Design of Optimal Food-Based Complementary Feeding Recommendations and Identification of Key “Problem Nutrients” Using Goal Programming

Abstract

The WHO is urging countries to promote improved complementary feeding practices to ensure optimal health, growth, and development of young children. To help achieve this, a rigorous 4-phase approach for designing optimal population- specific food-based complementary feeding recommendations (CFRs) was developed and is illustrated here. In phase I, an optimized diet is selected, using goal programming (Model #1), which aims to provide a desired nutrient content with respect to habitual diet patterns and cost. Based on its food patterns, a set of draft CFRs is designed. In phase II, their success for ensuring a nutritionally adequate diet is assessed via linear programming (Model type #2) by sequentially minimizing and maximizing the level of each nutrient (i.e., worst and best-case scenarios) while respecting the CFRs. For nutrients that are <70% of desired levels, the best food sources are identified via linear programming in phase III (Model #3). Different combinations of these foods are incorporated into the original draft of the CFRs to produce alternative CFRs, which are then compared on the basis of their cost, flexibility, and "worst-case scenario" nutrient levels (Model type #2) to select, in phase IV, a final set of CFRs. A hypothetical example is used to illustrate this approach. Outcomes include a set of optimal, population-specific CFRs and practical information regarding key "problem nutrients" in the local diet. Such information is valuable for nutrition promotion, as well as nutrition program planning and advocacy, to help achieve global initiatives for improving the complementary feeding practices of young children living in disadvantaged environments.

Inappropriate Feeding Behavior: One of the Important Causes of Malnutrition in 6- to 36-Month-Old Children in Myanmar

“…18 Promoting optimal CF practices in developing countries is a global health priority. 19 However, based on previous reports, timely initiation of CF at the 6th month of age in developing countries, such as Ethiopia, Nairobi, and so forth, was usually under 50%. 20 This study first reported the feeding behaviors of children in Myanmar and found inappropriate feeding behaviors that resulted in malnutrition.…”

Efeito do triacilglicerídeo de cadeia média, da fibra e do cálcio na disponibilidade de magnésio e de zinco pelo método in vitro e metodologia de superfície de resposta

“…A facilidade de avaliação multifatorial, usando técnicas de modelagem matemática, amplia a gama de conhecimentos para o pesquisador porque fornece ferramentas capazes de correlacionar múltiplos fatores, que no caso da nutrição e alimentação inclui os hábitos alimentares dos indivíduos, as quantidades de nutrientes presentes nas dietas e alimentos, fatores econômicos e culturais das populações de estudo, agricultura local e favorecimento climático para a oferta de alimentos, entre outros 37 . A utilização do delineamento experimental baseado na metodologia de superfície de resposta para misturas foi abrangente e possibilitou a varredura de toda a região estudada na busca da melhor formulação possível, mostrando que os resultados obtidos estão de acordo com a literatura, podendo ser uma ferramenta importante a ser utilizada na terapia nutricional.…”

A Weighted Goal Programming Model for the DASH Diet Problem: Comparison with the Linear Programming DASH Diet Model

“…The result obtained showed a marked improvement of the goal programming results over that of linear programming. [8] also developed a 4-phase approach for designing optimal population-specific food-based Complementary Feeding Recommendations (CFRs) in which the goal programming techniques were used to select an optimal diet which aimed at providing a desired nutrient content with respect to habitual diet patterns and cost. A hypothetical example was used to illustrate the approach.…”