research topics on nutrition and health

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Nutrition articles from across Nature Portfolio

Nutrition is the organic process of nourishing or being nourished, including the processes by which an organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and maintenance.

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Nutrition and Health

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• Description
• Aims and Scope
• Editorial Board
• Abstracting / Indexing
• Submission Guidelines

Nutrition and Health is an online international peer-reviewed journal that focusses on the relationship between nutrition and health. The journal welcomes original investigations, short communications, reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, protocols, commentaries, hypotheses and case studies on current topics relating to the full spectrum of the effects of diet and nutrition on health and disease. Whilst the focus of the journal will be soundly based in human nutrition, animal, cellular and molecular based studies will be accepted where they can shed light on a particular mechanism or treatment modality pertinent to the human condition. Nutrition and Health will consider the publication of studies showing negative and non-findings on an equal basis with those studies showing positive findings

The journal also seeks to raise awareness of the interrelationship between nutrition, exercise, physical activity and lifestyle for improving health across the lifespan and to demonstrate how healthcare outcomes and policies can be improved with the adoption of a more nutrition-oriented approach. In this way it aspires to provide an invaluable resource to nutrition and healthcare practitioners, as well as researchers and academics of nutrition studies. Nutrition and Health: Call for Papers

This journal is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) .

Nutrition and Health is an online international peer-reviewed journal that focusses on the relationship between nutrition and health. The journal welcomes original investigations, short communications, reviews, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, protocols, commentaries, hypotheses, and case studies on current topics related to the full spectrum of the effects of food ingredients and nutrition, health, and disease. Whilst the major focus of the journal will be on food science, and human nutrition, animal, cellular and molecular-based studies will be accepted where they can shed light on a particular mechanism or treatment modality pertinent to the human condition. Nutrition and Health will consider the publication of studies showing negative and non-findings on an equal basis with those studies showing positive findings.

The journal also seeks to raise awareness of the interrelationship between nutrition, exercise, physical activity and lifestyle for improving health across the lifespan and to demonstrate how healthcare outcomes and policies can be improved with the adoption of a more nutrition-oriented approach. In this way it aspires to provide an invaluable resource to nutrition and healthcare practitioners, as well as researchers and academics of nutrition studies.

Nutrition and Health provides an initial rapid review of all submissions to determine suitability for external peer review. Authors can, if they wish, contact a member of the editorial board with potential submission ideas if they are in doubt as to whether or not they fit the scope or interests of the journal.

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Manuscript Submission Guidelines: Nutrition and Health

This Journal is a member of the  Committee on Publication Ethics .

This Journal recommends that authors follow the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals  formulated by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

Please read the guidelines below then visit the Journal’s submission site https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/nah  to upload your manuscript. Please note that manuscripts not conforming to these guidelines may be returned .

Only manuscripts of sufficient quality that meet the aims and scope of Nutrition and Health will be reviewed.

There are no fees payable to submit or publish in this Journal. Open Access options are available - see section 3.3 below.

As part of the submission process you will be required to warrant that you are submitting your original work, that you have the rights in the work, and that you have obtained and can supply all necessary permissions for the reproduction of any copyright works not owned by you, that you are submitting the work for first publication in the Journal and that it is not being considered for publication elsewhere and has not already been published elsewhere. Please see our guidelines on prior publication and note that Nutrition and Health  may accept submissions of papers that have been posted on pre-print servers; please alert the Editorial Office when submitting (contact details are at the end of these guidelines) and include the DOI for the preprint in the designated field in the manuscript submission system. Authors should not post an updated version of their paper on the preprint server while it is being peer reviewed for possible publication in the journal. If the article is accepted for publication, the author may re-use their work according to the journal's author archiving policy.

• What do we publish? 1.1 Aims & Scope 1.2 Article types 1.3 Writing your paper
• Editorial policies 2.1 Peer review policy 2.2 Authorship 2.3 Acknowledgements 2.4 Funding 2.5 Declaration of conflicting interests 2.6 Research ethics and patient consent 2.7 Clinical trials 2.8 Reporting guidelines 2.9 Research Data
• Publishing policies 3.1 Publication ethics 3.2 Contributor's publishing agreement 3.3 Open access and author archiving
• Preparing your manuscript 4.1 Formatting 4.2 Artwork, figures and other graphics 4.3 Supplemental material 4.4 Reference style 4.5 English language editing services
• Submitting your manuscript 5.1 ORCID 5.2 Information required for completing your submission 5.3 Permissions
• On acceptance and publication 6.1 Sage Production 6.2 Online First publication 6.3 Access to your published article 6.4 Promoting your article
• Further information

1. What do we publish?

1.1 Aims & Scope

Before submitting your manuscript to Nutrition and Health , please ensure you have read the  Aims & Scope .

1.2 Article Types

Manuscripts are considered for publication with the understanding that they have not been published previously and are not under consideration by another publication.  Nutrition and Health  accepts the following article types for publication:

Original Article

Reports of established current research.

It is recommended that the appropriate tool from the  EQUATOR network  is included. The appropriate checklist e.g.,  CONSORT  should be submitted as supplementary information with your manuscript.

Structure: Title Page, Structured abstract  (including Background, Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusion),  Introduction  (including statement of aims and hypotheses),  Methods  (usually including participants, experimental design, experimental protocol, statistical methods),  Results, Discussion  (including conclusion),  Ethical statements  (see below for details) and  References .

Statements to be included: Acknowledgements, Funding, Availability of data and materials, Authors’ contributions, Conflict of interest, Consent for publication, Ethical approval

Word limit:  Abstract: 250 words maximum. Article (not including abstract, references and tables/figures/diagrams): 4,000 words maximum.

Tables/Figures/Diagrams:  Up to 6 in total.

Short-Communication

Reports of novel preliminary or exploratory current research.

Structure:  Usually containing a  Title Page, Structured abstract  (including Background, Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusion),  Introduction  (including statement of aims and hypothesis),  Methods  (usually including participants, experimental design, experimental protocol, statistical methods),  Results, Discussion  (including conclusion),  Ethical statements  (see below for details) and  References  (20 maximum).

Word limit:  Abstract: 150 words maximum. Article (not including abstract, references and tables/figures/diagrams): 2,000 words maximum.

Tables/Figures/Diagrams:  Up to 3 in total.

Review Article

These will typically be invited, but non-commissioned reviews will be considered. Please contact a member of the Editorial Board to discuss the title and purpose of the review ahead of submission. A comprehensive summary of the current knowledge base in a given area.

Structure:  Usually containing a  Title page, Structured abstract, Introduction  (including statement of the research question), sub-sectioned  Main Body  of the article (including a summary and directions for future research),  Ethical statements  (see below for details) and  References .

Word limit:  Abstract: 250 words maximum. Article (not including abstract, references and tables/figures/diagrams): 6,000 words maximum.

Tables/Figures/Diagrams:  Up to 8 in total.

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

A comprehensive summary of the current knowledge base in a given area.

Structure:  Usually containing a  Title Page, Structured abstract  (including Background, Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusion),  Introduction, Method  (usually outlining the scope, search criteria and inclusion/exclusion criteria), PLEASE NOTE that this section should also contain reference to the systematic review registration (e.g., PROSPERO or similar) and/or a published manuscript of the protocol for the systematic review,   Results  (including statement of the research question), Discussion (including a summary and directions for future research),  Ethical statements  (see below for details) and  References .

An outline of a proposed assessment tool or study protocol (protocols currently in use are acceptable but protocols from completed studies will not be accepted). These submissions should follow the  SPIRIT guidelines  where appropriate.

Structure:  Usually containing a  Title Page, Structured abstract  (including Background, Aim, Methods, Summary),  Introduction  (including statement of aims and hypothesis),  Methods  (usually including participants, experimental design and experimental protocol),  Summary, Ethical statements  (see below for details) and  References .

Word limit:   Abstract: 250 words maximum. Article (not including abstract, references and tables/figures/diagrams): 4,000 words maximum.

Tables/Figures/Diagrams:  Up to 4 in total.

A short, narrowly focussed, opinion piece providing a current perspective on a topic on interest.

Structure:  Usually containing a Title page, Abstract, Introduction, sub-sectioned Main Body of the article (including a summary and directions for future research) and References.

Word limit:  Abstract: 150 words maximum, Article (not including abstract, references and tables/figures/diagrams): 2,000 words maximum.

A short, narrowly focussed, manuscript presenting a novel hypothesis or theory of interest.

Structure:  Usually containing a  Title Page, Structured abstract, Introduction, Statement of the Hypothesis  (that should be framed in the context of the underpinning theory), Evaluation (provided by existing literature and pilot data if available),  Implications, Ethical statements  (see below for details) and  References .

These will typically be published where there is likely to be exceptional interest in classical or unusual issues facing the practitioner. It must be clearly justified why the report is needed rather than an alternative research methodology. Please contact a member of the Editorial Board to discuss the case study ahead of submission. These will be accepted both as short communications and full papers.

These submissions should follow the  CARE guidelines  and include the  CARE checklist  as supplementary information where appropriate.

Structure:  Usually containing a  Title Page, Structured abstract  (including background/theoretical basis, case presentation, outcomes and implications, recommendations),  Background  (including a review of the theoretical and research basis for treatment),  Case Presentation  (including case introduction, presenting complaints, history, assessment, rationale for treatment),  Outcomes and Implications  (including course of intervention, complicating factors, potential confounders and barriers),  Ethical statements  (see below for details),  Recommendations  and  References .

Word limits:

Short communications:  Structured abstract: 150 words maximum. Article (not including abstract, references and tables/figures/diagrams): 1,500 words maximum

Full papers:  Structured abstract: 250 words maximum. Article (not including abstract, references and tables/figures/diagrams): 2,500 words maximum.

1.3 Writing your paper

The Sage Author Gateway has some general advice and on  how to get published , plus links to further resources. Sage Author Services also offers authors a variety of ways to improve and enhance their article including English language editing, plagiarism detection, and video abstract and infographic preparation.

1.3.1 Make your article discoverable

When writing up your paper, think about how you can make it discoverable. The title, keywords and abstract are key to ensuring readers find your article through search engines such as Google. For information and guidance on how best to title your article, write your abstract and select your keywords, have a look at this page on the Gateway:  How to Help Readers Find Your Article Online .

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2. Editorial policies

2.1 Peer review policy

Nutrition and Health  adheres to a rigorous double-anonymized reviewing policy in which the identity of both the reviewer and author are always concealed from both parties. Two independent reviews are required for a manuscript to reach a Revise or Accept decision, with the exception of the following manuscript types: Commentary  (1 review required) and Hypothesis (1 review required).

Sage does not permit the use of author-suggested (recommended) reviewers at any stage of the submission process, be that through the web-based submission system or other communication. Reviewers should be experts in their fields and should be able to provide an objective assessment of the manuscript. Our policy is that reviewers should not be assigned to a paper if:

• The reviewer is based at the same institution as any of the co-authors
• The reviewer is based at the funding body of the paper
• The author has recommended the reviewer
• The reviewer has provided a personal (e.g., Gmail/Yahoo/Hotmail) email account and an institutional email account cannot be found after performing a basic Google search (name, department, and institution). 

All manuscripts are reviewed initially by the editor, and only those papers that meet the scientific and editorial standards of the journal and fit within the aims and scope of the journal, will be sent for outside review. As part of the review process, reviewers provide comments and feedback to the author as well as recommendations to the Editor who will make the final decision.

2.2 Authorship

Papers should only be submitted for consideration once consent is given by all contributing authors. Those submitting papers should carefully check that all those whose work contributed to the paper are acknowledged as contributing authors.

The list of authors should include all those who can legitimately claim authorship. This is all those who:

• Made a substantial contribution to the concept or design of the work; or acquisition, analysis or interpretation of data,
• Drafted the article or revised it critically for important intellectual content,
• Approved the version to be published,
• Each author should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for appropriate portions of the content.

Authors should meet the conditions of all of the points above. When a large, multicentre group has conducted the work, the group should identify the individuals who accept direct responsibility for the manuscript. These individuals should fully meet the criteria for authorship.

Acquisition of funding, collection of data, or general supervision of the research group alone does not constitute authorship, although all contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be listed in the Acknowledgments section. Please refer to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) authorship guidelines  for more information on authorship.

Please note that AI chatbots, for example ChatGPT, should not be listed as authors. For more information see the policy on Use of ChatGPT and generative AI tools .

2.3 Acknowledgements

All contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship should be listed in an Acknowledgements section. Examples of those who might be acknowledged include a person who provided purely technical help, or a department chair who provided only general support.

2.3.1 Third party submissions

Where an individual who is not listed as an author submits a manuscript on behalf of the author(s), a statement must be included in the Acknowledgements section of the manuscript and in the accompanying cover letter. The statements must:

• Disclose this type of editorial assistance – including the individual’s name, company and level of input
• Identify any entities that paid for this assistance
• Confirm that the listed authors have authorized the submission of their manuscript via third party and approved any statements or declarations, e.g. conflicting interests, funding, etc.

Where appropriate, Sage reserves the right to deny consideration to manuscripts submitted by a third party rather than by the authors themselves .

2.3.2 Writing assistance

Individuals who provided writing assistance, e.g. from a specialist communications company, do not qualify as authors and so should be included in the Acknowledgements section. Authors must disclose any writing assistance – including the individual’s name, company and level of input – and identify the entity that paid for this assistance”).

It is not necessary to disclose use of language polishing services.

Any acknowledgements should appear first at the end of your article prior to your Declaration of Conflicting Interests (if applicable), any notes and your References.

2.4 Funding

Nutrition and Health requires all authors to acknowledge their funding in a consistent fashion under a separate heading. Please visit the Funding Acknowledgements  page on the Sage Journal Author Gateway to confirm the format of the acknowledgment text in the event of funding, or state that: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. 

2.5 Declaration of conflicting interests

It is the policy of Nutrition and Health to require a declaration of conflicting interests from all authors enabling a statement to be carried within the paginated pages of all published articles.

Please ensure that a ‘Declaration of Conflicting Interests’ statement is included at the end of your manuscript, after any acknowledgements and prior to the references. If no conflict exists, please state that ‘The Author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest’. For guidance on conflict of interest statements, please see the ICMJE recommendations  here .

Please include any declaration at the end of your manuscript after any acknowledgements and prior to the references, under a heading ‘Declaration of Conflicting Interests’. If no declaration is made the following will be printed under this heading in your article: ‘None Declared’. Alternatively, you may wish to state that ‘The Author(s) declare(s) that there is no conflict of interest’.

When making a declaration the disclosure information must be specific and include any financial relationship that all authors of the article has with any sponsoring organization and the for-profit interests the organization represents, and with any for-profit product discussed or implied in the text of the article.

Any commercial or financial involvements that might represent an appearance of a conflict of interest need to be additionally disclosed in the covering letter accompanying your article to assist the Editor in evaluating whether sufficient disclosure has been made within the Declaration of Conflicting Interests provided in the article.

For guidance on conflict of interest statements, please see the ICMJE recommendations  here .

2.6 Research ethics and patient consent

Medical research involving human subjects must be conducted according to the  World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki .

Submitted manuscripts should conform to the ICMJE Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals , and all papers reporting animal and/or human studies must state in the methods section that the relevant Ethics Committee or Institutional Review Board provided (or waived) approval. Please ensure that you have provided the full name and institution of the review committee, in addition to the approval number.

For research articles, authors are also required to state in the methods section whether participants provided informed consent and whether the consent was written or verbal.

Identifying information, including patients' names, initials, or hospital numbers, should not be published in written descriptions, photographs, and pedigrees unless the information is essential for scientific purposes and the patient (or parent or guardian) gives written informed consent for publication. Informed consent for this purpose requires that a patient who is identifiable be shown the manuscript to be published.

Complete anonymity is difficult to achieve, however, and informed consent should be obtained if there is any doubt. For example, masking the eye region in photographs of patients is inadequate protection of anonymity. If identifying characteristics are altered to protect anonymity, such as in genetic pedigrees, authors should provide assurance that alterations do not distort scientific meaning and editors should so note.

Information on informed consent to report individual cases or case series should be included in the manuscript text. A statement is required regarding whether written informed consent for patient information and images to be published was provided by the patient(s) or a legally authorized representative. Please do not submit the patient’s actual written informed consent with your article, as this in itself breaches the patient’s confidentiality. The Journal requests that you confirm to us, in writing, that you have obtained written informed consent but the written consent itself should be held by the authors/investigators themselves, for example in a patient’s hospital record. The confirmatory letter may be uploaded with your submission as a separate file.

Please also refer to the  ICMJE Recommendations for the Protection of Research Participants .

All research involving animals submitted for publication must be approved by an ethics committee with oversight of the facility in which the studies were conducted. The Journal has adopted the ARRIVE guidelines.

2.7 Clinical trials

Nutrition and Health conforms to the ICMJE requirement  that clinical trials are registered in a WHO-approved public trials registry at or before the time of first patient enrolment as a condition of consideration for publication.  However, consistent with the  AllTrials campaign , retrospectively registered trials will be considered if the justification for late registration is acceptable.The trial registry name and URL, and registration number must be included at the end of the abstract.

2.8 Reporting guidelines

The relevant EQUATOR Network  reporting guidelines should be followed depending on the type of study. For example, all randomized controlled trials submitted for publication should include a completed CONSORT   flow chart as a cited figure and the completed CONSORT checklist should be uploaded with your submission as a supplementary file. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses should include the completed PRISMA   flow chart as a cited figure and the completed PRISMA checklist should be uploaded with your submission as a supplementary file. The EQUATOR wizard  can help you identify the appropriate guideline.

Other resources can be found at  NLM’s Research Reporting Guidelines and Initiatives .

2.9 Research Data

The journal is committed to facilitating openness, transparency and reproducibility of research, and has the following research data sharing policy. For more information, including FAQs please visit the Sage Research Data policy pages .

Subject to appropriate ethical and legal considerations, authors are encouraged to:

• share your research data in a relevant public data repository
• include a data availability statement linking to your data. If it is not possible to share your data, we encourage you to consider using the statement to explain why it cannot be shared.
• cite this data in your research

3. Publishing Policies

3.1 Publication ethics

Sage is committed to upholding the integrity of the academic record. We encourage authors to refer to the Committee on Publication Ethics’ International Standards for Authors  and view the Publication Ethics page on the  Sage Author Gateway .

3.1.1 Plagiarism

Nutrition and Health and Sage take issues of copyright infringement, plagiarism or other breaches of best practice in publication very seriously. We seek to protect the rights of our authors and we always investigate claims of plagiarism or misuse of published articles. Equally, we seek to protect the reputation of the journal against malpractice. Submitted articles may be checked with duplication-checking software. Where an article, for example, is found to have plagiarised other work or included third-party copyright material without permission or with insufficient acknowledgement, or where the authorship of the article is contested, we reserve the right to take action including, but not limited to: publishing an erratum or corrigendum (correction); retracting the article; taking up the matter with the head of department or dean of the author's institution and/or relevant academic bodies or societies; or taking appropriate legal action.

3.1.2 Prior publication

If material has been previously published it is not generally acceptable for publication in a Sage journal. However, there are certain circumstances where previously published material can be considered for publication. Please refer to the guidance on the Sage Author Gateway  or if in doubt, contact the Editor at the address given below.

3.2 Contributor's publishing agreement

Before publication, Sage requires the author as the rights holder to sign a Journal Contributor’s Publishing Agreement. Sage’s Journal Contributor’s Publishing Agreement is an exclusive licence agreement which means that the author retains copyright in the work but grants Sage the sole and exclusive right and licence to publish for the full legal term of copyright. Exceptions may exist where an assignment of copyright is required or preferred by a proprietor other than Sage. In this case copyright in the work will be assigned from the author to the society. For more information please visit the  Sage Author Gateway .

3.3 Open access and author archiving

Nutrition and Health  offers optional open access publishing via the Sage Choice programme and Open Access agreements, where authors can publish open access either discounted or free of charge depending on the agreement with Sage. Find out if your institution is participating by visiting Open Access Agreements at Sage . For more information on Open Access publishing options at Sage please visit Sage Open Access . For information on funding body compliance, and depositing your article in repositories, please visit Sage’s Author Archiving and Re-Use Guidelines and Publishing Policies .

4. Preparing your manuscript for submission

4.1 Formatting

The preferred format for your manuscript is Word. LaTeX files are also accepted. Word and (La)Tex templates are available on the Manuscript Submission Guidelines  page of our Author Gateway.

4.2 Artwork, figures and other graphics

For guidance on the preparation of illustrations, pictures and graphs in electronic format, please visit Sage’s Manuscript Submission Guidelines .   

Figures supplied in colour will appear in colour online regardless of whether or not these illustrations are reproduced in colour in the printed version. For specifically requested colour reproduction in print, you will receive information regarding the costs from Sage after receipt of your accepted article. 

Illustrations, pictures and graphs, should be supplied in the highest quality and in an electronic format that helps us to publish your article in the best way possible. Please follow the guidelines below to enable us to prepare your artwork for the printed issue as well as the online version.

• Format: TIFF, JPEG: Common format for pictures (containing no text or graphs). EPS: Preferred format for graphs and line art (retains quality when enlarging/zooming in).
• Placement: Figures/charts and tables created in MS Word should be included in the main text rather than at the end of the document. Figures and other files created outside Word (i.e. Excel, PowerPoint, JPG, TIFF and EPS) should be submitted separately. Please add a placeholder note in the running text (i.e. “[insert Figure 1.]")
• Resolution: Rasterized based files (i.e. with .tiff or .jpeg extension) require a resolution of at least 300 dpi (dots per inch). Line art should be supplied with a minimum resolution of 800 dpi .
• Colour: Please note that images supplied in colour will be published in colour online and black and white in print (unless otherwise arranged). Therefore, it is important that you supply images that are comprehensible in black and white as well (i.e. by using colour with a distinctive pattern or dotted lines). The captions should reflect this by not using words indicating colour.
• Dimension: Check that the artworks supplied match or exceed the dimensions of the journal. Images cannot be scaled up after origination
• Fonts: The lettering used in the artwork should not vary too much in size and type (usually sans serif font as a default).

4.3 Supplemental material

Nutrition and Health  is able to host additional materials online (e.g. datasets, podcasts, videos, images etc) alongside the full-text of the article. For more information please refer to our guidelines on submitting supplemental files .

4.4 Reference style

Nutrition and Health adheres to the Sage Harvard reference style. View the Sage Harvard  guidelines to ensure your manuscript conforms to this reference style.

If you use EndNote   to manage references, you can download the  Sage Harvard EndNote output file .

4.5 English language editing services

Authors seeking assistance with English language editing, translation, or figure and manuscript formatting to fit the journal’s specifications should consider using Sage Language Services. Visit Sage Language Services  on our Journal Author Gateway for further information.

5. Submitting your manuscript

Nutrition and Health is hosted on Sage Track, a web based online submission and peer review system powered by ScholarOne™ Manuscripts. Visit https://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/nah to login and submit your article online.

IMPORTANT: Please check whether you already have an account in the system before trying to create a new one. If you have reviewed or authored for the journal in the past year it is likely that you will have had an account created.  For further guidance on submitting your manuscript online please visit ScholarOne Online Help .

As part of our commitment to ensuring an ethical, transparent and fair peer review process Sage is a supporting member of ORCID, the Open Researcher and Contributor ID . ORCID provides a unique and persistent digital identifier that distinguishes researchers from every other researcher, even those who share the same name, and, through integration in key research workflows such as manuscript and grant submission, supports automated linkages between researchers and their professional activities, ensuring that their work is recognized. 

The collection of ORCID iDs from corresponding authors is now part of the submission process of this journal. If you already have an ORCID iD you will be asked to associate that to your submission during the online submission process. We also strongly encourage all co-authors to link their ORCID ID to their accounts in our online peer review platforms. It takes seconds to do: click the link when prompted, sign into your ORCID account and our systems are automatically updated. Your ORCID iD will become part of your accepted publication’s metadata, making your work attributable to you and only you. Your ORCID iD is published with your article so that fellow researchers reading your work can link to your ORCID profile and from there link to your other publications.

If you do not already have an ORCID iD please follow this link to create one or visit our ORCID homepage to learn more.

5.2 Information required for completing your submission

You will be asked to provide contact details and academic affiliations for all co-authors via the submission system and identify who is to be the corresponding author. These details must match what appears on your manuscript. The affiliation listed in the manuscript should be the institution where the research was conducted. If an author has moved to a new institution since completing the research, the new affiliation can be included in a manuscript note at the end of the paper. At this stage please ensure you have included all the required statements and declarations and uploaded any additional supplementary files (including reporting guidelines where relevant).

5.3 Permissions

Please also ensure that you have obtained any necessary permission from copyright holders for reproducing any illustrations, tables, figures or lengthy quotations previously published elsewhere. For further information including guidance on fair dealing for criticism and review, please see the Copyright and Permissions page on the  Sage Author Gateway .

6. On acceptance and publication

6.1 Sage Production

Your Sage Production Editor will keep you informed as to your article’s progress throughout the production process. Proofs will be made available to the corresponding author via our editing portal Sage Edit or by email, and corrections should be made directly or notified to us promptly. Authors are reminded to check their proofs carefully to confirm that all author information, including names, affiliations, sequence and contact details are correct, and that Funding and Conflict of Interest statements, if any, are accurate.

6.2 Online First publication

Online First allows final articles (completed and approved articles awaiting assignment to a future issue) to be published online prior to their inclusion in a journal issue, which significantly reduces the lead time between submission and publication. Visit the Sage Journals help page  for more details, including how to cite Online First articles.

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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.

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Mediterranean diet tied to one-fifth lower risk of early death in women

Investigators from Brigham and Women's Hospital identified and assessed underlying mechanisms that may explain the Mediterranean diet's 23 percent reduction in all-cause mortality risk for American women

The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet have been reported in multiple studies, but there is limited long-term data of its effects in U.S. women and little understanding about why the diet may reduce risk of death. In a new study that followed more than 25,000 initially healthy U.S. women for up to 25 years, researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, found that participants who had greater Mediterranean diet intake had up to 23% lower risk of all-cause mortality, with benefits for both cancer mortality and cardiovascular mortality. The researchers found evidence of biological changes that may help explain why: they detected changes in biomarkers of metabolism, inflammation, insulin resistance and more. Results are published in JAMA .

"For women who want to live longer, our study says watch your diet! The good news is that following a Mediterranean dietary pattern could result in about one quarter reduction in risk of death over more than 25 years with benefit for both cancer and cardiovascular mortality, the top causes of death in women (and men) in the US and globally," said senior author Samia Mora, MD, a cardiologist and the director of the Center for Lipid Metabolomics at the Brigham.

The Mediterranean diet is a plant-based diverse diet that is rich in plants (nuts, seeds, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes). The main fat is olive oil (usually extra virgin), and the diet additionally includes moderate intake of fish, poultry, dairy, eggs, and alcohol, and rare consumption of meats, sweets, and processed foods.

The current study investigated the long-term benefit of adherence to a Mediterranean diet in a U.S. population recruited as part of the Women's Health Study, and explored the biological mechanisms that may explain the diet's health benefits. The study investigators evaluated a panel of approximately 40 biomarkers representing various biological pathways and clinical risk factors.

Biomarkers of metabolism and inflammation made the largest contribution, followed by triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, adiposity, insulin resistance. Other biological pathways relate to branched-chain amino acids, high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, glycemic measures, and hypertension have smaller contribution.

"Our research provides significant public health insight: even modest changes in established risk factors for metabolic diseases -- particularly those linked to small molecule metabolites, inflammation, triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, obesity, and insulin resistance -- can yield substantial long-term benefits from following a Mediterranean diet. This finding underscores the potential of encouraging healthier dietary habits to reduce the overall risk of mortality," said lead author Shafqat Ahmad, PhD, an associate professor of Epidemiology at Uppsala University Sweden and a researcher in the Center for Lipid Metabolomics and the Division of Preventive Medicine at the Brigham.

The current study identifies important biological pathways that may help explain all-cause mortality risk. However, the authors note some key limitations, including that the study was limited to middle aged and older well-educated female health professionals who were predominantly non-Hispanic and white. The study relied on food-frequency questionnaires and other self-reported measures, such as height, weight and blood pressure. But the study's strengths include its large scale and long follow up period.

The authors also note that as the concept of the Mediterranean diet has gained popularity, the diet has been adapted in different countries and cultures.

"The health benefits of the Mediterranean diet are recognized by medical professionals, and our study offers insights into why the diet may be so beneficial. Public health policies should promote the healthful dietary attributes of the Mediterranean diet and should discourage unhealthy adaptations," said Mora.

• Cholesterol
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Story Source:

Materials provided by Brigham and Women's Hospital . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Shafqat Ahmad, M. Vinayaga Moorthy, I-Min Lee, Paul M Ridker, JoAnn E. Manson, Julie E. Buring, Olga V. Demler, Samia Mora. Mediterranean Diet Adherence and Risk of All-Cause Mortality in Women . JAMA Network Open , 2024; 7 (5): e2414322 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.14322

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Food for thought: study links key nutrients to slower brain aging.

May 22, 2024 · 4 min read

Food for thought: Study links key nutrients to slower brain aging

Scientists have long been studying the brain with a goal of aiding healthier aging. While much is known about risk factors for accelerated brain aging, less has been uncovered to identify ways to reduce cognitive decline.

There is evidence that nutrition matters, and a novel study from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign further signals how specific nutrients may play a pivotal role in the healthy aging of the brain. The findings were published in Nature Publishing Group Aging.

The team of scientists, led by Aron Barbey, director of the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior, with Jisheng Wu, a doctoral student at Nebraska, and Christopher Zwilling, research scientist at UIUC, performed the multimodal study — combining state-of-the-art innovations in neuroscience and nutritional science — and identified a specific nutrient profile in participants who performed better cognitively.

The cross-sectional study enrolled 100 cognitively healthy participants, aged 65-75. These participants completed a questionnaire with demographic information, along with measures of body composition and physical fitness. Blood plasma was collected following a fasting period to analyze the nutrient biomarkers. Participants also underwent cognitive assessments and MRI scans. Analysis of this large set of measures revealed two types of brain aging among the participants — accelerated and slower-than-expected. Those with slower brain aging had a distinct nutrient profile.

The beneficial nutrient blood biomarkers were a combination of fatty acids (vaccenic, gondoic, alpha linolenic, elcosapentaenoic, eicosadienoic and lignoceric acids); antioxidants and carotenoids including cis-lutein, trans-lutein and zeaxanthin; two forms of vitamin E and choline. This profile is correlated with nutrients found in the Mediterranean diet, which research has previously associated with healthy brain aging.

“We investigated specific nutrient biomarkers, such as fatty acid profiles, known in nutritional science to potentially offer health benefits. This aligns with the extensive body of research in the field demonstrating the positive health effects of the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes foods rich in these beneficial nutrients,” said Barbey, Mildred Francis Thompson Professor of Psychology. “The present study identifies particular nutrient biomarker patterns that are promising and have favorable associations with measures of cognitive performance and brain health.”

Barbey noted that previous research on nutrition and brain aging has mostly relied on food frequency questionnaires, which are dependent on participants’ own recall. This study is one of the first and the largest to combine brain imaging, blood biomarkers and validated cognitive assessments.

“The unique aspect of our study lies in its comprehensive approach, integrating data on nutrition, cognitive function and brain imaging,” Barbey said. “This allows us to build a more robust understanding of the relationship between these factors. We move beyond simply measuring cognitive performance with traditional neuropsychological tests. Instead, we simultaneously examine brain structure, function and metabolism, demonstrating a direct link between these brain properties and cognitive abilities. Furthermore, we show that these brain properties are directly linked to diet and nutrition, as revealed by the patterns observed in nutrient biomarkers.”

The researchers will continue to explore this nutrient profile as it relates to healthy brain aging. Barbey said it’s possible, in the future, that the findings will aid in developing therapies and interventions to promote brain health.

“An important next step involves conducting randomized controlled trials. In these trials, we will isolate specific nutrients with favorable associations with cognitive function and brain health, and administer them in the form of nutraceuticals,” Barbey said. “This will allow us to definitively assess whether increasing the levels of these specific nutrient profiles reliably leads to improvements in cognitive test performance and measures of brain structure, function and metabolism.”

Barbey is also co-editing an upcoming special collection for the Journal of Nutrition, “Nutrition and the Brain — Exploring Pathways to Optimal Brain Health Through Nutrition,” which is currently inviting submissions for consideration, and articles will begin publishing next year.

“There’s immense scientific and medical interest in understanding the profound impact of nutrition on brain health,” Barbey said. “Recognizing this, the Office of Nutrition Research at the National Institutes of Health recently launched a 10-year strategic plan to significantly accelerate nutrition research. Our work directly aligns with this critical initiative, aiming to contribute valuable insights into how dietary patterns influence brain health and cognitive function.”

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200 Unique Nutrition Research Topics for Students of All Levels

Nutrition research holds immense importance in advancing our understanding of the link between food and health. A well-chosen research topic plays a pivotal role in this process, as it fosters curiosity, drives critical thinking, and contributes to the body of knowledge in the field.

A compelling topic enables students to apply their knowledge, develop research skills, and contribute significantly to nutrition science, ultimately driving positive change in dietary practices and informing public health policies.

Table of Contents

Comprehensive Lists of Impressive Nutrition Research Topics

These lists allow researchers to explore up-and-coming areas like personalized nutrition, look into how food processing affects nutrients, and more. Something the writers working with professional  Medical writing services  will love to go with. 

Interesting Nutrition and Exercise Research Topics

If you’re looking for something interesting that will keep your readers engaged and debating, check out this list of interesting research topics in nutrition:

• An application of metabolomics to epidemiology can be found here.
• Providing nutritional care and disease management with particular emphasis on enteral and parental nutrition
• Nutrition as a means of preventing cancer
• The challenges that food companies face in terms of regulatory standards and competitiveness
• Studies on the therapeutic Role of diet in the treatment of chronic diseases
• A review of nutritional factors based on physical activity levels, socioeconomic factors, and demographic characteristics
• The importance of healthy eating habits to your physical and mental well-being and how they can help you
• Sleep and height growth in children: Is there a causal relationship between the two?
• Consumption of alcohol and tobacco may be linked to breast cancer and other types of cancer.
• Work and breastfeeding are a mother’s responsibility.
• Development of innovative solutions to meet the challenges of sustainable food resource development
• The sustainability of food production in the world today
• A healthy diet and high quality of life
• What is the most effective way to adapt healthy habits to your lifestyle?
• Healthy eating habits can prevent chronic diseases from occurring.
• Maximizing the nutritional, sensory, functional, and safety characteristics of the food that we consume
• Menopause age and cardiovascular risk during the aging process
• The longitudinal relationship between cognitive and motor Performance and how nutrition can influence it to perform at its peak can be explored.
• An accelerometer and a questionnaire were used to measure physical activity levels.
• A study on the early determinants of whether children prefer protein from animals or protein from vegetables
• Identifying and assessing the causes of early childhood food allergies in children
• The problem of malnutrition in children
• Infectious diseases and various other conditions can be treated with nutritional support.

Trendy Nutrition Topics to Research

Want to keep up with the trends while you  writing a research paper ? Go with picking up a topic from this list of research topics about nutrition. 

• An analysis of the determinants and states of health based on a typology
• After the age of 50, several factors contribute to frailty
• Health effects of outdoor air pollution on humans: a study of associations
• Oxidative stress plays an imperative role in the function of biological markers
• Cleaning and disinfecting products in the workplace can result in occupational exposure
• Depending on your social group, how often you use food, and how it affects your general eating habits
• Role of a healthy diet in a brilliant mental health
• Treating infertility through medical means
• Young adults using electronic cigarettes and the factors associated with their use are discussed in this article
• The environments in which we live have an effect on our stress levels in everyday life
• Identifying nutritional exposures and assessing their impact
• Biobanking of nutritional exposures; estimation of nutritional exposures
• Nutritional markers with a high level of stability
• A revolutionary method of analyzing nutritional problems based on innovative statistical methods and big data
• How can eating well improve our lives? 
• Researching public health and nutrition issues using experimental and epidemiological approaches
• An assessment of the impact of public health nutrition strategies can be done using theoretical systems
• Public health nutritional strategies that may have a positive impact on public health
• Public health epidemiology and evaluation are critical aspects of public health
• There are several mechanisms involved in the relationship between nutrition and health
• Nutrition and health are interconnected through the mechanism of nutrient absorption
• A novel approach to determining dietary habits based on innovative determinants
• Nutrient exposures and behaviors in emerging and underexplored populations

New Research Topics in Nutrition

This list of new topics will certainly give you an edge to impress your professor. Here you go with the list. 

• Eating disorders are caused by a variety of factors
• Families play a critical role in the treatment of eating disorders
• Role of the family as the reason for eating disorders
• Eating disorders associated with sociocultural values
• Eating disorders caused by difficulties with physical health and fatigue
• Several psychological factors influence eating disorders
• An overview of the methodology for measuring eating disorders with measuring instruments.
• A brief description of anorexia nervosa and its characteristics.
• An overview of the definitions and characteristics of eating disorders.
• Eating disorders being reported by the patient
• The results of a survey conducted between three different colleges concerning eating disorders
• A study of food disorders and their relation to the environment is presented below
• The definition and characteristics of bulimia can be found in the following document

Fitness and Nutrition Research Topics

Pick a topic from this list to get a chance to research the world of fitness and nutrition. Here you go with the list: 

• Overview of the History of Fitness and Nutrition
• After childbirth, what Role does fitness play in a woman’s life?
• Relationships between the fitness industry and the nutritional industry
• The Role of Fitness in the Health of the Public as a Whole
• What is the ideal number of fitness centers per 100 square kilometers, and where should they be located?
• How can nutrition influence hormones in college students and prevent unhealthy eating habits?
• Where to get guidance regarding fitness and precision nutrition?
• An overview of the technological developments occurring in the fitness industry as well as their relation to nutrition
• Weightlifters’ relationships with their bodies and their interaction with each other
• The practice of fitness is of interest to women: The rising trend of women’s gyms
• Taking part in fitness activities and meeting other people: A great source to socialize and release mental pressure
• Chronic diseases in college students accumulated with disordered eating habits
• Exercise as a means of combating stress and anxiety
• What are the reasons for practicing fitness exercises?
• The importance of exercise and proper nutrition in slowing down premature aging
• Pregnant women can benefit from fitness and nutrition during their pregnancy
• Number of exercises that can be used to combat metabolic diseases
• Exercises that are beneficial to the health of the lungs
• Heart disease prevention exercises that you can do at home
• An exercise program that will help you overcome physical inactivity and paralysis

Nutrition Research Topics Related to Sports

Student-athletes are always curious to learn how what they eat affects their Performance. These topics can be just as helpful to them as they are to medical students. Here’s your chance to write excellent nutritional research articles. 

• Nutritional requirements for the provision of micronutrients and nutrients to the athlete of the body
• Essential polyunsaturated fatty acids for sportsmen
• Trans fatty acids and conjugated fatty acids for sportsmen
• Estimation of daily energy expenditure by athletes
• Estimation of the basal metabolic rate
• Calculation of the recommended daily energy intake
• Nutritional Needs of the General Population Compared to Athletes
• Evolution of carbohydrate recommendations
• Dietary Supplements to enhance athletic Performance
• The Role of Glycogen in Performance
• Interaction and synergy of metabolic pathways
• Energy and carbohydrates metabolism
• Comparison of sporting disciplines in terms of diet
• Consumption of food products intended for athletes
• Consumption of food supplements
• A healthy controlled diet and health benefits of sports nutrition
• Dietary supplements to improve circulation and health benefits
• Muscular development and fat mass loss
• Proteins, amino acids, and derivatives: Athletic support requirements
• Dietary supplements used by Athletes and their risks
• An athlete’s fight against fatigue.
• Athletes need vitamins
• Risks of post-exercise products

Food and Nutrition Research Topics

Understanding how different foods affect your health is a great reason to watch what you eat. The following topics can help you narrow your focus on the important aspects of food and nutrition that everyone should know about.

• The foods that contribute to negative thinking
• Chemical analysis of foods leads to negative thinking and fatigue.
• An economic analysis of food systems
• Health benefits of organic food vs. staple food
• The food security situation in the northern Saharan region
• An analysis of strategies that can be used to build resilience to food insecurity
• A food security perspective on the vegetable sector
• Evaluation of the food security situation in the country
• Insufficient nutrition among children is a significant problem.
• Urban Malnutrition and its Determinants in the developing world
• How public stock of food products Significantly impacts public health and safety.
• Households vulnerable to successive food shocks show a high level of resilience.
• Gardening for market income and ensuring the security of food and nutrition
• The profile and integrated management of severe acute malnutrition at the San Jose Hospital: a case study
• Unique health benefits of food additives for college students
• Nutritional contributions of keto diets
• Role of administrative authorities to assure food safety
• The nutritional and dietary behaviors of specific populations, as well as patients with specific conditions
• The determinants of eating innovative behavior
• Nutrition and health are interconnected through the mechanism of nutrient absorption.

Health and Nutrition Research Topics

We feel what we eat impacts our daily health and happiness. Some people want to change their diet but don’t know where to begin or how to avoid eating disorders. This list of hot topics will let you explore that. 

• In terms of climate change and food security, what is the extent of the problem?
• Monitoring the nutritional status of the population utilizing various methods
• The promotion of nutrition research in the human population
• Importance of food safety in society
• The process of training teachers, trainers, and relay personnel.
• Training in the fields of medicine and paramedicine.
• Public health measures and actions that have been taken to improve public health
• Media and personality involvement in food and health issues at the level of artistic, cultural, and sports media and personalities
• How poor eating habits lead to food addiction and too many vitamins
• Establishing a system for evaluating the food provided to hospital patients
• An overview of nutrition-related illnesses and their diagnosis and treatment
• Initiatives aimed at educating patients on the importance of diet and health
• Tool to assess nutritional status as part of a clinical assessment
• How unbalanced diets and poor eating habits lead to poor nutrition
• Different food groups contribute to the immune system as healthier alternatives to poor feeding habits.
• Different food groups ensure healthy eating effects and prevent eating disorders.
• Ensure food safety with dietary guidelines with the help of food science.

Easy Nutrition Research Topics

If you want to avoid the complexities of research by choosing a simple topic, go with this list. Still, if you need help choosing a topic or writing a research paper, let  our writers  know. Here’s the list. 

• Global food systems: A research paper on the subject
• The women’s perspective on breastfeeding and returning to work after maternity leave
• The effects of a balanced diet on the weight gain of pregnant women
• Health benefits of proper nutrition in women
• Consultation about diet during pregnancy and the delivery of twins.
• The importance of diet monitoring during pregnancy for women with gestational diabetes
• Managing diabetes in pregnant women and following up with them after delivery
• The impact of nutrition and micro-nutrition on the development of autoimmune diseases
• Analyzing the Effectiveness of artificial nutrition prescription practices in Adults
• The impact of a vegetarian diet on the development of a child
• Health benefits of nutrition education and promoting healthy food choices
• A guide for vegetarian pregnant women on how to take care of themselves
• The relationship between micronutrients and immunity
• Proper nutrition to overcome food additions and lose weight with homemade food
• The effect of lifestyle and dietary measures on patients with heart failure
• An examination of the relationship between oral health and nutrition in a population
• A study on the marketing of fruits and vegetables and healthy eating: characterization of the marketing channels involved
• How food science contributes to endorsing and promoting proper nutrition with the help of healthy organic foods
• A review of the association between orthostatic hypertension and geriatric syndromes
• The self-esteem of patients with liver transplants in terms of their physical appearance
• A report on the state of undernutrition in several hospitals on the island of Reunion
• Non-drug therapies in the management of pain in women: an overview of their use
• Insomnia management is based on a multidisciplinary approach.
• The Role of Communication in preventive actions in Pharmacies

For centuries, people have been fascinated with understanding how our bodies work and respond. That’s why there are so many interesting  research topics  on nutrition and nursing for today’s students to pick from. Speaking of which, we have put together 200 of the best nutrition topics for your research paper in this exciting blog post.

What are the 7 Areas of Nutrition?

The seven areas of nutrition are:

• Macronutrients
• Micronutrients
• Dietary Guidelines
• Nutritional assessment

What are five common nutritional concerns?

Five common nutritional concerns are:

• Inadequate Nutrient Intake
• Excessive Calorie Consumption
• Nutrient Deficiencies
• Unhealthy Eating Patterns
• Food Allergies or intolerances.

What are the three popular food-related topics for research?

Three popular food-related topics for research are:

• Sustainable Food Systems
• The Impact of Dietary Choices on Health and Disease Prevention
• The Development of Innovative Food Technologies to Address Food Security and Safety.

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Science Pinpoints Nutrients Crucial to Brain Health

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, May 23, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Specific nutrients could play a pivotal role in the healthy aging of your brain, a new study finds.

What’s more, those nutrients correlate closely with those found in the Mediterranean diet, an eating pattern already associated with healthy brain aging , researchers report.

The identified nutrients “align with the extensive body of research in the field demonstrating the positive health effects of the Mediterranean Diet, which emphasizes foods rich in these beneficial nutrients,” said senior researcher Aron Barbey , director of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior.

For the study, researchers took blood samples and performed brain function tests and MRI scans on 100 cognitively healthy people ages 65 to 75.

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Analysis revealed two different types of brain aging among the participants, accelerated and slower than expected.

Those with slower brain aging had a distinct nutrient profile in their blood samples, results show.

The beneficial nutrient blood biomarkers included a combination of:

Fatty acids (vaccenic, gondoic, alpha linolenic, elcosapentaenoic, eicosadienoic and lignoceric acids).

Antioxidants and carotenoids including cis-lutein, trans-lutein and zeaxanthin

Two forms of vitamin E.

Choline, an essential nutrient.

This profile correlates closely with that of the Mediterranean diet, researchers noted.

These nutrient patterns “are promising and have favorable associations with measures of cognitive performance and brain health,” Barbey said in a university news release.

Previous research on nutrition and brain aging has relied on food questionnaires, which depend on participants remembering what they’ve eaten.

This is one of the first and largest studies to check blood markers for nutrient levels, and combine that data with brain imaging and cognitive testing, researchers said.

“This allows us to build a more robust understanding of the relationship between these factors,” Barbey said.

“We move beyond simply measuring cognitive performance with traditional neuropsychological tests,” Barbey noted. “Instead, we simultaneously examine brain structure, function and metabolism, demonstrating a direct link between these brain properties and cognitive abilities. Furthermore, we show that these brain properties are directly linked to diet and nutrition, as revealed by the patterns observed in nutrient biomarkers.”

The findings were published May 21 in the journal Nature Aging .

Researchers plan to continue studying this nutrient profile and its role in healthy brain aging. They hope the findings will lay the foundation for therapies to promote brain health.

“An important next step involves conducting randomized, controlled trials,” Barbey said. “In these trials, we will isolate specific nutrients with favorable associations with cognitive function and brain health, and administer them in the form of nutraceuticals,” which are foods or supplements designed to boost health.

“This will allow us to definitively assess whether increasing the levels of these specific nutrient profiles reliably leads to improvements in cognitive test performance and measures of brain structure, function and metabolism,” Barbey added.

More information

The American Heart Association has more about the Mediterranean diet .

SOURCE: University of Nebraska–Lincoln, news release, May 21, 2024

Copyright © 2024 HealthDay . All rights reserved.

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Researchers develop easy-to-use screening tool to help improve family access to federal nutrition programs

by Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Researchers from The Possibilities Project and Clinical Futures at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have developed, implemented and successfully tested a nutrition screener to improve access to healthy resources for families eligible for federally-funded food benefits. The findings were published this week in the journal Annals of Family Medicine .

Many low-income families rely on the federally-funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for nutritional support, and both programs have been linked to improved health outcomes and decreased health care costs . However, many eligible families do not receive these program benefits because of the complex application and enrollment process.

"Prior studies at CHOP show that 50% of people who are eligible for services like WIC might not actually be taking advantage of them," said study co-author George Dalembert, MD, Associate Director of the Center for Health Equity at CHOP.

The Possibilities Project at CHOP aims to design innovative strategies and implement new ideas to better serve patients. In this study, to help eligible families navigate this system, researchers designed and tested a standardized process for linking families to WIC and SNAP during pediatric primary care visits. This nutrition screener was a tablet-based questionnaire that asked eligible families whether they were interested in help applying for WIC or SNAP or wanted information about local food banks.

Caregivers who requested help applying for WIC or SNAP received a phone call within a week offering targeted assistance with benefits enrollment. Information was also printed out during the office visit and linked to their child's patient portal.

In the first month of the pilot in November 2022, 433 families completed the screener (74% in person, 26% via patient portal), and 73 (17%) requested nutrition resources, including 17 who requested information about local food banks, and 56 families who requested benefits application support. Of these 56 families, 25 (45%) were reached by telephone and 21 (38%) were successfully connected to WIC and/or SNAP or given the information they requested. However, many families (55%) could not be reached as they either had incorrect contact information listed in the electronic health record (12%) or did not respond to telephone calls from our resource navigator (43%).

"The approach we developed may be one important way to normalize social needs assessment and provide families with additional nutrition support," said lead study author Aditi Vasan, MD, an attending physician with the Division of General Pediatrics at CHOP.

"To ensure all families in need are able to receive appropriate support, clinics should consider priming caregivers to expect follow-up from a resource navigator, as well as asking about preferred contact method and incorporating additional outreach approaches like text messaging."

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Top Nutrition Research Paper Topics for Students

Table of contents

• 1 Nutrition Research Topics for College Students
• 2 Interesting Nutrition Topics for Research Paper
• 3 Research Topics in Nutrition and Dietetics
• 4 Sports Nutrition Topics for Research
• 5 Other Popular Nutrition Paper Topics
• 6 Conclusion

Sometimes, coming up with an interesting topic is much more challenging than even writing a 10-page essay. After all, there are so many unique themes you could divulge, and choosing the only one that would suit your needs best can be overwhelming.

To narrow down your list of potential nutrition topics for research, it’s in your best interest to start with broader themes that spark your interest. For example, do you want to know more about how food impacts health and disease? Are you more interested in the psychological and emotional connection to food? Perhaps you’ve always been curious about nutrition and muscle development or weight loss?

Once you have a general direction, you’d like to go in, and finding suitable topics becomes much easier.

But if you’re still struggling with finding inspiration for your next essay, you should check out PapersOwl’s nutrition research paper topic suggestions. We’ve compiled a list of dozens of unique topics that’ll help you finish your assignment.

And if you need more than just suggestions, you can always find nutrition and nursing papers for sale on our platform.

Without further ado, let’s get into some of the best topic ideas!

Nutrition Research Topics for College Students

The following are some of the best nutrition research paper topics for college students who want to learn more about the themes that directly affect them. And in case you need assistance with writing any of the following topics, you can order custom research papers and receive authentic, plagiarism-free content written by nutrition experts.

• Stress eating a growing problem among college students
• The cause and effects of Freshman 15
• How healthy foods can help deal with mental health issues
• Sleep and nutrition –how they relate to each other
• How healthy eating impacts a college athlete’s performance
• Is breakfast the most important meal of the day?
• Why women are more likely to suffer from anemia
• Preventing/curing hangovers with smarter food choices
• The impact of social media on students’ dietary choices
• What are superfoods, and can they be beneficial?
• The rising popularity of the paleo diet
• What makes fast food so addictive?
• Most common eating disorders among college students
• Diet and mood – how they’re intertwined
• Can healthy foods improve cognition and brain power?

Interesting Nutrition Topics for Research Paper

If you’d prefer a bit more exciting topic that encourages debate and gets your readers immersed, take a look at the following nutrition research paper topic suggestions.

• Overcoming unhealthy emotional relationship with food
• The intricate relationship between smoking and weight
• How sleep moderates ghrelin and leptin levels
• Cannabinoids as nutritional supplements
• Prevalence of diabetes among college students
• How helpful are gummy vitamins?
• Genetic predispositions for becoming obese
• How parents’ eating habits impact children’s dietary choices
• Preventing eating disorders in teens and young adults
• How the body positivity movement can be harmful to young adults
• In-depth review of US school lunches – what needs to change?
• Preventing chronic diseases with better food choices
• Is overhydration more dangerous than dehydration?
• The impact of social media on women’s body image
• Hormones and nutrition – how are they connected?

Research Topics in Nutrition and Dietetics

Analyzing diets and their impact on our health and fitness is always intriguing. Learn more about nutrition and dietetics with some of the following nutrition research topics:

• Keto diet and risk considerations
• Dietary changes during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Nutrition vs. physical activity for healthy weight management
• Methods for improving physical fitness while limiting calorie intake
• In-depth analysis of yo-yo dieting
• How going vegan impacts health
• Dietary fats – the good and the bad
• The dark side of the juice cleanse
• The role of proteins in weight loss
• How popular diet trends affect your health
• Is intermittent fasting a good way to lose weight?
• In-depth analysis of compulsive eating disorder Pica
• Harmful trends that promote eating disorders
• How to ensure proper nutrient intake on a plant-based diet
• Are vegan foods always healthier?

Sports Nutrition Topics for Research

Student-athletes always want to know more about how food and nutrition impact their performance. The following topics can be just as useful to them as they are to med students.

• Prevalence of eating disorders among female athletes
• How plant-based diets impact athletes’ performance
• How much protein you need for optimal muscle development
• The role of BCAA’s in weightlifting performance among seniors
• Is when you eat just as important as what you eat?
• The impact of food choices on muscle recovery
• Maintaining electrolyte balance during endurance training
• The role of creatine in improving athletic performance
• How to safely cut weight ahead of a competition
• Effects of dietary fibers on carbohydrate uptake and absorption
• What athletes need to know about BMI
• Most effective supplements for bone and tendon health in combat athletes
• How caffeine impacts athletic performance
• In-depth analysis or Peri-Workout nutrition for strength athletes
• Examining the effects of low-carb diet trends on athletic performance

Other Popular Nutrition Paper Topics

Miscellaneous topics can often be some of the most interesting ones, especially since few students ever opt for them. Browse through these ten unique topics and choose the one that suits you best.

Once you’ve found a great topic, writing becomes a much easier task. But if you can’t find the time for your paper, a quick search for services that can “ write my research paper for me ” could be a God-send.

• Infant brain development and nutrition
• How a mother’s dietary choices impact the quality of breastmilk
• Symptoms of malnutrition among children
• Immune system and diet – how they’re connected
• The real science behind GMO food
• The effects of thermal processing on nutrients
• Factors contributing to obesity among young Americans
• Different nutritional needs among different age groups
• Dietary differences between low-income and high-income households
• Foods that boost serotonin levels

Exploring the ways how human bodies work and react has interested people for thousands of years. No wonder there are a lot of engaging dietary and nursing research topics for modern students to choose from. You’ve already got acquainted with 70 of our top nutrition topics for research papers, so gather inspiration from our list and get started with your essay!

If you need further assistance with your writing, PapersOwl’s experts are available 24/7. Contact us, and place your order for custom nutrition papers.

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Straight Talk About Soy

The Takeaway: Soy is a unique food that is widely studied for its estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects on the body. Studies may seem to present conflicting conclusions about soy, but this is largely due to the wide variation in how soy is studied. Results of recent population studies suggest that soy has either a beneficial or neutral effect on various health conditions. Soy is a nutrient-dense source of protein that can safely be consumed several times a week, and probably more often, and is likely to provide health benefits—especially when eaten as an alternative to red and processed meat.

Soy is exalted as a health food by some, with claims of taming hot flashes, warding off osteoporosis, and protecting against hormonal cancers like breast and prostate.

At the same time, soy is shunned by others for fear that it may cause breast cancer, thyroid problems, and dementia, though these claims have not been substantiated.

Whether published in a popular press article or a well-designed clinical study, some debate about soy remains. As a species within the legume family , nutrition scientists often label soy as a food with potential for significant health benefits. However, due to contrary research that suggests possible negative effects of soy in certain situations, there has been a hesitancy to wholeheartedly promote soy.

Part of the uncertainty is due to the intricacy of soy’s effects on the body. Soy is unique in that it contains a high concentration of isoflavones, a type of plant estrogen (phytoestrogen) that is similar in function to human estrogen but with much weaker effects. Soy isoflavones can bind to estrogen receptors in the body and cause either weak estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activity. The two major soy isoflavones are called genistein and daidzein. Soy isoflavones and soy protein appear to have different actions in the body based on the following factors:

• Type of study . Is it being examined in a study with animals or humans? Soy may be metabolized differently in animals, so the outcomes of animal studies may not be applicable to humans.
• Hormone levels . Because soy can have estrogenic properties, its effects can vary depending on the existing level of hormones in the body. Premenopausal women have much higher circulating levels of estradiol—the major form of estrogen in the human body—than postmenopausal women. In this context soy may act like an anti-estrogen, but among postmenopausal women soy may act more like an estrogen. Also, women with breast cancer are classified into hormone type—either hormone positive (ER+/PR+) or hormone negative (ER-/PR-) breast cancer—and these tumors respond differently to estrogens.
• Type of soy . What type of soy is being studied: Whole soy foods such as tofu and soybeans, processed versions like soy protein powders, or soy-based veggie burgers? Fermented or unfermented soy foods? If supplements are used, do they contain isoflavones or soy protein?

Thus, there are many factors that make it difficult to construct blanket statements about the health effects of soy. 

Aside from their isoflavone content, soy foods are rich in nutrients including B vitamins , fiber , potassium , magnesium , and high-quality protein . Unlike some plant proteins, soy protein is considered a complete protein, containing all nine essential amino acids that the body cannot make which must be obtained from the diet. Soy foods are also classified as fermented or unfermented (see table with examples, below). Fermented means that the soy food has been cultured with beneficial bacteria , yeast, or mold. Some believe that fermenting soy improves its digestibility and absorption in the body, as this process partially breaks down soy’s sugar and protein molecules.

Research on Soy and Disease

Learn more about the research on soy and specific diseases or other conditions:

Soy protein took center stage after research showed that it might lower levels of harmful cholesterol. A 1995 meta-analysis of 38 controlled clinical trials showed that eating approximately 50 grams of soy protein a day (no small amount as this translates to 1½ pounds of tofu or eight 8-ounce glasses of soy milk!) in place of animal protein reduced harmful LDL cholesterol by 12.9 percent. [1] Such reductions, if sustained over time, could mean a greater than 20% lower risk of heart attack, stroke, or other forms of cardiovascular disease. In response to this finding, in 1999 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed companies to claim that diets low in saturated fat and cholesterol that also contain soy “may reduce the risk of heart disease.” [2]

However, a number of studies since have tempered that finding. [3] According to a comprehensive update of soy research by the nutrition committee of the American Heart Association (AHA) published in 2000, eating 50 grams of soy per day lowered LDL by only about 3%. [3] In October 2017, after review of additional scientific studies since the health claim was authorized, the FDA proposed a rule to revoke the claim because numerous studies presented inconsistent findings on the relationship between soy protein and heart disease. [4] Some of these inconsistencies may have resulted because soy was compared with a variety of alternative foods.

Even though soy protein may have only a small direct effect on cholesterol, soy may still benefit the heart in other ways. An epidemiological study following three large cohorts of American men and women who did not have cardiovascular disease at the start of the study found that those who ate the highest amounts of tofu and isoflavones from soy foods, compared with those who ate the least, had an 18% and 13% lower risk, respectively, of developing heart disease. [5] The benefit of tofu was stronger in premenopausal women and postmenopausal women not using hormone therapy.

Soy foods are generally good for the heart and blood vessels because they provide polyunsaturated fat, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and are low in saturated fat. Replacing red meat with plant proteins including soy foods, beans, and nuts was associated with a 14% lower risk of heart disease, as found in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, a large long-term epidemiological study of more than 43,000 men. [6] Another large cohort of more than 500,000 Chinese adults with no previous cardiovascular disease found that those with the highest intakes of soy (4+ days a week) compared with those who never ate soy had a 25% lower risk of deaths from heart attack. [7]

Hormone replacement therapy has traditionally been used as an effective treatment for hot flashes and other unpleasant symptoms that accompany menopause, but its long-term use has raised concerns of an increased risk of some diseases including breast cancer and stroke. Soy has been a popular alternative treatment but not clearly supported by research; in theory the potential estrogenic effects of soy isoflavones could help to tame hot flashes by giving an estrogen-like boost during a time of dwindling estrogen levels.

In many Far East Asian countries where soy is eaten daily, women have lower rates of menopausal symptoms, although research is conflicting as to whether soy is a primary contributor. [8] Reports suggest that about 70–80% of U.S. women of menopausal and perimenopausal age experience hot flashes, in comparison with 10–20% of Far Eastern Asian women. [9] Further, the average blood concentration of the isoflavone genistein in Asian women who regularly consume soy is about 12 times higher than that of U.S. women. [9]

Yet several meta-analyses and carefully controlled clinical studies have not found strong evidence of a link. [10,11] An AHA review in 2006 concluded that it was unlikely that soy isoflavones exert enough estrogenic activity to have an important impact on hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. [3] A JAMA review the same year found highly conflicting results with soy isoflavone extracts and stated that the overall evidence did not support its benefit in relieving hot flashes. [12]

In another review of 43 randomized controlled trials have examined the effects of phytoestrogens on hot flashes and night sweats in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Four trials found that extracts of 30 mg or greater of genistein consistently reduced the frequency of hot flashes. Other trials that used dietary soy or soy extracts suggested a reduced frequency and severity of hot flashes and night sweats when compared with placebo, but these trials were small with a possible strong placebo effect. [8] No adverse effects were noted from the soy treatments when followed for up to two years, but the authors did not feel overall there was strong and consistent evidence for a benefit of soy.

Another meta-analysis of 16 studies found that soy isoflavone supplements had a small and gradual effect in weakening menopausal hot flashes compared with estradiol (human estrogen). However, authors noted weaknesses in the analysis due to a small number of participants and high variability in study design. [9]

A more recent review of randomized trials found that some studies showed benefit of soy supplements on hot flashes; the therapeutic dosage ranged from 40-70 mg of isoflavones daily. [13] The authors also observed that the presence of equol (a protective substance made from the breakdown of isoflavones that only some women can produce) may be needed for isoflavones to effectively reduce hot flashes. Despite these results, the study authors did not offer a confident conclusion on the use of isoflavone supplements due to variations in study design and length; differences in the types and dosages of supplements; and the small sample sizes and high drop-out rates.

This area needs further research as questions remain about a possible benefit of soy. Results are conflicting, potentially due to variation in the types of soy preparations used, the quantities given, and for how long they are used.

Phytoestrogens don’t always mimic estrogen. In some tissues and in some people, they may block the action of estrogen. If soy’s estrogen-blocking action occurs in the breast, then eating soy could, in theory, reduce the risk of breast cancer because estrogen stimulates the growth and multiplication of breast and breast cancer cells. Studies so far have not provided a clear answer. Some have shown a benefit with soy consumption and breast cancer while others show no association. [14-17] It appears that the effects of soy may vary depending on menopausal status, the age at which soy is consumed, and type of breast cancer.

In animal and cell studies, high dosages of isoflavone or isolated soy protein extracts tend to stimulate breast cancer growth. [18,19] However, studies that observe people consuming soy foods over time show either a protective or neutral effect. Women from Asian countries appear to receive greater protective benefit from breast cancer with high soy intakes than American and European women, but this may simply be a difference in the amount of soy consumed. [20,21] Asian women may have higher levels of equol, a substance metabolized from the isoflavone daidzein by bacterial flora in the intestines. [22] Equol is believed to block potentially negative effects of human estrogen, but not all women possess the bacteria needed to create equol. [23] It is estimated that 30-50% of all humans are able to produce equol. [24] Eating soy foods starting at an early age (such as those found in many traditional Far East Asian diets) may be why women from some countries find greater benefit from soy foods than others. [19] However, the overall evidence on equol and cancer risk is unsettled. [25]

The Shanghai Women’s Health Study which followed 73,223 Chinese women for more than 7 years has been the largest and most detailed study of soy and breast cancer risk in a population with high soy consumption. [26] In this study, women who ate the most soy had a 59% lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer compared with those who ate the lowest amounts of soy. There was no association with postmenopausal breast cancer. Risk was 43% lower when soy was eaten during adolescence. Seven years later, the study authors published a follow-up analysis from the same cohort over 13 years to evaluate any association between soy foods and specific types of breast cancer defined by hormone receptors and by menopausal status (Estrogen [ER] +/-; Progesterone [PR] +/-). [27] Key highlights of the study:

• A 22% lower risk of breast cancer when comparing the highest to lowest intakes of soy during adulthood.
• A 28% lower risk of hormone positive (ER+, PR+) breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
• A 54% lower risk of hormone negative (ER-, PR-) breast cancer in premenopausal women.
• A 47% lower risk of premenopausal breast cancer when comparing high to low intakes of soy during adolescence and adulthood.

The Breast Cancer Family Registry was a prospective study following 6,235 women for 9 years diagnosed with breast cancer and living in the U.S. and Canada; intake of soy isoflavones was examined in relation to deaths from all causes. [28] Key highlights of the study:

• Women who ate the highest amounts of soy isoflavones had a 21% lower risk of death compared with women with the lowest intakes.
• Women who had ER-/PR- tumors and who were not receiving tamoxifen appeared to receive greatest benefit from the higher soy isoflavone intakes. However, isoflavone intake did not have a negative impact on women who were receiving tamoxifen or who had ER+/PR+ tumors.
• Of all ethnicities, Asian American women tended to have the highest isoflavone intakes at about 6 mg daily, but this amount was still much lower than women living in Asian countries who eat closer to 46 mg daily. The authors noted that American women appeared to benefit from eating smaller amounts of soy.

Another prospective study followed 1,954 American women who were breast cancer survivors for six years. [29] Key highlights of the study:

• Among postmenopausal women treated with tamoxifen, breast cancer recurrence was 60% lower when comparing the highest to the lowest daidzein (a specific type of soy isoflavone) No benefit was observed in women who had never used tamoxifen.
• Recurrence was lower with increasing isoflavone intake among women with tumors that were ER+/PR+ but not ER-/PR-.
• The most frequent sources of soy foods were not whole or minimally processed soy foods, but rather soy sauce, breakfast or diet drinks, tofu, diet bars, and soy protein isolate powder. The mean amount of isoflavones in the “high” category was about 19 mg daidzein and 27 mg genistein daily—a modest amount compared with Asian populations.
• The authors concluded that soy isoflavones eaten at levels comparable to those in Asian populations may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in women receiving tamoxifen therapy and does not appear to interfere with tamoxifen efficacy. However, the findings need to be confirmed because they were mainly in subgroups and could be due to chance.

Prospective studies also find soy foods to be protective from breast cancer deaths:

• A cohort study of 1,460 Chinese women who were early-stage breast cancer survivors looked at dietary soy isoflavone intakes at baseline and after the breast cancer diagnosis, over a four-year period. [30] Higher soy intakes at baseline were associated with a 66% lower risk of deaths from any cause and a 64% lower risk of deaths from breast cancer. Higher soy intakes after diagnosis were associated with a 64% and 51% lower risk of deaths, from any cause and from breast cancer, respectively. The effects were greater in women who were premenopausal, had ER-/PR- tumors, and were taking tamoxifen.
• A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies found a 12% reduction in breast cancer deaths with each 5 gram per day increase in soy protein intake. [31]

However, randomized controlled trials do not show an effect of soy foods on risk factors for breast cancer:

• A review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) looked at isoflavone intakes ranging from 36-235 mg/day from food or supplements, taken from 1 month to 3 years, and breast cancer risk (as measured by breast density, changes in estrogen, and bloodwork) in healthy women. [32] The eighteen RCTs included both pre- and postmenopausal participants. No changes in breast cancer risk factors were found with isoflavone intakes. The authors noted limitations in their analysis in that there were wide variations in numbers of participants and the doses and duration of treatments, which made drawing firm conclusions difficult. Most importantly, these studies did not examine actual incidence of breast cancer.

The incidence of prostate cancer is highest in Western countries and lowest in Asian countries, where soy foods are a regular part of the daily diet. In addition, observational studies have found an increased risk of prostate cancer in Chinese and Japanese men who move to Western countries and adopt a Western diet, but not in those who continue eating a traditional diet. [33] Soy isoflavones, specifically genistein and daidzein, are incorporated in prostate tissue and may act as weak estrogens and inhibit the development of prostate cancer. [34]

In a meta-analysis of 30 case-control and cohort studies from the U.S., Europe, Japan, and China, intakes of total soy foods, genistein, daidzein, and unfermented soy foods were associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer. [34]

A review of eight randomized controlled trials examined the effects of soy in men with or at risk of developing prostate cancer. Two of these studies found that isoflavone supplements or dietary soy protein reduced the risk of prostate cancer in men at high risk of developing the disease. However, none of the studies found a significant effect on prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, a protein produced by the prostate gland that is used to detect prostate cancer. There were no adverse effects reported with soy supplementation. The authors discussed limitations of the review including the small number of participants, the short duration of studies (less than one year), and variation in dosages and types of soy given. [33]

A small randomized controlled trial in 2021 examined if soy protein supplements could slow down or reverse rising PSA levels in men who had previously been diagnosed and treated for prostate cancer, but who had a recurrence (as evidenced by rising PSA levels). The study found that even though the soy protein supplements increased blood levels of genistein, there was no effect of the supplement versus placebo on PSA levels when given for 6-8 months. [35]

Fermented soy foods commonly eaten in East Asian diets, including natto, tempeh, soy paste, and soy sauce, contain isoflavones and also bacteria that might have benefits for neurological disorders including cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Soy’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects may reduce the oxidative stresses associated with AD and PD. [36] Animal studies have suggest that soy compounds can weaken the progression of AD and prevent nerve cell death. They also find that soy can reduce inflammation and excess free radical production in the brain. AD has been associated with decreased levels of beneficial anti-inflammatory bacteria while harboring increased levels of proinflammatory bacteria.  Fermented soy foods are produced with beneficial bacteria like Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, and Bacillus species that produce butyrate, a short-chain fatty acid that regulates immune function and is being investigated for its protective effects on the brain.

Long-term low levels of estrogen the occur in menopausal women can reduce the number of estrogen receptors in the brain that are necessary for specific cognitive functions like memory and learning. [37] The soy isoflavone, daidzein, has been hypothesized to reduce decline in cognitive function or disease processes related to cognition and behavior. Thus, the possibility has been raised that eating soy foods might help prevent age-related memory loss or decline in thinking skills. [38]

Studies in humans, however, are not conclusive on soy’s effects on the brain:

• Trials have yielded contradictory results, with some showing a benefit with soy isoflavone supplementation [39, 40] and others showing no benefit. [41-43] A review of 13 randomized controlled trials found that in about half of the studies, isoflavone supplementation had a beneficial effect on cognition in older men and women compared with controls, including improvements in attention, information-processing speed, and memory. However the results overall were mixed, with other studies not demonstrating a benefit. This may have been due to differing dosages given or the types of cognition tests used. [37]

One large study in men found a detrimental effect on cognitive function. In a prospective cohort study of more than 3,700 Japanese-American men living in Hawaii, those with the highest intakes of tofu (eaten almost daily) at midlife ages had greater cognitive impairment and brain atrophy in late life compared with men with the lowest tofu intakes (almost never eaten). [44] However, the actual number of men eating very high amounts of tofu was small, and past dietary information was collected by relying on the participants’ memory, some of whom may have already experienced cognitive decline. Because of this, the researchers stated that the findings were too preliminary to make recommendations. [45]

A meta-analysis of 18 randomized controlled trials found that although soy supplements raised thyroid stimulating hormone levels slightly, they did not have any effect on actual thyroid hormone production. [46] However, another study found that soy may interfere with thyroid hormone medication used to treat hypothyroidism. In one randomized double-blinded trial, 60 patients with a mild form of hypothyroidism (called subclinical hypothyroidism) were given low or high-dose phytoestrogen supplements (both also contained 30 grams of soy protein), the amount that might be obtained from a vegetarian diet. [47] Risk of developing clinical hypothyroidism was increased in the higher phytoestrogen group (no effect in the lower phytoestrogen group). The authors suggested that female vegetarian patients with subclinical hypothyroidism may need more careful monitoring of thyroid function. However, the authors also found a benefit on of reduced cardiovascular risk factors in the high phytoestrogen group, with a significant reduction in insulin resistance, inflammatory markers, and blood pressure. The effect of soy on thyroid function needs further examination.

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EDITORIAL article

This article is part of the research topic.

Dietary Diversity Indicators: Cultural Preferences and Health Outcomes

Editorial for Research Topic "Dietary Diversity Indicators: Cultural Preferences and Health Outcomes" Provisionally Accepted

• 1 Otsuma Women's University, Japan

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

Dietary diversity, which refers to the total number of different foods consumed per day or per week and their association with health outcomes, can be used to improve nutritional outcomes. Even individuals who are unsure about what constitutes a healthy diet can enhance their nutritional status by increasing dietary diversity. The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health organizations recommend consuming a diverse range of food groups to prevent nutrient deficiencies and chronic illnesses (WHO, 2023).Dietary guidelines in many developed countries recommend consuming a variety of foods (Cámara et al., 2021). In Japan, the dietary guidelines established in 1985 advised a daily intake of 30 different foods to prevent nutritional deficiencies and diseases. The current guidelines no longer specify the recommended number of foods per day but emphasize a "well-balanced intake based on staple foods, main dishes, and side dishes," and the "combination of diverse foods" (Ministry of Agriculture, 2019). Previous epidemiological studies suggest that dietary diversity is closely associated with reduced mortality and lower incidence of diseases (Conklin et al., 2016;Farhangi & Jahangiry, 2018;et al., 1993;Kobayashi et al., 2020;Otsuka et al., 2020;Tao, Xie, & Huang, 2020;et al., 2022).Designing simple indicators that reflect nutritional sufficiency has become a priority for many in the field of public health nutrition.Focusing for example on the most vulnerable population epidemiological studies on the association between dietary diversity during pregnancy and birth outcomes indicate that maternal nutritional status is crucial for fetal growth and development. Pregnant women need to consume adequate amounts of macronutrients such as carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, as well as micronutrients including iron, zinc, and various vitamins. The adequate intake of folic acid early in pregnancy significantly reduces the risk of neural tube defects. For this reason, folic acid supplementation is recommended in many countries for women planning pregnancy, even before conception. By consuming a variety of foods rich in B vitamins, a mother can simultaneously receive folic acid and other important nutrients that promote the healthy development of the fetus.High dietary diversity provides balanced nutrition, which helps maintain proper blood glucose control and blood pressure, reducing the risk of gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension (Zerfu, Umeta, & Baye, 2016). Healthy eating habits also contribute to the prevention of overweight and obesity during pregnancy and reduce longterm health risks (Koletzko et al., 2018).Mothers with good nutritional status have been shown to be more likely to maintain good mental health during pregnancy (O'Neil et al., 2014). Malnutrition may increase the risk of anxiety and depression, but nutrient-rich diets have been reported to reduce these symptoms (Eliby et al., 2023).Four interesting papers were submitted to our Research Topics, each presenting significant findings:A study in Nekemte town, western Ethiopia, examined the association between adequate dietary diversity and related factors among pregnant women. Factors identified as associated with adequate dietary diversity included the wealth index, maternal care, women's occupation, household food insecurity, gestational age, and stable meal frequency. The study suggests that multi-sectoral collaboration is essential to increase dietary diversity among pregnant women by promoting women's employment and strengthening sustainable income-generating activities.In Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, the prevalence and determinants of the double burden of malnutrition among mothers and their children were assessed at the household level.Significant associations were found with the wealth index, dietary diversity, food security, and educational status. Public health interventions targeting these identified factors are recommended to reduce the double burden of malnutrition.A study in the Mt. Cameroon Health Region investigated micronutrient deficiencies and their effects on maternal hemoglobin levels. Maternal mean hemoglobin levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in women consuming heme iron (11.08 ± 1.35) and vitamin A food groups (11.34 ± 1.30) compared to those not consuming these groups (10.54 ± 1.19 and 10.74 ± 1.31, respectively). The findings emphasize the importance of increasing maternal nutritional awareness and counseling during the antenatal period to reduce the burden of anemia.The study investigated the association between dietary diversity and the risk of cataracts using data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) spanning 2008 to 2018. Data from 47,395 participants with an average age of 86.1 years were analyzed, revealing that a higher overall dietary diversity (odds ratio = 0.74) and plant-based diets (odds ratio = 0.65) were associated with a reduced risk of cataracts.Conversely, an animal-based diet was shown to slightly increase the risk (odds ratio = 0.90). Incorporating a diverse diet may serve as a cost-effective intervention strategy for the prevention of cataracts.These important findings underscore the necessity of implementing educational programs on the importance of dietary diversity to improve the nutritional status and health of women, achieve better birth outcomes, and also enhance the nutritional status of the elderly. Additionally, campaigns should be conducted within communities to promote healthy food choices and encourage the use of diverse ingredients. These strategies should be adapted to each local culture and available resources. By strengthening community partnerships and providing sustainable and practical solutions, we can improve the nutritional status of pregnant women and promote healthy birth outcomes. Additionally, as global aging progresses, it is crucial that public health policies and intervention programs aimed at improving the nutritional status of the elderly and extending healthy life expectancy are designed with consideration for local needs and conditions. This approach will enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of implementation. In other words, promoting dietary diversity goes beyond simply increasing the variety of foods consumed; it also entails ensuring access to nutrient-rich options. This requires addressing economic, cultural, and logistical barriers to healthy eating.

Keywords: dietary diversity, Nutritional Status, Pregnancy, BIRTH OUTCOMES, public health interventions, Nutrition in the elderly, Community partnerships

Received: 16 May 2024; Accepted: 30 May 2024.

Copyright: © 2024 Kobayashi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Dr. Minatsu Kobayashi, Otsuma Women's University, Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

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