Nutrition

The main role of the nutrition unit is to provide new scientific evidence on palm oil nutrition and keeping abreast with the latest development in science, health and nutrition. The unit focuses on providing scientific evidence for the nutritional properties of both palm oil as well as phytonutrients found in the oil.

Key research areas include lipid nutrition, oxidation, phytonutrients and pre-clinical studies. The unit also conducts human clinical intervention to evaluate the nutritional benefits of palm oil compared to other oils.
Studies have shown that palm oil is a nutritionally-balanced oil and free of trans fats and cholesterol. Scientific findings support that palm oil has a neutral effect on blood lipid profile when consumed within the recommended amounts. Palm oil is rich with a bouquet of phytonutrients such as natural vitamin E – tocotrienols and carotenoids. These phytonutrients are potent antioxidants, which promote better health and prevent diseases.
Moving forward, the Nutrition Unit will serve as the reference centre for dissemination of information and advice on palm oil nutrition.

Our Facilities

Clinical Study Set Up	Pre-Clinical Facility	Nutrition Research Laboratories
Dining hall for dietary interventions. 2 metabolic clinics with body composition analysers and facilities to conduct clinical evaluations. Metabolic research kitchen to quantify nutritive value of controlled meals prepared for study participants as well as formulation of diets and functional products. Reception area to serve as consultation area and to provide privacy and comfort to volunteers during recruitment and screening.	Specific-pathogen-free (SPF) facilities unit to house SPF animals for pre-clinical studies. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) laboratory for histological studies. Cell culture facilities. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan for rodent	Nutrition Biochemistry Laboratory Lipid Metabolism Laboratory Nutraceutical Laboratory Instrumentation Laboratories Antioxidant Laboratory Molecular Laboratory Protein Laboratory Cell Culture Laboratory Dark Room Imaging Laboratory
Nanotechnology Pilot Plant
Scale up facility for production of food grade nanoformulation Pilot scale equipment for emulsification, homogenization, spray drying Produces liquid and powder nano-tocotrienols Food Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certified