Although low birth weight (LBW) is still a major health problem in Indonesia, studies about determinants of LBW with large sample sizes are still limited. This study aimed to examine the association between LBW and maternal characteristics, as well as socio-economic backgrounds in Indonesia. A secondary analysis of 2017 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) was conducted, specifically using the questionnaires for women of childbearing age. A bivariate chi-square analysis and a multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. As many as 6.7% of infants were born with LBW. In terms of maternal characteristics, women who gave birth to twins were 20.30 times more likely to have infants with LBW (p < 0.001). Women with birth intervals of <24 and ≥24 months were likely to have LBW infants (p < 0.05). Complications during pregnancy were also associated with LBW (1.99 times higher than women with no complications) (p < 0.001). In terms of socio-economic factors, women with higher education and higher wealth index were less likely to give birth to infants with LBW. Additionally, marital status and type of residence were also significantly associated with a higher risk of LBW. In conclusion, LBW was associated with maternal characteristics and socio-economic backgrounds among women of childbearing age in Indonesia, including twin births, birth interval, and pregnancy complications as well as educational attainment, wealth index, marital status, and type of residence.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between maternal health behaviors and neonatal outcomes among the Indonesian population. Methods: Articles were collected from PubMed, EBSCO, ProQuest, DOAJ, and GARUDA. Funnel plots and Egger’s tests analyzed indications of publication bias. A Mantel–Haenszel random-effects model was used to see the overall effect size of exposures on outcomes. Heterogeneity was seen based on I². Data collected from articles included the author, year of publication, location of the study, study design, number of samples, risk factors, and effect sizes. Results: We identified 24 relevant studies, including eight from the primary databases and 16 from an additional database. A total of 12 studies were included in the meta-analysis, examining the association between maternal health behaviors and neonatal outcomes. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for passive smoking and low-birth-weight (LBW) was 3.41 (95% CI: 1.75–6.63, I² = 40%, four studies). The pooled OR for incomplete antenatal care (ANC) and LBW was 6.29 (95% CI: 2.11–18.82, I² = 70%, four studies). The pooled OR for incomplete ANC and neonatal mortality was 2.59 (95% CI: 1.01–6.66, I² = 93%, four studies). Conclusions: The results indicated that pregnant women with incomplete ANC had a higher risk of LBW and neonatal mortality, and those who were passively exposed to smoking had a higher risk of LBW. Further investigations are needed, considering the high heterogeneity found, and additional meta-analyses should be based on the variations of socio-demographic conditions.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease (CHD), are currently positioned among the leading causes of mortality globally. Risk factors of CHD include, among others, hypercholesterolemia and elevations in systemic inflammation. Functional foods enriched with compounds showing cholesterol-lowering effects are considered one among various dietary and lifestyle intervention strategies to tackle this problem. A CHD-preventive effect of dietary plant sterols has been broadly discussed, not only due to their ability to reduce blood cholesterol level, but also to their proven anti-inflammatory potential. Palm oil is one of the most widely consumed edible oils in the world. Despite its widespread use, especially in Asian countries, no study has been conducted using palm oil as a vehicle for plant sterols. Methods: The aim of the placebo-controlled double-blinded trial presented here was, therefore, to evaluate the effect of palm oil enriched with plant sterols, used as a cooking oil, on lipid profile and systemic inflammation marker in 100 adult hyperlipidemic residents of Bogor, Indonesia. Results: The study has shown a significant reduction in total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol level in study subjects consuming plant sterol-enriched palm oil as a replacement for usual palm oil for cooking, with no similar effect on CRP levels. Conclusions: The study suggests that, along with a healthy diet and lifestyle promotion, incorporating plant sterols in palm oil used for cooking may be an effective strategy to reduce cardiovascular risks in hyperlipidemic individuals.

Background: A number of clinical studies have shown a positive association between the maternal n-3 PUFA status during pregnancy and fetal and newborn development and health. Despite this well-documented role of n-3 PUFAs in pregnancy, data on maternal the LC-PUFAs status during pregnancy in the Indonesian population, to our knowledge, are not yet available. This study reports on the LC-PUFA dietary intake among pregnant women in a suburban population of Bogor City, West Java, Indonesia. It also explores the associations of maternal LC-PUFA intake with maternal blood, cord blood, and breast milk LC-PUFA levels and the associations of the latter with infant body composition. Methods: A total of 142 pregnant women and 104 newborn infants were included in this study. The dietary intake of energy, macronutrients, and selected LC-PUFAs (LA, ALA, EPA, and DHA) was assessed by 2 × 24 h food recall and FFQ. LC-PUFA levels were measured in maternal blood, cord blood, and breast milk. Newborn body composition was determined by anthropometric measures. Results: The study found that the inadequate intake of energy, protein, and carbohydrates was highly prevalent among pregnant women subjects. The intake of the most important n-3 PUFAs (ALA, EPA, and DHA) was far below the recommended values. Maternal dietary DHA intakes were negatively associated with birth weight and infant fat mass at birth, and dietary intake of total fat and n-6 LA were associated with increased fat accumulation in newborns at specific body sites. Moreover, positive correlations were identified between the EPA in maternal blood and infant % fat mass, and between the DHA in cord blood and newborn birth weight. Conclusions: Further longitudinal studies, including clinical and biomolecular analyses, are suggested to be conducted to monitor maternal and child health and nutrition in Indonesia and develop well-attuned intervention strategies.

Background: Telang flower (Clitoria ternatea L.) is a plant with a high antioxidant content that can be used as a functional drink in tea. That can be fermented to produce Kombucha, which is rich in antioxidants and organic acids. Objectives: This study aimed to develop a formula for Telang flower kombucha and evaluate its organoleptic properties. Methods: In a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) experiment, this research was conducted at the Food Processing Laboratory of the Bachelor of Nutrition Study Program, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta, from December to March 2023. Sugar was added to the fermentation process at varied concentrations (20%, 30%, and 40% w/v), while Telang flower tea was the control. Fifty-two untrained panellists participated in the hedonic quality evaluation, which included the evaluation of color, aroma, taste, and overall preference. The data were examined with the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests.Results: The sensory evaluation demonstrated statistically significant (p=0,000) differences in color, aroma, and taste between the control and the three sugar-added treatments. Kombucha's color and aroma characteristics with 20% and 30% sugar additions were significantly different (p<0,05). However, the taste characteristics were not significantly different. The color of Kombucha with 20% and 40% sugar additions were not significantly different, nor was the aroma with 30% and 40% sugar additions. According to the hedonic test analysis results, panellists preferred adding 40% sugar over other treatments. Hence this formula was selected for this study. Conclusion: Telang flower kombucha's organoleptic properties are strongly influenced by the fermentation process and the amount of added sugar. Further research is needed to explore its bioactive compounds and health benefits.