Nutritional factors in Dutch family medicine: an inventory

By 1995 the Dutch College of General Practitioners (Nederlands Huisartsen Genootschap, or NHG) had developed 53 standards that spell out the preferred policy of detection, treatment, and control of different clinical conditions in general practice. In 35 of these NHG standards nutrition is of some significance. Each of them is briefly discussed. Eighteen conditions, not yet in the set of standards, have specific pathologies with nutritional factors. Each is briefly explained. Last, 17 groups of diseases or background conditions are discussed in which nutritional advice is especially important. The science of nutrition ought to have an established place in the vocational training of general practitioners. To help general practitioners give adequate nutritional advice, they should have regular consultations with dietitians.