Science of Nutrition

Good nutrition isn’t just about maintaining a healthy weight.

The definition of nutrition is the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for growth, metabolism, and health.  

One way nutrition contributes to overall health is by decreasing the risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain types of cancer.

Some considerations when looking at nutrition research are:

1. Unlike pharmaceutical research which often involves taking medicine in a pill form, it is difficult to “blind” study participants when studying whole foods or the macronutrient composition of the diet.

2. How do the results of a study fit into the current body of evidence on the topic?  One study alone is typically not enough to make broad conclusions.

3. The size of the study is also important.  While studies with small sample sizes can provide useful information, there typically also needs to be larger studies for more reliable results and conclusions.

4. Was the study done on animals or humans?  While animal studies are critical in the research process, especially in the early stages, the impact of nutrition on human health is best understood when it is studied in humans. 

Because chronic diseases can take years, even decades, to develop, it can be difficult to study them.  So sometimes related disease markers are measured instead. A few examples are LDL cholesterol and high blood pressure related to the health endpoint of heart disease.  Just because the markers may go up, people don’t always develop the expected diseases.  

The method used for dietary assessment is also important.  The retrospective is looking backward in time when collecting diet data.  An example of this is a diet history form. Since it relies on memory, it won’t always be accurate, especially as people need to recall further back in time. Prospective is when the data is recorded at the time or shortly after the food is consumed.  An example of this is when people keep a food log. Challenges can be with the accuracy of recording as well as the burden on the study participant to constantly update their food log. 

Animal studies can help identify things such as disease mechanisms.  Randomized controlled trials are not always feasible with nutrition research.  Cohort studies, where a large number of participants are followed for years to observe disease outcomes can be helpful. Data and evidence from several types of studies are best to look at the collective evidence. 

Animal studies can help identify things such as disease mechanisms.  Small studies can provide useful information that can help support or refute larger studies.  Randomized controlled trials are not always feasible with nutrition research. Cohort studies, where a large number of participants are followed for years to observe disease outcomes can be helpful. Data and evidence from several types of studies are best to look at the collective evidence. 

MyPlate replaced the Food Guide Pyramid.  It is the current food guidance system published by the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP).  It consists of 5 food groups – fruits, vegetables, grains, proteins, and dairy. The recommended amounts for each group are 1-2 c fruit, 1-3 c vegetables, 3-8 oz grains, 2-6.5 oz protein, and 1-3 c dairy each day.  

As we just saw the ranges for each food group vary a lot.  So how do our patients know if they should be on the low or high end of each range?  More personalized recommendations can be achieved by utilizing the MyPlate Plan. This takes into account their age, sex, height, weight, and physical activity level to give them a better idea on the best amounts of each food group for them.  

In summary, the definition for nutrition is the process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for growth, metabolism, health and helps prevent chronic disease.  There are some things to consider with nutrition research, such as the difficulty of blinding the study participants, and MyPlate is the current food guidance system published by the USDA

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