Saudi healthy plate-2024: framework for developing, modeling, and evaluating Saudi Arabia's dietary guidelines.

Abstract

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a leading cause of global mortality, accounting for 71% of deaths annually, with similar trends observed in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi Healthy Plate 2024 (SHP-2024) was developed by the National Nutrition Committee of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority to address the population's nutritional needs and reduce the burden of NCDs. SHP-2024 provides balanced and culturally appropriate dietary recommendations.

Methods: SHP-2024 was designed using optimization modeling techniques, incorporating global best practices, expert consultations, and rigorous validation processes. The dietary patterns were calibrated to ensure nutritional adequacy and economic feasibility. Monte Carlo simulations with 10,000 iterations were used to evaluate nutrient intake adequacy across various calorie levels (1,600-3,200 kcal). Nutritional constraints and economic assessments adhered to Saudi regulatory standards and data from the General Authority for Statistics.

Results: SHP-2024 met the average requirements for most macronutrients and micronutrients, including protein, key vitamins, and minerals, across all calorie patterns. However, the amount of vitamin E provided by SHP-2024, relative to the average requirement of 12.00 mg (95% CI: 8.40-15.60), covered only 60.93% of requirement in males and 60.61% in females. Choline intake with average requirement of 320.00 mg (95% CI: 224.00-416.00), met 73.71% of requirement in males and 73.36% in females. The cost of dietary patterns ranged from 380.70 to 762.70 SAR, indicating overall affordability.

Conclusions: SHP-2024 provides optimized dietary guidance suited to Saudi needs, supporting efforts to reduce NCD burdens. While most nutritional targets were achieved, persistent gaps in vitamin E and choline intake require targeted strategies in future updates to enhance dietary adequacy.