Current Developments in Nutrition

Current Developments in Nutrition is a peer-reviewed, open access journal publishing original research articles; brief communications; reports on research methodology and study design; commentaries and reviews that strive to briskly review, publish, and disseminate high-quality research in nutritional sciences.

Current Developments in Nutrition is an official monthly publication of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) and focuses on multiple animal species and ranges from deep, mechanistic studies at molecular/biochemical and cellular levels to whole-body metabolism, clinical health, fitness, and population health. Areas of new and added emphasis include: food and nutrition policy; eating behavior and qualitative assessments; implementation science and intervention program methods and outcomes; evaluation/validation studies of dietary/nutrition methods; human food and animal feed composition; agricultural and food-system methods affecting nutritional value; processing, packaging, and storage effects on nutritional value; animal nutrition (e.g., agricultural and companion animals and aquaculture); nutrition education; nutrition and exercise physiology; food & nutrition of Indigenous peoples.

Types of Manuscripts
Original Research Articles, Reviews, Perspectives, Supplements and Symposia, Letters to the Editor, and Corrections are shared article types across ASN's Journals Portfolio, and are described here. Table of Contents listings for CDN Original Research, along with Article Types unique to CDN are described below.

Original Research Subject Headings are:

Animal nutrition (agricultural & companion animals & aquaculture)

Bioactive food components & dietary supplements

Community & global nutrition

Eating behavior & qualitative assessments

Food & agricultural sustainability

Food & nutrition of Indigenous peoples

Food composition, nutritional value & toxicology

Genomics, proteomics, & metabolomics

Geriatric nutrition

Implementation science

Intervention program methods & outcomes

Maternal & pediatric nutrition

Microbiome, metagenomics, metaproteomics, & xenometabolomics

Nutritional biochemistry & physiologic mechanisms

Nutritional epidemiology & public health

Nutritional immunology & food allergies

Nutritional requirements & status

Nutrition & cognitive function

Nutrition & exercise physiology

Nutrition & intestinal physiology

Nutrition education

Nutrition in health & disease

Processing, packaging, & storage effects on nutritional value

Protein, carbohydrate & fat metabolism

Research methodology & study design

Vitamins & minerals

Six Areas of New and Added-Emphasis

Research Methodology and Study Design
Manuscripts on research methodology and study design provide readers with new tools to conduct their research and place a strong emphasis on the immediate practical relevance of the approach. Description of the method must be accompanied by its validation, its application to an important biological or policy question. Results could illustrate its performance in comparison to available approaches. Manuscripts that present innovative approaches to collection, synthesis, analysis, and evaluation of existing data as they relate to a broad spectrum of nutrition research are encouraged. Manuscripts that describe novel study designs and qualitative and quantitative instruments that have application and relevance for future nutrition research activities also will be considered. Study designs need to include discussion of modifications made to the design upon study implementation.

Implementation Science
These articles will allow for reporting on methodologically sound process and impact evaluations of programs at scale. Smaller scale interventions with clear implications for scaling up of nutrition and food security programs across the globe also will be considered. Qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies are allowed. Program costing and cost-effectiveness studies of relevance for scaling up will be considered. Studies that develop or test innovative scaling up frameworks based on sound empirical evidence are encouraged.

Food and Nutrition Policy
Manuscripts are welcome which discuss the links between emerging nutrition science and design and/or implementation of food and nutrition policies and programs. The focus can be either US or international with a particular interest in delivery science. Specific topics might include the effects of multi-sectoral policies and programs on diet and nutritional status, effects of nutrition assistance programs on overweight and obesity, methods for assessing the food security and nutrition impact of the sustainable development goals, innovative strategies for improving the effects of agricultural policies and programs on diet diversity and nutritional status, effective strategies for reaching target populations and/or modifications of food systems for improved diet. Explicit presentation and discussion of study methods, analytical approach, primary and secondary outcomes are essential.

Brief Communications
A) Research Reports. Manuscripts that concisely describe studies that are complete but limited in scope can be published as a research report. They explore topics with customary scientific rigor, but do not need extensive analysis and discussion of the data or they have useful information that is not sufficient for a full article. Statistically underpowered studies will not be published. Research reports will follow standard research article format but will be limited to 2000 words, including an unstructured abstract (<150 words) and a combined maximum of 2 figures/tables and <30 references.
B) Case Study Reports. Concise reports of novel or unusual findings that contribute to the nutrition knowledge base in a manner that might change clinical practice or prompt new studies will be considered. The educational and/or clinical impact of the report and its potential influence on practice should be emphasized and should be highlighted in a cover letter from the author(s). The report should begin with a succinct explanation of the general medical condition or concern to set the case in context, followed by (de-identified) information about the patient, the nature of interventions/ therapies employed, the clinical findings, and a discussion of lessons learned. Manuscripts can be up to 1500 words and can include 1-2 figures/tables and <15 references.

Food/Feed Composition, Nutritional Value & Toxicology
Manuscripts reporting the chemical composition and nutritional value of human foods and animal feedstuffs will be considered. Contents of dietary essential and non-essential nutrients as well as potentially bioactive and anti-nutrient substances are appropriate. Beyond chemical composition, reports examining the effects of environmental conditions, processing, packaging, storage, etc. on composition stability and impacts on nutritional value may be reported. A thorough and complete description of sampling is required. Methodologic details of representative sampling, sample size and analytical replication must be clearly reported. Use of standardized analytic methods (AOAC, ISO) should cite specific protocols.

Food & Nutrition of Indigenous Peoples
CDN aims to publish the best scholarship in this area, from both academic and Indigenous perspectives. Indigenous peoples around the world have suffered remarkably similar consequences because of colonization, including traumas from the forced removal from their lands, and profound disruptions to social systems and cultural traditions. The impacts of colonization on traditional food systems, healthy foods, and nutrition are inextricably related to these intergenerational traumas, and contribute to nutritional health problems, including diabetes, obesity, and related diseases. Many Indigenous communities are collaborating with academic researchers to develop innovative solutions by building on the strengths and traditions of these communities.

Manuscripts are sought that address the connections among food, nutrition, and wellness of Indigenous peoples, both in the US and globally. These may include research studies that use community-based participatory research, tribal data, and databases. Specific topics may include strategies to reduce food insecurity and increase access to traditional foods; nutritional composition of traditional foods; documentation of the changing food intake patterns of Indigenous peoples and associated health changes; social determinants of Indigenous nutritional health; the effects of tribal and federal policies and programs on food access and health; strategies for reduction and/or prevention of obesity and food-related diseases; Indigenous methods of inquiry and research in nutrition; and Indigenous food systems for improving health, among others. For research papers, explicit presentation and discussion of study methods, analytical approach, primary and secondary outcomes are essential. Both Indigenous and academic/western methods and evaluations will be considered, but they must be thoroughly described and justified. All research that utilizes tribal data must have approval from the appropriate tribal institution (e.g. tribal IRB) before being considered for publication. In addition to research papers, we will consider commentaries, opinion pieces, and review papers, but these must be approved by the academic section editor before submission.