Web-based eHealth applications with reference to food composition data.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Food composition data (FCD) can provide important information in relation to diet and health; therefore, data on food composition have broad applications in health care. The objective of this study was to provide an overview of added-value eHealth systems that use modern information and communication technologies to support health and are related to FCD and nutrition. This paper also examines whether reliable and comprehensive FCD are used in eHealth systems.

METHODS

A total of 25 instances of eHealth systems from nine groups, defined with respect to the services that eHealth systems provide, were randomly selected. The selection of the population-based and expert-based eHealth systems took into account diversity, complexity and popularity.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: As most of the reviewed population-based eHealth systems used the United States Department of Agriculture nutrient database or basic FCD provided by the food products' producers, and only a few of them relied on local or national FCD, the author believes that, in general, the use of comprehensive FCD in the reviewed population-based eHealth systems has not reached a satisfactory level. Furthermore, many of these systems would increase their value by providing more detailed information on FCD and by addressing the nutritional aspects of health with greater emphasis. In contrast, most of the reviewed expert-based eHealth systems proved to be reliable and rich sources of nutrition information, respecting the need to address the subject from both national and international aspects.