were selected systematically in this cross-sectional study. Body weight, height, hip and waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hs-CRP level, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein were measured. Body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio, and total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein ratio were calculated. Results: The sample consisted of 40.2% male and 59.8% female subjects with a mean age ± SD of 41.93 � 8.26 years. Pearson's correlation coefficient showed significant positive correlations between log hs-CRP level (mean ± SD = 0.22 ± 0.50 mg/L; 95% CI = 0.13 - 0.31) and age, waist circumference, hip circumference, BMI, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, and total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein ratio. However, multivariate analysis showed only BMI (R = 0.489, R2 = 0.239, adjusted R2 = 0.232, F = 37.626, p < 0.001) was a predictor of hs-CRP, the risk marker of CVD. Hs-CRP level was greater in overweight (25 - 29.9 kg/m2), and obese (> 30 kg/ m2) subjects (ANOVA p< 0.05) compared to normal weight subjects.

The inhibitory effect of phytate on the bioavailability of iron, zinc and calcium was determined by measuring their molar ratios. A total of 29 food samples consisting of 12 rice and rice products, 5 wheat and wheat products, 5 grains and cereal based products and 7 different popular varieties of cooked rice and rice products were selected. The phytate content was analysed using anion-exchange chromatography whereas mineral contents were analysed using atomic absorption spectrophotometry(AAS). One-way ANOVA test was used to statistically analyse the mean difference between the phytate and mineral contents between the food group samples. In general, results show that cooked products have lower content of phytate and minerals as compared to raw products. This could be due to the influence of the cooking method on phytate and mineral content in the food. Based on one-way ANOVA test, there were no significant difference in phytate and zinc content between four food groups (p >0.05). Significant differences were found only in iron and calcium content (p <0.05). Of the 29 food samples, 25 food samples had a phytate/iron molar ratio > 1, 5 food samples had a phytate/zinc molar ratio > 15 and 23 food samples had a phytate/ calcium molar ratio of 0.24. These results show that although many of the food samples analysed had high mineral content, the high phytate content may impair the bioavailability of the mineral in the body.

Introduction: There is a lack of information on the trans fatty acid (TFA) content in Malaysian foods. The objective of this study is to determine the TFA content of bakery products, snacks, dairy products, fast foods, cooking oils and semisolid fats, and breakfast cereals and Malaysian fast foods. This study also estimated the quantity of each isomer in the foods assayed. Methods: The trans fatty acid content of each food sample was assessed in duplicate by separating the fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) in a gas chromatography system equipped with HP- 88 column (USA: split ratio 10: 1) for cis/trans separation. Five major TFA isomers, palmitoelaidic acid (16: 1t9), petroselaidic acid (18:1t6), elaidic acid (18:1t9), vaccenic acid (18: 1t11) and linoelaidic acid (18:2t9, 12), were measured using gas chromatography (GC) and the data were expressed in unit values of g/100 g lipid or g/100 g food. Results: The total TFA contents in the studied foods were <0.001 g-8.77 g/100 g lipid or <0.001 g-5.79 g/100 g foods. This value falls within the standard and international recommendation level for TFA. The measured range of specific TFA isomers were as follows: palmitoelaidic acid (<0.001 g-0.26 g/100 g lipid), petroselaidic acid (<0.001 g – 3.09 g/100 g lipid), elaidic acid (<0.001 g-0.87 g/100 g lipid), vaccenic acid (<0.001 g-0.41 g/100 g lipid) and linoelaidic acid (<0.001 g-6.60 g/100 g lipid). Conclusion: These data indicate that most of the tested foods have low TFA contents (<1 g/100 g lipid).

Introduction: There is a lack of information on bone health status of premenopausal women in Malaysia. This study investigated the bone health status of premenopausal women and its associations with anthropometric, dietary and physical activity. Methods: Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, total hip and total body. Serum osteocalcin, parathyroid hormone (PTH), beta-crosslaps were also determined. Results: A total of 73 Chinese premenopausal women were recruited in the study with a mean age of 39.3 � 5.0 years. Average BMI, body fat percentage and lean body mass were 22.2 � 3.4 kg/m2, 33.9 � 4.6% and 34.5 � 4.4 kg, respectively. Mean BMD at the spine, total hip, femoral neck, and total body were 1.025 � 0.118 g/cm2, 0.876 � 0.109 g/cm2, 0.739 � 0.110 g/cm2, and 1.061 � 0.755 g/cm2, respectively. Their serum beta-crosslaps and PTH were within normal range, but serum osteocalcin (8.5 � 4.2 ng/ml) was low. On average, calorie intake (1506 � 427 kcal/day) was below the Malaysian Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) while their calcium intake achieved only 67% of RNI. Their mean metabolic equivalent score (MET) was 771.4 � 926.1 mm/week. Body weight and related indices (BMI, lean mass, fat mass) were significantly positively correlated with BMD at all skeletal sites. Conclusion: The study revealed that Chinese premenopausal women in the Klang Valley have low calcium intake and low level of physical activity.

Introduction: Phytic acid (PA) has been shown to have positive nutritional benefits. There are also claims that it is able to prevent cancer through its antioxidant capability. This study investigated antioxidant activity and cytotoxic effect of PA extracted from rice bran against selected cancer cell lines (i.e. ovarian, breast and liver cancer). Methods: Cytotoxicity activity of PA was investigated using MTS [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4- sulfophenyl)]-2H-tetrazolium, inner salt] assay while the antioxidant activity of PA extract, commercial PA and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was determined by using five different assays: ferric thiocyanate (FTC) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) assay, β-carotene bleaching method, DPPH radical scavenging assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Results: PA extracted from rice bran induced marked growth inhibition in ovary, breast and liver cancer cells with 50% growth inhibition concentration (IC50) values of 3.45, 3.78 and 1.66 mM, respectively but exhibited no sensitivity towards a normal cell line (3T3). The PA extract was also found to exert antioxidant activity when tested using the FTC, TBA, FRAP and β-carotene bleaching methods but antioxidant activity could not be attributed to scavenging free radical species as measured by DPPH radical scavenging assay. Conclusion: The PA extract from rice bran displayed safe and promising anticancer properties in selected cancer cell lines and it is believed that its antioxidant capability is the likely contributor to the observed anticancer properties.