Assessment of Date Fruit and Derivative Consumption Patterns and Their Nutritional Contribution to Daily Intake in Biskra, Algeria
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Copyright © 2026 Amel Barkat, Abdelnacer Agli, Hayat Trabsa
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Background: Date fruits are nutritionally dense staples with a long history of dietary application, particularly in arid regions. Despite their recognized nutritional value, empirical data on actual consumption levels and their quantitative contribution to daily nutrient intake remain limited.
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the consumption habits associated with date fruits and their derived products, and to evaluate their contribution to the daily nutritional intake of the population in Biskra, Algeria.
Participants and Methods: A cross-sectional, face-to-face survey was conducted among a convenience sample of 108 participants residing in Biskra between 2022 and 2023. The questionnaire encompassed three sections: sociodemographic characteristics, consumption behaviors related to dates and their derivatives, and a 24-hour dietary recall.
Results: A total of 10 date cultivars and 19 derivative products were reported. Deglet Nour was the most frequently consumed cultivar (41%), while the most prevalent derived products were Makroud (22.4%), Bradj (21.1%), and Rfis (19.7%). The highest consumption frequency (34.69%) occurred during the afternoon snack period. The mean annual intake was estimated at 11.24 ± 14.88 kg per person. Participants from higher-income households exhibited significantly greater consumption of date-based sugar (p = 0.018), chocolate spread (p = 0.018), and chocolate bars (p = 0.000). Consumption of Ziraoui and El Marsa cultivars was significantly associated with participants originating from Batna and Oued Souf, respectively (p = 0.000 for both). The contribution of dates and their derivatives to daily dietary intake was 3.47% for energy, 5% for carbohydrates, 1% for proteins, and 1% for lipids. All participants reported consuming dates or their derivatives, with a mean daily intake of 3 ± 4 dates. Employees exhibited the highest daily contribution of dates to caloric (p = 0.022), carbohydrate (p = 0.032), protein (p = 0.023), and lipid (p = 0.027) intake among occupational groups.
Conclusions: This study emphasizes the substantial role of date fruits and their derivatives in the daily diet of the Biskra population and demonstrates that consumption patterns are significantly modulated by sociodemographic factors, particularly income and geographic origin.
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How to Cite
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