What’s the current state of evidence?

‘Is the information currently available to adjust nutritional recommendations and develop individualized nutrition?’ Arab’s answer (In: Proceedings of Nutrition Society, 2004) to this question is very clear: ‘No. There is not even the information needed for setting dietary recommendations with confidence now at the group level.’ Arab answers her second question herself as well: ‘Will it be available soon? The answer to this question depends on the drive and will of the nutritional community, the success in recruiting funding to the area, the education of nutritionists an the spawning of great ideas and approaches.’

Trujillo et al. (In: The Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 2006) also provide an answer on the question on the current state of evidence. They write, in line with Arab:  ‘Although unprecedented opportunities exist for the expanded use of foods and bioactive food components to achieve genetic potential, increase productivity, and decrease risk of disease, the science to make such decisions has not reached a level of confidence to achieve personalized nutrition recommendations.’

References:

- Arab L. Individualized nutritional recommendations: do we have the measurements needed to assess risk and make dietary recommendations? Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. 2004;63:167-172.

- Trujillo E, Davis C & J Milner. Nutrigenomics, Proteomics, Metabolomics, and the Practice of Dietetics. J Am Diet Assoc. 2006;106:403-413.