Leading Scientists Say Evidence Should Shape Dietary Bioactive Guidance

Washington D.C.– Leading researchers say safety and ability to benefit should inform guidance about dietary bioactives—food substances that may promote health but are not considered essential from a classic nutrient deficiency perspective.

The scientists say a four-step Framework should guide the development of a range of intake of bioactive components in food shown to provide specific health benefits. This includes dietary bioactives such as the carotenoids lutein/zeaxanthin from eggs, fruits, and vegetables or flavonoids like flavan-3-ols found in tea, cocoa and fruit. 

The new report, “Framework for Developing Recommended Intakes of Bioactive Dietary Substances” that appeared this week in the journal Advances in Nutrition, provides a path forward to develop quantified intake recommendations for dietary bioactives where adequate information is available. Without evidence-based recommendations, consumers are dependent on information from available sources that often lack standards and rigor. 

Dietary bioactives guidelines currently lack a consistent, transparent process that can be adapted globally by credible organizations responsible for developing dietary guidance for the public. As a result, there are no recommended quantities of intake for specific health benefits where adequate science on safety and benefits to health are available. 

This new Framework fills that gap. It uses a four-step decision-making process: 1) characterize the bioactive, amounts in specific food sources, and quantify intakes of consumers; 2) evaluate safety; 3) quantify the relationship between the specific bioactive and accepted markers of health or normal function via systematic evidence reviews; and 4) where quality evidence on both safety and role in health is available, translate the evidence into a quantified bioactive intake statement.

This peer-reviewed publication puts forward a Framework that rigorously and transparently evaluates the science of often difficult-to-define substances in foods.

Some things to know:

• The Framework builds off of existing standards and practices and is consistent with existing general principles.
• It adapts standards of practice used in clinical medicine in order to develop and quantify dietary bioactive intake recommendations from foods consumed by the general public where adequate data are available.
• This Framework does not change food labeling or advertising regulations.
• This Framework applies to food forms of dietary bioactives, not supplements.
• Rather than a single cut-point, recommendations are expressed as a range of intakes.

This Framework provides an evidence-based approach to evaluate and make quantified dietary bioactive intake recommendations based on safe use and beneficial health outcomes. Some of the expenses associated with the development and publication of the Framework were supported by the IAFNS Bioactives Committee.

The Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS) is a research nonprofit uniquely positioned to mobilize industry, government and academia to drive, fund and lead actionable research. IAFNS elevates food safety and nutrition sciences to advance public health. The organization was founded on the belief that collaboration and the inclusion of diverse perspectives is crucial to credible science that benefits the entire food and beverage ecosystem. iafns.org