Association between Isoflavones Consumption and Cognitive Function and Comorbidities among Older Adults Residing in the State of Johor, Malaysia

Introduction: This two-phase longitudinal study sought to determine the association between isoflavones intake on cognitive function and comorbidities among older adults from the state of Johor, Malaysia. Methods: Phase I involved baseline data collection to examine the association between isoflavones intake and cognitive function among 400 respondents aged 60-years and above, recruited through multistage random sampling. Phase 2 determined the association between isoflavones intake at the baseline and comorbidities at an 18-month follow-up. The baseline data collected included information on socio-demographics, health status, andunpometric measurements, and dietary intake using a dietary history questionnaire (DHQ). Each participant's cognitive function was evaluated using a mini mental state examination (MMSE), digit span, digit symbol, and geriatric depression scale (GDS). Results: The daily intake of total isoflavones, daidzein, and genistein were 19.1±19.7,11.7±12.3 and 7.6+8.1 mg/day, respectively. There was no significant association between isoflavones intake, and specific cognitive function including global, memory, executive functions, and depression. However, there was a significant association (p 0.05). Conclusion: This study found an association between isoflavones intake and memory function, but not with global cognitive, executive functions, depression, and comorbidities. There is a need to promote adequate isoflavones intake in view of its association with memory function.

Association between Isoflavones Consumption and Cognitive Function and Comorbidities among Older Adults Residing in the State of Johor, Malaysia

Introduction: This two-phase longitudinal study sought to determine the association between isoflavones intake on cognitive function and comorbidities among older adults from the state of Johor, Malaysia. Methods: Phase I involved baseline data collection to examine the association between isoflavones intake and cognitive function among 400 respondents aged 60-years and above, recruited through multistage random sampling. Phase 2 determined the association between isoflavones intake at the baseline and comorbidities at an 18-month follow-up. The baseline data collected included information on socio-demographics, health status, andunpometric measurements, and dietary intake using a dietary history questionnaire (DHQ). Each participant's cognitive function was evaluated using a mini mental state examination (MMSE), digit span, digit symbol, and geriatric depression scale (GDS). Results: The daily intake of total isoflavones, daidzein, and genistein were 19.1±19.7,11.7±12.3 and 7.6+8.1 mg/day, respectively. There was no significant association between isoflavones intake, and specific cognitive function including global, memory, executive functions, and depression. However, there was a significant association (p 0.05). Conclusion: This study found an association between isoflavones intake and memory function, but not with global cognitive, executive functions, depression, and comorbidities. There is a need to promote adequate isoflavones intake in view of its association with memory function.

Prevalence of anti-HBc in Malaysian male blood donors and its correlation with DNA polymerase activity.

A study of Kuala Lumpur blood donors for HBsAG, anti-HBc and DNA polymeraes showed that 5.5% in the sample population was positive for HBsAG, 50.1% for anti-HBc and 10.1% for DNA polymerase activity. There was no significant difference of the HBsAG among the Malay, Chinese and Indian groups. However, a significant difference was observed for the anti-HBc and DNA polymerase activity between the Indian and the Malay/Chinese groups. Both analysis were significantly lower in the Indians but there was no significant difference between the Chinese and the Malays.