In Memoriam: A Tribute to Four Late Nutrition Pioneers & Past Leaders of the American Nutrition Association

Within the past year, the world has lost four trailblazing scientists who contributed tremendously to the field of nutrition over their decades-long careers in research and medicine. With this brief tribute, the American Nutrition Association honors the lives and legacies of Dr. George Brewer, Dr. Ananda Prasad, Dr. Stephen Sinatra, and Dr. Beverly Teter.

Personalized Nutrition 2020: Proceedings from the American Nutrition Association's 61st Annual Summit

The American Nutrition Association's 61st annual summit, Personalized Nutrition 2020, convened thought leaders and stakeholders to discuss innovations in personalized nutrition (PN) technology, science, and practice. Evolutions in PN science and technology are enabling novel inroads and applications, leading the ANA to launch a new component of its annual gathering, the Personalized Nutrition Business Leaders Forum. In light of renewed global interest in immune health during the COVID-19 pandemic, the flagship Science and Practice Conference focused on the topic of immune resilience. Presentations highlighted emerging research suggesting that individuals may have unique immunological responses to exogenous insults and that immune system resilience can be optimized by the application of nutritional factors that regulate immune function. Thus, PN tools and services may uniquely enhance immune preparedness by optimizing immune system function and status. Furthermore, PN practitioners trained to utilize emerging techniques and services can help prepare society to meet our modern immune challenges.HighlightsIn order to be effectively implemented, personalized nutrition requires ongoing research, innovative tools and services, and a specialized health care workforcePersonalized nutrition will continue to grow as an economic driver as consumer and patient interest surgeThere has been increased interest in the role of nutrition in immune function in light of COVID-19 and its comorbidities.

Toward the Definition of Personalized Nutrition: A Proposal by The American Nutrition Association

Personalized nutrition holds tremendous potential to improve human health. Despite exponential growth, the field has yet to be clearly delineated and a consensus definition of the term "personalized nutrition" (PN) has not been developed. Defining and delineating the field will foster standardization and scalability in research, data, training, products, services, and clinical practice; and assist in driving favorable policy. Building on the seminal work of pioneering thought leaders across disciplines, we propose that personalized nutrition be defined as: a field that leverages human individuality to drive nutrition strategies that prevent, manage, and treat disease and optimize health, and be delineated by three synergistic elements: PN science and data, PN professional education and training, and PN guidance and therapeutics. Herein we describe the application of PN in these areas and discuss challenges and solutions that the field faces as it evolves. This and future work will contribute to the continued refinement and growth of the field of PN.Teaching pointsPN approaches can be most effective when there is consensus regarding its definition and applications.PN can be delineated into three main areas of application: PN science and data, PN education and training, PN guidance and therapeutics.PN science and data foster understanding about the impact of genetic, phenotypic, biochemical and nutritional inputs on an individual's health.PN education and training equip a variety of healthcare professionals to apply PN strategies in many healthcare settings.PN professionals have greater ability to tailor interventions via PN guidance and therapeutics.Favorable policy allows PN to be more fully integrated into the healthcare system.