The nutrient profile of traditional Lebanese composite dishes: comparison with composite dishes consumed in France.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the overall nutritional quality of traditional Lebanese dishes by calculating their nutrient profile.


METHODS
Fifty traditional Lebanese composite dishes (LD) were compared with 50 composite dishes consumed in France (FD), based on the SAIN (score of nutritional adequacy of individual foods) and LIM (score of nutrients to be limited) nutrient profiling system. Each dish was attributed to one of four nutrient profiling classes based on their SAIN and LIM values. The dishes' distributions within the four classes and their content in selected nutrients and ingredient groups were compared.


RESULTS
LD had a better nutrient profile than FD (P <0.001). LD were richer in vitamin C and contained less proteins, saturated fatty acids, and sodium. They contained more vegetables and unrefined starches and less cheese and refined starches than FD.


CONCLUSIONS
Nutrient profiles may help identify those composite dishes whose consumption should be encouraged to promote healthy eating in Lebanon.
Issa
Carine
C
INSERM UMR476 Nutriments Lipidiques et Prévention des Maladies Métaboliques, INRA 1260, Univ Aix-Marseille 1 & 2, Faculté de Médecine, Marseille, France.
Salameh
Pascale
P
Batal
Malek
M
Vieux
Florent
F
Lairon
Denis
D
Darmon
Nicole
N
D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000032:analysis; D002611:Cheese; D003296:Cooking / Q000379:methods*; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D004043:Dietary Fiber / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005502:Food / Q000145:classification*; D005504:Food Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005511:Food Handling; D005602:France; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000032:analysis; D007861:Lebanon; D008460:Meat; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000032:analysis; D014675:Vegetables; D014807:Vitamin D / Q000032:analysis
D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004043:Dietary Fiber; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D019266:Iron, Dietary; D012982:Sodium, Dietary; D014807:Vitamin D; D001205:Ascorbic Acid