Role Of Nutrition Research Articles

Effects of different nutrient inputs in organic parsley cultivation

ABSTRACT Parsley (Petroselinum crispum Mill.) can play a key role in healthy nutrition for people. This study evaluated the effects of different fertilisers on parsley grown in organic greenhouse conditions in the Samsun province of Turkey. Three organic fertilisers (liquids based on compost, nettles and wood ash) were tested and compared with chemical fertiliser and a control with no fertiliser. The results showed that application of wood ash solution significantly increased EC and concentrations of P and K in the soil, compared with the no fertiliser control. The nettle extract and the compost solution had the most prominent effects on concentrations of nutrients in the parsley leaf tissue. The highest total yields were obtained in the treatments with nettle extract (8.95 kg m−2) and wood ash solution (8.71 kg m−2), which were similar to the yield in the treatment with chemical fertiliser (8.48 kg m−2). The present results suggested that nettle extract and wood ash solution provided effective fertilisers to achieve high yields and quality in organic parsley cultivation. Further studies were recommended to test combinations of nettle extract and wood ash solutions in different proportions for edible leafy species.

The gut metabolome in a cohort of pregnant and lactating women from Antioquia-Colombia

Nutrition during the perinatal period is an essential component of health and one that can severely impact the correct development of a human being and its overall condition, in all the subsequent stages of life. The availability of several compounds, mainly macronutrients and micronutrients, plays a key role in the balanced nutrition of both mother and baby and is a process with direct relation to the gut microbiome. Thus, we hereby refer to the set of small molecules derived from gut microbiome metabolism as the gut metabolome. These continuous processes occurring in the gut of a gestating or lactating mother related to microbial communities and nutrients, can be revealed by metabolomics. In this study, we explore for the first time the gut metabolome of pregnant and lactating women, from our region of Antioquia-Colombia, applying untargeted metabolomics by LC-QTOF-MS, and molecular networking. Regarding the gut metabolome composition of the cohort, we found, key metabolites that can be used as biomarkers of microbiome function, overall metabolic health, dietary intake, pharmacology, and lifestyle. In our cohort, pregnant women evidenced a significantly higher abundance of prostaglandins, alkaloids, corticosteroids, organosilicons, and natural toxins, while in lactating women, lipids stand out. Our results suggest that unveiling the metabolic phenotype of the gut microbiome of an individual, by untargeted metabolomics, allows a broad visualization of the chemical space present in this important niche and enables the recognition of influential indicators of the host’s health status and habits, especially of women during this significant perinatal period. This study constitutes the first evidence of the use of untargeted LC-QTOF-MS coupled with molecular networking analysis, of the gut microbiome in a Colombian cohort and establishes a methodology for finding relative abundances of key metabolites, with potential use in nutritional and physiological state assessments, for future personalized health and nutrition practices.

The Potential Systemic Role of Diet in Dental Caries Development and Arrest: A Narrative Review

Current conceptualizations of dental caries etiology center primarily on the local role of sugar, starch, or other fermentable carbohydrates on tooth enamel demineralization—a well-established and empirically supported mechanism. However, in addition to this mechanism, studies dating back to the early 1900s point to an important systemic role of diet and nutrition, particularly from pasture-raised animal-source foods (ASF), in dental caries etiology and arrest. Findings from animal and human studies suggest that adherence to a diet high in calcium, phosphorus, fat-soluble vitamins A and D, and antioxidant vitamin C, as well as low in phytates, may contribute to arrest and reversal of dental caries, particularly among children. Furthermore, findings from observational and experimental studies of humans across the life-course suggest that fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and K2 may interact to protect against dental caries progression, even within a diet that regularly contains sugar. While these historic studies have not been revisited in decades, we emphasize the need for them to be reinvestigated and contextualized in the 21st century. Specifically, methodologically rigorous studies are needed to reinvestigate whether historical knowledge of systemic impacts of nutrition on dental health can help to inform current conceptualizations of dental caries etiology, prevention, and arrest.

The Role of Nutrition and Body Composition on Metabolism

Metabolism encompasses the entire array of chemical reactions continuously occurring within the body that sustain life and maintain normal physiological functions [...]

Interfacial Interactions between Nanoplastics and Biological Systems: toward an Atomic and Molecular Understanding of Plastics-Driven Biological Dyshomeostasis.

Micro- and nano-plastics (NPs) are found in human milk, blood, tissues, and organs and associate with aberrant health outcomes including inflammation, genotoxicity, developmental disorders, onset of chronic diseases, and autoimmune disorders. Yet, interfacial interactions between plastics and biomolecular systems remain underexplored. Here, we have examined experimentally, in vitro, in vivo, and by computation, the impact of polystyrene (PS) NPs on a host of biomolecular systems and assemblies. Our results reveal that PS NPs essentially abolished the helix-content of the milk protein β-lactoglobulin (BLG) in a dose-dependent manner. Helix loss is corelated with the near stoichiometric formation of β-sheet elements in the protein. Structural alterations in BLG are also likely responsible for the nanoparticle-dependent attrition in binding affinity and weaker on-rate constant of retinol, its physiological ligand (compromising its nutritional role). PS NP-driven helix-to-sheet conversion was also observed in the amyloid-forming trajectory of hen egg-white lysozyme (accelerated fibril formation and reduced helical content in fibrils). Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to PS NPs exhibited a decrease in the fluorescence of green fluorescent protein-tagged dopaminergic neurons and locomotory deficits (akin to the neurotoxin paraquat exposure). Finally, in silico analyses revealed that the most favorable PS/BLG docking score and binding energies corresponded to a pose near the hydrophobic ligand binding pocket (calyx) of the protein where the NP fragment was found to make nonpolar contacts with side-chain residues via the hydrophobic effect and van der Waals forces, compromising side chain/retinol contacts. Binding energetics indicate that PS/BLG interactions destabilize the binding of retinol to the protein and can potentially displace retinol from the calyx region of BLG, thereby impairing its biological function. Collectively, the experimental and high-resolution in silico data provide new insights into the mechanism(s) by which PS NPs corrupt the bimolecular structure and function, induce amyloidosis and onset neuronal injury, and drive aberrant physiological and behavioral outcomes.

PlantMine: A Machine-Learning Framework to Detect Core SNPs in Rice Genomics

As a fundamental global staple crop, rice plays a pivotal role in human nutrition and agricultural production systems. However, its complex genetic architecture and extensive trait variability pose challenges for breeders and researchers in optimizing yield and quality. Particularly to expedite breeding methods like genomic selection, isolating core SNPs related to target traits from genome-wide data reduces irrelevant mutation noise, enhancing computational precision and efficiency. Thus, exploring efficient computational approaches to mine core SNPs is of great importance. This study introduces PlantMine, an innovative computational framework that integrates feature selection and machine learning techniques to effectively identify core SNPs critical for the improvement of rice traits. Utilizing the dataset from the 3000 Rice Genomes Project, we applied different algorithms for analysis. The findings underscore the effectiveness of combining feature selection with machine learning in accurately identifying core SNPs, offering a promising avenue to expedite rice breeding efforts and improve crop productivity and resilience to stress.

Nutrigenomics As a Diagnostic Tool in Periodontology: The New Kid in The Block

Periodontitis is known to be a progressive inflammatory lesion that may lead to the deterioration of the attachment of the periodontal apparatus & loss of structures involved in the apparatus, mainly the gingiva, pdl, cementum & alveolar bone leading to loss of teeth. Therefore, the interest in learning more about the connections between periodontal disease and nutrition has increased as research on the pathophysiology of periodontal disease and the function of nutrition has progressed. A subfield of nutritional science called nutrigenomics focuses on understanding the molecular interactions of nutrients and genomes. This enables us to recognize early-stage abnormalities in this control and tells us of the impact of nutrition on metabolic pathways & homeostatic regulation. In this review, the role of nutrition in periodontal disease is thoroughly discussed, and dietary recommendations are made for preventing periodontal disease.

The Nutritional Year-Cycle of Italian Honey Bees (Apis mellifera ligustica) in a Southern Temperate Climate

Nutrition is a key aspect influencing honey bee health and overwintering. Since honey bee seasonality in southern temperate climates represents a significant research gap, this study conducted long-term monitoring of honey bees in the Mediterranean (Sassari, Italy). Specifically, individual weight, fat body, and size measurements (head, thorax, abdomen, and total body) were recorded monthly so to detect changes in the nutrient storage of worker bees during an annual cycle. Data were analysed according to sampling date, climate (temperature, precipitation, and daylength), and flower diversity and were conducted for nurse and forager bees separately. The nutritional honey bee year-cycle generally followed the nectar flow and showed two critical timepoints: summer and winter dearth. A short cessation of activities in late fall/early winter coupled with an increase in nutrient storage indicated the presence of winter bees. Precipitation was found to play an important role in honey bee nutrition in the study area through its impacts on colony demography and plants in particular illustrating how climate change could pose a threat to European honey bee populations in the future. These results provide valuable insights into the nutritional dynamics of Apis mellifera ligustica in the Mediterranean that could support management decisions to improve overwintering success and prevent unnecessary colony losses.

Nutrition and exercise: Cornerstones of health with emphasis on obesity and type 2 diabetes management-A narrative review.

While a broad consensus exists that integrated nutrition and regular exercise are foundational for health maintenance and serve as a robust non-pharmacological strategy against cardiometabolic diseases, the nuanced interplay between these elements remains incompletely understood. Through multifaceted interactions, these factors profoundly influence primary metabolic organs, notably the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Despite the critical nature of this interactivity, a holistic understanding of the combined effects of physical activity and dietary practices is still emerging. This narrative review aims to elucidate the intertwined roles of nutrition and exercise. It provides a comprehensive overview of their synergistic dynamics and emphasizes the importance of a dual-focus approach in mitigating and managing cardiometabolic disorders, predominantly obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Investigation of the nutritional and functional roles of a combinational use of xylanase and β-glucanase on intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs

BackgroundXylanase and β-glucanase combination (XG) hydrolyzes soluble non-starch polysaccharides that are anti-nutritional compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of XG on intestinal health and growth performance of nursery pigs.MethodsForty pigs (6.5 ± 0.4 kg) were assigned to 5 dietary treatments and fed for 35 d in 3 phases (11, 9, and 15 d, respectively). Basal diets mainly included corn, soybean meal, and corn distiller’s dried grains with solubles, contained phytase (750 FTU/kg), and were supplemented with 5 levels of XG at (1) 0, (2) 280 TXU/kg xylanase and 125 TGU/kg β-glucanase, (3) 560 and 250, (4) 840 and 375, or (5) 1,120 and 500, respectively. Growth performance was measured. On d 35, all pigs were euthanized and jejunal mucosa, jejunal digesta, jejunal tissues, and ileal digesta were collected to determine the effects of increasing XG levels and XG intake on intestinal health.ResultsIncreasing XG intake tended to quadratically decrease (P = 0.059) viscosity of jejunal digesta (min: 1.74 mPa·s at 751/335 (TXU/TGU)/kg). Increasing levels of XG quadratically decreased (P < 0.05) Prevotellaceae (min: 0.6% at 630/281 (TXU/TGU)/kg) in the jejunal mucosa. Increasing XG intake quadratically increased (P < 0.05) Lactobacillaceae (max: 40.3% at 608/271 (TXU/TGU)/kg) in the jejunal mucosa. Increasing XG intake quadratically decreased (P < 0.05) Helicobacteraceae (min: 1.6% at 560/250 (TXU/TGU)/kg) in the jejunal mucosa. Increasing levels of XG tended to linearly decrease (P = 0.073) jejunal IgG and tended to quadratically increase (P = 0.085) jejunal villus height to crypt depth ratio (max: 2.62 at 560/250 (TXU/TGU)/kg). Increasing XG intake tended to linearly increase the apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter (P = 0.087) and ether extract (P = 0.065). Increasing XG intake linearly increased (P < 0.05) average daily gain.ConclusionsA combinational use of xylanase and β-glucanase would hydrolyze the non-starch polysaccharides fractions, positively modulating the jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota. Increased intake of these enzyme combination possibly reduced digesta viscosity and humoral immune response in the jejunum resulting in improved intestinal structure, and ileal digestibility of nutrients, and finally improving growth of nursery pigs. The beneficial effects were maximized at a combination of 550 to 800 TXU/kg xylanase and 250 to 360 TGU/kg β-glucanase.

44 Investigation of the nutritional and functional roles of mannanase on intestinal health and growth of newly weaned pigs fed a low-cost formulated diet

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the nutritional and functional roles of mannanase on the intestinal health and growth of newly weaned pigs fed a typical or low-cost formulated diet reducing the inclusion of highly digestible protein ingredients. Twenty-four newly weaned pigs at 6.2 ± 0.5 kg initial body weight (BW) were allotted to three dietary treatments based on a randomized complete block design with sex and BW as blocks. Pigs were fed for 37 d in three phases (P1, P2, and P3) and weighed at the end of each phase. Low-cost formulation was achieved by reducing the use of animal protein (fish meal, poultry meal, and blood plasma) and processed soybean meal whereas increasing the use of soybean meal from 13% in typical diets to 28% in P1, from 15% to 32% in P2, and 20.5% to 35% in P3. Treatments were 1) control diet (CON, typical nursery feed), 2) low-cost formulated diet (LCD), and 3) LCD + mannanase inclusion (0 vs. 100 g/t of Natupulse, BASF, providing 800 Thermostable Mannanase Unit, TMU, per ton of feed). On d 37 of feeding, all pigs were euthanized and jejunal mucosal tissues were taken to analyze intestinal health parameters, and gene expression of tight junction proteins and mucins. Pigs fed LCD had reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) average daily gain (ADG) and average daily feed intake (ADFI) during the overall period and increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) fecal score during P3. The LCD decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) malondialdehyde and the gene expression of Zona occludens-1 (ZO-) in the jejunum and increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) serum insulin. The inclusion of mannanase in LCD tended to increase (P = 0.059) BW at d 37, increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) ADFI during P1, increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) ADG and gain to feed ratio (G:F) during the overall period, reduced (P &amp;lt; 0.05) fecal score during the overall period, and decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) the viscosity of jejunal digesta. However, no effects were observed on intestinal immune response at d 37. In conclusion, feeding LCD negatively affected growth performance and intestinal health of nursery pigs. The inclusion of mannanase to the LCD (800 TMU/t feed) mitigated the negative effects of lowering feed quality observed in growth performance by reducing digesta viscosity and fecal score.

166 Beyond solubility: Navigating the complex landscape of dietary fiber in swine digestion and physiology

Abstract Dietary fiber comprises a diverse group of cell wall polysaccharides, along with lignin, that resist digestion by endogenous enzymes in non-ruminants. Over the past 50 yr, our understanding of dietary fiber has significantly advanced, resulting in diverse definitions and analytical methods that have deepened our comprehension of its role in swine nutrition. However, the analysis of dietary fiber remains one of the most intricate, expensive, and resource-intensive aspects of monogastric nutrition research. From the early days of crude fiber and detergent fiber techniques to the more recent methods such as non-starch polysaccharide and total dietary fiber methodologies, analytical techniques have evolved to encompass the complex carbohydrates found in diets. Translating these chemical and analytical understandings into physiological insights poses a formidable challenge for nutritionists. This presentation aims to discuss these analytical concepts and challenges in understanding dietary fiber, with a particular focus on its impact on swine nutrition and physiology. Going beyond the concept of ‘solubility,’ we will delve into the physicochemical and physiological properties of dietary fiber, emphasizing its intricate roles in the swine digestive milieu. This includes aspects such as digestion kinetics, fermentability, rheology, viscosity, and microbial ecosystems. Moreover, research consistently demonstrates that dietary fiber can have positive effects on gastrointestinal health under specific production and dietary conditions. Paradoxically, it can also negatively impact energy digestibility and feed efficiency. By modeling the chemical nature of fiber and its role in digestion physiology, it could be possible to bridge this gap to optimize production goals and swine health in high fiber diets. This presentation will highlight the significance of a holistic comprehension of the intricate aspects of dietary fiber within swine nutrition and future directions for incorporating it into formulation metrics. Such knowledge is pivotal for navigating the complexities of incorporating fiber into diet formulation, effective management, and the pursuit of sustainable practices.

45 Awardee Talk: Investigation of the nutritional and functional roles of a combinational use of xylanase and β-glucanase on intestinal health and growth of nursery pigs

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the intestinal health and growth performance of nursery pigs affected by dietary supplementation of increasing levels of xylanase and b-glucanase combinations. Pigs [n = 40; initial body weight (BW) = 6.5 ± 0.4 kg] were assigned to 5 dietary treatments and fed for 35 d in 3 phases (11, 9, and 15 d, respectively). Basal diets mainly included corn, soybean meal, and distiller’s dried grains with solubles with phytase (750 FTU/kg) supplemented with 5 levels of xylanase and b-glucanase combinations (NSPase) at 1) 0, 2) 280 TXU/kg xylanase and 125 TGU/kg b-glucanase, 3) 560 and 250, 4) 840 and 375, or 5) 1,120 and 500, respectively. Growth performance and fecal score were measured for each phase. On d 35, all pigs were euthanized and collected jejunal mucosa, jejunal digesta, jejunal tissues, and ileal digesta to determine the effects of increasing NSPase levels (%) and NSPase intake on jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota, jejunal digesta viscosity, immune responses, intestinal morphology, feed digestibility, and growth performance. Increasing NSPase level quadratically decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) Bacteroidetes (min: 0.7% at 636 TXU/kg and 284 TGU/kg), Prevotellaceae (min: 0.6% at 630 TXU/kg and 281 TGU/kg) in the jejunal mucosa. Increasing NSPase intake quadratically increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) Firmicutes (max: 72.7% at 604 TXU/kg and 270 TGU/kg), Lactobacillaceae (max: 40.3% at 608 TXU/kg and 271 TGU/kg), and Lactobacillus (max: 40.3% at 608 TXU/kg and 271 TGU/kg) in the jejunal mucosa. Increasing NSPase intake also quadratically decreased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) Proteobacteria (min: 3.8% at 562 TXU/kg and 251 TGU/kg), Helicobacteraceae (min: 1.6% at 560 TXU/kg and 250 TGU/kg), and Helicobacter (min: 1.6% at 560 TXU/kg and 250 TGU/kg) in the jejunal mucosa. Increasing NSPase intake tended to quadratically decrease (P = 0.059) viscosity of jejunal digesta reaching the minimum (1.74 mPa·s) at 751 TXU/kg and 335 TGU/kg. Increasing NSPase level tended to linearly decrease (P = 0.073) jejunal IgG and tended to quadratically increase (P = 0.085) jejunal villus height to crypt depth ratio reaching the maximum (2.62) at 560 TXU/kg and 250 TGU/kg. Increasing NSPase intake tended to linearly increase the apparent ileal digestibility of dry matter (P = 0.087) and ether extract (P = 0.065). Increasing NSPase intake linearly increased (P &amp;lt; 0.05) average daily gain (ADG). In conclusion, increasing the combinational use of xylanase and β-glucanase positively modulated jejunal mucosa-associated microbiota, reduced jejunal digesta viscosity, reduced intestinal humoral immune response, enhanced villus morphology, increased ileal digestibility of nutrients, and increased growth of nursery pigs. The beneficial effects were maximized when xylanase and β-glucanase were supplemented at a range of 550 to 800 TXU/kg and 246 to 357 TGU/kg, respectively.

Editorial: Role of nutrition in skeletal muscle atrophy and sarcopenia

Editorial: Role of nutrition in skeletal muscle atrophy and sarcopenia

Dietary intervention in acne management: review of the literature and future prospective

Acne is a common skin disease, affecting millions of subjects worldwide. Several processes and mechanisms have been identified in acne pathogenesis. Among these, it is known that acne or its worsening is also related to metabolic factors and nutritional influences. In this scenario, we carried out a review of the current literature in order to investigate the role of diet in acne disease, offering a wide perspective for possible clinical applications. A total of 55 manuscripts were considered. In particular, the role of the Western diet, glycemic index, glycemic load, dairy products, fats, fatty acids, Mediterranean diet, ketogenic diet, and dietary supplements in acne management has been investigated. On one hand, dairy products, foods with high glycemic load and glycemic index, fatty acids and fats seem to worsen the severity; on the other hand, Mediterranean and ketogenic diet, and oral supplements seem to improve the disease. Despite the conflicting results and conclusions in the scientific literature about the impact of nutrition in acne, mainly related to the severla limitations of the study design, several prospective, controlled, well-designed studies have recently demonstrated the role of some specific nutrition influenced mediators on acne severity.

Techno-functional and physicochemical properties of corn flours as potential food ingredients

Background and Objectivescorn plays a crucial role in food security and nutrition. This study aimed to assess the impact of three corn cultivars (Advanta, Leptra, and Porva) and varying particle sizes of flours on estimated glycemic index (eGI), techno-functional properties, and rheological behaviors, crucial in defining their technological properties. FindingsWAI and WSI presented differences among particle sizes for Advanta and Leptra corn flours, whereas Porva flour displayed consistent results regardless of particle sizes. Notably, while Advanta and Leptra did not showed differences in eGI and its fractions, Advanta (174.4 µm) demonstrated the lowest eGI at 32.21, alongside higher water-holding capacity (WHC) compared to wheat flours. Further findings included an initial Emulsification Activity Index (EAI) of 40.55 m2/g and a minimum gelation concentration (LGC) of 12%. Additionally, rheological characterization indicated a non-Newtonian and pseudoplastic behavior. Conclusionsthis study presented a corn flour with high resistant starch content and low glycemic index with functional properties that could be applied to manufacture healthy food requiring high water solubility, greater emulsification capacity, and water retention capacity greater than conventional flours. Significance and Noveltythe study on intrinsic and extrinsic factors that can modulate the glycemic index of corn becomes crucial. This exploration holds the potential to design healthy commercially viable products.

Role of nutrition and healthy lifestyle, for individuals in primary prevention: recent data, gaps in evidence and future directions

All recent guidelines on cardiovascular prevention have highlighted the role of healthy diet and lifestyle advocating holistic approach to reduce cardiovascular burden among population. Despite these efforts, registries have reported that only a minority of healthcare professionals provide advice on diet and lifestyle, and, in most cases, counseling is suboptimal for several reasons. Cardiovascular benefits linked to lifestyle and nutrition seem to be underestimated by many patients and doctors. This overview aims to summarize well-established benefits related to lifestyle and nutrition, discuss the current debates in this field in order to improve awareness among the medical community and to promote a better implementation of non-pharmaceutical measures to prevent the occurrence of atherothrombotic events.

Pirarucu requires taurine to maximize growth and antioxidant status when fed diets high in plant-based ingredients

Taurine (Tau) is a free conditionally essential amino acid for most fish species that plays a significant nutritional role, mainly in carnivorous fish species. However, limited studies are still available regarding the role of Tau on pirarucu nutrition, an important Amazonian fish species. Therefore, this study used diets high in plant-based ingredients to investigate the effect of taurine (Tau) supplementation on juvenile pirarucu's growth, metabolism, and health (n = 115, Weight = 504.12 ± 19 g). Fish were fed five diets containing increasing levels of Tau: 0.95, 5.1, 9.6, 12.9, and 17.2 g/kg in a completely randomized design with three replicates per treatment. After a 60-day feeding trial, growth, hematology, blood chemistry, Tau content in muscle, carcass, and liver, antioxidant status, and immunological parameters were evaluated. The control group (0.95 g/kg Tau) showed the lowest growth. According to the segmented regression model, the recommended Tau level for maximizing the development of juvenile pirarucu was 4.49 g/kg of feed. Additionally, fish fed the lowest dietary Tau level showed the highest ROS (reactive oxygen species) concentration. Dietary Tau levels did not affect hematological parameters and blood chemistry (p > 0.05). Fish fed 9.6 g/kg of Tau showed increased catalase activity, while the control group had the worst result in NBT (nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test). Fish fed with the highest dietary Tau levels (12.9 and 17.2 g/kg) showed increased total serum immunoglobulin concentration. These results suggest that the optimal inclusion level of Tau in diets for juvenile pirarucu is 4.49 g/kg of feed and that this amino acid acts as a mitigator of oxidative stress.

Looking to the future: Agendas, directions, and resources for nutrition research.

The development and progression of nutrition as a scientific field is ever evolving and complex. Although the history of nutrition research began by exploring specific food components, it has evolved to encompass a more holistic view that considers the impact of dietary patterns over time, interactions with the environment, nutrition's role in disease processes, and public policy related to nutrition health. To guide the future direction of nutrition science, both federal and other professional organizations have established agendas and goals. The Strategic Plan for National Institutes of Health Nutrition Research outlines four goals and five cross-cutting research areas that are priorities to explore between 2020 and 2030. Similarly, the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and other governmental and professional organizations have identified priority areas in their research agendas. Rigorous research studies are needed to explore these areas of interest while also considering practical implementation strategies for translating research into practice. Nutrition clinicians are uniquely positioned to lend expertise in the areas of research design, implementation, advocacy and evidence-based practice; there are numerous resources to support practitioners in these endeavors.

The Role of Sulfur in Meeting 4R Nutrient Stewardship Goals

AbstractSulfur plays several roles in 4R plant nutrition. First, as an essential plant nutrient, it may need to be applied to optimize yields and quality of crops. Second, there may be a need to replenish the sulfur removed from the soil by crop harvests. Third, some forms of sulfur may have additional benefits through their effects on soil pH and on soil nitrogen processes. The three roles combine to support enhanced productivity with lower impacts on the environment. This article reviews basic sulfur nutrition, recent trends affecting the need for fertilizers, and the contribution of sulfur to improving productivity sustainably. Earn 1 CEU in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.