Milling & Baking News - September 26, 2017 - 19

X
understanding that there are complex
relationships between dietary intake
and the risk of developing multifactorial chronic disease has been developing," the review committee said.
"Poor dietary habits have been associated with the increased prevalence of
chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the
United States. Likewise, poor-quality
diets that result in energy imbalance
can increase the risk of obesity."
Regarding the D.G.A. cycle, the review committee said the current approach gives the advisory committee
two years to evaluate the science and
draw conclusions and then one year to
generate a D.G.A. policy report for the

Nutrition and Health

group would monitor emerging science on an ongoing basis and would be
responsible for identifying and prioritizing topics for the advisory committee to evaluate in future D.G.A. cycles.
"These functions are consistent
with the conclusion that not all topics
need to be fully reevaluated every five
years," the review committee said.
"Strategic planning is needed across
D.G.A. cycles."
With respect to identifying and prioritizing topics, the D.G.P.C.G. would
be responsible for disclosing in a brief
report the criteria and logic for the list
of topics and associated research questions recommended. The D.G.P.C.G.
would also help oversee activities

'Strategic planning is needed
across D.G.A. cycles.'
- Special review committee of the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

government. The other two years in the
cycle are a period of "relative inactivity."
"This National Academies committee believes that using the entire five
years for work on the D.G.A. will not
only provide the opportunity for a more
thorough evaluation of the science, but
also allow the D.G.A. process to become
more agile, flexible and effective - and
address more topics of interest to the
general public," the committee said.
Among the most significant recommendations of the review committee is
the creation of a second complementary body beyond the D.G.A.C.
The Dietary Guidelines Planning
and Continuity Group (D.G.P.C.G.)
would be established to "monitor and
curate evidence generation, to identify and prioritize topics for inclusion
in the D.G.A. and to provide strategic planning support across D.G.A.
cycles," the review committee said.
Their work would be supplemented by
efforts from technical expert panels to
"provide content and methodological
consultation during evaluation of the
evidence," the committee said. Finally,
it would be up to the D.G.A.C. to interpret the scientific evidence, draw conclusions and offer recommendations.
As envisioned by the review committee, the planning and continuity group
would be populated by federal staff
and non-federal experts who would be
responsible for generating planning to
be submitted to the secretaries of the
U.S.D.A. and the H.H.S. that would
be aligned with long-term objectives
spanning multiple D.G.A. cycles. The
bakingbusiness.com / world-grain.com

to monitor the scientific and public
health literature to determine when
enough new evidence has been developed on a specific topic.
Supplemental expertise could be secured by the planning and continuity
group as needed, the review committee said. For example, the D.G.P.C.G.
could commission papers, speakers,
consultants, roundtables or subcommittees as appropriate.
Regarding the Nutrition Evidence
Library, the committee said the library
staff should conduct externally peerreviewed systematic reviews with input from technical expert panels, perform risk-of-bias assessment of individual studies and assist the D.G.A.C.
as needed. The advisory committee
would be responsible for synthesizing
and interpreting what is generated by
the N.E.L. The N.E.L.'s purpose is to
conduct such systematic reviews, for
the purpose of informing federal nutrition policy and programs.
Executed well, the N.E.L.'s influence could extend beyond how it
helps shape the D.G.A.
"The N.E.L. has the opportunity to
become a leading evidence source for
the nutrition community," the committee said.
Achieving such a position of respect
will require strong training of N.E.L.
staff, engagement with and learning
from external groups, the invitation of
external systematic reviews to evaluate N.E.L.'s methods and an investment in technological infrastructure,
the review committee said. MBN

Booth #310
Milling & Baking News XSeptember 26, 2017 / 19

http://www.westernfoodsco.com http://www.bakingbusiness.com http://www.world-grain.com

Milling & Baking News - September 26, 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Milling & Baking News - September 26, 2017