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Identification of nutritionally adequate mixtures of vegetable oils by linear programming
Author(s) -
Darmon N.,
Darmon M.,
Ferguson E.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of human nutrition and dietetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.951
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1365-277X
pISSN - 0952-3871
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-277x.2006.00669.x
Subject(s) - rapeseed , food science , sunflower , vegetable oil , meal , sunflower oil , medicine , micronutrient , edible oil , vitamin , nutrient , olive oil , microbiology and biotechnology , agronomy , biology , ecology , pathology
Objective To determine the types and proportions of vegetable oils to recommend for a healthy diet. Methods Optimal vegetable oil combinations were designed, using linear programming and, as decision variables, nine single oils and 29 basic food items. ‘Oil models’ were run to determine whether reasonable amounts of individuals oils or oil mixtures satisfied a set of constraints on essential fatty acids and vitamin E. ‘Meal models’ were run to test whether selected mixtures could be used as the sole source of added fat in a meal that met micronutrient and macronutrient recommendations. Results The cheapest mixture (0.97 € L −1 ) that solved the oil models contained 81% rapeseed and 19% sunflower oils. About 10–15 g of this mixture, alone or with olive, soya bean, wheat germ or walnut oils, also solved the meal models. Mixtures that contained a high proportion (≥50%) of the tasty olive and walnut oils also solved the models but were more expensive (4.9 € L −1 and 8.5 € L −1 , respectively). Conclusions The consumption of a mixture composed of rapeseed and sunflower oils in a 4 : 1 proportion is an inexpensive and simple way to meet current dietary recommendations for essential fatty acids and vitamin E, favouring overall dietary nutrient adequacy.