Nutrient data bank: Computer‐based management of nutrient values in foods

Abstract

AbstractA computerized Nutrient Data Bank has been designed for storage, summary, and retrieval of food composition data. The system is a repository for data from domestic and international sources, including research institutions, industry, and independent laboratories. Source data are carefully screened with regard to identification of the food and conditions which may affect its nutritive value. Variables such as treatment and processing of the food and method of nutrient analysis can be considered in the analysis and retrieval of the data. All primary data will go into Data Base I. After statistical analysis of primary data, unique criteria will be developed for each food for use in summarizing the nutrient data into composite values. Data Bases II and III will be derived from the information in Data Base I by averaging, weighting, and selection. The summarized data will include averages for each nutrient, the number of samples, range values, and standard error. The data can be used for compiling a new nutrition handbook and for rapid retrieval of information for scientists.