SummaryOxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is considered a risk factor in atheroscle rosis, and polyphenols are the potential agents to inhibit the oxidation of LDL. We deter mined the polyphenol contents and the antioxidant activities of commonly consumed vegetables in Vietnam and assessed the quantity of the polyphenol intake from vegetables in the current Vietnamese diet. The polyphenol contents in 30 kinds of vegetables was deter mined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The antioxidant activities of vegetables were evalu ated by measuring the oxidation of LDL and the reduction of the 1,1-Biphenyl-2 -picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. In this study, some herbs and edible wild vegetables possessed high contents of polyphenols and antioxidant activities. Among green vegetables, sweet potato leaves showed both a high polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. The mean polyphenol daily intake of the Vietnamese was a 595mg catechin equivalent. Water spin ach, a kind of green vegetable, contributed the highest amount (45%) of the total polyphe nol intake, followed by other green vegetables. Neither herbs nor edible wild vegetables contributed significantly to the total polyphenol intake due to their low consumption. Green vegetables are therefore considered very important sources of polyphenol intake for the Viet namese.

Objective: To evaluate the FAO/WHO/UNU equations for predicting resting metabolic rate (RMR) in Vietnamese adults. Design: A cross-sectional study with healthy subjects was carried out at the Basic Nutrition Department, National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam. RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry, and anthropometric indices were recorded. Equations derived by linear regression of RMR vs body weight were compared to the FAO/WHO/UNU 1985 predictive equations. Subjects: A total of 188 subjects (98 males and 90 females) had a normal body mass index (BMI) and were divided into four groups by sex and age (male and female subjects 18-29 and 30-60 y old). Results: Mean RMR (MJ/kg/day) in males was lightly significant by higher than that in female subjects in the 18-29 y old age group (0.107470.0100 vs 0.096570.0123) and the same result was seen in the 30-60 y old group (0.101870.0114 vs 0.092270.0129). However, differences were not statistically significant in the two age groups. Compared to the FAO/WHO/ UNU equation, our findings were 7.4, 9.0, 11.7, and 13.5% lower in the four groups, respectively (Po0.001). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the FAO/WHO/UNU equations may overestimate RMR in Vietnamese adults. Further studies examining the relationship between body weight and RMR are needed, and establishing new predictive equations for RMR in Vietnamese should be a priority.

Diabetes mellitus is now a serious and increasing problem in Asian countries, where dietary patterns have shifted toward Westernized foods and people are becoming more sedentary. In order to elucidate the relationship of dietary habits to the development of diabetic risk factors, the dietary patterns of 200 Fijian, 171 Japanese and 181 Vietnamese women of 30-39 years of age were investigated using 3 day-24 h recall or dietary records. Anthropometric measurements and glycosuria tests were also conducted. The dietary trends of Fijians and Japanese have changed drastically in the past 50 years, while Vietnamese have been minimally influenced by Western dietary habits. The mean 24 h dietary intake showed that Fijians had the highest energy intake. Energy intake from fat was only 13% for Vietnamese, but over 30% for Japanese and Fijians. Percentage of body fat was higher in Vietnamese than in Japanese, though there were no significant differences in body mass index (BMI). In the overweight and obese women, Vietnamese had higher abdominal obesity than Japanese. The prevalence of obesity (BMI > or = 30 kg/m2) was 63.0% for Fijians, 1.8% for Japanese and 1.1% for Vietnamese. Glycosuria testing yielded the most positive cases among Fijians. Dietary transition and dietary excess appear to be potential risk factors for diabetes in Fijian women.

Background/Aims: To evaluate the FAO/WHO/UNU equations for predicting resting metabolic rate (RMR) in elderly Vietnamese. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving healthy and elderly subjects was carried out at the Basic Nutrition Department, National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam. A total of 75 subjects who had a normal body mass index (BMI) were divided into two groups according to sex. The RMR was measured by indirect calorimetry and anthropometric indices were recorded. Equations derived by linear regression of RMR and body weight were compared to the FAO/WHO/UNU (1985) predictive equations. Results:The mean age of males and females were 65.03 ± 4.0 and 66.48 ± 4.61 years, respectively. Mean RMRs (MJ/kg/day) were 0.0963 ± 0.0121 for males and 0.0925 ± 0.0117 for females. Compared to the FAO/WHO/UNU equations, our findings were 10.9 and 11.1% lower in males and females, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusion:Our findings suggest that the FAO/WHO/UNU equations may overestimate RMR in elderly Vietnamese. Further studies to find out the most appropriate equation or to establish new predictive equations for RMR in elderly Vietnamese should be conducted.

This study was conducted to investigate the concentrations of serum fatty acids, lipoprotein(a) and apolipoprotein of three populations in North Vietnam: rural area with low income (n = 101), suburban with average income (n = 97), and urban with high income (n = 95). The results showed the suburban and urban populations had higher fat intake than the rural. The fat intake in quality was different in these three populations. The suburban had the highest consumption of fatty foods rich in n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). The rural consumed more fatty foods rich in monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), but less fatty foods rich in n‐3 PUFA than the two other populations. The high index of thrombogenicity (IT) of the Vietnamese diet may result from their low intake of fish and vegetable oils. Risk factors for premature cardiovascular disease (CVD) assessed by serum lipoprotein(a) and apolipoprotein levels were not observed in all three populations. However, coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke are problems that should be monitored because the increase of CVD morbidity has been reported in Vietnamese people. From a nutritional point of view, the increase of fish and vegetable oils consumption is necessary for the prevention of CVD and CHD in these Vietnamese populations.