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EURRECA/WHO workshop report: 'Deriving Micronutrient Recommendations: Updating Best Practices'
Pieter van't Veer1, Helmut Heseker, Evangelia Grammatikaki
1Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands. Pieter.vantveer@wur.nl
Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism
|December 14, 2012
Summary
Nutrient recommendation setting bodies (NRSBs) need better tools, data, and resources to establish dietary reference values. Addressing these gaps is crucial for updating best practices in micronutrient recommendations across Europe.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- The European Micronutrient Recommendations Aligned (EURRECA) Network of Excellence and the World Health Organization (WHO) collaborated on a workshop in Brussels, April 2012.
- The workshop convened representatives from nutrient recommendation setting bodies (NRSBs) across Europe to discuss best practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and address the gaps and needs of NRSBs in deriving micronutrient recommendations.
- To facilitate the updating of best practices for setting dietary reference values in Europe.
Main Methods:
- The study's findings are based on the outcomes and discussions from the 'Deriving Micronutrient Recommendations: Updating Best Practices' workshop.
- Participant-identified gaps and needs of NRSBs were the focus of the analysis.
Main Results:
- NRSBs require practical tools and updated best practices for adapting dietary reference values.
- There is a need for comparable, nationally representative food consumption data and comprehensive food composition databases.
- Adequate financial resources, technical capacity, and transparency in research processes are essential.
- Standardized terminology across national levels is necessary for consistent micronutrient recommendations.
Conclusions:
- The workshop highlighted critical areas for improvement in the processes used by NRSBs.
- Enhancing tools, data, resources, and transparency will support the development of aligned and robust micronutrient recommendations across Europe.
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