To function well, the human body requires an adequate daily supply of high-quality protein in the form of nine essential amino acids. Individual needs vary depending on age, sex and physical condition. The needs of a growing child, for example, are different from those of a pregnant woman, an elderly person or a patient being treated for cancer.
Globally, access to adequate and high-quality proteins remains uneven, yet demand continues to rise sharply with continued growth in the world population, which the United Nations projects will reach 9.7 billion by 2050. The impact of climate change on food systems and crop yields also affects this global protein supply as do high carbon dioxide emissions, which can reduce protein concentration in certain crops by as much as 20 per cent. As awareness grows about the adverse environmental effects of current consumption patterns and production systems, some have recommended a shift from eating animal-based proteins to plant-based ones. But since not all protein food sources are of the same quality (animals are generally understood to provide higher-quality proteins), can this shift both save the planet and feed the world?
To address this pressing question, over 300 experts from around the world gathered in Utrecht, the Netherlands from 14 to 16 September 2023 for the International Symposium on Dietary Protein for Human Health. Scientific developments of the past decade were in the spotlight at the Symposium, which was co-organized by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Wageningen University & Research and the Riddet Institute of Massey University in cooperation with the IAEA. One such advance was the use of the digestible indispensable amino acid index (DIAAS) to score amino acid digestibility, as recommended by FAO. Other notable advances included the stable isotope tracer techniques, which have enabled nutrition scientists to measure dietary protein quality and in turn generate much-needed data on how well certain food sources meet bodily needs.
“Having accurate information on the quality of proteins from a wide range of foods is more important than ever as the world becomes more dependent on certain lower quality plant proteins,” said Paul Moughan, Distinguished Professor at the Riddet Institute of Massey University, during the symposium. Through blood and breath analyses, the dual isotope tracer technique enables nutrition specialists to precisely measure protein digestion in a minimally invasive manner. The technique was developed through an IAEA coordinated research project in seven low- and middle-income countries. “The IAEA has had a very real impact,” Moughan said. “The significance of isotope tracer methods will continue to expand as new data are generated and as these techniques are validated.”
