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Testing nutrient profile models in relation to energy density and energy cost
A Drewnowski1, M Maillot, N Darmon
1Center for Public Health Nutrition and the Nutritional Sciences Program, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-3410, USA. adamdrew@u.washington.edu
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|February 21, 2008
Summary
Nutrient profile models vary in accuracy. Some models prioritize energy density over beneficial nutrients, leading to potentially misleading food rankings. Healthier foods were associated with higher costs.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Food Science
Background:
- Nutrient profiling classifies foods by nutrient content.
- Validating food rankings from nutrient profile models against objective data is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate selected nutrient profile models.
- Assessed models against food energy density and energy cost.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed 378 foods using various nutrient profiling models (NAS, NDS, NR(n), LIM, WXYfm).
- Calculated profiles based on 100g, 100kcal, and Reference Amounts Customarily Consumed.
- Correlated model rankings with energy density and cost.
Main Results:
- Models emphasizing protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals inversely correlated with energy density.
- Models focusing on fat, sugar, and sodium strongly correlated with energy density.
- Healthier classified foods generally had higher energy costs.
Conclusions:
- Not all nutrient profile models accurately reflect beneficial nutrient content.
- Some models inaccurately rank foods based on energy density rather than nutrient composition.
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