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Dietary Quality Index

Meaning

The Dietary Quality Index is a composite scoring system used in nutritional science and clinical practice to quantitatively assess the overall healthfulness and balance of an individual’s habitual food intake against established dietary guidelines. This metric moves beyond the simple analysis of individual nutrients to evaluate the synergistic effect of food groups, macro- and micronutrient ratios, and the presence of beneficial bioactive compounds. A higher index score correlates with reduced risk for chronic metabolic and hormonal disorders and indicates a more nutrient-dense dietary pattern. Clinicians use this index to track progress and identify specific areas for nutritional intervention.