PREVENTION A PRIORITY FOR NUTRITION RESEARCHERS WORLDWIDE
International Survey for 1997 Danone International Prize Yields Praise for Past 50 Years and Insight into the Future of Nutrition Research
Paris, France, 18 November, 1997 ñ Citing examples of the critical link between human health and nutrition, an overwhelming majority (92 percent) of leading researchers worldwide identified prevention as the priority for nutrition research into the 21st century, according to a survey for the 1997 Danone International Prize for Nutrition. The prevention of chronic disease, cancer and obesity accounted for half of all responses in favor of prevention.
Scientists surveyed also were asked to identify the three most important discoveries in nutrition made in the past 50 years. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) cited the progress in understanding lipids and their role in the development and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Discoveries in antioxidants and their role in cancer prevention accounted for more than half (55 percent) of the votes.
"The high degree of consistency in the responses from the international scientific community demonstrates the deep connections between diet and health," said Pierre Bourlioux, PhD, president of the Danone International Prize for Nutrition. "This stresses the key role of nutrition in chronic diseases or society-related disorders, which in turn support the need for increased research in nutrition and public health."
A Look into the Future of Nutrition Research After concentrating on understanding the fundamental aspects of the relationship between diet and the body, scientists today are committed to accomplishing far more. They are earnest believers in the power of nutrition in the fight against disease. Researchers agree that priority must be given to research on nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases including obesity, a problem that concerns 30 percent of the world's population and 37 percent of Americans.
Researchers surveyed identified the following three distinct areas of progress anticipated over the next 20 years:
Genetics Genetics is considered a key field of exploration in nutrition research, from questions of the link between nutrition and the individual genetic makeup, to the impact of genetically modified foods on health, and the development of biotechnologies. Most researchers interviewed agreed that the study of dietary components, particularly antioxidants, and genetic factors influencing the nutrition-health link will be major areas of progress to prevent mortality and to improve duration and quality of life.
Active Foods Researchers surveyed also agreed there is considerable hope for the development of foods that have an activity on the body, therein having a major impact on a healthy diet and improving quality of life, and perhaps replacing therapeutic or surgical solutions.
Personalized Recommendations After establishing dietary needs for the normal functioning of the body (namely the Recommended Daily Allowances), research envisage the establishment of increasingly segmented dietary recommendations that are better targeted to the needs of individuals. Progress in genetics and nutrition science is expected to open new perspectives on developing optimal recommendations for increasingly segmented population groups.
The Danone International Prize for Nutrition The survey results were released as part of a roundtable discussion among international nutrition experts, following the announcement of the recipient of the 1997 Danone International Prize for Nutrition. Vernon R. Young, PhD, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, was awarded US$140,000 (800,000 francs) for his 30 years of research in the field of protein, amino acids and minerals. Young's research has become the basis for evaluating the nutritional status and needs of populations.
The survey, conducted as an open questionnaire for the Danone International Prize for Nutrition, was distributed to 540 international experts in nutrition research from 46 countries. Responses were collected from 28 countries, with Italy, United States, Germany, Sweden and Canada accounting for the largest number of responses.
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