. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Feb 1.

Published in final edited form as: Am J Prev Med. 2012 Feb;42(2):174–179. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.10.009

Table 1.

Summary of constraints applied in all linear programming models

List	Unit/day	Value
Energy constraint	kcal	= ER^a
Macronutrient constraints^b,^c
Proteins	% of TE	10 – 35
Total carbohydrates	% of TE	45 – 65
Total fats	% of TE	20 – 35
Linoleic acid	% of TE	5 – 10
Linolenic acid	% of TE	0.6 – 1.2
Saturated fatty acids	% of TE	≤ 10
Cholesterol	mg	≤ 300
Added sugar	% of TE	≤ 10
Micronutrient constraints^b
Fiber, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, folate, vitamin B-12, vitamin C, vitamin E, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, zinc, potassium, sodium^e	g, mg, μg	≥ RDA^d (or adequate intake) ≤ UL (when defined)
Consumption constraints
Groups	g	> 10^th percentile
Groups	g	< 90^th percentile
Subgroups	g	< 75^th percentile
Categories	g	< 75^th percentile

Energy requirement is 1600kcal, 1800kcal and 2000kcal for women and 2000kcal, 2200kcal and 2400kcal for men depending on the age class.

Macronutrient and micronutrient constraints based on DRIs as established by the IOM. For potassium, 90% of the adequate intake (i.e., 4.7 g/day) was used in constraint.

Macronutrient recommendations were the same for all gender–age groups

RDA were gender- and age-specific

Sodium upper limits varied depending on the model. The minimum adequate intake for sodium was set at 1300mg for men and women aged >years and 1500mg for others.

ER, energy requirement; RDA, recommended dietary allowances, TE, total energy; UL, upper limit