12.04.23
The Council for Responsible Nutrition-International (CRN-I) has published the conference report, “Advancing Nutrition Science to Meet Evolving Global Health Needs,” in the European Journal of Nutrition.
The report summarizes findings presented during its annual Scientific Symposium in Düsseldorf, Germany, which brought together a global group of experts to shed light on nutrition challenges and policy efforts.
Among other topics to address nutrition gaps and obstacles to public health, precision and personalized nutrition were commonly discussed. Global challenges related to nutrition and health encompass diverse populations, including vulnerable groups like preschool children and women of reproductive age.
The conference honed in on three nutrient categories which have the potential to make a difference globally, including choline, NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) replenishment ingredients, and xanthophyll carotenoids like lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin.
Choline is an essential nutrient for early life development, and choline intake during pregnancy boosts brain development and inadequate dietary choline intake is associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects, making it a critical nutrient for expectant mothers and early childhood.
NAD replenishment is evidenced to have a role in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, according to CRN. Dietary modifications and nutritional supplementation were identified as potential strategies to reduce the risk of these debilitating conditions.
Xanthophyll carotenoids are natural lipid-soluble micronutrients that have potent biological activities which may protect against age-related diseases and vision-related conditions.
"Developing science demonstrates that choline, NAD replenishment, and xanthophyll carotenoids are helpful in preventing certain health problems,” said James C. Griffiths, Ph.D., co-author and senior vice president, international and scientific affairs, CRN. “Choline, for example, helps reduce issues with the brain and spinal cord in babies, NAD-replenishment can protect your brain against neurodegenerative diseases, and xanthophyll carotenoids help prevent the deterioration of eye and brain health.”
The body of evidence presented by the experts at this year’s event warrants an examination of setting nutrient reference values both globally and in specific countries, Griffiths noted.
The event also underscored the need to address malnutrition in many parts of the world, amid concerns about reversal of progress from the COVID-19 pandemic and rising food prices.
As people live longer, nutrition recommendations are also shifting from the prevention of nutrient deficiencies to supporting optimal health, especially in the face of rising rates of age-related and chronic diseases. The forum noted the importance of precision nutrition, including factors like age, gender, environment, genetics, and the human microbiome. Understanding the role of the microbiome in nutrient metabolism and its impact on individual health was highlighted.
Lack of comprehensive dietary intake data, which is vital for understanding dietary patterns to inform policies, was another point of emphasis. The report notes that efforts are need to improve data collection and analysis. The report called for better biomarkers for micronutrients, as well as for functional markers of biological age versus chronological age.
The symposium noted that these global nutrition challenges require a multi-faceted approach, with policy shifts and more evidence-based solutions.
Reports from CRN-I symposia are published in the European Journal of Nutrition and Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology with translations in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish, available on CRN-I’s website.
The report summarizes findings presented during its annual Scientific Symposium in Düsseldorf, Germany, which brought together a global group of experts to shed light on nutrition challenges and policy efforts.
Among other topics to address nutrition gaps and obstacles to public health, precision and personalized nutrition were commonly discussed. Global challenges related to nutrition and health encompass diverse populations, including vulnerable groups like preschool children and women of reproductive age.
The conference honed in on three nutrient categories which have the potential to make a difference globally, including choline, NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) replenishment ingredients, and xanthophyll carotenoids like lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin.
Choline is an essential nutrient for early life development, and choline intake during pregnancy boosts brain development and inadequate dietary choline intake is associated with an increased risk of neural tube defects, making it a critical nutrient for expectant mothers and early childhood.
NAD replenishment is evidenced to have a role in preventing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, according to CRN. Dietary modifications and nutritional supplementation were identified as potential strategies to reduce the risk of these debilitating conditions.
Xanthophyll carotenoids are natural lipid-soluble micronutrients that have potent biological activities which may protect against age-related diseases and vision-related conditions.
"Developing science demonstrates that choline, NAD replenishment, and xanthophyll carotenoids are helpful in preventing certain health problems,” said James C. Griffiths, Ph.D., co-author and senior vice president, international and scientific affairs, CRN. “Choline, for example, helps reduce issues with the brain and spinal cord in babies, NAD-replenishment can protect your brain against neurodegenerative diseases, and xanthophyll carotenoids help prevent the deterioration of eye and brain health.”
The body of evidence presented by the experts at this year’s event warrants an examination of setting nutrient reference values both globally and in specific countries, Griffiths noted.
The event also underscored the need to address malnutrition in many parts of the world, amid concerns about reversal of progress from the COVID-19 pandemic and rising food prices.
As people live longer, nutrition recommendations are also shifting from the prevention of nutrient deficiencies to supporting optimal health, especially in the face of rising rates of age-related and chronic diseases. The forum noted the importance of precision nutrition, including factors like age, gender, environment, genetics, and the human microbiome. Understanding the role of the microbiome in nutrient metabolism and its impact on individual health was highlighted.
Lack of comprehensive dietary intake data, which is vital for understanding dietary patterns to inform policies, was another point of emphasis. The report notes that efforts are need to improve data collection and analysis. The report called for better biomarkers for micronutrients, as well as for functional markers of biological age versus chronological age.
The symposium noted that these global nutrition challenges require a multi-faceted approach, with policy shifts and more evidence-based solutions.
Reports from CRN-I symposia are published in the European Journal of Nutrition and Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology with translations in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish, available on CRN-I’s website.
