Researchers at the University of California (UC) Irvine are calling for more research to better understand how dietary supplements can contribute to nutritional security under threat from environmental issues.

They point out that environmental issues threaten nutrition and related health impacts. These include rising carbon dioxide concentrations, changing weather patterns, and the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.

In their paper, the researchers highlight three important research gaps at the intersection of supplements and these threats. These include assessing nutrient deficiencies caused by environmental threats, increasing biological resilience to environmental stressors, and changing environmental impacts through changes in dietary patterns and industry practices.

“Addressing these gaps will allow us to better understand how dietary supplements contribute to nutritional security and health in the United States under changing environmental conditions. This knowledge will inform public health policy and interventions, taking into account the complex interactions between dietary supplements, nutrition, and environmental factors,” the authors state.

“Nutritional supplements are not a replacement for a healthy diet or solve fundamental problems in the food system,” says lead author Jun Wu, professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of California, Irvine. “But as environmental problems become more serious, it is important to understand whether they can play a limited, evidence-based role alongside broader solutions.”

Undervalued research

Outlook published in advances in nutritionargue that rigorous research on environmental issues is “grossly underrepresented” in the nutrition, environmental, and public health literature.

Previous research has warned that climate change: threaten nutritional quality Crops such as rice and leafy vegetables can increase the risk of malnutrition and chronic disease, the authors say.

The new paper highlights that a “timely, urgent and thorough” response from the research community will be key to determining whether and how supplements can be incorporated into environmental adaptation and mitigation strategies.

This paper challenges researchers and industry to determine how supplements can be incorporated into environmental adaptation and mitigation strategies.“Environmental change is not just an ecological problem; it is a nutritional and public health problem,” says lead author Margaret Nagai Singer, Wen Public Health Research Fellow at the University of California, Irvine.

“When food systems become less stable or nutritious, people feel it in very real ways: in their health, in their health care costs, in their daily lives.”

Coordinated efforts

The authors propose an interdisciplinary and collaborative research agenda to address the complex intersection of supplements, nutritional security, resilience, and environmental challenges.

The authors call on the supplement industry to ensure product quality, share proprietary data where appropriate, and practice sustainable sourcing practices. They point out that researchers, funders, and regulators need to work together to design rigorous studies, while public health experts can identify priority populations and translate results into practice.

They recognize the role of researchers in many fields, including nutrition and food science, agriculture, environmental science, epidemiology, toxicology, public health, social science, and policy research.

For example, to fill the following research gaps: malnutrition They urge the development of new techniques for measuring nutritional status caused by environmental change that can be used in many communities and be implemented in areas affected by environmental stressors.

They integrated geocoded and time-stamped trophic survey data with environmental data and used simulation modeling to Estimate the nutrient gap Driven by the environment. They also recommend conducting studies to monitor nutritional outcomes across different affected populations and confirm the bioavailability of ingredients in those populations.

To strengthen biological resilience, they suggest combining: AI and omics research Identify bioactive substances that improve resilience and characterize interactions between environmental exposures, nutritional status, and health effects. The authors also suggest integrating Indigenous knowledge about plants Moving on to clinical trials.

Supplements can help meet recommended nutrient intakes as long as the quality, bioavailability, and safety of the ingredients are ensured.The authors point out that community-based research can help identify potential harmful effects of supplement ingredient sourcing on the environment. However, researchers are calling for consideration of environmental policy and regulatory approaches to limit these impacts.

Additionally, the team calls for ensuring accessibility and affordability of strategies for those most affected by environmental stressors.

“The economic costs of incorporating nutritional supplements into environmental adaptation strategies should not increase costs for those most in need of access to adaptation strategies if they are found to be safe and effective,” the paper details.

Supplement restrictions

Although supplements can help meet recommended nutrient intakes, the authors caution that the quality, bioavailability, safety, and chemical properties of the ingredients must be addressed to determine health effects.

Additionally, they highlight some limitations in research regarding supplements. For example, evaluating the impact of a single nutrient may not translate to real-world results because it may interact with other foods or ingredients.

They say that comprehensive, multi-year studies are needed to assess the effectiveness and safety of supplements, but that health effects can vary widely across populations.

However, they warn that the regulatory framework could create a barrier to rigorous research into supplements, as brands cannot market these products as treating, preventing or curing diseases.

Additionally, the authors point out that even if a company discovers a health benefit, the quality and composition of supplements containing that ingredient will not be standardized across different brands.

“This raises safety and efficacy concerns for all uses of dietary supplements,” the authors warn. “This also provides an opportunity for advocates, policymakers, and regulators to consider alternative regulatory frameworks.”

Finally, the researchers stress that supplements cannot replace a nutritious diet and should not replace strategies to address food system issues, such as food insecurity and the environmental impacts of agricultural practices.