Food Classification
Ultra-Processed Food Intake and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults
European Journal of Nutrition, 2026
Global ultra-processed foods (UPFs) intake has increased. While several studies have linked the intake of specific UPF products to cognitive decline, fewer have investigated overall dietary UPF intake, with conflicting results.
IAFNS Event Highlight
2026 Food Classification Research Roundtable: Processing, Formulation and Nutrition
March 11-12, 2026
This event will provide attendees with an updated view of the scientific landscape related to food processing, formulation and the intersection with nutrition. To support broad engagement, remote attendance options are available.
GLP-1 Medications
The Science of Safety: Adverse Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Agonists as Glucose-Lowering and Obesity Medications
Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2026
GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) medications have transformed the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity, with robust evidence for cardiovascular and renal benefits. Nevertheless, GLP-1RA therapy is associated with a pattern of adverse events affecting their safety and tolerability. Here, we delineate mechanisms potentially leading to adverse responses to GLP-1RAs, describe the impact of side effects on treatment persistence, discuss potential mitigation strategies, and identify areas requiring further studies.
IAFNS Event Highlight
Gut Feeling: Toward Development of an AI Tool for Precision Dietary Carbohydrate Recommendations
March 19, 2026
This webinar will provide evidence for individual response to carbohydrates and describe the effort to develop an AI tool for more precise prediction of this response.
IAFNS Research -- Gut Health
Associations Between Live Dietary Microbe Intakes and Cardiometabolic Health in Korean Adults
Journal of Nutrition, 2026
Supported by IAFNS Nutrition for Gut Health Committee
The consumption of live microbes, beyond probiotics, is associated with health benefits. This study aimed to quantify live microbe intake in 2016-2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and to investigate the associations between live microbe intake and cardiometabolic health outcomes.
Should I Recommend Foods with Unsaturated Fats?
Part 1: The Scientific Basis for Eating Foods Rich in Unsaturated Fats
April 1, 2026
In the United States, attention and confusion about the role of unsaturated fat-containing foods in the diet is being fueled by debate among some prominent health decision-makers, along with a proliferation of misinformation from media influencers, particularly about polyunsaturated fats. This webinar aimed at practitioners will explore the issues underlying these conversations.
Dietary Patterns
Healthy Dietary Patterns, Longevity Genes, and Life Expectancy: A Prospective Cohort Study
Science Advances, 2026
Associations between healthy dietary patterns and life expectancy remain unclear. Here, we reported the prospective associations of five dietary patterns with mortality and life expectancy in 103,649 UK Biobank participants.
Should I Recommend Foods with Unsaturated Fats?
Part 2: Practical Application of Unsaturated Fats in Health-Promoting Dietary Patterns
April 2, 2026
There is an abundance of conflicting messages about the health impact of unsaturated fats and which foods to eat as well as limit. This webinar series is targeted to health professionals addressing patient and client questions.
Dietary Patterns
Chemical Strategies for Mineral Bioavailability
Nature Food, 2026
Screening a chemical library resulted in the identification of compounds that reduced cereal grain phytic acid content, enhancing mineral bioavailability.
Carbohydrates
Effect of Low-Carbohydrate and Low-Fat Diets on Metabolomic Indices and Coronary Heart Disease in U.S. Individuals
Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 2026
Screening a chemical library resulted in the identification of compounds that reduced cereal grain phytic acid content, enhancing mineral bioavailability.
Protein
Current Progress in Protein Requirement Changes and Associated Factors in the Aging Population
Sci Open, 2026
This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the importance of protein intake among older adults. With the global aging trend accelerating, adequate protein consumption is increasingly recognized as crucial for addressing the decline in muscle mass and function associated with aging.
Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners
Effects of Non-Nutritive Sweeteners on Weight Loss and Maintenance, Metabolic Improvement, and Appetite Regulation in Weight Management Programs: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Nutrition Reviews, 2026
Achieving and maintaining weight loss remains a clinical challenge, prompting interest in the potential role of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) in weight management. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to assess the effects of NNSs on weight loss, weight maintenance, metabolic outcomes, and appetite regulation within weight-management programs.
Cognitive Health
The Association Between Gut Microbiota and Cognitive Decline: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Nutrition Research, 2026
The gut–brain axis has emerged as a key pathway in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, with age-related shifts in gut microbiota potentially contributing to cognitive decline and dementia progression. This systematic review evaluated the effects of microbiota-targeted interventions on cognitive outcomes in adults aged >45 years with cognitive impairment or at risk of dementia.
Lipids
Foods Fortified with Soybean or Palm Oil Show No Effect on Inflammation or Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein in Adults with Overweight or Obesity: a Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Crossover Trial
Current Developments in Nutrition, 2026
Popular and social media outlets have recent posts claiming that vegetable and seed oils high in linoleic acid (LA) cause inflammation and oxidative stress. However, substantial evidence in the scientific literature shows LA biomarkers are associated with lower risks for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and systemic inflammation.
Sodium
Dietary Sodium Reduction and Blood Pressure: A Dose–Response Meta-Analysis in Hypertensive and Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Clinical Kidney Journal, 2026
Hypertension (HTN) is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and dietary sodium reduction is a cornerstone strategy for blood pressure (BP) control, particularly in vulnerable populations such as individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), who often present with HTN. This study aims to quantify the dose–response relationship between changes in sodium intake and changes in BP.
Emerging Science -- Consumer Apps on Additives
Food Additive Lens: An On-Device AI Application for Real-Time Science-Based Consumer Education on Food Additives using Retrieval-Augmented Generation
Digital Discovery, 2026
This research was supported by IAFNS Assembly on Scientific Integrity
Consumer concerns about food additives have intensified amid widespread misinformation despite authoritative safety data existing in FDA and USDA databases. This paper presents Food Additive Lens (FAL), an iOS application that bridges the gap between scientific knowledge and consumer understanding through on-device artificial intelligence.
Emerging Science -- Improve Consumer Diet Quality
Experimental Evidence from the USA Shows that Recurring Unconditional Cash Transfers Improve the Diets of Low-Income Individuals
Nature Food, 2026
Whether recurring unconditional cash transfers are effective at improving diets in high-income country settings has remained uncertain given competing demands of cash-constrained individuals. Evidence from Massachusetts, USA, demonstrates that recurring unconditional cash transfers reduced caloric deficits and improved consumption of nutritious foods.