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European micronutrient recommendations aligned: a general framework developed by EURRECA

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 64, pages S2–S10 (2010)Cite this article

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Abstract

Background:

In Europe, micronutrient recommendations have been established by (inter)national committees of experts and are used by public health-policy decision makers to monitor and assess the adequacy of the diets of population groups. Current micronutrient recommendations are, however, heterogeneous, whereas the scientific basis for this is not obvious. Alignment of setting micronutrient recommendations is necessary to improve the transparency of the process, the objectivity and reliability of recommendations that are derived by diverse regional and (inter)national bodies.

Objective:

This call for alignment of micronutrient recommendations is a direct result of the current sociopolitical climate in Europe and uncovers the need for an institutional architecture. There is a need for evidence-based policy making, transparent decision making, stakeholder involvement and alignment of policies across Europe.

Results:

In this paper, we propose a General Framework that describes the process leading from assessing nutritional requirements to policy applications, based on evidence from science, stakeholder interests and the sociopolitical context. The framework envisions the derivation of nutrient recommendations as scientific methodology, embedded in a policy-making process that also includes consumer issues, and acknowledges the influences of the wider sociopolitical context by distinguishing the principal components of the framework: (a) defining the nutrient requirements for health, (b) setting nutrient recommendations, (c) policy options and (d) policy applications.

Conclusion:

The General Framework can serve as a basis for a systematic and transparent approach to the development and review of micronutrient requirements in Europe, as well as the decision making of scientific advisory bodies, policy makers and stakeholders involved in this process of assessing, developing and translating these recommendations into public health nutrition policy.

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Acknowledgements

The work reported herein has been carried out within the EURRECA Network of Excellence (http://www.eurreca.org), which is financially supported by the Commission of the European Communities, specific Research, Technology and Development (RTD) Programme Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources, within the Sixth Framework Programme, project no. FP6 036196-2. This report does not necessarily reflect the Commission's views or its future policy in this area. We acknowledge Liesbeth de Wit, Anna Brzozowska, Trudy Wijnhoven, Garden Tabacchi, Torunn Holm Totland, Lene Frost Andersen, Jiri Ruprich and key informants from the UNU/SCN Network for Capacity Development in Nutrition in Central and Eastern Europe and from other countries listed above for their contribution towards completing the questionnaire sent out by Eurreca. We are grateful to all partners of the EURRECA network (specifically to the partners of RA1.4 Current Recommendations) for the feedback on earlier drafts of the general framework and this report. This enabled us to develop our views and ideas and give direction to the future work of EURRECA.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    R A M Dhonukshe-Rutten, A E J M Cavelaars, L S de Wit, E L Doets, L C P G M de Groot & P van 't Veer

  2. Department of Psychology, Food, Consumer Behaviour and Health Research Centre, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, UK,

    L Timotijevic & M M Raats

  3. Nutritionist, Palermo, Italy

    G Tabacchi

  4. Nutrition Research Foundation, University of Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, Spain

    B Roman & J Ngo-de la Cruz

  5. Department of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Medical Research, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia

    M Gurinovic

Authors
  1. R A M Dhonukshe-Rutten
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  2. L Timotijevic
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  3. A E J M Cavelaars
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  4. M M Raats
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  5. L S de Wit
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  6. E L Doets
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  7. G Tabacchi
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  8. B Roman
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  9. J Ngo-de la Cruz
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  10. M Gurinovic
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  11. L C P G M de Groot
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  12. P van 't Veer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R A M Dhonukshe-Rutten.

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The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Contributors: GT performed part of the work under a short-term contract for WHO Europe.

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Dhonukshe-Rutten, R., Timotijevic, L., Cavelaars, A. et al. European micronutrient recommendations aligned: a general framework developed by EURRECA. Eur J Clin Nutr 64 (Suppl 2), S2–S10 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2010.55

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