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 |
* Scientific Advisors
Contact Information
For more detailed information, please contact Ching-Yu Chang at cchang@ilsieurope.be
Activity Overview
Ongoing
- 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: Q2 2024 | End date: Q4 2026
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
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 | NL |
| Lex Verdijk | University of Maastricht | NL |
| Julie-Anne Nazare | Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 | FR |
| Lisette de Groot | Wageningen University | NL |
| Jose Maria Lopez-Pedrosa | Abbott Nutrition | ES |
| Sophie Vinoy | Mondelēz International | FR |
| Suzane Leser | Cargill | 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
Journal Articles
ILSI Europe Systematic Review: The Impact of Digestible and Nondigestible Carbohydrate Consumption for Toddlers (1–4 Years) in Relation to Health Outcomes
Nutrition Reviews, 2025
Early dietary habits play a crucial role in shaping long-term health outcomes. Understanding the effects of different carbohydrate types on physiological markers is essential for developing evidence-based nutritional guidelines for toddlers. The aim of the article is to systematically evaluate the impact of both digestible and nondigestible carbohydrate intake during early childhood (1–4 years of age) on various health outcomes, including growth patterns, metabolic parameters, and the development of risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Health relevance of lowering postprandial glycaemia in the paediatric population through diet’: results from a multistakeholder workshop
European Journal of Nutrition , 2022
To summarize current knowledge and gaps regarding the role of postprandial glycaemic response in the paediatric population, a workshop was organized in June 2021 by the European branch of the International Life Science Institute (ILSI). The workshop led to the consensus on the crucial role on health of postprandial glycaemic response in paediatric population.
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
Commissioned by the Dietary Carbohydrates Task Force
[post_title] => ILSI Europe Systematic Review: The Impact of Digestible and Nondigestible Carbohydrate Consumption for Toddlers (1–4 Years) in Relation to Health Outcomes [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => ilsi-europe-systematic-review-the-impact-of-digestible-and-nondigestible-carbohydrate-consumption-for-toddlers-1-4-years-in-relation-to-health-outcomes [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-08-04 09:58:25 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-08-04 09:58:25 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsi.eu/?post_type=publication&p=15563 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => publication [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 12345 [post_author] => 24 [post_date] => 2023-01-04 12:00:18 [post_date_gmt] => 2023-01-04 12:00:18 [post_content] => [post_title] => Health relevance of lowering postprandial glycaemia in the paediatric population through diet’: results from a multistakeholder workshop [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => health-relevance-of-lowering-postprandial-glycaemia-in-the-paediatric-population-through-diet-results-from-a-multistakeholder-workshop [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2023-06-19 12:46:23 [post_modified_gmt] => 2023-06-19 12:46:23 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsi.eu/?post_type=publication&p=12345 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => publication [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 8885 [post_author] => 204 [post_date] => 2021-03-04 14:12:09 [post_date_gmt] => 2021-03-04 14:12:09 [post_content] => [post_title] => Effects of alpha-glucosidase-inhibiting drugs on acute postprandial glucose and insulin responses: a systematic review and meta-analysis [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => effects-of-alpha-glucosidase-inhibiting-drugs-on-acute-postprandial-glucose-and-insulin-responses-a-systematic-review-and-meta-analysis [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2022-07-29 08:18:19 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-07-29 08:18:19 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsi.eu/?post_type=publication&p=8885 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => publication [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 7749 [post_author] => 204 [post_date] => 2020-05-28 14:36:17 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-05-28 14:36:17 [post_content] => [post_title] => Potential Markers of Dietary Glycemic Exposures for Sustained Dietary Interventions in Populations without Diabetes [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => potential-markers-of-dietary-glycemic-exposures-for-sustained-dietary-interventions-in-populations-without-diabetes [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2022-07-29 08:20:10 [post_modified_gmt] => 2022-07-29 08:20:10 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsi.eu/?post_type=publication&p=7749 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => publication [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [4] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 7748 [post_author] => 204 [post_date] => 2020-05-28 14:20:47 [post_date_gmt] => 2020-05-28 14:20:47 [post_content] => [post_title] => Reducing Postprandial Glucose in Dietary Intervention Studies and the Magnitude of the Effect on Diabetes‑Related Risk Factors: a Systematic Review and Meta‑Analysis [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => reducing-postprandial-glucose-in-dietary-intervention-studies-and-the-magnitude-of-the-effect-on-diabetes%e2%80%91related-risk-factors-a-systematic-review-and-meta%e2%80%91analysis [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2020-05-28 14:41:40 [post_modified_gmt] => 2020-05-28 14:41:40 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsi.eu/?post_type=publication&p=7748 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => publication [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 5 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 15563 [post_author] => 351 [post_date] => 2025-02-06 11:32:06 [post_date_gmt] => 2025-02-06 11:32:06 [post_content] =>Abstract
Context: Early dietary habits play a crucial role in shaping long-term health outcomes. Understanding the effects of different carbohydrate types on physiological markers is essential for developing evidence-based nutritional guidelines for toddlers.Objective: The aim was to systematically evaluate the impact of both digestible and nondigestible carbohydrate intake during early childhood (1-4 years of age) on various health outcomes, including growth patterns, metabolic parameters, and the development of risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, and CENTRAL databases were searched up to April 2022 to identify studies investigating carbohydrate consumption in toddlers.
Data Extraction: The types of carbohydrates consumed, their sources, and their associations with growth parameters and metabolic markers were extracted. Thirty-one publications, including 18 cohort studies and 2 randomized controlled trials, were included.
Data Analysis: The risk of bias was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. A narrative synthesis was performed, with a visual summary table of the direction of effects.
Conclusion: In toddlers, the negative impact on health risks later in life is more pronounced for digestible dietary carbohydrate intake in liquid forms, such as sugar-sweetened beverages and fruit juice, compared with solid forms. Higher nondigestible carbohydrate (dietary fiber) intake during early childhood showed a beneficial trend on later lipid profile. Further studies are required to comprehensively assess the effect of digestible and nondigestible carbohydrate intake in toddlers on cognitive and psychomotor development, infections, bowel function, and gut microbiota. Read the full paper
One pager
Podcast
Commissioned by the Dietary Carbohydrates Task Force
[post_title] => ILSI Europe Systematic Review: The Impact of Digestible and Nondigestible Carbohydrate Consumption for Toddlers (1–4 Years) in Relation to Health Outcomes [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => ilsi-europe-systematic-review-the-impact-of-digestible-and-nondigestible-carbohydrate-consumption-for-toddlers-1-4-years-in-relation-to-health-outcomes [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2025-08-04 09:58:25 [post_modified_gmt] => 2025-08-04 09:58:25 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsi.eu/?post_type=publication&p=15563 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => publication [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [comment_count] => 0 [current_comment] => -1 [found_posts] => 11 [max_num_pages] => 3 [max_num_comment_pages] => 0 [is_single] => [is_preview] => [is_page] => [is_archive] => 1 [is_date] => [is_year] => [is_month] => [is_day] => [is_time] => [is_author] => [is_category] => [is_tag] => [is_tax] => 1 [is_search] => [is_feed] => [is_comment_feed] => [is_trackback] => [is_home] => [is_privacy_policy] => [is_404] => [is_embed] => [is_paged] => [is_admin] => [is_attachment] => [is_singular] => [is_robots] => [is_favicon] => [is_posts_page] => [is_post_type_archive] => [query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => 3617d37471593f5d4dcf493e7f122401 [query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => [thumbnails_cached] => [allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] => [stopwords:WP_Query:private] => [compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => query_vars_hash [1] => query_vars_changed ) [compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array ( [0] => init_query_flags [1] => parse_tax_query ) [query_cache_key:WP_Query:private] => wp_query:653713c3ed5c467c089110c89f00e21d:0.48339000 17685195770.42891300 1768519577 )Multimedia
One-Pager
Podcasts and webinars
- Nutrition Reviews: Conversations with the Authors: “The Impact of Digestible and Nondigestible Carbohydrate Consumption for Toddlers (1–4 Years) in Relation to Health Outcomes”