Population-based studies of nutrition and health in Asia Pacific elderly
Author:Meei-Shyuan Lee DrPH (Harvard) and Mark L Wahlqv
Keywords:elderly, indigenous, Australia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Taiwan, diet, nutritional status, FHILL (Food Habits In Later Life), health, chronic disease, NRD (nutritionally-related disorders and diseases)
Abstract:The systematic observation of food habits and health amongst the elderly, both cross-sectionally and
longitudinally, in the Asia Pacific region is increasing as reflected in the recent collective report of a number of
intake and health variables in Taiwanese communities. Most studies are of Chinese and Japanese-speaking
populations, with some from elsewhere in Northeast Asia (notably Korea) and Southeast Asia (notably the
Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore). These, and other international studies, demonstrate that older
people can eat in various ways and yet achieve longevity and minimum morbidity, provided they remain
physically and mentally active and eat a variety ofrelatively intact foods, including fish and pulses(lentils,
legumes, beans). Such studies are the foundation of a new generation of food and health policy for the aged,
with reference to EBN (evidence-based nutrition) and reflected in FBDGs (food-based dietary guidelines)
which acknowledge cultural difference and support sustainable food systems.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):294-297.doi:
>>Abstract
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Globalisation, food and health in Pacific Island countries
Author:Robert G Hughes MMSci and Mark A Lawrence PhD
Keywords:nutrition, globalisation, food regulation, food security, Pacific
Abstract:Pacific Island countries (PICs) are experiencing an epidemic of obesity and consequent chronic diseases.
Despite investment in the development of National Plans of Action for Nutrition (NPANs) and interventions to
promote healthy eating and physical activity, nutritional status appears to show little improvement. This paper
presents a synthesis of the findings from two research papers that were prepared for a 2003 food safety and
quality meeting in Nadi, Fiji. The findings indicate that although lifestyle behaviours might be the immediate
cause of dietary imbalances, greater attention should focus on omnipresent influences of globalisation as a
critical element of the nutrition transition in thePacific. In particular, those aspects of globalisation mediated
through the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements that are placing pressures on food security and
fostering increased dependence on imported food of poor nutritional quality. Rapid, significant and sustainable
improvements in public health in PICs require interventions that can tackle these underlying contributors to ill
health. There are opportunities to explore the use of food regulatory approaches to influence the composition,
availability and accessibility of food products. Within the context of the WTO Agreements the legitimacy of
food regulatory approaches will depend upon the case to demonstrate the relationship between the intervention
and the protection of food security and public health nutrition. The challenges in realising these opportunities
are: 1) to have the capacity to construct a case, 2) meet the technical and financial demands to administer and
enforce regulatory approaches, and 3) to take advantage of opportunities available and to be able to fully
participate in the international policy-making process.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):298-306.doi:
>>Abstract
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Antiarrhythmic effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids
Author:Wanwarang Wongcharoen MDand Nipon Chattipakorn MD,
Keywords:n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, omega 3 fats, fish oil, arrhythmia, ischemia, electrophysiology
Abstract:The n-3 or omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are a promising dietary preventive therapy for cardiovascular
disease. The main dietary source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids comes from sea fish. During recent years,
the subject of antiarrhythmic role of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has been investigated extensively. A great
deal of evidence has shown that the antiarrhythmic effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids is exerted by
altering the electrophysiology of myocytes. This article is intended to review specifically this role of n-3
polyunsaturated fatty acids as demonstrated by bothbasic and clinical evidence in animal and human studies,
including current concepts on the antiarrhythmic mechanism of this class of polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):307-312.doi:
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Dietary fat and the prevention of chronic disease
Author:Mark L Wahlqvist
Keywords:fat diversity or variety, trans fatty acids, ED (energy density), ND (nutrient density), NRD (nutritionallyrelated disorders)
Abstract:Chronic diseases are generally taken to include obesity (especially abdominal), diabetes, macrovasculardisease
(MVD), affecting all medium distributing arteries and the organs they supply, osteoporosis, and various cancers
(notably breast, lung, colorectal, pancreatic, prostate and skin) and dementia. Unfortunately, they may not be so
chronic, as their consequences for morbidity and mortality may occur early in adult life and proceed rapidly.
Since they all, in one way or another, have food, nutritional and other environmental and lifestyle contributions,
the term Eco-Nutritional disease may be preferred. Insofar as the nutritional basis of chronic disease is
concerned, we may simply speak of nutritionally-related disorders or diseases (NRD). In regard to fat and END
or NRD, the key considerations are how diverse the sources are and what it does to energy density (ED) and
nutrient density (ND). These are reflected in the 2003 WHO report 9816 on “Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention
of Chronic Disease”.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):313-318.doi:
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Antioxidant properties of palm fruit extracts
Author:Nagendran Balasundram MSc, Tan Yew Ai PhD, Ravigad
Keywords: palm fruit, antioxidants, free radicals, phenolics
Abstract:Phenolic compounds have been shown to exhibit bioactive properties, and in particular antioxidant effects. A
phenolic-rich fraction has been isolated from the aqueous by-product obtained during the milling of oil palm
fruits. The objectives of the study were to determine the phenolic content of the crude and ethanolic extracts of
oil palm fruits and to evaluate the antioxidant properties of these extracts. The total phenolics content of the
crude and ethanol extracts as determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method were found to be 40.3 ± 0.5 and 49.6 ±
0.6 mg GAE/g extract (dry basis), respectively. The radical scavenging activity of the extracts determined
using 2,2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH
.
) indicated that both crude and ethanol extracts exhibit
hydrogen-donating capacity, and have antiradical power (ARP) comparable to ascorbic acid. The DPPH
radical scavenging activity of the extracts were less than that of gallic acid, but the time-course variations of the
scavenging curves suggest that the extracts acted by a mechanism similar to that of gallic acid. The electrondonating potentials of the extracts were inferred from the hydrogen peroxide scavenging and reducing power
assays. The reducing power of crude and ethanol extractsat 1 mM GAE were found to be comparable to that
of 0.3 mM gallic acid. The extracts indicated complete scavenging of hydrogen peroxide at concentrations
above 0.4 mM GAE. These findings suggest that the crude and ethanol extracts are able to scavenge free
radicals, by either hydrogen or electron donating mechanisms, and can therefore act as primary antioxidants.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):319-324.doi:
>>Abstract
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Effect of palm oil on blood pressure, endothelial function and oxidative stress
Author:Mohamed A Bayorh BSc, PhD, Imad K Abukhalaf BSc, P
Keywords:vitamin-rich palm oil, oxidative stress, endothelial function, hypertension
Abstract:The pathogenesis of hypertension has been associated with endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress. We
have previously shown that palm oil (PO), with an unsaturated-to-saturated fatty acid ratio close to one and
rich in antioxidants vitamins, reduces oxidative stress-induced hypertension in normal rats. Here, we
investigated the cardiovascular effects of natural vitamin-rich PO using the Dahl Salt-sensitive hypertension
model. Male rats were fed either a high salt (8% NaCl, HS) or low salt (0.3% NaCl, LS) diet with or without
PO (Carotino, 5 g/kg daily) for four weeks. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, blood flow and
vascular resistance, vascular reactivity in vitro as well as remodelling of second-order mesenteric arteries
were measured. Plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO),prostacyclin, thromboxane A
2(TXA2) and isoprostane
(ISO), were determined by enzyme immunoassay. Plasma, heart and kidney GSH and GSSG levels were
analyzed by HPLC and aortic superoxide (
.
O2-) production by fluorescence spectrometry. High salt induced
an elevation in MAP that was associated with decreased NO, prostacyclin and GSH: GSSG ratio. Plasma
ISO and TXA2,
aortic and renal vascular resistance as well as aortic
.
O2
- were increased. Palm oil reduced
MAP, plasma TXA2
and vascular resistance of the renal and aortic arteries, and increased the GSH: GSSG
ratio and NO in the LS group. The HS-induced elevation in ISO and
.
O2
- production and the reductions in
kidney GSH: GSSG ratio, were attenuated by PO. The effect of PO was also associated with a reduced vessel
wall-thickness: lumen diameter ratio and a greater relaxant effect of mesenteric arteries to acetylcholine, in
the LS group. The mortality associated with HS was reduced by PO. Thus, palm oil attenuates the
progression of salt-induced hypertension and mortality, via mechanisms involving modulation of endothelial
function and reduction in oxidative stress.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):325-339.doi:
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Dietary red palm oil supplementation protects against the consequences of global ischemia in the isolated perfused rat heart
Author:AJ Esterhuyse MSc, EF du Toit PhD and J van Rooyen
Keywords:red palm oil, ischemia, reperfusion, aortic output recovery, cGMP, phospholipid fatty acids
Abstract:Activation of the NO-cGMP pathway is associated with myocardial protection against ischemia. During
ischemia, function of this pathway is disturbed. Little is known about the effects of supplements suchas Red
Palm Oil (RPO) on the myocardial NO- cGMP- signalling pathway. RPO consists of saturated (SFAs), monounsaturated (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated (PUFAs) fatty acids and is an antioxidant rich in natural B-carotene
and vitamin E (tocopherols and tocotrienols). This study determined whether dietary RPO-supplemention
protects against the consequences of ischemia and identified a possible mechanism for this protection.LongEvans rats were fed a control diet or control diet plus 7g RPO per kg diet for six weeks. Hearts were excised
and mounted on a working heart perfusion apparatus.Cardiac function was measured before and after hearts
were subjected to 25 minutes of global ischemia. Left ventricular systolic (LVSP) and diastolic pressure
(LVDP), coronary flow (CF), heart rate (HR) and aortic output (AO) were measured. To assess NO-cGMP
pathway activity, hearts subjected to the same conditions, were freeze-clamped and analysed for tissuecAMP
and cGMP levels using a RIA method. Furthermore, composition of myocardial phospholipid fatty acids by
gaschromatography and blood samples were collected for serum lipid determinations. The percentage aortic
output recovery of hearts supplemented with RPO was 72.9 ± 3.43 % vs 55.4 ±2.48 % for controls (P< 0.05).
Ten minutes into ischemia the cGMP levels of the RPO-supplementation group were significantly higher than
the control group (26.5 ± 2.78 pmol/g vs 10.1 ± 1.78 pmol/g. Total myocardial PUFA content in hearts
supplemented with RPO increased from 54.45 ± 1.11% before ischemia to 59.03 ± 0.30 % after ischemia
(P<0.05). Results demonstrated that RPO-supplementation protected hearts against the consequences of
ischemia/reperfusion injury. These findings suggest that dietary RPO protects via the NO-cGMP pathway
and/or changes in PUFA composition during ischemia/reperfusion.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):340-347.doi:
>>Abstract
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Palm oil versushydrogenated soybean oil: effects on serum lipids and plasma haemostatic variables
Author:Jan I Pedersen MD, PhD, Hanne Müller PhD, Ingebjør
Keywords:coronary heart disease, transfatty acids, palm oil, hydrogenated soybean oil,fibrinolysis, serum cholesterol, serum lipids, plasma haemostatic variables, palmitic acid
Abstract:The purpose of this study was to test if replacement of trans fatty acids by palmitic acid in an experimental
margarine results in unfavourable effects on serum lipids and haemostatic factors. We have compared the
effects of three different margarines, one based on palm oil (PALM-margarine), one based on partially
hydrogenated soybean oil (TRANS- margarine) and one with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids
(PUFA-margarine), on serum lipids in 27 young women. In nine of the participants fasting levels and diurnal
postprandial levels of haemostatic variables on the 3 diets were compared. The sum of 12:0, 14:0, 16:0
provided 11% of energy (E%) in the PALM diet, the same as the sum of 12:0, 14:0, 16:0 and trans fatty acids in
the TRANS-diet. Oleic acid provided 10-11E% in all three diets, while PUFA provided 5.7, 5.5 and 10.2 E%,
respectively. Total fat provided 30-31% and the test margarines 26% of total energy in all three diets. Each of
the diets was consumed for 17 days in a crossover design. There were no significant differences in total
cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and apoB between the TRANS- and the PALM-diet. HDL-cholesterol and apoA-I
were significantly higher on the PALM-diet comparedto the TRANS-diet while the ratio of LDL- to HDLcholesterol was lower, although not significantly (P = 0.077) on the PALM-diet. Total cholesterol, LDLcholesterol and apoB were significantly lower on the PUFA-diet compared to the two other diets. HDLcholesterol was not different on the PALM- and the PUFA-diet while it was significantly lower on the TRANSdiet compared to the PUFA-diet. Triglycerides and Lp(a) were not different among the three diets. Thediurnal
postprandial state level of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity was significantly decreased on the
TRANS-diet compared to the PALM-diet. t-PA activity was also decreased on the PUFA-diet compared to
PALM-diet although not significantly (P=0.07). There were no significant differences in neither fasting levels
or in circadian variation of t-PA antigen, PAI-1 activity, PAI-1 antigen, factor VII coagulant activity or
fibrinogen between the three diets. Our results suggest that dietary palm oil may have a more favourable effect
on the fibrinolytic system compared to partially hydrogenated soybean oil. We conclude that from a nutritional
point of view, palmitic acid from palm oil may be areasonable alternative to trans fatty acids from partially
hydrogenated soybean oil in margarine if the aim isto avoid trans fatty acids. A palm oil based margarine is,
however, less favourable than one based on a more polyunsaturated vegetable oil.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):348-357.doi:
>>Abstract
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A comparison between tocopherol and tocotrienol effects on gastric parameters in rats exposed to stress
Author:MF Nur Azlina MSc, MI Nafeeza PhD and BAK Khalid P
Keywords:tocopherol, tocotrienol, stress, gastric mucosal integrity
Abstract:Rats exposed to stress developed various changes in the gastrointestinal tract and hormones. The present study
was designed to compare the impact of tocopherol and tocotrienol on changes that influence gastric and
hormonal parameters important in maintaining gastric mucosal integrity in rats exposed to restrain stress.
These include gastric acidity, gastric tissue content of parameters such as malondialdehyde, prostaglandin E
2
(PGE2
)
, serum
levels of gastrin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250g) were randomly divided into three equal sized groups, a control group which received a normal ratdiet
(RC) and two treatment groups each receiving a vitamin deficient diet with oral supplementation of either
tocopherol (TF) or tocotrienol (TT) at 60mg/kg bodyweight. Blood samples were taken from half the number
of rats (non-stressed group) after a treatment period of 28 days before they were killed. The remaining half was
subjected to experimental restraint-stress, at 2 hours daily for 4 consecutive days (stressed groups), on the
fourth day, blood samples were taken and the rats killed. The findings showed that the gastric acid
concentration and serum gastrin level in stressed rats were significantly (P<0.05) reduced compared to the nonstressed rats in the control and TF groups. However, the gastric acidity and gastrin levels in the TTgroup were
comparable in stressed and non-stressed rats. These findings suggest that tocotrienol is able to preserve the
gastric acidity and serum gastrin level which are usually altered in stressed conditions. The PGE2 content and
the plasma GLP-1 level were, however, comparable inall stressed and non-stressed groups indicating that these
parameters were not altered in stress and that supplementation with TF or TT had no effect on the gastric PGE2
content or the GLP-1 level. The malondialdehyde, an indicator of lipid peroxidation was higher from gastric
tissues in the stressed groups compared to the non-stressed groups. These findings implicated that free radicals
may play a role in the development of gastric injury in stress and supplementation with either TF or TT was
able to reduce the lipid peroxidation levels compared to the control rats. We conclude that both tocopherol and
tocotrienol are comparable in their gastroprotective ability against damage by free radicals generatedin stress
conditions, but only tocotrienol has the ability toblock the stress-induced changes in the gastric acidity and
gastrin level.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):358-365.doi:
>>Abstract
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Intracellular mechanisms mediating tocotrienol-induced apoptosis in neoplastic mammary epithelial cells
Author:Paul W Sylvester PhDand Sumit Shah PhD
Keywords:vitamin E, tocotrienols, breast cancer, apoptosis, caspase, PDK, Akt, FLIP
Abstract:Tocotrienols and tocopherols represent the two subgroups that make up the vitamin E family of compounds.
However, tocotrienols display significantly more potent apoptotic activity in neoplastic mammary epithelial
cells than tocopherols. Studies were conducted to determine the intracellular mechanism(s) mediating
tocotrienol-induced apoptosis in neoplastic +SA mouse mammary epithelial cells in vitro. An initial step in
apoptosis is the activation of “initiator” caspases (caspase-8 or -9) that subsequently activate “effector”
caspases (caspase-3, -6 and -7) and induce apoptosis. Treatment with cytotoxic doses of γ-tocotrienol (20 µM)
resulted in a time-dependent increase in caspase-8 and caspase-3 activity. Combined treatment with specific
caspase-8 or caspase-3 inhibitors completely blocked γ-tocotrienol-induced apoptosis and caspase-8 or caspase-3 activity, respectively. In contrast, γ-tocotrienol treatment had no effect on caspase-9 activation, and
combined treatment with a specific caspase-9 inhibitor did not block γ-tocotrienol-induced apoptosis in +SA
cells. Since caspase-8 activation is associated with the activation of death receptors, such as Fas, tumor
necrosis factor (TNF), or TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) receptors, studies were conducted to
determine the exact death receptor(s) and ligand(s) involved in mediating tocotrienol-induced caspase-8
activation and apoptosis. Treatment with Fas-ligand (FasL), Fas-activating antibody, or TRAIL failed to induce
cell death in +SA neoplastic mammary epithelial cells, suggesting that these cells are resistant to death
receptor-induced apoptosis. Moreover, treatment with cytotoxic doses of γ-tocotrienol did not alter the
intracellular levels of Fas, FasL, or Fas-associated death domain (FADD) in these cells. Western blotanalysis
also showed that γ-tocotrienol did not induce FasL or FADD translocation from the cytosolic to membrane
fraction in these cells. Finally, treatment with Fas-blocking antibody did not reverse the tocotrienol-induced
apoptosis in + SA cells. These data demonstrate that tocotrienol-induced caspase-8 activation and apoptosis is
not mediated through death receptor activation in malignant +SA mammary epithelial cells. Resistance to
death receptor-induced apoptosis has been shown to be associated with increased expression of apoptosisinhibitory proteins, such as FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP), and enhanced signalling of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/PI3K-dependent kinase (PDK)/Akt mitogenic pathway. Additional studies showed
that treatment with cytotoxic doses of γ-tocotrienol decreased total, membrane, and cytosolic levels of FLIP,
and reduced phosphorylated PDK-1 (active) and phosphorylated-Akt (active) levels in these cells. In summary,
these findings demonstrate that tocotrienol-induced caspase-8 activation and apoptosis in malignant +SA
mammary epithelial cells is not mediated through the activation of death receptors, but appears to result from
the suppression of the PI3K/PDK/Akt mitogenic signalling pathway, and subsequent reduction in intracellular
FLIP expression.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):366-373.doi:
>>Abstract
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Effects of tocotrienols on cell viability and apoptosis in normal murine liver cells (BNL CL.2) and liver cancer cells (BNL 1ME A.7R.1), in vitro
Author:Chan Hooi Har PhDand Chan Kok Keong MSc
Keywords:tocotrienols, alpha tocopherol, liver carcinogenesis, liver cancer, apoptosis, Doxorubicin
Abstract:The effects of tocotrienols on murine liver cell viabilityand their apoptotic events were studied over a dose
range of 0–32µg mL
-1
. Normal murine liver cells (BNL CL.2) and murine liver cancer cells (BNL 1ME
A.7R.1) were treated with tocotrienols (T3
), alpha tocopherol (α-T) and the chemo drug, Doxorubicin (Doxo,
as a positive control). Cell viability assay showed that T3
significantly (P<0.05) lowered the percentage of
BNL 1ME A.7R.1 cell viability in a dose-responsive manner (8-16 µg mL
-1
), whereas T did not show any
significant (P>0.05) inhibition in cell viability with increasing treatment doses of 0 - 16 µg mL
-1
. The IC50
for
tocotrienols were 9.8, 8.9, 8.1, 9.7, 8.1 and 9.3 µg mL
-1
at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours respectively. Early
apoptosis was detected 6 hours following T3treatment of BNL 1ME A.7R.1 liver cancer cells, using Annexin
V-FITC fluorescence microscopy assay for apoptosis, butnone were observed for the non-treated liver cancer
cells at the average IC50of 8.98 µg mL
-1
tocotrienols for liver cancer cells. Several apoptotic bodies were
detected in BNL 1ME A.7R.1 liver cancer cells at6 hours post-treatment with tocotrienols (8.98µg mL
-1
) using
Acridine Orange/Propidium Iodide fluorescence assay. However, only a couple of apoptotic bodies were seen
in the non-treated liver cancer cells and the BNL CL.2 normal liver cells. Some mitotic bodies were also
observed in the T3
-treated BNL 1ME A.7R.1 liver cancer cells but were not seen in the untreated BNL 1ME
A.7R.1 cells and the BNL CL.2 liver cells. Following T3-treatment (8.98µg mL
-1
) of the BNL 1ME A.7R.1
liver cancer cells, 24.62%, 25.53% and 44.90% of the cells showed elevated active caspase 3 activity at 9, 12
and 24 hours treatment period, respectively. DNA laddering studies indicated DNA fragmentation occurred in
the T3-treated liver cancer cells, BNL 1ME A.7R.1 but not in non-treated liver cancer cells and the T3-treated
and non-treated normal liver cells. These results suggest that tocotrienols were able to reduce the cell viability
in the murine liver cancer cells at a dose of 8-32 µg mL
-1
and that this decrease in percentage cell viability may
be due to apoptosis.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):374-380.doi:
>>Abstract
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A manufacturer’s perspective on selected palm-based products
Author:Neil O Carr BSc, PhDand W Fraser HoggBSc
Keywords:fat functionality, palm functionality, palm kernel functionality, HPKO functionality, cream alternatives, vegetable cream, imitation cream, non-dairy cream,food emulsions, food industry perspective on fat
Abstract:An overview from the perspective of one manufacturer is provided on products that utilise either palm oil or
palm kernel oil. The manufacturer is Macphie of Glenbervie while the products are of a wide-ranging nature
for use in bakery, food service and food-manufacturing. Much of the discussion concerns cream alternatives
on the grounds that this product-category places great demand on the type of fat needed and, to Macphie of
Glenbervie, is responsible for most of the oil fromoil palm used. However, other products are also touched
on. The overview considers key product attributes the function that fat has within these products, together with
research requirements and future opportunity.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):381-386.doi:
>>Abstract
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Quality of margarine: fats selection and processing parameters
Author:MatSahri Miskandar MSc, Yaakob Che ManPhD , Mohd
Keywords:crystal polymorph, margarine, crystallization, SFC, consistency
Abstract:Optimum processing conditions on palm oil-based formulations are required to produce the desired quality
margarine. As oils and fats contribute to the overall property of the margarine, this paper will review the
importance of β’ tending oils and fats in margarine formulation, effects of the processing parameters - emulsion
temperature, flow-rate, product temperature and pin-worker speed - on palm oil margarines produced andtheir
subsequent behaviour in storage. Palm oil, which contributes the β’ crystal polymorph and the best alternative
to hydrogenated liquid fats, and the processing conditions can affect the margarine consistency by influencing
the solid fat content (SFC) and the types of crystalpolymorph formed during production as well as in storage.
Palm oil, or hydrogenated palm oil and olein, in mixture with oils of βtending, can veer the product to the β’
crystal form. However, merely having β’ crystal tending oils is not sufficient as the processing conditions are
also important. The emulsion temperature had no significant effect on the consistency and polymorphic
changes of the product during storage, even though differences were observed during processing. The
consistency of margarine during storage was high atlow emulsion flow-rates and low at high flow rates. The
temperature of the scraped-surface tube-cooler is the most important parameter in margarine processing. High
temperature will produce a hardened product with formation of β-crystals during storage. The speed of the pinworker is responsible for inducing crystallization but, at the same time, destroys the crystal agglomerates,
resulting in melting.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):387-395.doi:
>>Abstract
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Interesterified palm products as alternatives to hydrogenation
Author:Nor Aini Idris and Noor Lida Habi Mat DianMSc
Keywords:Interesterification, palm products, palm oil, hydrogenation, margarine
Abstract:Interesterification is one of the processes used tomodify the physico-chemical characteristics of oils and fats.
Interesterification is an acyl-rearrangement reaction on the glycerol molecule. On the other hand, hydrogenation
involves addition of hydrogen to the double bonds of unsaturated fatty acids. Due to health implications of
trans fatty acids, which are formed during hydrogenation, the industry needs to find alternatives to
hydrogenated fats. This paper discusses some applications of interesterified fats, with particular reference to
interesterified palm products, as alternatives to hydrogenation. Some physico-chemical properties of
interesterified fats used in shortenings are discussed. With interesterification, more palm stearin can be
incorporated in vanaspati. For confectionary fats and infant formulations, enzymatic interesterification has been
employed.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):396-401.doi:
>>Abstract
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Performance of phytochemical antioxidant systems in refined-bleached-deodorized palm olein during frying
Author:Irwandi Jaswir, Yaakob B Che Man and Torla H Hass
Keywords:rosemary, sage, phytochemical antioxidant , deep frying, palm oil, oxidation
Abstract:Antioxidants are important inhibitory compounds against the oxidative deterioration of food. This study
investigated the effects of various phytochemical antioxidant systems [oleoresin rosemary (OR), oleoresin sage
(OS) and citric acid (CA)] on the physico-chemical characteristics of refined, bleached and deodorized (RBD)
palm olein during the frying of potato chips. The effects of various mixtures of the antioxidants on the oil was
also studied in repeated deep frying. The response surface methodology was used to optimize the composition
of mixed antioxidants used. A comparative study wascarried out with synthetic antioxidants. Samples of the
oil after frying were analyzed for different physical and chemical properties. OR and OS were found to be
effective phytochemical antioxidants protecting RBD palm olein against oxidative deterioration during frying.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):402-413.doi:
>>Abstract
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Palm oil and palm olein frying applications
Author:Razali Ismail
Keywords:palm oil, palm olein,industrial frying, batch frying
Abstract:Several million tonnes of palm oil and palm olein are used annually in the world for frying. This paper will
discuss their frying performances in three major applications - industrial production of potato chips/crisps,
industrial production of pre-fried frozen French fries and in fast food outlets. In the first study, about four
tonnes of potato chips were continuously fried 8 hours a day and five days a week. The palm olein used (with
proper management) performed well and was still in excellentcondition and usable at the end of the trial. This
was reflected in its low free fatty acid (FFA) content of around 0.23%, peroxide value of 4 meq/kg, anisidine
value of 16, low polar and polymer contents of 10% and 2%, respectively, induction period (OSI) of 21 hours
and high content of tocopehrols and tocotrienols of 530 ppm even after >1900 hours. In the second study in
which an average 12 tonnes pre-fried frozen French fries were continuously fried a day for 5 days a week, palm
oil performed excellently as reflected by its low FFA of 0.34%, food oil sensor reading of 1.1, low polar and
polymer contents of 17% and 2.8%, respectively, over the 12 days of trial. In the third study in which palm
shortening, palm oil and palm olein were simultaneously used to intermittently fry chicken parts in the
laboratory simulating the conditions in fast food outlets, the three frying oils also performed very satisfactorily
as reflected by their reasonably low FFA of <1%, smokepoints of >180ºC, and polar and polymer contents of
<25% and <6%, respectively, after 5 days of consecutive frying. All the quality indicators did not exceed the
maximum discard points for frying oils/fats in the three applications, while the friedfood product was well
accepted by the in-house train sensory panel using a-nine point hedonic score.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):414-419.doi:
>>Abstract
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Preventive action of food seasoning spices mixture on fructose-induced lipid abnormalities
Author:Ramu Suganthi MSc, Shanmuganathan Rajamani MSc,
Keywords:fructose, spices, cinnamon, cloves, fenugreek, cumin, cardamom, mace, garam masala, black pepper, ginger, nutmeg, insulin resistance, glucose, lipids
Abstract:High fructose feeding in rats induces insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia.
The present study was undertaken to determine the hypolipidemic effect of food seasoning spices mixture on
fructose-fed insulin resistant rats. Male Wistar rats received a daily diet containing either 60% fructose or 60%
starch. They were administered with the spices mixture at three different doses (10mg, 30mg or 50mg/day/rat)
orally 15 days later. At the end of 45 days of the experimental period fructose-fed rats displayed elevated
plasma glucose and insulin levels and dyslipidemia which included elevated levels of cholesterol, triglycerides,
free fatty acids, reduced high density lipoprotein cholesterol and increased very low density lipoprotein
cholesterol. Alterations in tissue lipid levels were also observed. Simultaneous treatment with spices mixture
along with fructose diet resulted in the normalization of plasma glucose and insulin levels and restoration of
lipid levels in plasma and tissues. The insulin potentiating action of the active principles in these spices may
contribute to the hypolipidemic effect of spices mixture in high fructose-fed rats.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):420-427.doi:
>>Abstract
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Mother’s milk and hydrogen peroxide
Author:Ebtehal Ali Abas Al-Kerwi MBchB, MSc, Ali HM AL-Ha
Keywords:hydrogen peroxide, lactation, breast feeding, mother’s milk, colostrum, Iraq
Abstract:H2O2
levels in mother
’
s milk were measured at different times of postpartum periods after birth as well as after
different times of storage at freezing temperature. The luminol H2O2
dependent chemiluminesence at pH =
9.8 technique was used. Maximum levels of H
2O2
were found in the first week of the postpartum period
(24.992 ± 0.168 µM). The levels of H 2O2
decreased significantly (P<0.05) in the second week (20.4 ± 0.169
µM), while a significant ( P<0.01) decrease in the level of H
2O2 occured in the third week after birth (15.783 ±
0.782) µM. The levels of H
2O2
fell sharply in the fourth week of lactation (8.75 ± 0.27 µM) with a significant
difference relative to the first week (P <0.001). The stability of the H
2O2
levels remained constant, at least for
a period of one month, with storage at freezing point for all groups (P>0.05).
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):428-431.doi:
>>Abstract
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Anti-schistosomal activity of colostral and mature camel milk on Schistosoma mansoni infected mice
Author:Amany S Maghraby PhD,Mahmoud A Mohamed PhD and A
Keywords:colostrum, camel milk, parasites, Schistosoma mansoni, schistosomiasis, lactoferrin, GST, ALT, AST
Abstract:The aim of the present study was to investigate theanti-schistosomal activity of colostral and maturecamel
milk on Schistosoma mansoni infected mice. Six weeks post infection, mean percentage of protection was
detected through the hepatic portal vein. Glutathione-s-transferase (GST), alanine, aspartate transaminase (ALT
and AST) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were detected in sera of treated mice before and after infection.
Antischistosomal activity of colostral and mature camel milk on Schistosoma mansoni infected mice were
12.81% and 31.60% respectively. The results showed that GST levels in sera of mice fed on colostral and
mature camel milk were increased with mean values of 0.070, 0.108, 0.128 and 0.120 in colostral milk groups
and 0. 072, 0.085, 0.166 and 0.20 in mature camel milk groups compared with the mice fed on basal dietwith
means values of 0.070, 0.085, 0.078 and 0.069 before infection and after two, four and six weeks of infection,
respectively. On the other hand, there were slightdifferences on ALT and AST activities. Mice treated with
colostral and mature milk (200 µl/day) showed an im munostimulatory effect by inducing IgG titers against
soluble worm antigen preparation (SWAP) compared with control. Nevertheless, the difference was not
considered significant (0.31 ± 0.1) for colostrum (0.34 ± 0.1) and for mature milk, as compared to normal
control (0.2 ± 0.04). Two, four and six weeks postinfection, IgG level showed no significant change in sera
from mice treated with colostral and mature milk ascompared to control. In conclusion, colostral and mature
camel milk showed an immunomodualatory effect in normal healthy mice by inducing IgG and GST levels
before and after infection with Schistosoma mansoni. Colostral and mature camel milk have a protective
response against schistosomiasis.
Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2005;14(4):432-438.doi:
>>Abstract
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