Full Title: Advancing the Role of Evidence-based Reviews in Nutrition Research and Applications
EPC Technical Papers Series
Expected Release Date: late 2008
EPC Technical Paper 1: Identifying the Challenges, Advantages, and Limitations of Conducting Nutrition-based Evidence-based reviews (EBRs) and Integrating Them into Nutrition Applications
Description: The Evidence-based Practice Center (EPC) will develop a report in manuscript form that identifies the unique challenges in conducting evidence-based reviews in the field of nutrition. The manuscript will also discuss the advantages and limitations that may be associated with integration of evidence-based reviews (EBRs) into various nutrition applications.
Estimated date of completion: July 30, 2007
EPC Technical Paper 2: Evaluating Approaches for Integrating Evidence-based Reviews into Processes for Deriving Nutrient Reference Intakes
Description: Though a series of teleconferences and scientific panel meetings, the EPC, in conjunction with the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) and designated liaisons (e.g., Food and Nutrition Board [FNB]/Institute of Medicine [IOM], Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP]/Department of Health and Human Services [HHS]), and a panel of scientific experts, will produce a report that will identify issues, options, and challenges for integrating EBRs into the nutrient reference intake determination process.
Specific Objectives:
- Identify the types of sequential questions that need to be informed by science in the decisionmaking process for deriving nutrient reference intakes.
- Identify how these questions interact with the decisionmaking process and which questions lend themselves to EBR approaches.
- Identify options that, with appropriate modifications, for incorporating EBRs and EBR techniques into the nutrient reference intake decisionmaking processes.
- Describe pros and cons and appropriate and inappropriate applications of EBRs into nutrient reference intake decisionsmaking processes.
Estimated date of completion: November 30, 2007
EPC Technical Paper 3: A Critical Assessment and Recommendations for Reporting of Nutrition Evidence-based Reviews
Description: The EPC will prepare a report in manuscript format on the scope of EBRs in the nutrition field and the methodologies employed. In doing this, they will identify current strengths, limitations, deficiencies and unique challenges, and make recommendations to improve future conduct and reporting of nutrition-related EBRs. The manuscript will show similarities and differences across topics and within topics conducted by different groups.
Estimated Date of Completion: February 29, 2008
EPC Technical Paper 4: Review of Nutrient Literature To Inform a Plan for Critical Analyses to Predict Outcomes of Nutrient/Diet and Health Outcomes
Description: Many observational studies of nutrient reported associations of beneficial health outcomes and consumption of food/dietary supplements containing the nutrient, but these relationships often were not confirmed in later randomized controlled trials. Examples include antioxidant nutrients and folate and cardiovascular outcomes, and chromium and glucose homeostasis. The goal of this project is to perform a preliminary review of the nutrient literature in order to develop a comprehensive proposal to conduct a series of related critical analyses of various types of data in predicting outcomes of nutrient and diet/health relationships. Goals of this project are to identify issues that are potentially relevant to evidence reviews of nutrition literature, and to develop a list of these issues as potential topics for in-depth focused methodological review(s).
Estimated Date of Completion: October 1, 2007
Topic Sponsor: Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health
Current as of April 2007
Internet Citation:
EPC Technical Papers Series: Advancing the Role of Evidence-based Reviews in Nutrition Research and Applications, Clinical Focus. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/nutritntp.htm
540 Gaither Road Rockville, MD 20850