Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition. 2013;53(10):1135-1146
The paper presents the main outputs of the EU-funded project EURRECA and the areas where further research is warranted. EURRECA underlined the importance of ensuring transparency in risk assessment and risk management, systematic literature searching and taking into account policy options.
The EURopean micronutrient RECommendations Aligned (EURRECA) Network of Excellence explored an approach for setting micronutrient recommendations which would address the variation in recommendations across Europe. Therefore, a framework for deriving and using micronutrient dietary reference values has been developed. This framework comprises four stages (defining the problem – monitoring and evaluating – deriving dietary reference values – using dietary reference values in policy making).
The first aim of the present paper is to highlight specific methodological issues and research needs in relation to the different activities included in the framework for deriving and using dietary reference values for micronutrients. In addition, it summarizes the existing research gaps when applying the EURRECA framework for selected micronutrients (namely folate, iodine, iron, selenium, vitamin B12, vitamin D and zinc) by study approach (i.e. factorial or dose-response) and includes population groups, bioavailability, intake, status-health and health outcomes. The paper’s second aim is to list and describe the different outputs that support the process described by the EURRECA framework, like protocols, guidelines, systematic review databases and peer-reviewed publications. It also maps the principal routes of dissemination of these outputs, including how these may be used by authorities or institutions to ensure their optimal uptake in policy, practice and research collaborations. The actions and future plans for sustaining the different EURRECA parts (i.e. through Early Nutrition Academy, EuroDISH, or the Network for Capacity Development in Nutrition in Central and Eastern Countries) are also referred in the paper.
The paper will provide the readers with summative information regarding the main outputs of EURRECA and the areas that further research is warranted. The importance of ensuring transparency in risk assessment and risk management, systematic literature searching and taking into account policy options is highlighted.
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