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Problems with the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. An Alternative
Minnesota Medicine
|September 1, 2017
Summary
The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans include recommendations lacking scientific evidence, potentially increasing risks for cardiometabolic disease and cancer. This review critically examines these guidelines for public health implications.
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Public Health Policy
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) were released with significant controversy.
- Several recommendations within the guidelines have faced scrutiny regarding their scientific foundation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically evaluate specific recommendations in the 2015 DGA that may lack robust scientific evidence.
- To identify potential adverse health outcomes associated with these questionable dietary recommendations.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature supporting key recommendations in the 2015 DGA.
- Analysis of potential health impacts, including cardiometabolic disease, diabetes, obesity, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
Main Results:
- Specific recommendations questioned include: allowing refined grains, advocating low-fat dairy with <10% saturated fat, limiting sodium to <2,300 mg/day, and promoting oils high in poly/monounsaturated fats.
- These guidelines may not be supported by sufficient scientific evidence.
Conclusions:
- The reviewed recommendations from the 2015 DGA may inadvertently increase the incidence of chronic diseases.
- Further research and evidence-based revisions are needed for future dietary guidelines.
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