Paving the way for improved action: how nuclear techniques can advance the assessment of malnutrition
1
Issued Date
2025-01-01
Resource Type
ISSN
00029165
eISSN
19383207
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105009886621
Pubmed ID
40484232
Journal Title
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2025)
Suggested Citation
Shertukde S.P., Padmanabha R., Chung S.T., Gaudichon C., Jones K.S., Kelly P., Krebs N.F., Kurpad A., Lamers Y., Lopez-Teros V., Melse-Boonstra A., Pereira F.C., Prado C.M., Roberts S.B., Shepherd J., Winichagoon P., Wells J.C.K., Loechl C.U., Hoffman D.J. Paving the way for improved action: how nuclear techniques can advance the assessment of malnutrition. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2025). doi:10.1016/j.ajcnut.2025.06.003 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/111220
Title
Paving the way for improved action: how nuclear techniques can advance the assessment of malnutrition
Author's Affiliation
The University of British Columbia
University of Alberta
University of Southampton
Wageningen University & Research
Mahidol University
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
AgroParisTech
University of Colorado Department of Pediatrics
Universidad de Sonora
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna
St. John's National Academy Of Health Sciences India
University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
MRC Epidemiology Unit
Department of Nutritional Sciences
Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group
University of Alberta
University of Southampton
Wageningen University & Research
Mahidol University
Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health
AgroParisTech
University of Colorado Department of Pediatrics
Universidad de Sonora
International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna
St. John's National Academy Of Health Sciences India
University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center
MRC Epidemiology Unit
Department of Nutritional Sciences
Tropical Gastroenterology and Nutrition Group
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Malnutrition in all its forms—including undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and overnutrition—continues to rise globally, driven by complex structural and biological factors that contribute to an increased risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Addressing this multifaceted challenge requires precise assessment tools. To advance this effort, the International Atomic Energy Agency held a technical meeting of global experts to explore how nuclear techniques, specifically stable isotope tracers and imaging methods, and emerging technologies can enhance nutrition assessments to better address malnutrition. On the basis of the meeting's discussions, this report highlights the application of nuclear techniques to improve the measurement of body composition across life stages and disease states, assess nutrient bioavailability more holistically, elucidate nutrient flux under conditions of malnutrition, trace metabolic processes linked to NCDs, and refine nutrient requirements to better reflect diverse populations. The integration of nuclear techniques with emerging tools such as artificial intelligence and model-based compartmental analysis was emphasized as a key strategy to enhance their utility. This report also highlights the important role of nuclear techniques in addressing malnutrition and calls for interdisciplinary collaboration and reduced research silos to fully leverage these techniques to combat this condition more effectively.