Current micronutrient recommendations in Europe: towards understanding their differences and similarities

Doets, Esmée L.; Wit, Liesbeth S. de; Dhonukshe-Rutten, R.A.M.; Cavelaars, Adriënne E J M; Raats, Monique M.; Timotijević, Lada; Brzozowska, Anna; Wijnhoven, Trudy M. A.; Pavlović, Mirjana; Totland, Torunn Holm; Andersen, Lene Frost; Ruprich, Jiří; Pijls, Loek; Ashwell, Margaret; Lambert, Janet; Veer, P. van ‘t; Groot, Lisette C. P. G. M. de

doi:10.1007/s00394-008-1003-5

Cited by 132 publications

(151 citation statements)

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“…In general, the nutritional requirements of older adults are the same as for the rest of the adult population (15) although for some nutrients, including for example vitamins D and B 12 , an adequate supply is hard to achieve, even with an apparently adequate food intake.…”

Section: Specific Nutritional Concerns In Old Agementioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional issues for older adults: addressing degenerative ageing with long-term studies

Groot

2016

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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The ageing process is influenced by a variety of factors, including extrinsic, malleable lifestyle variables. The present paper deals with the epidemiological evidence for the role of dietary patterns and key nutritional concerns in relation to survival and ageing-related disorders that present themselves in later life. Healthful dietary patterns appear to be most relevant in old age. Specific nutritional concerns are related to vitamin D, vitamin B 12 and protein malnutrition. An important challenge to further expand the knowledge base is currently addressed by the NuAge project, acknowledging the complexity of the ageing process and integrating different dimensions of research into human healthy ageing. In the meantime, reversing poor adherence to existing guidelines for a healthy diet remains a first challenge in public health nutritional practices.Nutrition: Aged: Health: Survival Ageing and nutritionMany industrialised countries now have ageing populations. In EU-27, the proportion of Europeans over the age of 65 is projected to increase from 17·4 % (2011) to approximately 30 % by 2060 (1) . Even though most people reach old age in reasonable health, they are facing potential consequences of the ageing process. Ageing occurs through the lifelong accumulation of subtle faults in cells and tissues resulting in progressive loss of function, frailty and disease (2) . Common features such as a mild chronic pro-inflammatory status, or inflammageing (3) , are implicated in several ageing-related pathologies such as osteoporosis, dementia and sarcopenia and may become major disabling conditions (4) . As yet, there is substantial mechanistic evidence that it is possible to impact on the interplay between intrinsic factors and nutrition (5) . Moreover, in the past decades many epidemiological studies have uncovered a significant role of diet quality in the prevention of chronic disease and mortality later in life, whereby nutrition intervention studies have demonstrated benefits for dietary patterns and specific nutrients. The present paper aims to address the epidemiological evidence for the role of dietary patterns and key nutritional concerns in relation to survival and ageing-related disorders that present themselves later in life. In the meantime Nu-Age, an European Commission-funded project, is holistically interrogating the link between diet and ageing in order to define new dietary strategies addressing the specific needs of older adults (6) . Dietary patterns and survivalThe dietary intake of foods and nutrients are related, and, as people do not eat single nutrients or foods, evaluating dietary patterns has attracted considerable interest in nutritional epidemiology. Assessing dietary quality by dietary patterns has the advantage of capturing the high inter-correlation of nutrients within a diet, as well as integrating complex interactive effects of many dietary exposures (7) . This follows from several systematic reviews of prospective studies relating adherence to a healthful diet to survival or increased...

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Section: Specific Nutritional Concerns In Old Agementioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional issues for older adults: addressing degenerative ageing with long-term studies

Groot

2016

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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“…Currently, most countries in Europe establish their own nutrient recommendations, and there is large heterogeneity in the recommendations within Europe (1)(2)(3) . The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) is in the process of reviewing and updating the last report on recommended nutrient and energy intakes for the European Union (EU) population published in 1993, prepared by the Scientific Committee on Food (4) .…”

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The process of setting micronutrient recommendations: a cross-European comparison of nutrition-related scientific advisory bodies

Timotijević

Barnett

Brown

et al. 2010

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: To examine the workings of the nutrition-related scientific advisory bodies in Europe, paying particular attention to the internal and external contexts within which they operate. Design: Desk research based on two data collection strategies: a questionnaire completed by key informants in the field of micronutrient recommendations and a case study that focused on mandatory folic acid (FA) fortification. Setting: Questionnaire-based data were collected across thirty-five European countries. The FA fortification case study was conducted in the UK, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic and Hungary. Results: Varied bodies are responsible for setting micronutrient recommendations, each with different statutory and legal models of operation. Transparency is highest where there are standing scientific advisory committees (SAC). Where the standing SAC is created, the range of expertise and the terms of reference for the SAC are determined by the government. Where there is no dedicated SAC, the impetus for the development of micronutrient recommendations and the associated policies comes from interested specialists in the area. This is typically linked with an ad hoc selection of a problem area to consider, lack of openness and transparency in the decisions and over-reliance on international recommendations. Conclusions: Even when there is consensus about the science behind micronutrient recommendations, there is a range of other influences that will affect decisions about the policy approaches to nutrition-related public health. This indicates the need to document the evidence that is drawn upon in the decisions about nutrition policy related to micronutrient intake.

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“…Many countries and organisations across Europe provide micronutrient recommendations that serve as a basis for good health (14) . Although different terms are used to express such recommendations, e.g.…”

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“…Currently, there is considerable variation in micronutrient recommendations between countries and this can cause confusion among policy makers, consumers, the food industry and health professionals (14,(20)(21)(22) . This variation may be due to differences between populations, e.g.…”

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Explaining the variability in recommended intakes of folate, vitamin B₁₂, iron and zinc for adults and elderly people

Doets

Cavelaars

Dhonukshe-Rutten

et al. 2011

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: To signal key issues for harmonising approaches for establishing micronutrient recommendations by explaining observed variation in recommended intakes of folate, vitamin B 12 , Fe and Zn for adults and elderly people. Design: We explored differences in recommended intakes of folate, vitamin B 12 , Fe and Zn for adults between nine reports on micronutrient recommendations. Approaches used for setting recommendations were compared as well as eminence-based decisions regarding the selection of health indicators indicating adequacy of intakes and the consulted evidence base.

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Current micronutrient recommendations in Europe: towards understanding their differences and similarities

Abstract: EURRECA has an excellent opportunity to develop tools to improve transparency on the approaches used in setting micronutrient recommendations, including the selection of criteria for adequacy, weighing of evidence, and interpretation of data.

Cited by 132 publications

References 8 publications

Nutritional issues for older adults: addressing degenerative ageing with long-term studies

Nutritional issues for older adults: addressing degenerative ageing with long-term studies

The process of setting micronutrient recommendations: a cross-European comparison of nutrition-related scientific advisory bodies

Explaining the variability in recommended intakes of folate, vitamin B₁₂, iron and zinc for adults and elderly people

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Current micronutrient recommendations in Europe: towards understanding their differences and similarities

Abstract: EURRECA has an excellent opportunity to develop tools to improve transparency on the approaches used in setting micronutrient recommendations, including the selection of criteria for adequacy, weighing of evidence, and interpretation of data.

Cited by 132 publications

References 8 publications

Nutritional issues for older adults: addressing degenerative ageing with long-term studies

Nutritional issues for older adults: addressing degenerative ageing with long-term studies

The process of setting micronutrient recommendations: a cross-European comparison of nutrition-related scientific advisory bodies

Explaining the variability in recommended intakes of folate, vitamin B12, iron and zinc for adults and elderly people

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Explaining the variability in recommended intakes of folate, vitamin B₁₂, iron and zinc for adults and elderly people