Page 29 - Malaysian Dietary Supplement Industry Status and Outlook Report 2019-2020 Preview

It is critical to appreciate that healthy ageing does not begin Figure 1.8: Malaysia Top-10 Principal
at the point of ageing but well before. Studies have shown Causes of Death among Population Age 60
that unhealthy living (including poor diets and malnutrition) and Above, 2017.
may have delayed negative health impacts that do not show
up during the younger and formative years. Source: Department of Statistics Malaysia.

Certainly, mortality in the old age population are attributed
to a combination of causative factors and not just
malnutrition, but the risks are there. The proper intake of
nutrition contributes toward minimizing risks of health
complications. A cross comparison of principal causes of
mortality among Malaysian population age 60+ suggests
that risks of at least three ailments can be partially
minimized through proper nutritional intake:

• Ischaemic heart diseases. Partially minimized
through proper intake of fruits, legumes, nuts &
seeds, omega-3, polyunsaturated fat, vegetables,
and whole grain.
• Cerebrovascular diseases. Partially minimized
through proper intake of fruits, vegetables, and
whole grains.
• Colon, rectum, and anus cancers. Partially minimized
through proper intake of calcium and milk.

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