Titre du document / Document title

Accuracy and efficiency of estimating nutrient values in commercial food products using mathematical optimization

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

WESTRICH B. J. ⁽¹⁾ ; BUZZARD I. M. ⁽¹⁾ ; GATEWOOD L. C. ⁽³⁾ ; MCGOVERN P. G. ⁽²⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Univ. Minnesota, nutrition coordinating cent., div. epidemiology, Minneapolis MN 55454, ETATS-UNIS
⁽²⁾ Univ. Minnesota, div. epidemiology, Minneapolis MN 55454, ETATS-UNIS
⁽³⁾ Univ. Minnesota, div. health computer sci., Minneapolis MN 55454, ETATS-UNIS

Résumé / Abstract

Software that estimates nutrient values in commercial food products using the mathematical optimization techniques of linear programming and quadratic programming was developed. Dietary fiber and linoleic acid values were estimated for 31 food products for which an analytical value for one or both of these nutrients was available. Estimations were performed by three different nutritionists using three different methods-an existing trial-and-error method, the linear programming method, and the quadratic programming method. Estimation accuracy was determined by comparing the estimated nutrient amounts to the known nutrient amounts. When estimation error was expressed in grams per 100 g of product, the trial-and-error method was observed to be less accurate than optimization methods at estimating dietary fiber (P=0.03). No statistically significant difference in accuracy was found between methods for dietary fiber expressed as percent error, or for linoleic acid when expressed per 100 g of product or as percentage error. The time required to complete ingredient amount estimations using optimization methods was significantly less than the time required for the trial-and-error method (P<0.0001). Mathematical optimization increases the efficiency of estimating nutrient values and appears to be comparable in accuracy to existing methods for estimating nutrient values, though better methods for expressing nutrient estimation errors are needed to obtain more definitive conclusions

Revue / Journal Title

Journal of food composition and analysis   ISSN 0889-1575 

Source / Source

1994, vol. 7, n^o4, pp. 223-239 (1 p.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Elsevier, New York, NY, ETATS-UNIS  (1987) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Foodstuff ; Nutritive value ; Analytical method ; Optimization ; Computer program ; Performance evaluation ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Produit alimentaire ; Valeur nutritive ; Méthode analytique ; Optimisation ; Programme ordinateur ; Evaluation performance ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Producto alimenticio ; Valor nutritivo ; Método analítico ; Optimización ; Programa computador ; Evaluación prestación ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 21676, 35400005642930.0020