The estimation of calories in foods is central in the maintenance of body weight and energy regulation. Conventional laboratory analysis using bomb calorimetry to determine calorie content is expensive and time-consuming. There is a need to explore alternative techniques for calorie estimation that requires less processing and resources. The potential of using near infrared spectroscopy for calorie measurements with Calorie Answer™ was evaluated in this study. The caloric content of 105 different foods was measured, and compared against values reported on nutrition labels. The average percentage relative standard deviation for triplicate measurements was 1.7% for all foods. The percentage difference between stated and measured calories was modest, at 4.0% for all foods. Stated and measured calorie contents were significantly and highly correlated (R2=0.98, p<0.001). The use of near infrared spectroscopy, using Calorie Answer™, is a rapid, reproducible and cost-effective way of measuring calorie content in a diverse range of foods. Its application in many parts of Asia Pacific and other emerging nations will generate much needed information on the calorie content of complex foods consumed by people living in these regions.
食物中热量的估计是维持体重和能量调节的核心。传统的实验室分析使用炸弹 量热法确定卡路里含量,费用昂贵且耗时。需要探索热量估计的替代技术，这 种技术需要较少的处理和资源。该研究评价了近红外光谱技术的卡路里答案™ 在热量测量中的潜力。对105 种不同食物的热量含量进行了测定，并与营养标 签的值进行了比较。所有食品按一式三份测量，得到的平均相对标准差为 1.7%。所有食物标签所述热量和测量热量之间的百分比差异适中，为4%，且 两者卡路里含量高度相关（R2=0.98，p<0.001）。使用近红外光谱分析技术的 卡路里回答™，是一种快速、重现性好、性价比高的测量不同食物热量含量的 方法。将这种技术应用在亚太和其他新兴国家的许多地区，对居住在这些地区 居民消费的复合食品热量含量的估计将会得出许多需要的信息。.