Comparison of the Nutritional Adequacy of Current Food-Based Very Low Energy Diets: A Review and Nutritional Analysis

Abstract

Very low energy diets (VLEDs) contain Codex Alimentarius standards for formula foods, and Australian estimated average requirement and adequate intake (AI) for adults 19–50 years. Optifast® was used as a comparator. None of the VLEDs met all nutritional benchmarks. Three food-based diets had nutrient profiles similar to formula VLEDs, with one being adequate for all nutrients except thiamine, magnesium and zinc in men and iron in women. All VLEDs, including Optifast®, did not meet AI for dietary fiber, except one. In general, food-based VLEDs offered more fiber than Optifast®. In conclusion, food-based VLEDs were inadequate in certain micronutrients but offered more dietary fiber than formula VLEDs. These nutritional deficits do not preclude food-based VLEDs from being recommended, provided they are addressed.

Keywords

• very low energy diet
• VLED
• nutritional adequacy
• dietary fiber
• micronutrient
• weight loss