Precision Nutrition for Type 2 Diabetes in Benin: Leveraging Linear Goal Programming to Optimize Diets with Emphasis on Adequacy, Affordability, Accessibility, and Culture

Overview

Journal Front Nutr

Specialty Nutritional Sciences

Date 2024 Aug 23

PMID 39176027

Authors

Halimatou Alaofe

Mahdi Mahdavimanshadi

Carmelle Mizehoun-Adissoda

Abidemi Okechukwu

Waliou Amoussa Hounkpatin

Edward John Bedrick

Jules Gninkoun

Neng Fan

John Ehiri

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Nutrition and diet are critical to managing Type 2 diabetes (T2D). Low-income households often face challenges maintaining a healthy and balanced diet due to food insecurity, availability, and cost. To address this issue, we used a linear goal programming (LGP) model to develop nutritionally adequate, affordable, accessible, and culturally acceptable diets for persons with T2D in Benin, a French-speaking sub-Saharan country. The goal was to help persons with T2D manage their condition more effectively.

Methods: We compiled a robust list of local commonly consumed foods in Benin, and calculated their nutritional value using West African food composition tables and food costs per serving from a market survey. Using mathematical optimization techniques, we designed dietary plans that meet the daily nutrient intake recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to prevent chronic diseases in normal adults. While adhering to dietary constraints of T2D, we developed optimized diet plans with varying energy levels that meet all nutrient requirements while considering availability, acceptability, and budgetary constraints.

Results: Fifty-two food items and recipes were evaluated to create six low-cost daily menus. Menu 1 was the most affordable at CFA 1,127 (USD 1.88), providing 1890 kcal of energy, while Menu 6 was the most expensive at CFA 1,227 (USD 2.05), providing 1749 kcal. All the menus met the daily WHO minimum requirements for carbohydrates, fat, cholesterol, and fiber content, while other nutrients such as protein, vitamin C, and iron reached the upper limits of the acceptable value range.

Conclusion: Linear goal programming can be an effective tool in helping to obtain optimized adequate, accessible, and culturally acceptable diets at minimal cost by interpreting and translating dietary recommendations into a nutritional model, based on local market prices.

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