Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t7fkt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T20:50:39.462Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Modifying diets to satisfy nutritional requirements using linear programming

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

P. M. Soden
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT
L. R. Fletcher
Affiliation:
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Salford, Salford M5 4WT
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A computational method for constructing individually acceptable diets by modifying a chosen diet to meet nutritional requirements is described. The effects on food quantities of imposing different nutrient requirements on a sample diet are demonstrated and techniques which can ensure the acceptability to the individual of the modified diet are described. The starting point in the calculation is the person's current dietary intake. This is modified using linear programming methods which make the smallest changes to the food quantities to meet specific targets. Sequential modification can be used to identify changes that are acceptable to the individual. The computer program has been developed in collaboration with practising dietitians and is in use in some leading UK hospitals.

Type
Nutritional Synthesis Calculations
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1992

References

Anderson, A. M. & Earle, M. D. (1983). Diet planning in the third world by linear and goal programming. Journal of the Operational Research Society 34, 916.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Balintfy, J. L. & Lancaster, L. M. (1985). Computing best fit individualized exchange patterns. Journal of Dietetic Software 2, 26.Google Scholar
Bassham, S., Fletcher, L. R. & Stanton, R. H. J. (1984). Dietary analysis with the aid of a microcomputer. Journal of Microcomputer Applications 7, 279289.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chvátal, V. (1983). Linear Programming. New York: W. H. Freeman.Google Scholar
Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (1979). Recommended Daily Amounts of Food Energy and Nutrients for Groups of People in the United Kingdom. Report on Health and Social Subjects no. 15. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Dantzig, G. B. (1963). Linear Programming and Extensions. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.Google Scholar
Ignizio, J. P. (1982). Linear Programming in Single- and Multiple-objective Systems. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.Google Scholar
Ignizio, J. P. (1985). Introduction to Linear Goal Programming. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McCann-Rugg, M., White, G. P. & Endres, J. M. (1983). Using goal programming to improve the calculation of diabetic diets. Computer and Operations Research 10, 365373.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Research Council, Food and Nutrition Board (1980). Recommended Dietary Allowances, 9th revised ed. Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences.Google Scholar
National Advisory Committee on Nutrition Education (1983). Proposals for Nutritional Guidelines for Health Education in Britain. London: Health Education Council.Google Scholar
Paul, A. A. & Southgate, D. A. T. (1978). McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods, 4th ed. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Paul, A. S., Southgate, D. A. T. & Russell, J. (1980). First Supplement to McCance and Widdowson's The Composition of Foods. London: H.M. Stationery Office.Google Scholar
Salford University ‘Microdiet’ System, Version 8.1 (1990).Google Scholar
Smith, V. E. (1959). Linear programming models for the determination of palatable human diets. Journal of Farm Economics 41, 272283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Suitor, C. W., Suitor, R. F. & Adelman, M. O. (1983). Planning high-carbohydrate, high-fiber diets with a microcomputer. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 82, 279282.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed