Pediatric nutritional requirements: Determination with neural networks

Abstract

To calculate daily nutritional requirements of children, a computer program has been developed based upon neural network. Three parameters, daily protein, energy and water requirements, were calculated through trained artificial neural networks using a database of 312 children. The results were compared with those of calculated from dietary requirements tables of World Health Organisation. No significant difference was found between two calculations. In conclusion, a simple neural network may assist physicians in the determination of daily nutritional requirements.