Strengthening Research that Answers Nutrition Questions of Public Health Importance: Leveraging the Experience of the USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review Team

Abstract

The Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review (NESR) team conducts nutrition- and public health-related systematic reviews and is within the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP). NESR has collaborated with scientific experts to conduct systematic reviews on nutrition and public health topics for more than a decade and is uniquely positioned to share recommendations with the research community to strengthen research quality and impact, especially the evidence base that supports public health nutrition guidance, including future editions of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Leveraging the expertise of NESR and its systematic review process resulted in the following recommendations for the research community: a) use the strongest study design feasible with sufficient sample size(s); b) enroll study participants who reflect the diversity of the population of interest and report participant characteristics; c) use valid and reliable dietary assessment methods; d) describe the interventions or exposures of interest and use standard definitions to promote consistency; e) use valid and reliable health outcome measures; f) account for variables that may impact the relationship between nutrition-related interventions or exposures and health outcomes; g) carry out studies for a sufficient duration and include repeated measures, as appropriate; and h) report all relevant information to inform accurate interpretation and evaluation of study results. Implementing these recommendations can strengthen nutrition and public health evidence and increase its utility in future public health nutrition systematic reviews. However, implementation will require additional support from the entire research community, including scientific journals and funding agencies.

USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review’s collaborative approach for conducting systematic reviews: Promoting diversity of expertise while managing potential conflicts of interest

“…Some also have a registered dietitian (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) credential. NESR analysts have demonstrated expertise in conducting research on a range of diet and health-related topics (4). They also have extensive training and expertise in systematic review and evidence synthesis methodology (e.g., risk of bias assessment, grading the strength of evidence, metaanalysis), technology (e.g., software for literature screening, data extraction, reference management, and statistical analyses), and meeting facilitation.…”

Novel Lines of Research on the Environmental and Human Health Impacts of Nut Consumption

“…At the same time, clinical evidence review methodology has developed further to consider the quality as well as quantity of research. This development recognized that research practices and study designs require sufficient scrutiny to assure confidence in results and valid translation to practice [ 8 ].…”

“…The environmental impact of healthy dietary patterns is part of the evidence analysis, as nuts are significant foods in plant-based diets. The global imperative to address climate change calls for additional research methodologies that address the environmental impact of foods [ 8 ]. Today, there are strong calls to combine imperatives for human health with that of the environment [ 9 ].…”