الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
The evaluation of nutritional status by dietary intake assessment is fundamental to nutrition research. Dietary assessment has changed dramatically with time, progressing from face-to-face interviews and hand calculated nutrient intakes to the use of computer technology to automate various parts of the process and to provide accurate estimates of food and beverage intakes, with minimal measurement error. Prior to computerized analysis, all calculations were done manually i.e. finding food item on food table, comparing amount actually eaten with portion size listed, mathematically adjust all of nutrient values before listing them on sheet and adding all values of each nutrient to calculate final 24 hour intake. The most common application is the use of software packages to calculate nutrient intake data obtained from dietary interviews. Computerized dietary analysis systems save time and money, need less labor intense, and reduce errors.
Nutritional information from 24-hours recall could be analyzed using a computer-based nutritional assessment program. The program has analytic features essential for analysis. It allows the user to enter the food and amounts for each individual. The program draws on a large database of foods that contain nutrient information for each food item. Amounts and preparations of food items are entered into the software, and then the program creates an analysis with the breakdown of nutritional information. New foods could be added manually by the researcher and stored in the program with their nutrient information, and saved for future use. Many commercial dietary analysis software packages have been developed that include a nutrient composition database and software to convert individual responses to specific foods and nutrients such as ESHA’s Food Processor Nutrition Analysis and Fitness Software® and the only commercial non-scientific Egyptian software Nutri-plus software.
This study aimed to modify the ESHA food processor dietary analysis software with Egyptian food composition database, to evaluate the new software compared to traditional dietary analysis method for sample of Egyptian adults. Nutrient intake among the studied sample was estimated using the modified Food Processor Software, the non-scientific Egyptian trial “Nutri-Plus” software, and the traditional dietary analysis method; and then evaluated.
The study was conducted at the High Institute of Public health (HIPH) and the Medical Research Institute (MRI), Alexandria University. One-hundred four adult employees and staff members from both sexes who accepted to participate in the study of the High Institute of Public Health (HIPH) and Medical Research Institute (MRI) were the target population of the study. Data were collected using a pre-designed structured interview questionnaire including personal and socio-demographic data (age, sex, marital status, education level and occupation). Anthropometric measurements included height, weight, BMI, body fat percentage, body water percentage and body muscle percentage. Dietary intake data was collected using 24-hour recall at three consecutive days including a week-end day. Energy and nutrients intakes were obtained by each of the three methods, were compared and evaluated using the appropriate statistical methods. The calculated nutrient density and adequacy obtained from both the traditional manual method and the modified food processor software were compared and evaluated using the appropriate statistical methods. Comparing the general features of the selected computerized dietary analysis software (i.e. the Food Processor and the Nutri-plus) was performed and presented in the results.
The results of the study can be summarized as follows:
Generally, all nutrient intakes were more consumed by male employees than by females, except calcium, plant fat and vitamin C.
The mean intake of energy, total protein, plant protein and carbohydrate differed significantly between both male and female employees. Among minerals, the mean intake of sodium, phosphorus, iron and zinc differed significantly between both sexes. Among vitamins, the mean intake of vitamin C and thiamin differed significantly between both sexes.
Among the overall sample, adequacy of energy, fiber, calcium, magnesium, copper, vitamin C, thiamin and riboflavin were below the recommendations. Adequacy of both potassium and phosphorus among males were above the recommendations whereas it was below the recommendations among females. The difference of nutrient adequacy of sodium, magnesium and thiamin was statistically significant, whereas adequacy of fiber, phosphorus, iron and vitamin C was highly statistically significant difference between males and females
Although protein density did not differ between male and female employees, nutrient density of both fat and carbohydrates differed significantly between both sexes. While the mean carbohydrate density was higher among males, the mean fat density was higher among females. Only mean carbohydrate density among females was below the dietary guidelines.
Nutri-plus software did not give results of daily intake for some nutrients (i.e. ash, magnesium, copper and all vitamins) as well as nutrient adequacy nor nutrient density, so the comparison could not be established.
All nutrients except calcium intake differed significantly between the three methods.
The modified food processor gave the lowest values of daily nutrient intake. The modified food processor showed an underestimate trend in calculating all energy intake, nutrient intake, nutrient density and nutrient adequacies but at an acceptable level, except for protein adequacy and sodium adequacy.
Both underestimation and overestimation of all nutrients intake calculated by the Nutri-plus software was at an acceptable level of <+/-5% except zinc that had 344.89%.
The ESHA food processor software was available, and had the functionality of adding as many as new foods and recipes; so it can be modified by the Egyptian food composition table by adding all Egyptian foods and recipes belonging to the Egyptian food composition table. The food processor database sources include USDA, Canadian, brand names and is modifiable so further databases (i.e. the Egyptian food composition table) and foods could be added; while the Nutri-plus software contains only the Egyptian food composition database.
Although the food processor software was highest in cost, it is more easy, more fast and more flexible in use, with high quality of technical support, search options and report capabilities. The food processor database is accurate, verified, and large enough to meet all intended tasks. The contents of the food processor nutrient databases contain more food items and nutrients from unique restraurant, brand names and food entries.
Based on this study, we would recommend the following:
Use the modified ESHA food processor software to benefit from the database accuracy, the flexibility, the technical support, the search options and its reporting capabilities.
Use the modified ESHA food processor software for all nutrients intake analysis, all nutrient densities, all nutrient adequacies except for protein and sodium adequacies.
Use the Nutri-plus software for analysis of nutrient intake (except Ash, Magnesium, Copper, Zinc and all vitamins).
Do not use the Nutri-plus software for dietary analysis if nutrients’ density and adequacy are required.
Computerized dietary assessment tools have the advantages of standardization of the questioning sequence, fast and easy processing, immediate results, and increased flexibility.
Study findings can serve as guidelines for choosing an appropriate program to more accurately reflect the client’s dietary intake.
Further researches are needed to evaluate different dietary analysis softwares. Continued improvement of dietary tracking applications, with the incorporation of complete, high-quality food composition databases and exportable data, is important.
Further validation studies including repeated measures of the electronic tool could be performed to determine its application for much larger studies incorporating both macro- and micro-nutrient analyses.