Protein Dietary Reference Intake Evidence Scans
The Joint Canada-US Dietary Reference Intakes Working Group has launched an effort to update the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for macronutrients in the coming years, including protein. The USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review team supported this effort by conducting a series of evidence scans related to total dietary protein intake. An evidence scan is a systematic and exploratory process used to describe the volume and characteristics of research available on a topic or question and to identify evidence gaps. The NESR team collaborated with the Working Group to develop evidence scan protocols to capture the most appropriate, relevant, and direct body of evidence related to the topics and questions of interest. These evidence scans will inform potential future systematic reviews that will be conducted to update the macronutrient (including protein) DRIs.
Since the 2005 DRIs for macronutrients and energy were published, further research has been completed on the relationship between protein intake and health, including adverse health effects, chronic disease risk, and protein intake requirements overall. To address the update to the evidence base around protein intake and to aid in informing future work on the DRIs, evidence scans were completed to answer five questions. A detailed description of the methodology used to complete these evidence scans and the findings can be found at the link below.
The first evidence scan addresses the following questions:
- What is the relationship between high dietary protein intake and acute adverse health effects?
- What is the relationship between high amino acid intake and acute adverse health effects?
The second evidence scan addresses the following question:
- What is the relationship between dietary protein intake and risk of chronic disease?
The third evidence scan addresses the following questions:
- What is the average daily dietary protein intake requirement of apparently healthy individuals by life stage and sex?
- What is the average daily intake requirement for individual indispensable amino acids of apparently healthy individuals by life stage and sex?
The NESR team are scientists from the USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion who have expertise in systematic review methodology and in nutrition science, dietetics, public health, and information management. Members of the Joint Canada-US Dietary Reference Intakes Working Group collaborated on the protocol elements to ensure the evidence scans were relevant to the needs of the Dietary Reference Intake development process. A list of the individuals who supported this work can be found at the link below.