A web-based decision support system for dietary analysis and recommendations

Objectives: Because of lack of integrated databases for Chinese menus and the need for nutrition information by dietitians in Taiwan, we developed a Web-based platform for dietary analysis and recommendations. Methods: The fuzzy decision model was utilized to develop a Web-based support system that searches food composition databases, calculates dietary intake, and provides the guidance for decision making in nutrition counseling. Results: The online support system generated menu- or food-based recommendations using a fuzzy decision model. The homogeneity of food composition between five selected menus generated by the fuzzy decision model in a randomly selective case was strongly correlated with a correlation coefficient of 0.31-0.99. The correlation coefficients were 0.42-0.45 and 0.13-0.44 between food composition of five most correlated menus or five selected menus generated by the fuzzy decision model and nutrient requirements computed by the fuzzy decision model, respectively. The most correlated menus and the menus generated by the fuzzy decision model were also similar. Conclusions: The recommended menus generated by the fuzzy decision model are considerably reliable and valid, and the online support system for dietary analysis and recommendations can provide a Web-based and decision-making tool for dietitians in Taiwan.