https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/49417 2026-04-12T11:26:35Z 2026-04-12T11:26:35Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/52574 2020-04-29T12:33:21Z 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern among university students Abstract: Background: The Mediterranean dietary pattern is one of the healthiest dietary patterns with a protective effect against the risk of several health outcomes. Despite Malta’s central location in the Mediterranean Sea, the Maltese dietary habits may have become more Westernized. The aim of this study is to assess adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern in students at the University of Malta. Methodology: A one-time structured interview was conducted on University students who were conveniently recruited outside the University premises. The interview addressed lifestyle information, and questions intended to assess participants’ adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern using a literature-based adherence score. A photographic food atlas was used as a tool to aid the quantification of food portion sizes. An 18-component score indicating adherence to the Mediterranean diet was generated for each participant; the score ranges from 0 for minimal adherence to 18 for maximal adherence. Results were analysed using SPSS version 23. Results: A total of 50 students were interviewed. The majority of participants were females, Maltese, aged between 18-20 years old and within the normal BMI range. Students were unlikely to consume alcohol or smoke. The majority had a low to moderate intake of fruits, vegetables and legumes, low intake of fish and high intake of meat. The average overall adherence score to the Mediterranean dietary pattern was 8.8. Thus, 72% of the students were classified as medium adherers while 20% and 8% were classified as low and high adherers respectively. No significant associations were found between the overall adherence and all study parameters. Conclusion: This cross-sectional pilot study was the first to investigate the adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern in a sample of the Maltese population and established University students taking part in this study as medium adherers. This study was useful in determining the feasibility of such a study and in piloting the measurement tool; a larger sample size is required to highlight associations between adherence levels and lifestyle factors. Description: B.SC.APPLIED FOOD&NUTR.

2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/51015 2020-04-29T12:35:07Z 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Evaluating the synergistic efficacy of cold plasma technology on microbial inactivation and seed germination Abstract: Chemical methods are still considered the mainstay in the agro-food sector to improve the safety of seeds and reduce crop losses. Microbial contamination of food remains an imminent challenge, more-so as consumer interest shifts to minimally processed, natural, “healthy”, inexpensive and convenient food. Sprouts fall under this category and their consumption is an increasing trend in Western diets. However, sprouts are prone to microbial contamination and have been associated with numerous outbreaks of foodborne illness. The application of cold atmospheric plasma is an emerging sustainable alternative for improving the safety of seeds and food with additional potential in enhancing product yield. This study aimed to evaluate: (i) the effectiveness of plasma activated water (PAW) and combinations of cold atmospheric plasma and PAW on the germination capacity (germination percentage, growth rate and growth performance) of mung bean seeds; (ii) the antimicrobial capacity of different types of PAW and (iii) the decontamination efficiency of the combined plasma treatments on mung bean sprouts. An in-house manufactured electrochemical cell was used for surface plasma activation of water and a diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge plasma system was used for the combined CAP treatment of seeds and the formation of PAW. A test-tube setup was designed to assess the germination capacity of mung bean seeds over 96 h incubation in the dark at 25°C. The antimicrobial capacity of PAW was assessed against 6 h exposure to Escherichia coli NCTC 12900 and E. coli DSM 1116. Microbial populations on combined plasma treated mung bean sprouts were measured every 24 h. Results showed no significant inhibitory effect from either PAW or combined CAP and PAW treatments on seed germination and growth capacity of sprouts, when compared to the control. Air PAW possessed outstanding antimicrobial activity against both E. coli strains (>6 log CFU/mL reduction) when compared to the control and other PAW produced in nitrogen and 80% carbon dioxide and 20% oxygen. Sprouts grown from the combined CAP (air) and PAW (air) treatment of seeds demonstrated enhanced control over the natural microbiota of sprouts during 96 h incubation. This study demonstrated effective disinfection properties of PAW (air) treatment without inhibiting the germination and growth capacity of mung bean seeds. Description: M.SC.FOOD SC.&NUTRITION

2019-01-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/50995 2020-04-29T12:34:23Z 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Exploring eating and physical activity behaviours in preschool children Abstract: Background; Early childhood plays an important role in the lifelong development of eating and physical activity (PA) behaviours, which in turn have an important role in the regulation of energy balance and the development of overweight (OW) and obesity. In addition, evidence suggests that the prevalence rates of OW and obesity in children are higher in areas with a poor socio-economic status (SES). The main aim of this study was to explore these behaviours in a sample of Maltese preschool children living in an area with low SES. Materials and Methods; Maltese children (aged 3-4 years) and their parents, living in a selected local school district classified as high-risk-of-poverty, were invited to participate following ethical approval. Anthropometric measurements were first taken in the school setting, and the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire (CEBQ) and an edited version of the Schools Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey 2015 (SPANS) completed via parental phone interviews during the period January-February 2018. Semi-structured interviews with parents and objective measurements on PA (accelerometers) on a sub-sample of children were then carried out in June-July 2018. Results; Telephone interview response rate was 55.4% (n=62), where 54.8% of the parents possessed a secondary school education. Education level of the parents was significantly associated with the children’s weight when using WHO and CDC weight standard criteria (WHO p=0.039 / CDC p=0.049). All eating behaviours were significantly associated to the children’s weight, although the strength of the association and significance varied in accordance of the weight criteria used. The food approach behaviour scale (WHO; p=0.002), and food avoidance scales (WHO; p=0.003, IOTF; p=0.013) both correlated significantly with the children’s weight with the highest scores observed in the OW and obese weight category respectively. Semi-structured interview findings suggest that the children’s food avoidance behaviours were limiting their nutritional variety. Interviews identified lack of time as a barrier in supporting good behaviours. 91.9% of children did not comply with the WHO recommendations for daily PA, whilst 71.8 % exceeded the 1-hour WHO daily screen time guidelines on weekdays and 47.9% on weekends respectively. Main sedentary behaviours reported were smartphones/tablets use (mean 72 min/day; 64 min/day; weekend, weekdays respectively) with a significant association across all weight standard criteria (p=0.013, 0.016 and 0.015 for WHO, CDC and IOTF respectively). Discussion; Eating, particularly food approach and food avoidance, as well as PA behaviours were linked to the children’s weight status, suggesting further local research in the field is required. Strategies aimed at improving children’s behaviours, especially in a context of low SES, with regard parent education and support all merit further public health attention. In addition, collaboration with local and central government in addressing aspects of the local obesogenic environment specific to a particular community’s needs is also recommended. Description: M.SC.FOOD SC.&NUTRITION

2019-01-01T00:00:00Z