Book Description
Providing an adequate, sustainable, and nutritious supply of protein remains an increasing challenge in the light of changing food systems and raised levels of food insecurity and malnutrition. A joint FAO and IAEA technical meeting was held in Vienna, in 2022, to discuss the development of a protein quality database and the revision of protein requirements across population groups. Participants updated evidence and related methods on protein requirements and protein quality assessment and designed a framework for the development of a protein digestibility database to aid dialogue on the evaluation of protein quality and protein sufficiency in different populations. The report of this meeting offers a global presentation of the concept of protein quality and requirements throughout the life course. It presents the important elements needed to set protein requirements, such as indispensable amino acid scores and indispensable amino acid reference patterns and the associated methods. The report then narrows down on assessment of protein digestion and metabolic utilization and related assessment methods, including stable isotope tracer techniques. Finally, the report summarizes the framework for a new protein quality database jointly managed by FAO and IAEA, which was agreed on by experts at the technical meeting. The report also recognizes the dearth of data on protein quality from low- and middle-income countries and recommends that resources be mobilized to set up a protein quality database, inclusive of data on climate-smart foods.