A promulgated global shift toward a plant-based diet is largely in response to a perceived negative environmental impact of animal food production, but the nutritional adequacy and economic implications of plant-sourced sustainable healthy dietary patterns need to be considered. This paper reviews recent modeling studies using Linear Programming to determine the respective roles of animal- and plant-sourced foods in developing a least-cost diet in the United States and New Zealand. In both economies, least-cost diets were found to include animal-based foods, such as milk, eggs, fish, and seafood, to meet the energy and nutrient requirements of healthy adults at the lowest retail cost. To model a solely plant-based least-cost diet, the prevailing costs of all animal-sourced foods had to be increased by 1.1 to 11.5 times their original retail prices. This led to the inclusion of fortified plant-based foods, such as fortified soymilk, and a plant-based diet that was considerably (34-45%) more costly. The first-limiting essential nutrients were mostly the vitamins and minerals, with special focus on pantothenic acid, zinc, and vitamin B-12, when transitioning from an animal- and plant-containing least-cost diet to a plant-only based least-cost diet. Modeled least-cost diets based on contemporary food costs include animal-sourced foods, at least for developed high-income US and NZ food economies, and potentially for developing low- and middle-income countries, such as Indonesia. Modeling of least-cost diets that consist exclusively of plant-based foods is feasible, but at a higher daily diet cost, and these diets are often close to limiting for several key nutrients. Diet affordability, as a key dimension of sustainable healthy diets, and the respective economic roles of animal- and plant-sourced foods need to be considered.

Global food systems are crucial for sustaining life on Earth. Although estimates suggest that the current production system can provide enough food and nutrients for everyone, equitable distribution remains challenging. Understanding global nutrient distribution is vital for addressing disparities and creating effective solutions for the present and future. This study analyzes global nutrient supply changes to address inadequacies in certain populations using the existing DELTA Model®, which uses aggregates of global food production to estimate nutrient adequacy. By examining the 2020 global food commodity and nutrient distribution, we project future food production in 2050 needs to ensure global adequate nutrition. Our findings reveal that while some nutrients appear to be adequately supplied on a global scale, many countries face national insufficiencies (% supply below the population reference intake) in essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, B12, B2, potassium, and iron. Closing these gaps will require significant increases in nutrient supply. For example, despite global protein supply surpassing basic needs for the 2050 population, significant shortages persist in many countries due to distribution variations. A 1% increase in global protein supply, specifically targeting countries with insufficiencies, could address the observed 2020 gaps. However, without consumption pattern changes, a 26% increase in global protein production is required by 2050 due to population growth. In this study, a methodology was developed, applying multi-decade linear convergence to sufficiency values at the country level. This approach facilitates a more realistic assessment of future needs within global food system models, such as the DELTA Model®, transitioning from idealized production scenarios to realistic projections. In summary, our study emphasizes understanding global nutrient distribution and adjusting minimum global nutrient supply targets to tackle country-level inequality. Incorporating these insights into global food balance models can improve projections and guide policy decisions for sustainable, healthy diets worldwide.

BACKGROUND: While many studies have been published on nutrient intake assessment for performance improvement and deficiency prevention in single-sport athletes, few studies have addressed nutrient intakes in athletes from a various sports.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether Japanese college athletes meet the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) and sports nutrition recommendations (SNRs).
METHODS: Dietary intake was assessed in 1049 Japanese college athletes from a variety of sports using a validated brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire. The prevalence of inadequate intakes was estimated by comparing the DRIs and SNRs.
RESULTS: For protein, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins B-6, vitamins B-12, folate, magnesium, zinc, and copper, <10% of females and males consumed diets that fell below the estimated average requirement (EAR) in the DRIs. A large proportion of female and male college athletes demonstrated intakes that were below the EAR for vitamin A (7.8% and 19.0%, respectively), thiamin (10.4% and 23.9%, respectively), calcium (20.4% and 29.7%, respectively), and iron (24.2% and 2.5%, respectively). Regarding DG for chronic disease prevention in the DRIs, over half of both female and male athletes exceeded the DG for saturated fat acid and sodium, and fell below the DG for dietary fiber. Few of both female and male had intakes below the SNRs for protein and carbohydrates.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study reveal the nutrient intake status of Japanese college athletes by comparing the DRIs and SNRs. Most meet the SNRs for optimal performance, but not the DRIs for health.

Processed foods have been part of the American diet for decades, with key roles in providing a safe, available, affordable, and nutritious food supply. The USDA Food Guides beginning in 1916 and the US Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) since 1980 have included various types of commonly consumed processed foods (e.g., heated, fermented, dried) as part of their recommendations. However, there are multiple classification systems based on \"level\" of food processing, and additional evidence is needed to establish the specific properties of foods classified as \"highly\" or \"ultra\"-processed (HPF/UPFs). Importantly, many foods are captured under HPF/UPF definitions, ranging from ready-to-eat fortified whole grain breakfast cereals to sugar-sweetened beverages and baked goods. The consequences of implementing dietary guidance to limit all intake of foods currently classified as HPF/UPF may require additional scrutiny to evaluate the impact on consumers\' ability to meet daily nutrient recommendations and to access affordable food, and ultimately, on health outcomes. Based on a meeting held by the Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences in May 2023, this paper provides perspectives on the broad array of foods classified as HPF/UPFs based on processing and formulation, including contributions to nutrient intake and dietary patterns, food acceptability, and cost. Characteristics of foods classified as UPF/HPFs are considered, including the roles and safety approval of food additives and the effect of food processing on the food matrix. Finally, this paper identifies information gaps and research needs to better understand how the processing of food affects nutrition and health outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines for the treatment of obesity recommend dietary restriction to create a caloric deficit, and caloric reductions of 16% to 68% have been achieved in adults with overweight or obesity engaging in intentional weight loss programs.
OBJECTIVE: This study models the impact of simulated caloric reduction on nutrient adequacy among U.S. adults ≥19 y with overweight or obesity using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2015-2018).
METHODS: Four levels of caloric reduction (20%, 30%, 40%, and 50%) were modeled by prorating daily calorie intake such that usual intakes of 14 nutrients were reduced proportional to caloric reduction. The percentages below the estimated average requirement (EAR) or above the adequate intake (AI) were estimated at each level of caloric reduction, with and without dietary supplement use. Differences across percentages of simulated caloric reductions were determined using nonoverlapping confidence intervals of the means (97.5th percentile confidence intervals were used to approximate P < 0.05).
RESULTS: There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in percentages below the EAR (above the AI) between sequential levels of simulated caloric reduction for most of the nutrients analyzed (protein, vitamins A, B-6, folate, and C, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and zinc). For example, after a simulated 30% caloric reduction, 25%-40% of the population had intakes below the EAR for protein, vitamin B-6, and zinc, and 75%-91% of the population had intakes below the EAR for vitamin A, calcium, and magnesium (vs. 4%-18% and 45%-56%, respectively, without caloric reduction). With the inclusion of dietary supplements, percentages below the EAR for all nutrients (except protein) were lower than those for food alone.
CONCLUSIONS: Caloric reduction may exacerbate nutrient inadequacies among adults with overweight or obesity. Inclusion of nutrient-dense foods, fortified foods, specially formulated products, and/or dietary supplements should be considered for those on calorie-restricted diets for long-term weight loss.

Though Italy is a native land of Mediterranean diet, its adherence in the Italian population is low, witnessed by the high rates of overweight in its inhabitants. Vegetarian dietary patterns (i.e., lacto-ovo-vegetarian and vegan) are increasing in western countries, and also in Italy, where 9.5% of the population self-declared as vegetarian in 2023. Though the vegetarian diet has been associated with beneficial health effects, speculation on its alleged nutrient inadequacy exists. For this reason, we assessed the nutrient composition of the diet of 470 participants enrolled in an online survey (the INVITA study), who completed a weighted food questionnaire on three different days. Participants were divided into four dietary groups obtained according to their self-declared dietary intakes: 116 Meat Eaters (MEs), 49 Fish Eaters (FEs), 116 Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarians (LOVs), and 189 VegaNs (VNs). The mean intake of most of the main nutrients was similar among all groups and within the normal range expected for the Italian population, supporting the adequacy of diets within our Italian sample, especially the LOV and VN diet. Since the Mediterranean diet is a plant-based diet, some of its components still persist in the current Italian diet, representing a staple also for people adopting a vegetarian diet.

Identifying diets beneficial for both human and planetary health has become increasingly important. However, to date, there is limited research on sustainable diets for children and adolescents, a vulnerable population group with specific nutritional needs.
We aimed to identify 1) the main determinants; 2) age and time trends of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), land use (LU), and water use (WU) of diets of children and adolescents; and 3) analyze the associations of dietary GHGE, LU, and WU with nutrient adequacy.
A total of 5510 3-d-weighted dietary records (n = 856; 6-17 y; 48% ♀) of the DONALD (DOrtmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed) study between 2000 and 2021 were analyzed. Values of GHGE (kgCO2eq), LU (m2 × year), and WU (L) determined by life cycle assessment were assigned to all recorded foods. For nutrient adequacy, the mean adequacy ratio (MAR = ∑(nutrient intake / recommended intake) / number of nutrients) was used. Data were analyzed using polynomial mixed-effects regression models.
The main contributors to GHGE and LU were meat products (GHGE: 25.6%; LU: 32.8%), dairy products (22.2%; 17.7%), and sweets and pastries (14.0%; 14.3%); to WU, nonalcoholic beverages (24.3%), meat products (18.9%), and vegetables and fruits (17.7%). GHGE, LU, and WU per 1000 kcal increased with age (P < 0.01). GHGE and LU per 1000 kcal increased between 2000 and 2010 and decreased after that in females (P < 0.01) and males (GHGE only: P = 0.02). No significant time trend was found for WU (P > 0.05). A higher MAR was directly associated with GHGE/1000 kcal (MAR: β: 0.011, 95% CI: 0.008, 0.013, P < 0.0001), LU/1000 kcal (MAR: β: 0.009, 95%CI: 0.005, 0.013, P < 0.0001), and WU/1000 kcal (MAR: β: 0.429, 95% CI: 0.325, 0.533, P < 0.0001).
Our findings underscore the further need and the capacity for change toward more environmentally sustainable diets. Yet, the tradeoff between environmental sustainability and nutrient adequacy in the diets of children and adolescents requires specific attention to dietary composition.

There is an increasing interest in plant-based diets and higher levels of plant proteins due to rising concerns around health and environmental sustainability issues. We determined the effects of increasing quartiles of plant protein in the diet on nutrient adequacy using a large nationally representative observational dataset. Twenty-four-hour dietary-recall data from NHANES 2013-2018 from 19,493 participants aged 9+ years were used to assess nutrient intakes. Nutritional adequacy was assessed by estimating the percentage of the population with intakes below the EAR or above the AI. A quartile trend was assessed using regression and the significance was set at Pquartile trend < 0.05. With increasing quartiles of plant protein, the adequacy decreased for calcium, potassium, and vitamin D and increased for copper and magnesium for adolescents. Among the adults aged 19-50 years, the adequacy decreased for protein, choline, selenium, vitamin B12, and zinc and increased for copper, folate, iron, magnesium, thiamin, and vitamin C with increasing quartiles of plant protein. The adequacy for calcium, vitamin A, and zinc decreased and it increased for copper, folate, magnesium, thiamin, and vitamin C with increasing quartiles of plant protein among adults aged 51+ years. The results indicate that diets of mixed protein sources (from both animals and plants) are the most nutritionally adequate.

College athletes, especially in weight class sports, often experience energy deficits. Athletes competing in weight class sports such as wrestling are at greatest risk for deficiencies and little is known about the relationships between body composition, nutrient intake, and performance in these athletes. The purposes of this study were to (1) quantify macronutrient and micronutrient intake of pre-season male collegiate wrestlers and compare to estimated needs, and (2) examine relationships among nutritional intakes, body composition, and performance measurements of strength and anaerobic capacity. Male Division I wrestlers (n = 11, age: 21.3 ± 1.7 years, wrestling experience: 14.9 ± 2.5 years) were recruited during pre-season. Nutrient intake was collected from a 3-day food diary. A 7-site skinfold assessment determined fat-free mass (FFM) to estimate total daily energy expenditure (eTEE). Isokinetic and isometric strength were evaluated by a Biodex dynamometer. Anaerobic capacity was tested on a stationary cycle ergometer. Eight of eleven wrestlers were energy deficient based on estimated needs. Mean intake of four micronutrients fell below the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA). Significant correlations were found between dietary intake, strength and anaerobic performance variables (r = 0.603 - 0.902, p = 0.0001 - 0.05). However, after accounting for FFM, these relationships were no longer significant. Nutrient intake in tandem with body composition affects performance for weight class athletes. Achieving high FFM during the preseason may be advantageous for wrestling performance. Nutrient intake and body composition should be monitored so coaches and health professionals can create individualized recommendations to help athletes optimize performance.

BACKGROUND: The Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) was developed to be a simple, timely and cost-effective tool to track, simultaneously, nutritional deficiency and non-communicable disease risks from diet in diverse settings. The objective was to investigate the performance of GDQS as an indicator of adequate nutrient intake and dietary quality in a national-representative sample of the Brazilian population.
METHODS: Nationally-representative data from 44,744 men and non-pregnant and non-lactating women aging ≥ 10 years, from the Brazilian National Dietary Survey were used. Dietary data were collected through two 24-h recalls (24HR). The GDQS was calculated and compared to a proxy indicator of nutrient adequate intake (the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women-MDD-W) and to an indicator of high-risk diet for non-communicable diseases (caloric contribution from ultra-processed foods-UPF). To estimate the odds for overall nutrient inadequacy across MDD-W and GDQS quintiles, a multiple logistic regression was applied, and the two metrics\' performances were compared using Wald\'s post-test.
RESULTS: The mean GDQS for Brazilians was 14.5 (0-49 possible range), and only 1% of the population had a low-risk diet (GDQS ≥ 23). The GDQS mean was higher in women, elderly individuals and in higher-income households. An inverse correlation was found between the GDQS and UPF (rho (95% CI) = -0.20(-0.21;-0.19)). The odds for nutrient inadequacy were lower as quintiles of GDQS and MDD-W were higher (p-trend < 0.001), and MDD-W had a slightly better performance than GDQS (p-diff < 0.001). Having a low-risk GDQS (≥ 23) lowered the odds for nutrient inadequacy by 74% (95% CI:63%-81%).
CONCLUSIONS: The GDQS is a good indicator of overall nutrient adequacy, and correlates well with UPF in a nationally representative sample of Brazil. Future studies must investigate the relationship between the GDQS and clinical endpoints, strengthening the recommendation to use this metric to surveillance dietary risks.