Editorial introductions

Abstract

Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care was launched in 1998. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The fields of clinical nutrition and metabolic care are divided into 15 sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Annemie M.W.J. ScholsAnnemie M.W.J. ScholsAnnemie M.W.J. Schols is Professor of Nutrition and Metabolism in Chronic Diseases, and Director of NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism at Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC) the Netherlands. NUTRIM initiates and catalyzes translational research into nutritional and metabolic health focusing on prevention and management of chronic diseases and has an extensive PhD training programme. Her own translational research focus is on metabolic aberrations and molecular mechanisms of cachexia and skeletal muscle weakness in chronic diseases using COPD as clinical model. Based on these insights she conducts clinical trials to enhance physical functioning and quality of life. She was one of the first scientists evaluating efficacy and feasibility of multimodal nutritional rehabilitation strategies tailored to comprehensive metabolic phenotyping. She has published more than 300 international scientific publications and her Hirsch citation factor is 65. Professor Schols serves in several scientific editorial boards and is a member of the Health Council of the Netherlands. Labros S. SidossisLabros S. SidossisProfessor Labros S. Sidossis received his doctorate from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA. He is currently Distinguished Professor and Chair, Department of Kinesiology and Health, at Rutgers University, USA and Professor of Nutrition at the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Harokopio University, Athens, Greece. Dr Sidossis’ research has focused on the biochemical mechanisms regulating the metabolic responses in humans in various conditions (e.g obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemias, severe burn injury). He has also studied the epidemiology of obesity in children and adolescents, behavioural therapy of obesity, and is an expert in the use of tracer techniques in the study of human metabolism. He has received grant support from the National Institutes of Health, the American Diabetes Association, the National Center for Research Recourses, the Shriners Hospitals for Children, the European Union, and the industry. Dr Sidossis has published over 140 articles in peer-reviewed journals with an h-factor of 42. He has been an invited speaker and has assumed committee responsibilities, in many congresses and conferences. He is also a member of the editorial board and a journal referee in several scientific journals. Nathalie M. DelzenneNathalie M. DelzenneNathalie M. Delzenne is Full Professor at the Université catholique de Louvain (UCL). She is a lecturer in Nutrition Biochemistry and Metabolism and is the leader of the Metabolism and Nutrition Research Group at the Louvain Drug Research Institute at UCL in Brussels, Belgium. She is involved in international scientific committees (President of the Belgian Nutrition Society, Editor for the Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, member of the Scientific Board of the European Society for Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition, former member of the Board of directors of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics etc.). After a PhD in Pharmaceutical sciences obtained in 1991, a post-doctoral certificate in Nutrition (Lausanne, CH), she performed a post-doctoral research related to nutrients-gene interactions (Paris Inserm Unit 342), she has been back at the Université catholique de Louvain. She started an academic carrier and has been pioneer in the discovery of nutrients (prebiotics) targeting the gut microbiota to control of nutritional disorders (obesity, cachexia, polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiencies etc.). She has published more than 300 papers and led a large amount of international projects focused on nutrition and health. For further details on her research team and activities, please visit http://www.uclouvain.be/en-269734.html. Gerard E. MullinGerard E. MullinGerard E. Mullin MD is a board-certified internist, gastroenterologist and nutritionist. He is an associate professor of medicine and serves as the director of Integrative GI Nutrition Services at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr Mullin has accrued over 20 years of clinical experience in the fields of integrative gastroenterology and nutrition and he earned a master's degree in nutrition while in practice in 1994. Dr Mullin is regarded as an authority in integrative gastroenterology and edited Integrative Gastroenterology for the Weil Integrative Medicine Library for Oxford University Press (http://global.oup.com/us/companion.websites/9780195371109/book/). Dr Mullin teaches medical professionals at international conferences on the role of nutrition and lifestyle and the gut microbiome in digestive health and weight control. He is the author of several professional desk reference and trade books (http://thefoodmd.com/books) including his latest The Gut Balance Revolution: Boost Your Metabolism, Restore Your Inner Ecology, and Lose the Weight for Good! (http://www.amazon.com/The-Gut-Balance-Revolution-Metabolism/dp/1623364019). Mullin's academic biography is robust and has been included in Marquis Who's Who in the World and in Marquis Who's Who in America numerous times. His contributions and discoveries have led to multiple awards and his continued selection as one of America's Top Physicians since 2004. Dr Mullin was the youngest person to receive an honorary membership from the American Dietetic Association (now The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) in 2009. He also received the Grace A. Goldsmith award presented by the American College of Nutrition in November 2011. This special award acknowledges a scientist who is under the age of 50 years, for significant achievements in the field of nutrition. He is a founding member and chair of the American Board of Integrative Medicine (http://www.abpsus.org/integrative-medicine) and serves on a number of nutrition exam committees and boards (http://www.nutritioncare.org/NBNSC/About_NBNSC/Board_of_Directors/) and was recently selected to serve as vice-chair for the medical practice section of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (http://www.nutritioncare.org/About_ASPEN/Membership/Section_Chairs/). Dr Mullin also serves on the editorial board of numerous professional journals for gastroenterology, nutrition and integrative medicine. Dr Mullin has contributed to hundreds of consumer trade magazine articles who have featured his advice and professional journal papers dealing with digestive health, nutrition and wellness. He has been interviewed on radio and television and has contributed to stories in the Associated Press, ABC News, Good Morning America, Chicago Tribune, Newsday, Martha Stewart Living, O, the Oprah Magazine, Rodale Press, Consumers Digest, Reader's Digest, Prevention, Natural Health magazine, More Magazine, Ladies Home Journal, Body & Soul, Cooking Light, Women's World, Men's Health, Good Housekeeping, Dr Oz The Good Life Magazine, Glamour and much more (http://thefoodmd.com/press-room). Visit Dr Mullin's website www.thefoodmd.com to learn more. Véronique CoxamVéronique CoxamDr Coxam graduated in physiology at the Blaise Pascal University in Clermont-Ferrand, France. After her PhD, she served as a postdoctoral fellow at the Utah University in the USA. She is a senior research scientist and is currently a lecturer at many postgraduate courses in nutrition. She works at the National Institute for Agricultural Research in France (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, INRA) whose missions are to meet consumers’ needs and to guarantee them high-quality food and to contribute to integrated land development and sustainable management of natural resources. Dr Coxam was Director associate of the large Unit for Human nutrition in Clermont-Ferrand (France), belonging to both INRA and the Auvergne University and is the head of the Food skeleton and metabolism group which is involved in dietary prevention of osteoporosis. Indeed, because nutrition is a major determinant of health and well-being, Dr Coxam studies the impact of food, style of nutrition and micro/macronutrients in the maintenance of bone and cartilage biological functions and metabolic pathways. In fact, increasing understanding of the needs is crucial for establishing nutritional recommendations and prevent metabolic alterations associated with aging, a major issue in our society. To address this issue, she is developing an innovative approach integrating the human complexity at the physiological, metabolic and nutritional levels. The main objective is to determine the functionality of food (or composing nutrients) in different pathophysiological conditions associated with aging (inflammation, oxidative stress, metabolic stress, lipotoxicity, hormonal deregulation etc.) in order to prevent the decline of physiological functions and also to prevent the development of bone diseases. She has thus a long standing experience on bone health, but on nutrition as well, especially with regards to micronutrients. She has published more than 120 original papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals, 20 books or book chapters and several patents. She has a strong expertise activity at the international level and is involved in the French Agency for Food and Safety (AFSSA). Henry C. LukaskiHenry C. LukaskiDr Lukaski is an adjunct Professor in the Department of Physical Education and Exercise Science and Clinical Assistant Professor in Internal Medicine at the University of North Dakota, USA, and a consultant to the US and international biomedical industry. He served for 28 years as Supervisory Research Physiologist, Research Leader and Assistant Center Director at the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, and Human Nutrition Research Center in Grand Forks, North Dakota. His research focuses on the interaction of physical activity and micronutrients in humans, emphasizing iron, zinc, copper, magnesium, and chromium, to promote health and optimal function/performance. His work also includes development and validation of non-invasive methods to assess human body composition. He has published more than 150 technical publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, 50 book chapters, 160 short communications and invited editorials, one book, professional policy statements for the American College of Sports Medicine, and presented invited lectures at more than 500 universities, research institutes, and scientific and professional societies world-wide. Dr Lukaski is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, the Human Biology Council and the Nutrition Society of Latin America. He is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine, American Physiological Society, American Society of Nutrition, and British Nutrition Society. Dr Lukaski has received numerous awards and recognition from the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service and scientific/professional groups for his contributions to the fields of nutrition and physiology, and development of young scientists. Dr Lukaski currently is a member of three, and past member of five, editorial boards, and an editorial consultant for a variety of peer-reviewed journals in physiology, nutrition, medicine, and sport sciences. He has served and continues to provide service as an advisor in nutrition to many national and international health agencies and research organizations, including the National Academy of Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Defense, National Aeronautic and Space Administration, Pan American Health Organization, World Health Organization, and International and US Olympic Committees. As an NIH pre-doctoral trainee, Dr Lukaski received his Master of Science and doctoral degrees in physiology and nutrition from the Pennsylvania State University, USA. He served as a post-doctoral research associate with the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, and was a Visiting Scientist at the Brookhaven National Laboratory, USA.