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Effects of whole grains on glycemic control: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies and randomized controlled trials

Whole grains have recently been promoted as beneficial to diabetes prevention. However, the evidence for the glycemic benefits of whole grains seems to conflict between the cohort studies and randomized contro...

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Remnant cholesterol is an effective biomarker for predicting survival in patients with breast cancer

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. The relationship between remnant cholesterol (RC) and the prognosis of patients with breast cancer has not been clearly reported. This study inve...

Epidemiological study of pediatric nutritional deficiencies: an analysis from the global burden of disease study 2019

Nutritional deficiencies (ND) continue to threaten the lives of millions of people around the world, with children being the worst hit. Nevertheless, no systematic study of the epidemiological features of chil...

Association between watching eating broadcast “Mukbang and Cookbang” and body mass index status in South Korean adolescents stratified by gender

It has been suggested that Mukbang and Cookbang, a type of eating broadcast originating from Korea and gaining popularity, may contribute to obesity. However, despite suggestions that Mukbang might contribute ...

The global diet quality score as an indicator of adequate nutrient intake and dietary quality – a nation-wide representative study

The Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) was developed to be a simple, timely and cost-effective tool to track, simultaneously, nutritional deficiency and non-communicable disease risks from diet in diverse settin...

Development of a sustainable diet index in US adults

A transformation towards healthy diets through a sustainable food system is essential to enhance both human and planet health. Development of a valid, multidimensional, quantitative index of a sustainable diet...

Maternal vitamin D status and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in twin pregnancies: a longitudinal twin pregnancies birth cohort study

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication of pregnancy, with significant short-term and long-term implications for both mothers and their offspring. Previous studies have indicated the poten...

Correction: Dietary intake and gastrointestinal symptoms are altered in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: the relative contribution of autism-linked traits

The original article was published in Nutrition Journal 2024 23 :27

A late eating midpoint is associated with increased risk of diabetic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study based on NHANES 2013–2020

Modifying diet is crucial for diabetes and complication management. Numerous studies have shown that adjusting eating habits to align with the circadian rhythm may positively affect metabolic health. However, ...

Traditional japanese diet score and the sustainable development goals by a global comparative ecological study

Reducing the environmental impact of the food supply is important for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) worldwide. Previously, we developed the Traditional Japanese Diet Score (TJDS) and reported ...

Association between dietary magnesium intake and muscle mass among hypertensive population: evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Magnesium is critical for musculoskeletal health. Hypertensive patients are at high risk for magnesium deficiency and muscle loss. This study aimed to explore the association between magnesium intake and muscl...

Adult dietary patterns with increased bean consumption are associated with greater overall shortfall nutrient intakes, lower added sugar, improved weight-related outcomes and better diet quality

Limited evidence is available that focuses on beans within American dietary patterns and health. The purpose of this study was to identify commonly consumed adult dietary patterns that included beans and compa...

Validity and reproducibility of the PERSIAN Cohort food frequency questionnaire: assessment of major dietary patterns

Dietary patterns, encompassing an overall view of individuals’ dietary intake, are suggested as a suitable means of assessing nutrition’s role in chronic disease development. The aim of this study was to evalu...

Associations of dietary patterns and longitudinal brain-volume change in Japanese community-dwelling adults: results from the national institute for longevity sciences-longitudinal study of aging

The association of dietary patterns and longitudinal changes in brain volume has rarely been investigated in Japanese individuals. We prospectively investigated this association in middle-aged and older Japane...

Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and vitamin D dietary supplementation and risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among adults with hypertension

The relationship between vitamin D status and mortality among adults with hypertension remains unclear.

Effect of soy isoflavone supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Previous experimental studies have suggested that the consumption of soy isoflavones may have a potential impact on lowering blood pressure. Nevertheless, epidemiological studies have presented conflicting out...

The effects of L-carnitine supplementation on inflammation, oxidative stress, and clinical outcomes in critically Ill patients with sepsis: a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial

Sepsis, a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a host’s dysregulated response to infection with an inflammatory process, becomes a real challenge for the healthcare systems. L-carnitine (LC) has antiox...

Metabolic syndrome risk in adult coffee drinkers with the rs301 variant of the LPL gene

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors is influenced by environmental, lifestyle, and genetic factors. We explored whether coffee consumption and the rs301 variant of...

Towards objective measurements of habitual dietary intake patterns: comparing NMR metabolomics and food frequency questionnaire data in a population-based cohort

Low-quality, non-diverse diet is a main risk factor for premature death. Accurate measurement of habitual diet is challenging and there is a need for validated objective methods. Blood metabolite patterns refl...

Circulating concentrations of bile acids and prevalent chronic kidney disease among newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

The relationship between circulating bile acids (BAs) and kidney function among patients with type 2 diabetes is unclear. We aimed to investigate the associations of circulating concentrations of BAs, particul...

Dietary intake and gastrointestinal symptoms are altered in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: the relative contribution of autism-linked traits

Dietary and gastrointestinal (GI) problems have been frequently reported in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the relative contributions of autism-linked traits to dietary and GI problems in children wi...

The Correction to this article has been published in Nutrition Journal 2024 23 :40

The effect of bovine dairy products and their components on the incidence and natural history of infection: a systematic literature review

Dairy products and their components may impact immune function, although the current evidence base has some research gaps. As part of a larger systematic literature review of dairy products/components (includi...

Food sufficiency status and sleep outcomes in older adults: the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS)

Studies investigating the relationship between food insecurity and sleep among older populations are limited. This study aimed to cross-sectionally examine the associations between food sufficiency status and ...

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on liver fibrogenic factors, vitamin D receptor and liver fibrogenic microRNAs in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) patients: an exploratory randomized clinical trial

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a global metabolic problem which can lead to irreversible liver fibrosis. It has been shown that vitamin D and its receptors contribute to fi...

Validity of food and nutrient intakes assessed by a food frequency questionnaire among Chinese adults

Studies regarding the validity of the food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and the food composition table (FCT) are limited in Asian countries. We aimed to evaluate the validity of a 64-item FFQ and different me...

Association of sugar intake from different sources with cardiovascular disease incidence in the prospective cohort of UK Biobank participants

The relation between incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and sugar might not only depend on the quantity consumed but also on its source. This study aims to assess the association between various sources of ...

Association of dietary inflammatory index and the SARS-CoV-2 infection incidence, severity and mortality of COVID-19: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis

Several studies have reported the association between dietary inflammatory index (DII) and the SARS-CoV-2 infection risk, severity or mortality of COVID-19, however, the outcomes remain controversial.

Breakfast quality and its sociodemographic and psychosocial correlates among Italian children, adolescents, and adults from the Italian Nutrition & HEalth Survey (INHES) study

Breakfast quality, together with regularity of breakfast, has been suggested to be associated with cardiometabolic health advantages. We aimed to evaluate the quality of breakfast and its socioeconomic and psy...

The association between lifelines diet score (LLDS) with depression and quality of life in Iranian adolescent girls

It has been proposed that a greater degree of adherence to a healthy dietary pattern is associated with a lower risk of depression and a poor quality of life (QoL). The Lifelines diet score (LLDS) is a new, ev...

Diet in secondary prevention: the effect of dietary patterns on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with cardiovascular disease: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Improving dietary habits is a first-line recommendation for patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). It is unclear which dietary pattern most effectively lowers cardiovascular risk factors and what the shor...

Prognostic potential of nutritional risk screening and assessment tools in predicting survival of patients with pancreatic neoplasms: a systematic review

The nutritional evaluation of pancreatic cancer (PC) patients lacks a gold standard or scientific consensus, we aimed to summarize and systematically evaluate the prognostic value of nutritional screening and ...

40 years of adding more fructose to high fructose corn syrup than is safe, through the lens of malabsorption and altered gut health–gateways to chronic disease

Labels do not disclose the excess-free-fructose/unpaired-fructose content in foods/beverages. Objective was to estimate excess-free-fructose intake using USDA loss-adjusted-food-availability (LAFA) data (1970–...

Relationship between trajectories of dietary iron intake and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus: evidence from a prospective cohort study

The association between dietary iron intake and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains inconsistent. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between trajectories of dietary iron in...

Dietary pattern and precocious puberty risk in Chinese girls: a case-control study

The role of dietary intake on precocious puberty remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between the amount and frequency of dietary intake and the risk of precocious puberty in Chines...

Tracking progress toward a climate-friendly public food service strategy: assessing nutritional quality and carbon footprint changes in childcare centers

Public food procurement and catering are recognized as important leverage points in promoting sustainable and healthy dietary habits. This study aimed to analyze changes in nutritional quality and carbon footp...

Avocado intake and cardiometabolic risk factors in a representative survey of Australians: a secondary analysis of the 2011–2012 national nutrition and physical activity survey

Avocados are a rich source of nutrients including monounsaturated fats, dietary fibre and phytochemicals. Higher dietary quality is reported in studies of consumers with higher avocado intakes. The present stu...

Components in downstream health promotions to reduce sugar intake among adults: a systematic review

Excessive sugar consumption is well documented as a common risk factor for many Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Thus, an adequate intervention description is important to minimise research waste and improve ...

Improving economic access to healthy diets in first nations communities in high-income, colonised countries: a systematic scoping review

Affordability of healthy food is a key determinant of the diet-related health of First Nations Peoples. This systematic scoping review was commissioned by the Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Women...

Associations between estimation of salt intake and salt-restriction spoons and hypertension status in patients with poorly controlled hypertension: a community-based study from Huzhou City, Eastern China

As the prevalence of hypertension increases in China, it is advised to use salt-restriction spoons (SRS) as a lifestyle modification. This study aimed to examine the associations between estimated salt consump...

Potassium levels and the risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among patients with cardiovascular diseases: a meta-analysis of cohort studies

Abnormal blood potassium levels are associated with an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases and mortality in the general population; however, evidence regarding the association between dyskalemia and mor...

Combined versus independent effects of exercise training and intermittent fasting on body composition and cardiometabolic health in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Exercise training (Ex) and intermittent fasting (IF) are effective for improving body composition and cardiometabolic health overweight and obese adults, but whether combining Ex and IF induces additive or syn...

Correction: Associations Between Plant-Based Dietary Patterns and Risks of Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and Mortality – A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The original article was published in Nutrition Journal 2023 22 :46

The association between hyperuricemia and insulin resistance surrogates, dietary- and lifestyle insulin resistance indices in an Iranian population: MASHAD cohort study

Previous studies have reported insulin resistance (IR) to be associated with hyperuricemia. In this study, we aimed to assess the possible associations between the empirical dietary index for IR (EDIR), the em...

Trends and disparities in prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases by food security status in the United States

Previous studies have demonstrated the association between food security and cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs), yet none have investigated trends in prevalence of CMDs by food security status in the United State...

Effect of nutrition education integrating the health belief model and theory of planned behavior on dietary diversity of pregnant women in Southeast Ethiopia: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Maternal anemia, miscarriage, low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), prenatal and infant mortality, morbidity, and the risk of chronic disease later in life are al...

The effect of diet-induced weight loss on circulating homocysteine levels in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes

Having type 2 diabetes (T2D) in combination with being overweight results in an additional increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. In addition, T2D and obesity are associated with increased levels of to...

Association of early dietary fiber intake and mortality in septic patients with mechanical ventilation based on MIMIC IV 2.1 database: a cohort study

Whether early dietary fiber intake in septic patients is associated with a better clinical prognosis remains unclear, especially the time and the amount. Therefore, we assessed the association between early di...

Comparison of energy expenditure measurements by a new basic respiratory room vs. classical ventilated hood

Nutritional support is often based on predicted resting energy expenditure (REE). In patients, predictions seem invalid. Indirect calorimetry is the gold standard for measuring EE. For assessments over longer ...

Clusters of carbohydrate-rich foods and associations with type 2 diabetes incidence: a prospective cohort study

About one in ten adults are living with diabetes worldwide. Intake of carbohydrates and carbohydrate-rich foods are often identified as modifiable risk factors for incident type 2 diabetes. However, strong cor...

Interaction between CETP Taq1B polymorphism and dietary patterns on lipid profile and severity of coronary arteries stenosis in patients under coronary angiography: a cross-sectional study

Evidence indicates there are still conflicts regarding CETP Taq1B polymorphism and coronary artery disease risk factors. Current findings about whether dietary patterns can change the relationship of the Taq1B...

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Nutrition Journal

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Nutrition News

Healthy living guide 2023/2024.

A Digest on Healthy Eating and Healthy Living “The apple in your hand is the body of the cosmos.” – Thich Nhat Hanh Happy New Year, and welcome to the fourth edition of the Healthy Living Guide! 2023 was an exciting year in the Department of Nutrition, as we celebrated the launch of the Thich … Continue reading “Healthy Living Guide 2023/2024”

WHO releases updated guidelines on defining healthy diets

Harvard experts say most recommendations are well-supported, but guidance on total fat intake omits decades of evidence The World Health Organization (WHO) has released updated guidelines for defining healthy diets, with particular attention to carbohydrates, total fat, and specific types of fat such as saturated and trans fats. The guidelines are an addition to their … Continue reading “WHO releases updated guidelines on defining healthy diets”

Unpacking WHO guidelines on non-sugar sweeteners

The World Health Organization (WHO) released a new guideline on non-sugar sweeteners (NSS)—often referred to as artificial or low-calorie sweeteners—that advises against use of NSS to control body weight or reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases. After conducting a research review, they concluded that replacing sugar sweeteners with NSS did not promote weight loss in … Continue reading “Unpacking WHO guidelines on non-sugar sweeteners”

Healthy Living Guide 2022/2023

A Digest on Healthy Eating and Healthy Living Throughout 2022, food and nutrition were often in the spotlight, perhaps most notably with the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The national strategy that emerged from the event (the first of its kind since the original conference in 1969) aims at ending hunger and … Continue reading “Healthy Living Guide 2022/2023”

Navigating infant formula shortages

Infant formula shortages in the U.S. have occurred in the past two years largely due to widespread pandemic-related supply-chain problems. A national shortage of infant formula is undoubtedly alarming for families since infants require formula when human milk is not accessible or not available in adequate amounts. Although breastfeeding is encouraged, it is not always … Continue reading “Navigating infant formula shortages”

Healthy Living Guide 2021/2022

A Digest on Healthy Eating and Healthy Living Over the course of 2021, many of us continued to adapt to a “new normal,” characterized by a return to some pre-pandemic activities mixed with hobbies or habits that have emerged since 2020’s lockdowns. On the topic of food and eating, according to one U.S. consumer survey … Continue reading “Healthy Living Guide 2021/2022”

Healthy Living Guide 2020/2021

A Digest on Healthy Eating and Healthy Living As we transition from 2020 into 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect nearly every aspect of our lives. For many, this health crisis has created a range of unique and individual impacts—including food access issues, income disruptions, and emotional distress. Although we do not have concrete … Continue reading “Healthy Living Guide 2020/2021”

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020 released

The 9th edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 is out, with the tagline to Make Every Bite Count. Intended for policy makers, healthcare providers, nutrition educators, and Federal nutrition program operators, the new edition has expanded to almost 150 pages, providing nutrition guidelines for even more age groups throughout the life cycle. As … Continue reading “Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020 released”

Pregunte al Experto: El rol de la dieta y los suplementos nutricionales durante COVID-19

El distanciamiento social y el lavado de manos son los métodos más eficaces y comprobados para reducir el riesgo y la propagación de la enfermedad del coronavirus (COVID-19). Sin embargo, junto con preguntas generales sobre cómo comprar y preparar alimentos de forma segura (discutidos aquí), muchos se preguntan sobre el rol específico de la dieta … Continue reading “Pregunte al Experto: El rol de la dieta y los suplementos nutricionales durante COVID-19”

Ask the Expert: The role of diet and nutritional supplements during COVID-19

Social distancing and regular handwashing are the most effective and proven methods to reduce risk and spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, along with general questions on how to safely shop for and prepare food (addressed here), many are wondering about the more specific role of diet and nutrition during this pandemic. To understand … Continue reading “Ask the Expert: The role of diet and nutritional supplements during COVID-19”

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Nutrigenomics is the study of the effects of food and food constituents on gene expression, and how genetic variations affect the nutritional environment. It focuses on understanding the interaction between nutrients and other dietary bioactives with the genome at the molecular level, to understand how specific nutrients or dietary regimes may affect human health.

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Purdue Nutrition Science researcher uncovers connection between hormones, gut microbiome and metabolic dysfunction commonly seen in postmenopausal women

Written By: Rebecca Hoffa, [email protected]

Tzu-Wen Cross (left) examines data in her lab. (Purdue University Photo/Rebecca Robiños)

Hot flashes are one of the most commonly discussed side effects of menopause, but the decline of ovarian hormones and its effect on the gut microbiome can also increase the risk of a variety of metabolic diseases, including obesity and cardiometabolic syndrome, according to a recent publication by Tzu-Wen Cross , assistant professor in Purdue University’s Department Nutrition Science .

The novel study is the first to show the link between the gut microbiome and loss of ovarian hormones in increasing inflammation and metabolic disease risk, which may be relevant in postmenopausal women. This study was published by Gut Microbes in December 2023 and conducted as part of a National Institutes of Health T32 Training Program in Translational Cardiovascular Science during Cross’ postdoctoral work at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Cardiovascular Research Center.

“I was very intrigued by the interactions between the gut microbiome and sex hormones, with a particular focus on the diseases prevalent among postmenopausal women,” Cross said. “When women go through menopause, the drastic loss of ovarian hormone production can significantly impact health. There’s a cascade of metabolic changes, often leading to conditions like obesity and other metabolic diseases.”

In the recent study, Cross and her collaborators used a preclinical mouse model to explore the effects of high-fat and low-fat diets in combination with ovarian decline on metabolic health. After finding differences in the low-fat diet groups due to the loss of ovarian hormones that were further exacerbated in the high-fat diet groups, Cross then investigated the impact of transferring the gut microbes into a sterile, or germ-free, mouse model. In this model, they saw that the microbes associated with ovarian loss caused more inflammation and weight gain, which suggested a connection between the sex hormones produced by the gonads, or reproductive organs, and the gut microbiota, or the microorganisms within the gut environment.

Since those initial projects, Cross has expanded her research to encompass dietary elements pertinent to both the gut microbiome and sex hormone equilibrium. She is exploring dietary compounds that can be modified by the gut microbiome, impacting not only metabolic health but also gonadal development and fertility. Of particular interest is S-equol, which is a bacterial metabolite of a soybean-derived isoflavone. This metabolite, produced solely by intestinal bacteria, occurs in only some — but not all — humans, potentially contributing to health disparities.

“The work we published in Gut Microbes laid the foundation for my independent research group, as we began connecting the gut microbiome with the brain and gonadal axis,” Cross said. “Many sex hormones are produced through signals initiated by the brain. When we have sufficient estrogen or testosterone in our bloodstream, our brain and pituitary gland communicate to our ovaries or testes to stop production. This is how our body maintains homeostasis. The opposite is true when hormone levels are insufficient; the brain signals for increased production.”

In postmenopausal women, Cross explained, there is a decrease in estrogen, so the brain continues to signal for more production, leading to elevated neuropeptide levels, but the malfunctioning ovaries fail to respond. A project funded by a Purdue Ralph W. and Grace M. Showalter Trust grant led the researchers to believe the gut microbiome may be able to respond to these neuropeptides and the elevated neuropeptide levels could potentially alter the microbiota. Then, when this microbiota is transplanted, it carries the signal to communicate with the gonads.

“We have discovered that various metabolites, some generated by the gut microbiota directly, are responsive to sex hormone changes. We’re now delving into understanding the connections between these metabolites and inflammation,” Cross said. “These compounds could be the mediator driving the phenotypes we observed between the gut microbiota and inflammation, and potentially have an impact on puberty development and fertility, so I’m starting to work with reproductive biologists trying to get down to look at the developmental impact of gut microbiota and their metabolites on fertility throughout a person’s life span.”

Anna Organski works on her research in Tzu-Wen Cross’ lab. (Purdue University Photo/Rebecca Robiños)

Ultimately, Cross and her lab, including College of Health and Human Sciences graduate student Anna Organski, hope to influence future probiotic treatments and dietary recommendations to help reduce metabolic disease risk and fertility issues.

“The gut microbiota can directly alter sex hormone homeostasis through potential gut-brain communication, which could be valuable for treatments and therapeutics for certain sex hormone-sensitive conditions,” Organski said. “Hopefully the information we discovered can be used to investigate further therapeutics for other diseases as well.”

Cross stresses the importance of considering the influence of the gut microbiome on health when making dietary choices to not only feed the appetite but the gut microbiome as well.

“Our gut microbiota can affect aspects such as metabolism, highlighting the potentially significant impact on our overall health,” Cross said. “By being mindful of how different foods can affect the microbiome, we can make informed decisions that support our well-being.”

Pennington Biomedical’s Dr. Steven Heymsfield and Colleague Publish Guidance on Energy and Macronutrients Across the Lifespan

April 17, 2024 · Baton Rouge, LA

In the growing campaign positioning “Food as Medicine,” Dr. Heymsfield joins Dr. Sue Shapses of Rutgers University to share a matrix of variables to consider when crafting nutrient-rich diets     BATON ROUGE – In the long history of recommendations for nutritional intake, current research is trending toward the concept of “food as medicine” – a philosophy in which food and nutrition are positioned within interventions to support health and wellness. In the paper – “ Guidance on Energy and Macronutrients Across the Lifespan ” – by Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s Dr. Steven Heymsfield, he shares the latest clarity and recommendations in the rich and storied history of energy and macronutrient intake.     The research paper by Dr. Heymsfield and colleague Dr. Sue Shapses, Professor of Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers University and Director of the Next Center at the New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health, was recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showcasing recommendations with increased clarity for protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber and water intake at various stages in the human lifespan.    "Couple with the amount and pattern of the foods people eat, the primary macronutrients of protein, carbohydrates and fat can shape the major determinates of health throughout the lifespan,” said Dr. Heymsfield, who is a professor of Metabolism & Body Composition at Pennington Biomedical. “Even considering the incredible diversity of traits and nutritional needs across the global population, we can potentially provide effective care for all patients, including the growing number of patients with diet-related diseases, so long as we recognize the subtle effects of the key macronutrients.”    Throughout the research document, the authors frequently reference the original, historic research for which they are providing the latest incarnation and related knowledge. Focusing primarily on energy and three macronutrients – protein, carbohydrates and fat, and their subsequent substrates – amino acids, glucose and free fatty acids, the paper shows how these can fuel growth and maintenance throughout life. For optimal health, the study provides dietary reference intakes for the three micronutrients at various stages: 0 to 6 months, 7 months to slightly less than a year old, one year to three, four to eight years, nine to 13 years, 14 to 18 years, over 19 years, and then additional recommendations for pregnancy and lactation.     The research goes on to provide recommendations to patients and caregivers on healthy eating patterns consistent with the energy and macronutrient guidelines and includes an online calculator ( https://www.nal.usda.gov/human-nutrition-and-food-safety/dri-calculator ). While the energy requirements and variable needs for the three main macronutrients and multiple micronutrients vary across the nine life stage groups, there are overarching nutritional goals for patients when choosing healthy food patterns. A variety of healthy meal pattern examples are available, but reoccurring components feature the inclusion of vegetables of all types, whole fruits, fat-free or low-fat dairy, lean meats, seafood, eggs, beans, and nuts, plant- and seafood-based oils, and grains, with at least half of those being whole grains.     The need to incorporate the three main macronutrient groups and micronutrients into the diets of the various life stage groups is a matrix that is further complicated as varying financial resources, personal preferences, cultural backgrounds and ethnic food traditions are accounted for. The paper structures a priority framework, offering better insights into those diets that can be tailored for specific diet-related chronic conditions, such as obesity or type 2 diabetes.     “The legacy of research into dietary nutrition continues to refine what we know about our bodies and the capacity for a tailored diet, featuring key macronutrients to support our long-term health,” said Dr. John Kirwan, Executive Director of Pennington Biomedical Research Center. “Dr. Heymsfield’s recent paper in the New England Journal of Medicine is the latest contribution to this research history of contributing to the knowledge base, and further promotes the notion of ‘food as medicine’ –  delivering the potential to improve health across the lifespan with bespoke, nutrient-rich diets.”

For more information contact:

Joe Coussan, Media Relations Manager, [email protected] , 225-763-3049 or Ernie Ballard, Senior Director of Communications & Marketing, [email protected] , 225-263-2677 .

About the Pennington Biomedical Research Center

The Pennington Biomedical Research Center is at the forefront of medical discovery as it relates to understanding the triggers of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer and dementia. The Center conducts basic, clinical, and population research, and is a campus of the LSU System. The research enterprise at Pennington Biomedical includes over 530 employees within a network of 44 clinics and research laboratories, and 13 highly specialized core service facilities. Its scientists and physician/scientists are supported by research trainees, lab technicians, nurses, dietitians, and other support personnel. Pennington Biomedical is a state-of-the-art research facility on a 222-acre campus in Baton Rouge. For more information, see www.pbrc.edu .

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• Health & Nutrition Trends

Ten Key Health and Nutrition Trends 2024

Ten Key Health and Nutrition Trends for 2024

Innovation in research and technology make 2024 an exciting time for nutrition and health in food and beverage. Our sixth annual edition of the KHNI Health & Nutrition trends explores the developments in research, technology, product development and the consumer landscape which are propelling the food and beverage industry, as well as the global food system, forward.

What are the main things to be aware of when innovating, developing new products, or taking care of our own health? The KHNI team worked with our global expert network of nutrition and food scientists, dietitians, microbiologists, sustainability, innovation and regulatory professionals to provide a diverse range of perspectives.

We ultimately identified 10 key health and nutrition trends for 2024, as well as a “megatrend” – sustainable nutrition – which is an important lens through which all of the trends can be viewed.

Click on each trend to navigate to that section.

The 10 key health and nutrition trends for 2024 are:

Mega-trend: sustainable nutrition, women’s health, cognition, sleep and stress.

• Microbiome – beyond digestive health

Affordable Nutrition

• Sodium and sugar reduction

Plant Forward

• Protein production’s future

Personalised Nutrition

Food is at the heart of one of the biggest challenges of our time – how do we feed a growing population whilst managing the accelerated environmental degradation of our planet?

We urgently need to find solutions. It is important that everyone in the world has a right to eat balanced, healthy and nutritious food. At the same time, we need to make food consumption and production choices that reconcile the limited natural resources we have on our planet to feed everyone. We need sustainable nutrition.

Sustainable nutrition is defined as the ability of food systems to provide sufficient energy and essential nutrients to maintain good health of the population without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their nutritional needs. A sustainable diet, as described by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, is a dietary pattern that promotes all dimensions of health and wellbeing; has a low environmental impact; is accessible, affordable, safe and equitable; and is culturally acceptable.

The multifaced challenge of providing adequate nutrition for a growing, global population while reducing negative environmental and social impacts is among the most urgent issues for our industry.

The Planet Challenge

It is well established that current means of global food production are straining the earth’s finite resources. About one third of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are attributed to the food system, contributing to climate change which will impact the ability to efficiently produce food in the future. This is further compounded by deforestation, soil desertification and loss of biodiversity. Additionally, one-third of all food produced globally is wasted. This wastage not only squanders valuable resources but also worsens the challenge of feeding the world adequately.

The Nutrition Challenge

Today, there are about 2 billion men, women and children who are overweight or obese, while almost 735 million people suffer from malnutrition. The rise of diet related non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes is exponential, putting pressure on health systems and reducing quality of life. The global population is set to reach almost 10 billion people by 2050, emphasising the urgent need for change.

The Economic and Social Challenge

A systematic transformation in how we produce, consume and dispose of food is needed to feed the growing global population with food that is both nourishing and ecologically responsible. This can be done by focusing on nutrition, environmental health, social impact and economic sustainability.

Key considerations in sustainable nutrition for 2024

Food Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG)

As we move towards a more sustainable way of producing food, it is important for food manufacturers and consumers to be mindful of the role that sustainable FBDGs play in the future of food production and consumption. Many governments globally have begun to incorporate sustainability into their country’s FBDGs, to encourage their population to choose diets’ that benefit their own health as well as the health of the planet. Denmark, Belgium, Italy and the UK have included messages such as the importance of eating meals rich in plants, decreasing meat consumption and reducing food waste. Designing food and beverage products with these FBDGs in mind may support consumers to adapt to more sustainable dietary practices.

Circularity and upcycling

Upcycled food uses ingredients that otherwise would not have gone to human consumption, is procured and produced using verifiable supply chains, and has a positive impact on the environment. Expect to see new waste streams identified and upcycled, as well as innovation in processes and ingredients used in upcycling (e.g., sterilisation of waste streams like spent grain or coffee).

Upcycling and Eliminating Food Waste: Closing the Loop

Quantifying sustainability impacts

The proliferation of eco-labelling and pending green claims regulations, alongside a significant momentum of net zero carbon commitments within the industry, has led to the requirement of robust environmental impact data at a corporate and a product level. Conducting life cycle assessments and product carbon footprints allow the sustainability impact of a product to be quantified and identifies areas for improvement. Many digital platforms are opening the opportunity for companies to carry out product assessments at scale. International standards for assessment and industry collaborations for collecting data from farm to fork are guiding improvements in the accuracy of these assessments.

What is a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)?

Straight from our experts:  

‘Sustainable nutrition continu es to be a m egatrend within the food system because in order to ensure a sustainable supply of nutritious food for current and future populations, it needs to be considered with in every food and beverage innovation. Each of the ten H ealth and N utrition trends for 2024 are distinct in their own scientific advancements and product innovation, but each are connected through the lens of Sustainable Nutrition. ’ Dr. Aoife Marie Murphy, Sustainable Nutrition Manager, Kerry. 

Explore further:

On-Demand Webinar: Understanding Sustainable Nutrition

Food waste estimator

Sustainable Nutrition – What Does It Mean, How Can It Be Achieved, and What Does a Sustainable Diet Look Like?

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Learn more about Kerry’s sustainability strategy and commitments

Reducing Food Waste: Benefits and Key Areas of Focus

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Women’s health refers to the unique physiological and nutritional needs of females throughout the various stages of the life course (adolescence, reproductive age, pregnancy, lactation, perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause). Each of these female life stages requires distinct nutritional recommendations to support overall wellbeing.

For example, adolescent females have an increased requirement for calcium to build lifelong bone density. A deficiency in calcium at this life stage can result in increased risk of osteoporosis post-menopause, when the protective effects of estrogen decline. Understanding the specific nutritional requirements at each female life stage has become popular for women, who are increasingly monitoring diet, menstrual cycle and lifestyle data using technology.

It is essential to continue to increase our understanding of the physiological differences between sexes, and determine how nutrition can support health, quality of life, sleep and exercise performance among women. There is evidence to show that the microbiome and gut motility of females also differs from males and may play a role in digestive symptoms, and there may be links between the gut microbiome and fertility, menopausal symptoms and breastfeeding. Nutrients and probiotics that support the microbiome will become even more important assets in addressing women’s health.

As we move into the era of precision nutrition research, using big data to understand gender-based differences will optimise nutritional interventions to support health. Technological innovations and increased investment mean that personalised nutrition, mental health support, reproductive technologies and holistic solutions for wellness will shape the future of the women’s health field.

The focus on addressing female-specific nutritional needs continues to grow with innovative product launches in supplements for pregnancy, breastfeeding, infertility, yeast & UTIs, menopause, pre-menstrual cycle symptoms, breastfeeding, stress/sleep, heart health, immunity and digestive health.

Key takeaways:

• Expect to see this trend accelerate in the near future – with more clinical research into female-specific conditions and the growing capabilities of precision nutrition, there will be evolving evidence to support women’s health through diet.
• Certain plant-derived compounds have potential to support female specific conditions. For example, inositols from corn and carob fruit have been clinically proven to support hormonal and metabolic balance in the female reproductive cycle. Specific phytoestrogens from plants have also been shown to regulate menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes. Supplements positioned for female health are continuing to grow globally.
• Wearable devices and apps are allowing women to know more about what’s happening in their bodies and to better understand the symptoms they experience. This allows them to make decisions about the consumption of specific diets and functional ingredients to meet their needs.

Straight from our experts:

“There is a growing recognition of the unique health needs of women and a shift toward prioritising women’s well-being. This increased awareness and advocacy have created a demand for more comprehensive research and solutions. With women’s health spanning from adolescence to old age, innovative technologies, treatments and products are being developed to address various aspects of women’s health and fertility.” – Dr. Monica Maria Olivares, RDA Director for Women’s Health, Kerry

A Guide to the Health and Nutritional Needs of Women

Innovating for Women’s Health Webinar

Nutrition and Physical Activity Recommendations Across the Menstrual Cycle

Advancing Women’s Health and Activity

Symptoms of Menopause: How Food Can Help

Setting the Course for Lifelong Health: Nutrition for Mother and Baby

Sex Differences Across the Life Course: A Focus On Unique Nutritional and Health Considerations among Women – ScienceDirect

According to the World Health Organization’s 2022 scientific brief, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a staggering 25% increase in global anxiety and depression rates. Subsequently, there is a growing emphasis on holistic approaches to support good cognitive health given the interplay between stress, sleep and lifestyle. Consumers are now proactively engaging in self-care practices that manage anxiety in an era marked by increased stressors. These practices include stress management tools, mindfulness practices, and herbal supplements like ashwagandha. These statistics underscore a collective recognition of the urgent need for effective, evidence-based solutions, driving the integration of botanicals not only as traditional remedies but as scientifically validated solutions in the pursuit good cognitive health.

• There is a growing understanding of the impacts of stress on the body and overall wellness. Consumers are looking at holistic approaches to address the root causes of stress through mindfulness, herbal remedies and stress management tools.
• Stress and sleep management are being utilized to build resilience. The interconnection between stress and sleep have become apparent. Consumers are looking at proactive approaches to mitigate and manage stress and sleep.
• Science-based approaches to support good cognitive health are mainstream. Consumers are recognising that a scienced-based approach to supporting overall cognitive health is a must. Nutrition plays a vital role in this, but ingredients must have science-backed data to demonstrate efficacy. Additionally, with advancements in personalised nutrition and health tracking, consumers are looking for strategies that will be optimal for their personal needs.

  Straight from our experts:

“By acknowledging the profound impact of stress on mental and physical health, there comes a need to unlock evidence-based solutions from natural remedies. Botanicals such as ashwagandha have been used for centuries; building a body of evidence around their mechanism of actions will not only support consumers’ cognitive health and stress management but also in the scientific understanding of anxiety.” – Dr. Laura Collins, RD&A Senior Manager for Cognitive Health, Kerry

Video: Understanding & Improving Cognitive Health

Food & Mood: Exploring the Science Behind Nutrition’s Role in Mental Wellness

Nutrition and the Brain – Summarizing the Science on Cognition and Memory

Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids: What Does Science Say?

Microbiome – Beyond Digestive Health

The length of the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) varies from person to person, but on average, it’s about 20 feet long. It starts in the mouth, continues with the esophagus, stomach and small and large intestine and ends up by the anus. Along the way, there about 40 trillion microorganisms – bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoans and archaea – living in the downy meanders of the microvilli lining the GIT.

The gut neuromicrobiology is an emerging field of research for scientists that want to better understand the mode of actions of the gut-brain axis (BGA). An increasing amount of evidence highlights that modifications of gut ecology and its metabolic activity are associated to many neurological disorders such as brain function, neuronal development, stress, anxiety, mental state and emotional regulation. Gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA), serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters that are synthesized by some gut bacteria and can be the actors involved in this BGA. Others bioactives include tryptophan, or glutamate and their metabolites, short-chain fatty acids and the pool of bile acids. This broad spectrum of neuroactive compounds and the gut microbiome is unique to each of us and can be affected by lifestyle, diet, genetic make-up, lack of exercise, and medications that we consume. Thus, to (re) balance a disturbed gut microbiome, personalization of the microbiome modulators – probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, psychobiotics, etc. – will be critical. This is where machine learning, artificial intelligence, and tools to analyze massive datasets will be of utmost importance to unlock the full potential and allow these technologies to really support our gut microbiome.

• The gastro-intestinal tract is very long and comprised a myriad of microorganisms that are embedded in the gut lining, called the gut microbiome.
• The gut microbiome transforms nutrients and synthesises metabolites that may affect brain health and other targets beyond the gut.
• Personalization of the gut microbiome modulators will be critical to get the full benefits of these technologies.

“Within the 20 feet of our gastro-intestinal tract, trillions of microorganisms are shaping not just digestion but influencing our mind, emotions and brain. The gut’s unique microbial composition, a personalised composition of bacteria and their neuroactive compounds, is influenced by our lifestyle, diet and genetics. To harmonise this delicate balance, the future lies in the precision of personalised microbiome modulators, where machine learning and AI unlock the secrets of our gut’s intricate composition.” – Dr. Mathieu Millette, Ph.D., Mcb.A. Scientific Director, Kerry

Microbiome Hub – Beyond Digestive Health

Acacia’s Role as a Functional Fibre

The promise of the gut microbiome as part of individualized treatment strategies

BC30 supports protein absorption from plant sources, study shows

Postbiotics – What Are They and How Are They Different From Other -Biotics?

Global circumstances like war and COVID-19 are driving inflation and placing friction between the strong desire of consumers to eat healthy and sustainable food and their ability to afford it. These factors have contributed to a growth in the number of people who are undernourished globally, which is estimated to have grown by 28% between 2017 and 2023 (from 572 million to 735 million people, ).

As we work to develop food systems and food consumption patterns that are healthier, socially accepted and generate positive environmental impacts, we must ensure that the nutrition solutions we develop are affordable and accessible to society as a whole.

Research indicates that some consumers are willing to pay more for foods with lower environmental impact, however the percentage of the population able to afford this remains small and price remains the top priority for consumers. Since demand for healthy food remains high, we see a focus on “affordable nutrition” innovation in new ingredients, foods and beverages that provide a health benefit but at a lower cost.

• With a growing population, mainly in developing countries, foods that deliver affordable nutrition with minimal environmental impact are necessary.
• Dietary diversity could support the affordability and stability of the food system. Today, 75% of humanity’s food is generated from only 12 plants and 5 animal species. This makes our food supply incredibly vulnerable to disruptions in these few food sources (e.g., natural disaster, disease, war).
• Innovating products that achieve maximum nutrition value with lowest cost and environmental impact is necessary. Taste and sensory knowledge are a hidden opportunity – a broad knowledge of masking the off-notes of different protein types can allow flexibility in raw material sourcing as costs fluctuate.
• Whole grains, egg, dairy, fruits and vegetables are nutritionally dense and can be the best sources of nutrition, per dollar. Beans are a prime example of an inexpensive food that provides fiber, protein, minerals and calories.

  Straight from our experts:  

“Food systems cannot be deemed sustainable if the food is unaffordable to the majority of the population. Food innovation needs to focus on how can we make the food system more economically sustainable by maximising the nutritional density and affordability of a wide variety of foods to nourish communities globally.” – Roisin Murphy, Responsible Sourcing Manager, Kerry  

The Nutrient Rich Foods Index helps to identify healthy, affordable foods

Nutrient Density Formulation Tips for the Food and Beverage Industry

Understanding Flavour Masking of Different Plant Proteins

Sodium and Sugar Reduction

Sugar and sodium reduction have been on nutrition trend lists for years, but a few key factors are expediting the pace of change as the food industry reformulates for healthier products.

For example, the World Health Organisation (WHO) continues to call on businesses and governments to reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases, malnutrition and obesity, including a reduction in consumption of salt and a reduction of saturated fats, sugars and calories. The WHO 2023 global report on sodium intake reduction shows that the world is off-track to achieve its 2013 global target of reducing sodium intake by 30% by 2025. Implementing highly cost-effective sodium reduction policies could save an estimated 7 million lives globally by 2030.

In addition, governments worldwide are introducing more and more legislation and initiatives to encourage healthier diets.

• Taxes on foods high in sugar or salt – More countries are implementing taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, high sugar foods or high salt foods. In December 2022, WHO called on more countries to place taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages.
• Legislation  – Countries including Brazil, Mexico, Singapore and the UK continue to add legislation that places limits or penalties on foods and drinks high in saturated fat, sugar or salt (HFSS). According to the 2023 WHO Sodium Country Scorecard , more than a quarter of the world’s population lives in countries with mandatory measures towards sodium reduction, including mandatory declaration of sodium.
• Front-of-pack labeling  – Labels that penalise foods on front-of-pack for high sugar or salt content, such as the Health star rating in Australia/New Zealand or the Nutri-Score in many European countries, are rising up in more countries each year. There has been a 69% growth year-over-year in food and beverage launches sporting a regulated nutrition warning label (Innova trends). In 2023,  Canada introduced a front-of-pack nutrition symbol which is required on foods high in sugar, sodium and saturated fat. The United States are  exploring options  to standardize front-of-pack labeling with the US FDA spending much of 2023 testing consumer’s understanding of both black/white and color schemes through focus groups. The European Union is also set to propose a  unified front-of-pack labeling scheme for all member states in 2024 .

Reformulation to reduce sugar and sodium in foods comes with challenges around taste, functionality, food safety, cost and consumer acceptance. Stealth reformulations reducing sodium or sugar in small increments can achieve up to 10% reductions, however achieving a higher reduction while maintaining consumer acceptance requires innovation in the area of taste modulation. Recent advancements leverage contemporary taste and smell neuroscience and state-of-the-art fermentation technologies. To learn more, see KHNI webinar – Solving Sodium .

• Governments worldwide are introducing more and more legislation and initiatives to encourage healthier diets.   
• Consumers are becoming more health conscious, resulting in an increase in front of pack signposting.  
• Differing front of pack labelling and marketing restrictions across countries will make it more difficult for companies to sell products across several countries.  
• Decreasing nutrients of concern while maintaining taste, functionality and shelf life are challenging and require innovation in taste modulation and food science.  

“Changes in nutrition and labelling legislation are becoming more widespread, and consumers are becoming more health conscience. Front-of-pack signposting is becoming more widespread to make healthier choices more simple but is also driving the increasing need for innovative technology to help manufacturers create healthier, more sustainable products, that deliver on taste and experience.” – Pattie O’Keeffe, BSc, RNutr, Sustainable Nutrition Manager at Kerry

“Recent global events have highlighted the enormous cost to health services and governments – and where to invest in public health service – so it is likely that more pressure will be placed on the food industry to make further step changes in sodium reduction in multiple food categories to improve the outcomes of global populations.” – Dr. Kay Marshallsay, Global Portfolio Director – Fermented Products, Kerry

Salt and Health – What is Being Done Globally to Reduce Salt Intake?

Sugar Reduction’s Role in Health, Environment, and Taste

Webinar: Solving Sodium – Insights, Science & Strategies

Restrictions on Advertising Unhealthy Foods – A Guide for HFSS Laws

Sugar Reduction in Beverages – Overcoming Challenges with Sensory Science

Unified Nutrient Profiling in the EU – Are We Nearing the End of a 15 Year Journey?

KerryNutri Guide, a global front-of-pack nutrition labelling calculator 

Despite challenges, there are significant opportunities in the plant-based market.

Meaningful changes to the way we eat will continue, but may be slower and take longer than was first thought. Flexitarianism is still the most common dietary approach, indicating an ongoing mainstream acceptance of plant-based meat alternatives. But as plant-based evolves, we need to continue to drive engagement and ensure plant-based products deliver on

We know that taste is the most important reason consumers will choose a plant-based product, and that taste is the main reason consumers will reject plant-based foods. Taste is missing in some plant-based categories more than in others – e.g., cheese vs milk – which spells opportunity for brands that can solve for it.

Health and nutrition is also a major driver in this relatively young category, with a need to move away from long ingredient decks and toward ingredients that deliver positive health benefits and associations. For example, a recent study we commissioned in Europe found that 60% of plant-based consumers view plant-based foods as healthier, so there is a need to make this a reality across applications.

Sustainability is also important to a growing number of consumers, with 60% of plant-based consumers from our European study saying they are positively influenced by the lower emission and resource intensity of plant-based options.

Despite these growing needs of the plant-based consumer, it is still essential to keep costs down.

Key Takeaways

• The plant-based category is still ripe with opportunities, but the meteoric growth has slowed.
• Taste is the main reason consumers choose a product – and is also the top reason products are rejected – highlighting the need for improvements in palatable plant-based test.
• A majority of plant-based consumers believe plant-based products are healthier than traditional products, but innovation in the space is needed to ensure foods and beverages deliver.
• Other considerations to keep in mind are the importance plant-based consumers place on sustainability as well as the need to keep costs competitive.

Straight from our experts

“First and foremost, we need to further develop plant-based products that perform sensorially and nutritionally at an accessible price point. ​I’m excited by the ‘meat plus’, space: real meat crafted with cereal and vegetables that deliver added nutrients with Nutri-Scores up to even A or B being possible. These products will combine the real taste of meat with plant-powered benefits, delivering taste, succulence, texture and added nutrients while also being more sustainable. It’s been done before, albeit before the consumer was ready and with poor product delivery. From what I’ve seen within our business, this could be the future or at least until the huge investment in cultivated meat comes good!” – David Hamilton, Global Creative Insight Officer, Kerry

The Journey of Plant-based Innovation; Future Opportunities & Challenges

Formulating with Plant Proteins vs Dairy Proteins: Challenges and Current Solutions to Fill the Gap

Flavour Masking Challenges in Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

The Unique Considerations for Food Safety & Shelf Life in Plant-Based Meat Alternatives

Globally, people are becoming more proactive about their health as a means to live longer and maintain quality of life as they age. One trend emerging from this is the focus on recovering and bouncing back from stressors on the body such as illnesses like cold and flu and muscle damage and inflammation from exercise. The role of specific nutrients in enhancing the management of mental stress is also gaining attention. For example, adaptogenic herbs and spices like turmeric and ashwagandha, are being explored for their potential stress-reducing properties.

Overall immune health is closely linked to this trend: 69% of consumers in a FMCG Gurus report said they gauge their immune health by how quickly they recover from illness.

In addition to diet, staying active is key to supporting a healthy lifestyle. However, exercise can cause stress on the joints and generate oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which can damage muscles and impact recovery. Studies suggest immune cells may prevent muscle damage by lowering levels of pro-inflammatory markers which, when over-stimulated, can drive chronic inflammation and aging.

Ingredients that are clinically documented to interact with these markers and help reduce exercise-induced inflammation – such as botanical extracts, collagen and omega-3s – are proving successful in this area. A balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods such as berries, fatty fish, nuts and green leafy vegetables can also significantly reduce inflammation and aid in muscle and joint recovery. The role of antioxidants found in fruits and vegetables in combating oxidative stress — a key factor in recovery — is in need of further study.

• Consuming a diet rich in anti-inflammatory is crucial for reducing inflammation and aiding in muscle and joint recovery. Antioxidants combat oxidative stress, a key factor in the recovery process, particularly after exercise or physical exertion.
• Specific nutrients play a significant role in managing mental stress. Stress is directly related to the body’s ability to recover, so managing it thought dietary changes and supplements shows promise.
• Immune health plays many roles in recovery such as regulating inflammation, supporting muscle repair and overall health and vitality.

“The trend of recovery is deeply intertwined with nutrition and dietary choices. As consumers become more informed, there is an increasing demand for foods and supplements that support various aspects of recovery — from immune and joint health to stress management.” – Dr. Niamh Hunt, PhD, Senior Global Marketing Manager – Immune and Joint Health, Kerry .

Explore Further:

The Importance of Hydration

The Gut Microbiota: The Secret to Athletic Success

Protein Production’s Future

A few examples include:

• Cultivated meat, or the production of muscle and fat tissue from cells grown in vitro or outside of a living organism under controlled conditions to yield a protein-rich tissue. This field is in constant development and could reduce land use required to produce meat by  up to 99% . Recent innovations have substantially driven down the average cost of producing a cultured meat patty, from US$1 million per kg in the year 2000 down to about US$100 per kg in 2020, according to Rethinkx – Rethinking Food and Agriculture . This is expected to fall to less than US$10 per kg by 2025, making cultivated meat cost-competitive with traditional beef.

• Precision fermentation, which uses microorganisms to produce specific proteins or other compounds. Fermentation has been used in food production for thousands of years, but recently advancements, such as precision fermentation, make it possible to produce milk proteins among other products.
• Enzyme engineering, which has been used in food production for centuries. This technique offers multifaceted benefits such as operational efficiencies, improved product quality, extended shelf life, waste valorisation and nutrient unlocking. Scientists are only beginning to tap into the vast potential of enzymes, with a small fraction currently utilised. The ongoing focus on health, sustainability and enzyme optimisation indicates a positive disruption in the food system, promoting efficiency and sustainability.

To transform food production, the industry seeks novel functionalities through directed evolutionary biotechnological processes. This includes optimising enzymes through bioengineering to create healthier, tastier products with reduced environmental impact. Enzyme engineering allows the modification of properties like activity, selectivity and stability through changes in amino acid sequences.

These technologies promise enhanced agricultural efficiency, reduced food waste and the creation of healthier, more sustainable products. Overcoming challenges in consumer acceptance and regulatory compliance requires collaborative efforts between scientists, bioengineers and regulatory bodies. The fusion of enzyme engineering with cutting-edge bioinformatics opens new frontiers, paving the way for a future where sustainable nutrition becomes a reality.

Key takeaways

• Rapid developments in enzyme and strain engineering, precision fermentation, artificial intelligence, big data and agri-tech have been adopted by a new generation of scientists, fueled by the purpose of creating a sustainable food system.
• Cross collaboration and ventures within the food industry – together with influence on governmental action – is required to drastically improve and accelerate the acceptance of new-to-market protein alternative technologies.
• Consumer acceptance of alternative proteins will require continued improvements in sensory attributes. This places a significant demand on innovation efforts in disciplines including fats, cell line developments and biochemical improvements to plant proteins in order to develop products accepted by consumers.

“Rapid advancements in bioengineering and big data are transforming the food industry and disrupting the way in which we produce food. I believe more efforts must be taken to prepare the careful introduction of these new products to the market – we do not know yet how consumers will adopt these novel foods.” – Dr. Niall Higgins, PhD, Business Development Manager – Enzymes, Kerry

The Future of Food Powered by Enzyme Technology

The Role of Enzymes in Food

The Significance of Enzymes in a Sustainable Food System

On-demand Webinar – Fermentation: Will the Past Power the Future?

Cultivated Meat – When Cell Culture Bioprocessing Meets Food Science

Scientific, Sustainability and Regulatory Challenges of Cultured Meat

From a scientific perspective, it is more and more evident that we are actually not all born equal, with respect to our physiology and health needs. Health needs differ by person, and they change throughout life. Gender, age, ethnicity and life phases such as pregnancy or menopause all influence required nutritional support.

Consumers are searching for personalised advice and personalised nutritional solutions backed by scientific rationales. The scientific community has a keen interest in these topics as well, as the overall conviction is that personalised approaches towards health benefits will be more effective than general ones.

For example, scientists are trying to better understand the impact  ourindividual microbiome has on the way our body reacts to foods. At the same time, ever more affordable test kits are giving consumers a better understanding of their unique metabolism and microbiome. Combining this personal biological data with that of digital health trackers is creating powerful datasets that can guide dietary choices and supplement use to help consumers recieve desired health benefits.

The science of personalised nutrition is growing and holds promise for the future, enabling a more effective approach to human health.

• Acknowledging that individuals have unique physiological and health needs influenced by factors such as age, gender and life phases like pregnancy or menopause is the cornerstone of personalised nutrition
• There is demand for personalised nutritional solutions supported by scientific rationale, as both consumers and the scientific community recognise the potential effectiveness of tailored health approaches.

“ 2024 will see the rise of personalised nutrition, acknowledging our diverse health needs. Backed by science, this trend considers individual factors like age, gender and the microbiome. Consumers seek personalised advice, empowered by the fusion of personal biological data and digital health tracking. It’s a revolutionary approach, recognising that nutrition and health are specific and unique .” – Alexandra Boelrijk, Global RD&A Senior Director – ProActive Health, Kerry

Explore Further

Innovating for Women’s Health Webinar – June 2023

2023 Top Health Trends: Advancing Women’s Health and Activity

Personalised Nutrition: Is It All About the Microbiome and Technology? – Kerry Health And Nutrition Institute

Scientific Advisory Council Digs Into the Science Behind Personalised Nutrition – Kerry Health And Nutrition Institute

Globally, approximately 250 million people suffer from vision loss and impairment which can have a significant impact on quality of life. Leading causes include cataract, AMD, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. These conditions mostly affect older adults, and with our ageing population the number of affected individuals is anticipated to increase exponentially over the next decade.

Simultaneously, as the world becomes increasingly digital and with the rise of e-gaming, younger consumers are finding themselves immersed in screens for extended periods, which is also driving interest in supporting eye health.

As individuals recognise the significance of maintaining optimal vision and preventing eye-related issues, eye health support now includes recommendations including  dietary changes, supplements, blue light blocking technologies (such as glasses and screen filters) and lifestyle strategies such as the 20-20-20 rule, which advises digital device users take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away every 20 minutes to helpalleviate eye strain.

The eyes are particularly sensitive to oxidative stress, because they use a lot of oxygen, have high levels of specific types of fatty acids and get a lot of exposure to intense light. This combination of factors can lead to the creation of reactive oxygen species, causing damage to the eye tissues. Consequently, there has been significant research interest in the potential benefits of antioxidant vitamin and mineral supplements, with vitamins such as A, C and E being suggested as a simple and cost-effective strategy for preserving eye health. Additionally, because the eye has a high fatty acid composition, omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to be important for the development and maintenance of eye tissue.

Incorporating a diverse range of fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fish into one’s diet is another tactic gaining popularity as a proactive measure to sustain healthy eyes. Here are eight commonly recommended consumables for eye health.

A holistic lifestyle approach is emerging as a key component of this trend. Beyond nutrition and screen habits, individuals are recognizing the importance of regular eye check-ups, achieving adequate amounts of sleep, managing chronic conditions like diabetes, and avoiding harmful behaviors, such as smoking, as integral components of comprehensive eye care. This understanding of the interconnectedness of various lifestyle factors provides individuals with a more holistic and proactive approach to preserving their vision.  

Key Takeaways  

• The connection between nutrition and eye health is becoming more evident, with an increasing number of studies highlighting the importance of specific nutrients. A growth in supplements supporting eye health will help fill the gap in nutrient-rich diets for vision.
• With the widespread use of digital devices in both personal and professional spheres, concerns about digital eye strain have intensified and consumers are taking a proactive approach, seeking out fortified foods and supplements as well as blue light blocking technologies to preserve their long-term vision.
• Holistic Lifestyle Approaches: Understanding the interconnectedness of various lifestyle factors provides individuals with a more holistic and proactive approach to preserving their eye health.

Insights on Nutrition for Eye Health

Sustainable Nutrition

• Nutrition Resources

The Human Microbiome: Beyond Digestive Health

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IU researchers receive $4.8 million grant to study the role of misfolded protein TDP-43 in neurodegenerative diseases

IU School of Medicine Apr 23, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS—A new $4.8 million grant will support researchers from Indiana University School of Medicine and the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology to study how human neurodegenerative diseases are affected by the misfolding of the protein TDP-43. Misfolding occurs when a protein adopts a conformation which differs from the native one.

The researchers, funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, have developed an innovative approach to deciphering the role of TDP-43 misfolding in the pathology of frontotemporal dementias, limbic predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy and Alzheimer’s disease. 

“The presence of misfolded proteins in the central nervous system is the hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases,” said Kathy Newell, MD , Jay C. and Lucile L. Kahn Professor of Alzheimer's Disease Research and Education at IU School of Medicine and a principal investigator of the project. “The argument for the pathogenic significance of various misfolded proteins results from the fact that mutations in the various genes encoding those proteins cause distinct genetically determined neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, misfolding of those proteins also occurs in sporadic neurodegenerative diseases.”

An international, multidisciplinary team has been assembled with expertise in neuropathology, digital pathology, molecular genetics, biochemistry, protein misfolding, proteomics, structural biology and cryogenic electron microscopy. The team is supported by experts in clinical neurology, protein misfolding and biostatistics, as well as by the Dementia Laboratory’s Brain Library. 

“The protein TDP-43 is central to the pathogenesis of half of all frontotemporal lobar degeneration cases. Finding out how TDP-43, when misfolded, gives rise to multiple proteinopathies is extremely important for the design of diagnostic and therapeutic compounds that will target pathologic TDP-43,” Newell said.

The project is called “Investigating the role of TDP-43 mislocalization, structure, and post-translational modifications in the neuropathologically heterogeneous TDP-43 proteinopathies.”

In addition to Newell, the other principal investigators are Laura Cracco, PhD, MS , assistant research professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at IU School of Medicine and Benjamin Ryskeldi-Falcon, PhD , group leader at the Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology in the United Kingdom. This project is the first National Institutes of Health funded research for all three investigators as principal investigators.

About IU School of Medicine

The IU School of Medicine  is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the IU School of Medicine ranks No. 13 in 2023 National Institutes of Health funding among all public medical schools in the country.

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Improved Nutrition Standards Will Make for a Healthier School Day for Millions of Children

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Jordan Baker                                                                        [email protected] 202-640-1118

Statement attributable to Kelly Horton, Interim President, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC)

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2024  — FRAC commends the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for utilizing the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans to develop final and improved nutrition standards for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. These evidence-based standards will make for a healthier school day for millions of children.

The  new standards  introduce added sugar limits for school breakfast and lunch, starting with sugar limits for breakfast cereals, yogurt, and flavored milk, and eventually phasing in a limit on the total amount of added sugar in all meals. The rule continues to allow for flavored milk in all grade levels.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans  found  that children are consuming too many added sugars. To limit added sugars in a practical way, USDA is proposing a phased approach. First, the rule limits added sugars in certain products beginning in 2025, targeting the most common sources of added sugars in school meals: breakfast cereals, flavored milks, and yogurt. Then, in 2027, the rule restricts overall added sugars across the weekly menu to less than 10 percent of total calories, on average, to better align meals with the dietary guidelines.

USDA expects that implementing product-based limits first will help schools prepare to meet the proposed weekly limit two years later.

FRAC led efforts to bring the voices of anti-hunger leaders and school nutrition stakeholders to the table during USDA’s information-gathering process and worked to ensure that racial equity was at the crux of our work, as strong nutrition standards are critical to racial equity. The new standards set a balanced, reasonable approach to improving nutrition standards in a practical way.

The new standards will be critical to supporting the health and learning of the tens of millions of children who rely on school breakfast and lunch to meet their nutritional needs. The School Nutrition Programs are vital tools for combating childhood hunger, improving children’s health, and supporting academic achievement. Extensive research has linked participation in school meals to several benefits, including improving academic achievement, reducing food insecurity, reducing poor health outcomes and obesity rates, and improving student behavior.

FRAC applauds USDA for its ongoing commitment to supporting child nutrition programs and looks forward to working with state and school nutrition partners as they implement them.

The  Food Research & Action Center  improves the nutrition, health, and well-being of people struggling against poverty-related hunger in the United States through advocacy, partnerships, and by advancing bold and equitable policy solutions. To learn more, visit  FRAC.org  and follow us on  X (formerly Twitter),   Facebook,  and  Instagram .

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WASHINGTON, April 24, 2024 — FRAC commends the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for utilizing the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans to develop final and improved nutrition standards for the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program. These evidence-based standards will make for a healthier school day for millions of children. 

WASHINGTON, April 11, 2024 — The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) today announced that its president, Luis Guardia, has stepped down effective April 5, 2024. Coming on board in 2020, Guardia led FRAC through what is now understood to have been our nation’s greatest hunger crisis, caused as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic. 

WASHINGTON, April 9, 2024 — FRAC applauds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for its final rule revising the food package for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

New approach to tackle muscle loss in aging

Sarcopenia, a prevalent condition among the elderly, is characterized by a progressive decline in muscle mass and function, which can significantly diminish their quality of life and increase the risk of falls, injuries, and dependency. A greater understanding of this phenomenon is crucial for devising effective strategies that enable the ageing population to remain healthy and independent.

A study co-led by Dr. Antonio Zorzano, from IRB Barcelona, and Dr. David Sebastián, now a Professor at the University of Barcelona (UB), reveals that a protein named TP53INP2 could be pivotal in combatting sarcopenia. Conducted in partnership with Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, the study indicates that increased levels of this protein in muscle correlate with greater muscular strength and healthier ageing in humans.

Loss of muscle mass typically starts around the age of 55, and it has a detrimental effect on people's ability to perform daily tasks and on their health. Sarcopenia leads to increased frailty physical disability and the need for long-term care.

By conducting experiments on mouse models and analysing human muscle tissue samples, the researchers observed a decrease in TP53INP2 levels with age. However, artificially boosting the presence of this protein in muscles -- whether continuously in young mice or temporarily in older mice through genetic engineering techniques -- led to a significant improvement in both muscle mass and function.

These findings suggest that promoting the activity of TP53INP2 and, consequently, autophagy in the muscle, could be an effective strategy to tackle sarcopenia, thereby contributing to a more active and healthier ageing process. In studies involving humans, high levels of TP53INP2 were associated with greater strength and enhanced physical performance, thereby highlighting the potential of this protein as an indicator of healthy ageing.

"This study not only underscores the importance of keeping autophagy active in muscles to prevent muscle mass loss but also gives us hope regarding potential treatments that could improve the condition or at least mitigate the effects of ageing on our muscles," explains Dr. Zorzano, who is also a Professor at the Faculty of Biology at the UB and a member of CIBERDEM. "Furthermore, the activation of autophagy through TP53INP2 improved the quality of mitochondria, essential organelles in energy generation -- a process that we had previously shown to be disrupted during ageing," highlights Dr. Sebastián, Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Physiology at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences of the UB.

The partnership with Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu has been pivotal, providing access to biologic samples from well-characterized patients. This allowed the researchers to establish the link between TP53INP2 muscle expression and healthy ageing in humans. This advance not only paves the way for further research in ageing but also points to potential interventions to greatly improve the quality of life of seniors, helping them to maintain their independence and vitality.

Moving forward, the researchers will continue to explore whether TP53INP2 levels in each person are influenced by genetic factors and physical activity, or, whether other habits, like nutrition, play a significant role.

This work has been possible thanks to funding from the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities, the Generalitat de Catalunya, and the Carlos III Health Institute.

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Materials provided by Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona) . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

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• David Sebastián, Marc Beltrà, Andrea Irazoki, David Sala, Pilar Aparicio, Cecilia Aris, Esmaeil Alibakhshi, Maria Rubio-Valera, Manuel Palacín, Juan Castellanos, Luis Lores, Antonio Zorzano. TP53INP2-dependent activation of muscle autophagy ameliorates sarcopenia and promotes healthy aging . Autophagy , 2024; 1 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2024.2333717

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Key facts about recent trends in global migration

The number of international migrants grew to 281 million in 2020, meaning that 3.6% of the world’s people lived outside their country of birth that year, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) . The increase came despite widespread restrictions on travel and international movement in the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic .

Here are eight key facts about international migrants, based on the latest available data from the UN and other sources.

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to better understand trends in global migration and remittances, or the money that migrants send back to their home countries.

Data on the number of international migrants comes from the 2020 International Migrant Stock datasets from the United Nations. Data on the number of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people and other globally displaced Venezuelans comes from the UN’s World Migration Report 2022 . The total population estimates for countries and regions used to calculate ratios and percentages for charts come from the UN’s 2022 World Population Prospects dataset . Intraregional migration data for Latin America comes from the International Organization for Migration regional office for South America and Central America, North America and the Caribbean.

To examine changes in monthly remittances during the COVID-19 pandemic, this analysis uses global estimates of remittance flows from the World Bank.

The UN uses a taxonomy of regions, nations and territories that counts those who were born in Puerto Rico and are living in the 50 states or the District of Columbia as international migrants to the U.S., even though they are U.S. citizens by birth. For this reason, some UN estimates of the foreign-born population shown here may differ from other estimates published by the U.S. Census Bureau or Pew Research Center.

Europe and Asia have the most international migrants. An estimated 86.7 million international migrants lived in Europe in 2020, followed by 85.6 million in Asia. The number of international migrants living in these two regions has steadily increased since 2005, according to the IOM.

The Latin America and Caribbean region has the fastest-growing international migrant population. Since 2005, the region’s international migrant population has roughly doubled.

International migrants make up a larger share of Oceania’s population than any other region. In 2020, 21.4% of all residents in Oceania – which includes Australia, New Zealand and various Pacific island nations and territories – were international migrants. The Northern America region is second after Oceania, with migrants making up 15.7% of the population. In Europe, migrants account for 11.6% of the population. In all other world regions, they represent 2.3% or less of the population.

Using other regional groupings, however, Oceania might be surpassed. For example, in Gulf Cooperation Council countries – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – more than half (52.7%) of resident populations are international migrants, according to UN data.

The United States has more international migrants than any other country. With nearly 51 million migrants in 2020, the U.S. leads the world on this measure by a wide margin. Germany has the next-largest such population with about 15.8 million migrants, followed by Saudi Arabia with 13.5 million. (For the U.S., the UN counts some people living in the 50 states or the District of Columbia as international migrants even if they were born in Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories; those born in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories are U.S. citizens at birth.)

The countries that have the most international migrants are generally not the same countries where international migrants make up the greatest share of the population. For example, while the U.S. has more migrants than any other nation, migrants only account for about 15.1% of the U.S. population – a smaller share than in 24 countries or territories with a total population of at least 1 million.

The Middle East accounts for most of the top 10 countries when looking at the migrant share of the population. In 2020, 93.9% of all people living in the United Arab Emirates were international migrants, followed by 80.6% of people in Qatar and 71.3% of people in Kuwait. Other Middle Eastern countries among the top 10 include Bahrain, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Lebanon.

India remains the top origin country for the world’s migrants. India has been a large source of international migrants for more than a century. In 2020, 17.9 million international migrants traced their origins back to India, followed by Mexico with about 11.2 million and Russia with about 10.8 million.

India’s migrants are dispersed around the world, but the countries with the largest Indian migrant populations are the United Arab Emirates (3.5 million), the U.S. (2.7 million) and Saudi Arabia (2.5 million).

Though India is the single largest source of international migrants, its 17.9 million migrants in 2020 accounted for only 1.3% of all people born in India by that year. By comparison, the United Kingdom’s 4.7 million international migrants accounted for 7.6% of those born in the UK by 2020. Mexico’s 11.2 million international migrants accounted for 8.2% of those born in Mexico.

Remittances – the money that migrants send to their home countries – decreased by about $11 billion from 2019 to 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic arrived. Global remittances had been steadily increasing since 2010, but they fell from $722 billion in 2019 to $711 billion in 2020. (These figures are nominal values, meaning they are not adjusted for inflation.) Notably, some countries in Latin America saw remittances fall sharply in the first half of 2020 – especially in April, when much of the U.S. was locked down due to the COVID-19 outbreak – before rebounding.

According to the World Bank, remittances reached $781 billion in 2021 and are estimated to reach $794 billion in 2022, both record highs.

India has been the world’s top receiver of remittances since 2010. Remittances to India grew from $53 billion in 2010 to $89 billion in 2021.

The U.S. has been the top sending country for remittances since 1990, the earliest year with available statistics. In 2021, international migrants living in the U.S. sent $73 billion in remittances globally.

The number of displaced people in the world rose to a new high of 89.4 million in 2020. Displaced people are those forced to leave their homes due to conflict, violence or disasters. They include refugees , asylum seekers , and people internally displaced within their country of birth. Overall, the number of displaced persons rose from 84.8 million in 2019 to 89.4 million in 2020, according to the UN’s World Migration Report 2022 . Overall, about 1.1% of the world’s population are displaced people.

Among the world’s displaced people, about 34%, or 30.5 million, were living outside their country of birth as refugees (26.4 million) or asylum seekers (4.1 million) in 2020. An additional 3.9 million displaced Venezuelans who have not applied for refugee or asylum status lived outside of Venezuela in 2020. The majority of displaced people, 55 million, were internally displaced in their birth countries because of conflict, violence or disasters.

The share of international migrants who are men has ticked up in recent decades. In 2000, 50.6% of international migrants were men and 49.4% were women. By 2020, men made up 51.9% of global migrants while 48.1% were women, according to estimates by the United Nations.

A majority of the world’s international migrants lived within their region of origin in 2020. While some migrants may go to new regions of the world, a majority (54.9%) lived within their region of origin in 2020. However, international migration within regions still varies widely. For example, 69.9% of Europe’s international migrants resided in another European country in 2020, reflecting migration out of Eastern European countries such as Russia, Ukraine, Poland and Romania to Western European ones.

International migrants in Asia and Oceania are the next most likely to live in their region of origin at 59.6% and 56.2%, respectively. Migrants from Africa are about as likely to live within Africa as they are to live outside of the continent (51.6% vs. 48.4%).

Migrants from Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as the Northern America region, are the least likely to live within their region of origin, at 26.3% and 25.2%, respectively.

Note: Here is the UN’s list of  countries and territories grouped by region .

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Anusha Natarajan is a former intern at Pew Research Center

Mohamad Moslimani is a research assistant focusing on race and ethnicity at Pew Research Center

Mark Hugo Lopez is director of race and ethnicity research at Pew Research Center

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• v.4(5); 2013 Sep

Nutrition research to affect food and a healthy lifespan 1, 2

Sarah d. ohlhorst.

3 American Society for Nutrition, Bethesda, MD

Robert Russell

4 NIH Office of Dietary Supplements, Bethesda, MD, and Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, MA

Dennis Bier

5 USDA/Agricultural Research Service Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX

David M. Klurfeld

6 Human Nutrition Program, USDA/Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD

Zhaoping Li

7 Center for Human Nutrition, University of California Los Angeles, and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA

Jonathan R. Mein

8 Monsanto Center for Food and Nutrition Research, Monsanto Vegetable Seed, Kannapolis, NC

John Milner

9 NIH National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD

A. Catharine Ross

10 Department of Nutritional Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA; and

Patrick Stover

11 Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.

Emily Konopka

Proper nutrition offers one of the most effective and least costly ways to decrease the burden of many diseases and their associated risk factors, including obesity. Nutrition research holds the key to increasing our understanding of the causes of obesity and its related comorbidities and thus holds promise to markedly influence global health and economies. After outreach to 75 thought leaders, the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) convened a Working Group to identify the nutrition research needs whose advancement will have the greatest projected impact on the future health and well-being of global populations. ASN’s Nutrition Research Needs focus on the following high priority areas: 1 ) variability in individual responses to diet and foods; 2 ) healthy growth, development, and reproduction; 3 ) health maintenance; 4 ) medical management; 5 ) nutrition-related behaviors; and 6 ) food supply/environment. ASN hopes the Nutrition Research Needs will prompt collaboration among scientists across all disciplines to advance this challenging research agenda given the high potential for translation and impact on public health. Furthermore, ASN hopes the findings from the Nutrition Research Needs will stimulate the development and adoption of new and innovative strategies that can be applied toward the prevention and treatment of nutrition-related diseases. The multidisciplinary nature of nutrition research requires stakeholders with differing areas of expertise to collaborate on multifaceted approaches to establish the evidence-based nutrition guidance and policies that will lead to better health for the global population. In addition to the identified research needs, ASN also identified 5 tools that are critical to the advancement of the Nutrition Research Needs: 1 ) omics, 2 ) bioinformatics, 3 ) databases, 4 ) biomarkers, and 5 ) cost-effectiveness analysis.

INTRODUCTION

The attainment of good nutrition depends on and encompasses the entire food supply. Plant and animal foods and their various components are the primary vehicles that provide nourishment to human beings. Nutrition is vital, not only in the growth and development of humans and animals but also in the prevention and treatment of disease. Nutrition is also fundamental to the maintenance of good health and functionality. Basic and applied research on the interrelations between nutrition and noncommunicable diseases, nutrient composition, and nutrition monitoring represents the underpinnings for healthy populations and robust economies. Thus, innovative nutrition research and education provide the basis for solutions to larger health-related issues, allowing individuals to live healthier, more productive lives.

The importance of nutrition, as an integral part of the solution to many societal, environmental, and economic challenges facing the world, has just started to be fully appreciated. The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) has identified the “grand” challenges facing nutrition research and science in the 21st century, termed “Nutrition Research Needs.” Findings from these Nutrition Research Needs will elucidate strategies that can be applied toward the prevention and treatment of both infectious and noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Nutrition research holds the key to increasing our understanding of the underlying causes of obesity and its related comorbidities and thus holds promise to markedly influence global economies. Knowledge about adequate nutrition also has an important role in reducing or ending global and domestic food insecurity through direct and purposeful agricultural practices. Population growth will undeniably lead to increased global demand for a safe, available, sustainable, and affordable food supply, while continuing to demand nutritional adequacy.

The ASN Nutrition Research Needs project was originally conceptualized by ASN’s Public Policy Committee to identify worldwide nutrition research needs. This effort will be used to educate and communicate to policy makers and other stakeholders the need and value of increased nutrition research funding to meet societal needs. ASN’s Public Policy Committee reached out to nearly 75 thought leaders in September 2011 to develop a draft list of nutrition research needs.

In February 2012, ASN convened a Working Group of nutrition scientists and researchers representing a cross-section of the Society’s membership to determine the nutrition research needs that will have the greatest impact on the health and well-being of global populations. The names of the Working Group members are listed in the Acknowledgments. Starting with the draft list, the Working Group narrowed down and pulled together 6 nutrition research needs for which advancement would have the greatest projected impact on future health and well-being.

The ASN then informed its membership of the 6 priority research needs and sought further member input. A workshop was held during ASN’s 2012 Scientific Sessions and Annual Meeting in San Diego, CA, with nearly 250 attendees. The research needs were also shared via ASN’s member newsletter, which reaches the entire membership base of nearly 5000 individuals, to inform and seek input from members who did not attend the annual meeting or the workshop. Member feedback on the Nutrition Research Needs was incorporated during development of the final document.

THE TOP NUTRITION RESEARCH NEEDS

The top 6 nutrition research needs cut across the entire research spectrum from basic science to health policy, from discovery to application. Specific research areas are listed under each research need. These 6 nutrition research needs are highlighted in the hope that they will prompt scientists from all disciplines to collaborate to advance these challenging research needs that have high potential for translation and public health impact. Although the topics presented focus principally on human nutrition research, the Working Group recognized that nutrition research using animal models is an essential foundation for making new discoveries that can be translated to advances in human nutrition. Further, the importance of animal nutrition research is emphasized within these research needs in particular: “Understanding the role of nutrition in health maintenance” and “Understanding the food supply/environment.” The research community will benefit from clearly articulated nutrition research priorities that will lead to science-based information, help to shape policy and enhance future funding for nutrition research, and thereby further promote the field of nutrition science.

1) Understanding variability in individual responses to diet and foods

A top priority for future nutrition research is the need to better understand variability in metabolic responses to diet and food. Enormous variability exists in individual responses to diet and food components that affect overall health. Discoveries underpinning this variability will lead to advances in personalized nutrition interventions and will better inform health and food policies, including Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for nutrient needs and, ideally, future recommendations for known bioactive food components. Research in the following areas is necessary to determine the origins and architecture of variability and to explain similar or dissimilar responses to diet and food components by subpopulations, as influenced by genetic, epigenetic, and ethnic and/or racial differences.

Omics research, such as nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics (e.g., epigenetics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics), will help to determine how specific nutrients interact with genes, proteins, and metabolites to predict an individual’s health. Omics provide information on individualized nutrient requirements, including how nutrients are digested, absorbed, and metabolized, and their functions in the body. Omics will help to determine and reflect an individual’s nutritional status and will aid in the creation of new nutritional and disease biomarkers.

Microbiome.

Diverse microbes, such as bacteria and viruses, live in and on the body and contribute to the microbiome, which is estimated to have 10 times as many cells as the body itself ( 1 ). Microbes can vary in type and quantity, making each organism’s microbiome unique—although subpopulations may have similar microbiome characteristics. The microbiota needs to be better defined, and changes due to diet, age, physiologic state, and disease need to be determined. Research is needed to determine the microbiome’s role in varying biological responses to diet and food components and its importance in disease prevention and progression. Conversely, research is also needed to determine how the microbiome is influenced by diet and other environmental factors.

Biological networks.

Basic research is needed to provide a better understanding of biological networks, such as an individuals’ genome (DNA/RNA protein profiles), and how these networks affect metabolic responses to diet and food. Environmental interactions, including nutrients and other dietary components, bacteria, viruses, and chemical contaminants, all may affect the responsiveness of biological networks to specific foods and the entire diet.

Tissue specificity and temporality.

Research is needed to describe the mechanisms by which dietary factors affect variability in development and functioning, including which tissues are most influenced by dietary factors and when during the most critical stages in life this influence occurs.

2) Understanding the impact of nutrition on healthy growth, development, and reproduction

Epigenetics/imprinting..

Epigenetics and imprinting research examines how exposures to dietary components during critical periods of development may “program” long-term health and well-being. Research is needed to determine how early nutritional events contribute to disease later in life and alter normal developmental progression.

Early nutrition.

Research is necessary to better understand the role of diet and individual food components on normal growth and development. This includes the role of parent’s preconception diets, the maternal diet during pregnancy, and early nutritional events. Studies indicate that the timing of an infant’s introduction to solid foods may increase the likelihood of becoming obese later in life ( 2 ). These findings are important given that the number of overweight children in the United States has increased dramatically in recent years ( 3 ). Research is now needed to determine the best approaches to influence these factors during early life. The important role of nutrition throughout early life on growth and development, as well as on health and well-being, needs to be continually assessed.

Nutrition and reproductive health.

The impact of nutrition on reproductive health, including before and after conception, requires further research. Nutrition has a direct impact on both maternal and paternal fertility and the ability to conceive and also plays a key role in preventing diseases related to reproductive organs, including prostate and ovarian cancers. Although numerous studies have investigated how fruit and vegetable consumption may affect risk of breast, prostate, and other cancers, there is no clear consensus in the scientific literature. Thus, well-designed controlled intervention studies are needed to determine whether effects are limited to subpopulations, what factors influence a response and what mechanisms may account for changes in health.

3) Understanding the role of nutrition in health maintenance

Health maintenance includes noncommunicable disease prevention and treatment as well as weight management. The role that food components, particularly novel ingredients, contribute to health maintenance requires continuing research. Researchers and the public rely on dietary guidance, including the DRIs, to guide nutrition recommendations and health policy. Research is needed to better define the nutrient needs that best support health maintenance in all populations and their subgroups, from infancy throughout life. Nutrition across life is a fundamental issue that requires investigation so that recommendations will “match” with true biological needs.

Optimal bodily function.

Research is needed to determine the roles that nutrition and fitness, both singularly and together, have in maintaining bodily functions, including cognitive, immune, skeletal, muscular, and other functions. Evolving research areas include prevention of disease-related processes, such as inflammation, and definition of mechanisms that have an important role in health maintenance, such as immunocompetence. Animal models are used to understand the requirements for optimal health in humans and production animals.

Energy balance.

Research is also needed to examine the use of a systems approach to achieve energy balance including and integrating environmental, biological, psychosocial, and food system factors. A systems approach is preferable because the standard experimental approach of varying one factor at a time has accomplished little to address the populationwide problem of energy imbalance. A solution-oriented approach that is comprehensive in nature and takes into account the complexities of achieving energy balance must be created. Although far more research is needed to identify systemwide changes that maximize energy balance, intriguing examples exist. “Shape Up Somerville, MA,” effectively reduced weight gain in high-risk children through a multifaceted community-based environmental change campaign ( 4 ). Shape Up Somerville increased the community’s physical activity and healthful eating through physical infrastructure improvements and citywide policy and programming changes.

4) Understanding the role of nutrition in medical management

The rapid translation of nutrition research advances into evidence-based practice and policy is a priority for ensuring optimal patient care and effective disease management. Nutrition researchers have a key role in bridging the gap between disease prevention and disease treatment by fostering clinical research, providing innovative education for caregivers and patients, and delineating best practices for medical nutrition in primary care settings.

Disease progression.

To improve the medical management of disease, research is needed to determine how nutritional factors influence both disease initiation and progression, as well as how nutrition affects a patient’s response to therapy. Genetic and epigenetic variations among individuals can result in both positive and negative responses to diets, to specific foods, and to novel food components. The issue of individual variability is of considerable importance in refining medical management, including nutrition support, and requires continuing research.

Expanded research will allow us to better understand and minimize unfavorable impacts of both reduced and elevated nutrient intakes on disease progression and overall health. Disease/mortality response curves are U-shaped for many nutrients (that is, there is an increased risk of adverse outcomes if the nutrient is ingested in either too low or too high amounts). The importance of achieving a proper nutrient balance is seen in the example of chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation contributes to many noncommunicable diseases and can result from high intakes of proinflammatory omega-6 fatty acids in the face of low intakes of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids ( 5 ). Research will help to determine the desired intake for essential and nonessential nutrients alone and when combined with other nutrients in the diet.

Nutrition support for special subgroups.

Nutrition research is needed to establish the required nutritional needs that best support survival, growth, and development in subpopulations, such as in chronically diseased patients, in children, and in aging adults. With the success of medical advances, as have been seen with in vitro fertilization and neonatal care, caring for preterm infants presents a new challenge in early nutritional management. Preterm infants have special nutrition needs that will greatly affect their future growth and development, as well as their eventual health status as adults.

5) Understanding nutrition-related behaviors

Drivers of food choice..

Understanding the link between behavior and food choices can help tackle obesity and other nutrition-related issues that are a public health priority. Individual food choices can be influenced by a number of different drivers including the following:

• Government policy
• Environmental cues
• Cultural differences
• Communication tools, such as social networking and food marketing

Research is needed to identify the impact of these various drivers and understand how they work alone or together to influence nutrition-related behavior. Research will show how these drivers should be altered to have the highest positive influence on individual behavior and therefore public health. For example, the state of Mississippi recorded a 13% decline in obesity among elementary school students from 2005 to 2011 ( 6 ). Multiple changes in the environment occurred, such as the setting of standards for foods sold in school vending machines, setting a requirement for more school exercise time, mandating healthier environments in childcare settings, and establishing programs that encouraged fruit and vegetable consumption. The challenge now is to determine what effect these combined actions will have on obesity-related behaviors in the long run.

Nutrition and brain functioning.

Further explorations of the biochemical and behavioral bases for food choices and intake over time are essential. Brain function as it relates to food desire and choice needs to be clarified through research, and the multiple hormones that affect eating require further study as well. Factors such as meal frequency and size, speed of meal consumption, and how these factors are influenced by social cues require objective data, which can only be provided by research. Understanding how the marketing of healthy behaviors could help consumers achieve dietary guidance goals should be a priority. As part of this approach, innovative and practical methods for accurately measuring and evaluating food purchases and eating occasions must be developed.

Imprinting.

Because of the high propensity of obese children remaining obese as adults ( 7 ), additional research is needed to determine how eating and satiety behaviors are imprinted during critical periods of development and to show how food components affect neural biochemistry and brain functioning—and therefore shape behavior. This research will provide us with a better understanding of how and why an individual makes particular food choices. Although scientists recently validated the concept that food availability during pregnancy has permanent effects on gene expression in children ( 8 ), human studies are needed to confirm or refute the hypothesis that fetal programming, resulting from maternal obesity, leads to excess weight in children and into adulthood.

6) Understanding the food supply/environment

Food environment and food choice..

Simply knowing or understanding what constitutes a healthy diet is not enough to change an individual’s diet or lifestyle. Understanding how the food environment affects dietary and lifestyle choices is necessary before effective policies can be instituted that will change a population’s diet in a meaningful way. Examples of key questions that should be addressed include the following:

• Is current dietary guidance an effective way of communicating dietary change?
• Do food assistance programs promote positive dietary patterns or have negative dietary and health consequences?
• What role does food advertising play in food decision-making among different age groups and educational levels?
• How do farm-to-fork food systems, with an increased emphasis on local agricultural production and consumption, influence dietary patterns and behaviors?
• How can farm-to-fork food systems ultimately be used to promote healthy behaviors and improve public health?
• How can we most effectively measure, monitor, and evaluate dietary change?

Food composition and novel foods and food ingredients.

Having an affordable, available, sustainable, safe, and nutritious food supply is also an important underpinning for making significant changes to a population’s diet and lifestyle. Examples of key research areas to address include the following:

• Enhancing our knowledge of the nutrient and phytonutrient content and bioavailability of foods produced, processed, and consumed
• Studying how to better align and foster collaboration between nutrition and agricultural production
• Can shifting agricultural focus from principally agronomic to include quality factors (such as taste, flavor, and nutritional value) have positive effects on fruit and vegetable consumption?
• Can we leverage technologies, such as biotechnology and nanotechnology, to develop novel foods and food ingredients that will improve health, both domestically and abroad, and provide credible, tangible functional health benefits?

Public/private partnerships.

To tackle these enormous challenges requires the coordinated efforts of public and private partners. The development of public/private partnerships between food and agricultural industries, government, academia, and nongovernmental organizations has the potential to advance nutrition research, enabling meaningful changes to be made to American and global diets (e.g., increased fruit and vegetable consumption to match government recommendations). We need to examine successful examples of public/private partnerships that have resulted in improved nutritional status and food security in specific populations ( 9 ).

CROSS-CUTTING TOOLS TO ADVANCE NUTRITION RESEARCH

Nutrition research is truly a cross-cutting discipline, and the Working Group identified several tools that are also necessary to advance the priority needs in nutrition research. Adequately powered intervention trials continue to be essential for validating research theories arising from experimental and epidemiologic studies. However, the development of new, impactful tools will help us to more effectively quantify dietary intake and food waste and to determine the effectiveness of nutrition standards, such as DRI values and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans . Although not a traditional tool, multidisciplinary partnerships among scientific societies, government, industry, academia, and others are fundamental to advance the nutrition research agenda. ASN and its membership must be proactive not only in efforts to advance nutrition research (including initiating and leading partnerships) but also in developing the tools needed to enhance the field. ASN recognizes the need to facilitate effective communication among academia, industry, government agencies, consumers, and other stakeholders to advance nutrition.

Omics (especially genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics) will enable us to determine how specific nutrients interact with genes, proteins, and metabolites to predict the future health of an individual. A field of study that encompasses technological advances as well as omics-based research, it is sometimes referred to as personalized nutrition. Omics hold the keys to major nutrition breakthroughs in noncommunicable disease and obesity prevention. Omics provide information on how well nutrients are digested, absorbed, metabolized, and used by an individual. Moreover, omics will lead to new biomarkers that reveal a person’s nutritional status and health status all at one time.

2) Bioinformatics

Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that uses computer science and information technology to develop and enhance techniques to make it easier to acquire, store, organize, retrieve, and use biological data. Bioinformatics will enable nutrition researchers to manage, analyze, and understand nutrition data and to make connections between diet and health that were not previously possible. Databases are necessary to gain the full benefits of bioinformatics, because they make nutrition data easily accessible in a machine-readable format.

3) Databases

Accurate, up-to-date food and nutrient databases are essential to track and observe trends related to the nutrition and health of individuals. Databases link food and supplement composition and intake data to health outcomes. Nutrient databases should be expanded to cover more foods and their bioactive components, including nonessential nutrients. Nutrition data must be incorporated into databases related to novel research areas, such as nutrigenomics and the microbiome, to adequately link these areas with nutrition. Data collection must also be improved with enhancements such as photographic food intake documentation, direct upload of food composition and sensory characteristics (if not proprietary) from food manufacturers, and biological sample collection.

4) Biomarkers

Intake, effect, and exposure biomarkers allow us to determine and monitor the health and nutritional status of individuals and subpopulations, including ethnic and racial minorities. Biomarkers that are responsive to diet and nutrition will help assess disease progression and variability in response to treatment, while improving early diagnosis and prevention. Biomarkers must continue to be developed and validated to accurately track food and nutrient intake given our rapidly changing food supply.

5) Cost-effectiveness analysis

Cost-effectiveness analysis is a tool used to calculate and compare the relative costs and benefits of nutrition research interventions. Cost effectiveness analysis helps to determine the most cost-effective option that will have the greatest benefit to public health.

CONCLUSIONS

The multidisciplinary nature of nutrition research requires collaboration among research scientists with differing areas of expertise, many different stakeholders, and multifaceted approaches to develop the knowledge base required for establishing the evidence-based nutrition guidance and policies that will lead to better health and well-being of world populations. Proper nutrition offers one of the most effective and least costly ways to decrease the burden of chronic and noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors, including obesity. Although there is skepticism about the ability to complete large, well-controlled dietary interventions at a reasonable cost in the United States, the success of the Lyon Diet Heart study in France ( 10 , 11 ) and the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) study in Spain ( 12 ), both of which used variations of the Mediterranean diet, show this approach can be successful, even in the presence of drug treatment of cardiovascular risks in the latter study. Both of these studies showed significant reductions in cardiovascular disease (and cancer in the Lyon study) after relatively modest dietary changes.

Perhaps the greatest barrier to advancing the connections between food and health is the variability in individual responses to diet; it is also the origin of public skepticism to acceptance of dietary advice and the opportunity for entrepreneurship in the private sector. Imagine being able to identify, with certainty, those most likely to benefit from prescriptive nutrition advice through the various omic technologies and then providing these groups of people with customized nutrition advice based on their metabolic risk profiles. This is the new frontier of the nutritional sciences that offers the opportunity to predictably engineer our physiologic networks for health through diet. The confidence this approach would bring to the skeptical consumer would improve adherence to weight management and disease treatment techniques and improve the chances of success for disease prevention. To realize the full positive impact of achieving good nutrition on disease prevention and the health of populations, we must have the will to invest in and support the 6 key areas of nutrition research that have been outlined above.

Acknowledgments

The Nutrition Research Needs Working Group consisted of Dennis Bier, David M Klurfeld, Zhaoping Li, Jonathan R Mein, John Milner, A Catharine Ross, Robert Russell (Chair), and Patrick Stover. They were supported by ASN staff members Sarah D. Ohlhorst and Emily Konopka.