Understanding the links between carbohydrates and health
Task Force Information
Objectives
The Task Force focuses on understanding the link between carbohydrates and public health, particularly regarding glycaemic control and the role of dietary fibres. To do so, identifying the types and quantities of carbohydrates that should be consumed to optimise health is key.
Task Force Members
Suzane Leser - Chair | Cargill | Nutrition Innovation Lead | BE |
Ellen Blaak* | University of Maastricht | Professor | NL |
Valeria Deon | Barilla G&R Fratelli | Global Nutrition & Wellbeing Manager | IT |
Jose Maria Lopez-Pedrosa | Abbott Nutrition | Senior Associate Research | ES |
Julie-Anne Nazare* | University of Lyon | Director | FR |
Stephan Theis | Südzucker Group | Head of Nutrition Science | DE |
Verlee Dam | Sensus | Scientific & Regulatory Affairs | NL |
Sophie Vinoy | Mondelēz International | Nutrition Research Manager | FR |
Johanna Maukonen | IFF | Director, Global Clinical Innovation & Translation | FI |
Janet Menzio | Lavazza | Nutrition Specialist | IT |
Ching-Yu Chang | ILSI Europe | Scientific Project Manager | BE |
* Scientific Advisors
Contact Information
For more detailed information, please contact Ching-Yu Chang at cchang@ilsieurope.be
Activity Overview
Ongoing
- Carbohydrates in toddlers’ nutrition
The EG aims to collect scientific evidence about digestible and non-digestible carbohydrates in relation to health outcomes for toddler nutrition (1-3 years inclusive), taking into consideration complementary food as well as young child formula. The activity is shared with EHNL Task Force.
Start date: December 2021 End date: Q2 2024
- Carbohydrate and Protein intake interaction during aging
The activity aims to review and publish evidence on possible influences of the type of carbohydrates (digestible and non-digestible) and protein ingestion on post prandial metabolism at acute and medium to long term effect.
Start date: March 2023 | End date: Q4 2025
- Precision nutrition
The Expert Group aims to address precision nutrition in a narrative review exploring its definition, approach, translation into practice, and future perspectives. Increasing evidence suggests that a one-size-fits-all approach is ineffective, and that personalized nutrition could help reverse the rising prevalence of chronic metabolic diseases. The expert group will have a physical workshop in Q2 2025 to discuss the translation of precision nutrition into primary prevention and relevant considerations.
Start date: Q3 2024 | End date: Q4 2025
In the pipeline
The Task Force is considering developping the following new activities:
- Evidence review on Plant-based foods role of carbohydrates.
- Evidence review on Carbohydrates & mental health.
Expert Groups
Carbohydrates in toddlers’ nutrition
Background and Objectives
The aim of this work is to compile and systematically review the current evidence from primarily intervention studies as well as observational studies and further suitable information on physiological and health outcomes of digestible and non-digestible carbohydrates consumption for toddlers (1-3 years meaning from 12 till 47 months). With this activity, the task force expects to identify the gaps in research on knowledge of digestible carbohydrates and NDCs in relation to safety, physiological outcomes, and health benefits and to provide recommendations to the scientific community about how to fill these gaps.
Output
The resulting scientific publications and webinars will aim at assessing and providing with evidence to the global scientific community.
Expert Group Members
Bartek Zalewski | Medical University of Warsaw | PL |
Renaud Mestdagh | Cargill | BE |
Christina Campoy | University of Granada | ES |
Tamas Decsi | University of Pécs | HU |
Maryam Rakhshaderhoo | Danone Nutricia Research | NL |
Hania Szajewska | Medical University of Warsaw | PL |
Stephan Theis | Südzucker Group | DE |
Elaine Vaughan | Sensus | NL |
Adrienne Weiss | Yili Innovation Center Europe | NL |
Elisabetta Di Profio | University of Milan | IT |
Elvira Verduci | University of Milan | IT |
Ching-Yu Chang | ILSI Europe | BE |
Carbohydrate and protein intake interaction during ageing
Background and objectives
This activity aims to review and publish evidence on possible influences of the type of carbohydrates (digestible and non digestible) co-ingested with proteins on post-prandial metabolism at acute (within a day) and medium to long term effect (several days to months) :
- The effect of proteins on carbohydrate metabolism and blood glucose homeostasis.
- The effect of carbohydrates on muscle protein synthesis and breakdown and muscle mass.
Output
The resulting scientific publication may be applied in selecting carbohydrates and proteins to better adapt the protein & carbohydrates quality to target a healthier profile of foods. It may help to:
- Optimize the mix of carbohydrates and proteins to minimize the potential deleterious effects of some carbohydrate on health (i.e. potentially limiting exacerbation of glycemic excursions)
- Compensate for poorer quality or intakes/ utilisation of proteins (e.g. plant-based diets, ageing populations), and also highlighting research gaps.
Expert Group Members
Luc van Loon | University of Maastricht | Professor of Physiology of Exercise and Head of the M3-research | NL |
Lex Verdijk, | University of Maastricht | Associate Professor at the Human Biology department | NL |
Julie-Anne Nazare | Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 | Researcher | FR |
Lisette de Groot, | Wageningen University | Professor of Nutrition and Ageing | NL |
Jose Maria Lopez-Pedrosa | Abbott Nutrition | Research Section Manager | ES |
Sophie Vinoy | Mondelēz International | Group Leader | FR |
Suzane Leser | Cargill | Nutrition Innovation Lead | BE |
Ching-Yu Chang | ILSI Europe | Scientific Project Manager | BE |
Precision nutrition to prevent chronic metabolic diseases
Background and objectives
There is increasing evidence that one size does not fit all and that personalised nutrition/lifestyle approaches may help in reversing the increasing prevalence of chronic metabolic diseases.
The activity will address the following aspects of personalised nutrition: definition, approach, translation into prevention practice and perspectives.
Output
The expert group will address objectives using a systematic approach and finalize the scientific review by organizing a physical workshop to discuss perspectives and include insights from the workshop in the review.
It aims to provide guidance for healthcare professionals, health authorities, and the food industry on how to effectively implement and utilize precision nutrition in the context of various factors such as sleep, physical activity, socioeconomic status, and psychosocial factors.
Expert Group Members
Ellen Blaak | Maastricht University | NL |
Helen Roche, | University College Dublin | IR |
Sinéad Mullin | University College Dublin | IR |
Emanuel Canfora | Maastricht University, | NL |
Art Muijsenberg | Maastricht University | NL |
Nathalie Delzenne | UCLouvain | BE |
Laetitia Lengele | UCLouvain | BE |
Yoghatama Cindya Zanzer | Südzucker Group | DE |
Suzane Leser | Cargill | BE |
Jose Maria Lopez | Abbott | ES |
Menzio Janet | Lavazza | IT |
Milena Rundle | Mondelēz International | FR |
Johanna Maukonen | IFF | FI |
Publications
All Publications
Health relevance of lowering postprandial glycaemia in the paediatric population through diet’: results from a multistakeholder workshop
European Journal of Nutrition , 2022
Effects of alpha-glucosidase-inhibiting drugs on acute postprandial glucose and insulin responses: a systematic review and meta-analysis
2021
Nutrition & Diabetes (2021) 11:11. Commissioned by the Dietary Carbohydrates Task Force.
Potential Markers of Dietary Glycemic Exposures for Sustained Dietary Interventions in Populations without Diabetes
2020
Advances in Nutrition (2020). Commissioned by the Dietary Carbohydrates Task Force
Reducing Postprandial Glucose in Dietary Intervention Studies and the Magnitude of the Effect on Diabetes‑Related Risk Factors: a Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis
2020
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2020). Commissioned by the Dietary Carbohydrates Task Force
A workshop on ‘Dietary Sweetness – Is It an Issue?’
2018
International Journal of Obesity 2018;42:934–938. Commissioned by the Dietary Carbohydrates and the Eating Behaviour and Energy Balance Task Forces.