Saudi Healthy Plate-2024: Framework for Developing, Modeling, and Evaluating Saudi Arabia’s Dietary Guidelines

Saudi Healthy Plate-2024: Framework for Developing, Modeling, and Evaluating Saudi Arabia’s Dietary Guidelines | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Saudi Healthy Plate-2024: Framework for Developing, Modeling, and Evaluating Saudi Arabia’s Dietary Guidelines Omar A. Alhumaidan, Sarah M. Alkhunein, Shihana A. Alakeel, Ghadir A. Fallata, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5855384/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 07 Aug, 2025 Read the published version in BMC Nutrition → Version 1 posted 4 You are reading this latest preprint version 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 meets the average requirements for most macronutrients and micronutrients, including protein, iron, and phosphorus, across all calorie patterns. However, deficiencies in vitamin E and choline intakes were identified. The guidelines demonstrated scalability and flexibility, adapting to varying caloric requirements while maintaining nutritional balance. Cost analysis revealed affordability, with diet costs ranging from 380.7 to 762.7 SAR, ensuring accessibility for the population. Conclusions SHP-2024 represents a significant step in addressing NCDs through optimized dietary guidance tailored to Saudi Arabia’s needs. This intervention is effective in meeting most nutritional targets; however, addressing gaps in certain nutrients remains a priority for future iterations. These guidelines provide a robust foundation for public health strategies, fostering improved dietary practices and reducing the economic burden of NCDs. Calories Energy Reference Value Nutrient intake Dietary guidelines Food pattern Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 07 Aug, 2025 Read the published version in BMC Nutrition → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 05 Feb, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 21 Jan, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 21 Jan, 2025 First submitted to journal 18 Jan, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5855384","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":405136222,"identity":"467833ed-a734-431c-8d89-3a6059232004","order_by":0,"name":"Omar A. 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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.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMethods\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSHP-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\u0026ndash;3,200 kcal). Nutritional constraints and economic assessments adhered to Saudi regulatory standards and data from the General Authority for Statistics.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eResults\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSHP-2024 meets the average requirements for most macronutrients and micronutrients, including protein, iron, and phosphorus, across all calorie patterns. However, deficiencies in vitamin E and choline intakes were identified. The guidelines demonstrated scalability and flexibility, adapting to varying caloric requirements while maintaining nutritional balance. Cost analysis revealed affordability, with diet costs ranging from 380.7 to 762.7 SAR, ensuring accessibility for the population.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eConclusions\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSHP-2024 represents a significant step in addressing NCDs through optimized dietary guidance tailored to Saudi Arabia\u0026rsquo;s needs. This intervention is effective in meeting most nutritional targets; however, addressing gaps in certain nutrients remains a priority for future iterations. These guidelines provide a robust foundation for public health strategies, fostering improved dietary practices and reducing the economic burden of NCDs.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Saudi Healthy Plate-2024: Framework for Developing, Modeling, and Evaluating Saudi Arabia’s Dietary Guidelines","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-01-28 03:51:33","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-5855384/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2025-02-05T12:34:17+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-01-21T13:29:29+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-01-21T13:28:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"BMC Nutrition","date":"2025-01-18T13:27:10+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"bmc-nutrition","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"nutn","sideBox":"Learn more about [BMC Nutrition](http://bmcnutr.biomedcentral.com/)","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"https://www.editorialmanager.com/nutn/default.aspx","title":"BMC Nutrition","twitterHandle":"BMC_series","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"52fb65e5-0ee4-4996-a9e9-8c71068ade63","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 28th, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"published-in-journal","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2025-08-11T16:07:02+00:00","versionOfRecord":{"articleIdentity":"rs-5855384","link":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01146-7","journal":{"identity":"bmc-nutrition","isVorOnly":false,"title":"BMC Nutrition"},"publishedOn":"2025-08-07 15:57:13","publishedOnDateReadable":"August 7th, 2025"},"versionCreatedAt":"2025-01-28 03:51:33","video":"","vorDoi":"10.1186/s40795-025-01146-7","vorDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s40795-025-01146-7","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-5855384","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-5855384","identity":"rs-5855384","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}