Socio-Cultural and Economic Drivers of Plant and Animal Protein Consumption in Malaysia: The SCRiPT Study.

Adam Drewnowski,Judhiastuty Februhartanty,Jean-Pierre Poulain,Mohd Noor Ismail,Norimah A Karim,Shilpi Gupta,Helda Khusun,Cyrille Laporte,Laurence Tibère,Yasmine Alem,Roselynne Anggraini,Elise Mognard

doi:10.3390/nu12051530

Abstract

Countries in South East Asia are undergoing a nutrition transition, which typically involves a dietary shift from plant to animal proteins. To explore the main drivers of protein consumption, the SCRiPT (Socio Cultural Research in Protein Transition) study recruited a population sample in Malaysia (N = 1604). Participants completed in-person 24 h dietary recalls and socio-demographic surveys. Energy and nutrient intakes were estimated using Nutritionist Pro. A novel recipe-based frequency count coded protein sources as meat (chicken, beef, pork, and mutton), fish, eggs, dairy, and plants (cereals, pulses, tubers). Dietary intakes and frequencies were examined by gender, age, income, education, ethnicity, religion, and family status, using ANOVAs and general linear models. Energy intakes were 1869 kcal/d for men and 1699 kcal/d for women. Protein intakes were 78.5 g/d for men and 72.5 g/d for women. Higher energy and protein intakes were associated with Chinese ethnicity, higher education and incomes. Frequency counts identified plant proteins in 50% of foods, followed by meat (19%), fish (12%), eggs (12%), and dairy (7%). Most frequent source of meat was chicken (16%) rather than pork or beef (1.5% each). In bivariate analyses, animal protein counts were associated with younger age, higher education and incomes. In mutually adjusted multivariate regression models, animal proteins were associated with education and ethnicity; plant proteins were associated with ethnicity and religion. Protein choices in Malaysia involve socio-cultural as well as economic variables.

Highlights

IntroductionDiets composed of traditional grain crops are replaced by more animal products, eggs and dairy, and by more processed and fast foods [1,2,3]
Countries in South East Asia are undergoing both economic and nutrition transitions [1].As incomes rise, diets composed of traditional grain crops are replaced by more animal products, eggs and dairy, and by more processed and fast foods [1,2,3]
The sampling methodology was based on the Malaysian Food Barometer (MFB1) in

Summary

Introduction

Diets composed of traditional grain crops are replaced by more animal products, eggs and dairy, and by more processed and fast foods [1,2,3]. Energy from complex carbohydrates falls, to be replaced by dietary energy from added sugars, vegetable oils and animal fats [4,5]. Dietary plant proteins give way to proteins of animal origin [6]. The shift from plant to animal proteins has been identified as a “protein transition” [6]. Whereas the nutrition transition is viewed as income-driven, the choice of animal protein (meat, fish, or dairy) may depend on ethnicity, religion, and other social and cultural variables [6]. Ethnically diverse and increasingly urban Malaysia, classified among upper-middle income economies by the World Bank, represents a population of particular interest

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion