Aging adults from low-income residential areas were found to have poor nutritional status and mental health based on National Health and Morbidity Survey Malaysia (2015). Good nutrient intake contributes positively in averting these problems. Traditional Asian vegetables (ulam) are rich in polyphenols, antioxidants and fibres which could enhance nutritional status and mood state. This study intended to determine the relationship between habitual ulam intake and nutritional status, mood state and cognition among 252 aging Malaysian adults aged 45–80 years from the low-income residential areas in Klang Valley, Malaysia.,It was a cross-sectional study that used convenient sampling. Advertisement and invitation letters were sent to three selected community centres in Klang Valley prior to data collection. Informed consent was obtained prior to the collection of socio-demographic data. Anthropometric measurement was performed as per standard protocols. Validated surveys were conducted to obtain information on ulam consumption, mood state and cognitive status using validated food frequency questionnaires, Profile of Mood State and Mini-Mental State Examination questionnaires, respectively.,The average of ulam intake was 20.5 ± 2.5 g/day (½ serving daily). Habitual ulam intake was associated with lower waist circumference (R2 = 0.166, β = −0.216, p < 0.01), better MMSE scores (R2 = 0.337, β = 0.128, p < 0.05), less anger (R2 = 0.081, β = −0.116, p < 0.05), less tension (R2 = 0.139, β = −0.204, p < 0.01) and positive total mood disturbance (R2 = 0.095, β = 0.164, p < 0.05) after adjustment for gender, age, energy intake, total fruits and vegetables (non-ulam) consumption. The ulam intake at 100th percentile (=30g/day) associated to a better nutritional status, mood state and cognitive status in comparison to 25th percentile (<7.9 g/day) (p < 0.05).,Findings from this research would recommend people to consume not less than 1 serving of ulam everyday in order to have improved nutritional status, mood and cognition; nonetheless, future studies are required to clarify the causal mechanism concerning this relationship.

中文翻译：

---

高传统亚洲蔬菜（ulam）摄入量与来自低收入住宅区的老年人的营养状况、认知和情绪更好有关

根据马来西亚国家健康和发病率调查（2015 年），来自低收入住宅区的老年人的营养状况和心理健康状况不佳。良好的营养摄入有助于避免这些问题。传统的亚洲蔬菜 (ulam) 富含多酚、抗氧化剂和纤维，可以改善营养状况和情绪状态。这项研究旨在确定来自马来西亚巴生谷低收入住宅区的 252 名年龄在 45-80 岁的马来西亚老年人的习惯性乌兰摄入量与营养状况、情绪状态和认知之间的关系。这是一项横断面研究使用方便的采样。在收集数据之前，广告和邀请函已发送到巴生谷的三个选定社区中心。在收集社会人口数据之前获得了知情同意。按照标准方案进行人体测量学测量。分别使用经过验证的食物频率问卷、情绪状态概况和简易精神状态检查问卷进行了验证调查，以获取有关乌兰消耗、情绪状态和认知状态的信息。乌兰的平均摄入量为 20.5 ± 2.5 克/天（每天 ½ 份）。习惯性 ulam 摄入与较低的腰围 (R2 = 0.166, β = -0.216, p < 0.01)、更好的 MMSE 评分 (R2 = 0.337, β = 0.128, p < 0.05)、较少的愤怒 (R2 = 0.081, β = -0.116，p < 0.05），在调整性别、年龄、能量后，较少的紧张（R2 = 0.139，β = -0.204，p < 0.01）和积极的总情绪障碍（R2 = 0.095，β = 0.164，p < 0.05）录取，水果和蔬菜（非ulam）消费总量。与第 25 个百分位（<7.9 克/天）相比，第 100 个百分位（=30 克/天）的 ulam 摄入量与更好的营养状况、情绪状态和认知状态相关（p < 0.05）。这项研究的结果将推荐人们每天食用不少于 1 份乌兰，以改善营养状况、情绪和认知；尽管如此，未来的研究还需要阐明有关这种关系的因果机制。这项研究的结果会建议人们每天食用不少于 1 份乌兰木，以改善营养状况、情绪和认知；尽管如此，未来的研究还需要阐明有关这种关系的因果机制。这项研究的结果会建议人们每天食用不少于 1 份乌兰木，以改善营养状况、情绪和认知；尽管如此，未来的研究还需要阐明有关这种关系的因果机制。