Case study on diet and hematological health among university students of Timor Leste in Malang
Ezequiel Dos Santos Vasconcelhos- Tri Dewanti Widyaningsih- Kiki Fibrianto

Magister Program of Agricultural Product Processing Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya

*Email: kiki.fibrianto[at]ub.ac.id

Abstract

This cross sectional study examined associations between fruit, vegetable, and alcohol consumption and both nutritional status (BMI) and hemoglobin (Hb) levels in 70 Timor Leste students in Malang, Indonesia. Dietary intake was quantified via a validated food frequency questionnaire, while BMI and Hb were measured using standard anthropometry and the HemoMeter, respectively. Data normality was assessed with the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and relationships were evaluated by Pearson correlations (p<0.05). Vegetable intake correlated positively with BMI (r=0.29, p=0.014) and Hb (r=0.25, p=0.040)- fruit intake showed similar positive associations with BMI (r=0.29, p=0.013) and Hb (r=0.27, p=0.019). Conversely, alcohol consumption was inversely related to BMI (r=-0.30, p=0.011) and Hb (r=-0.28, p=0.020). These findings suggest that higher fruit and vegetable intake supports better nutritional and hematological status, whereas alcohol intake may exacerbate malnutrition and anemia. Nutritional interventions should emphasize balanced diets and reduced alcohol use.

Keywords: anemia- nutritional status

Topic: Food science and biotechnology