Beyond nutrients: advancing nutritional Life Cycle Assessment towards food context and health effects
Abstract
Over the past century, nutrition science has undergone a significant transformation (Moughan 2020 ; Mozaffarian et al. 2018 ). Initially focused on identifying essential nutrients and preventing deficiencies, the field gradually expanded to consider whole foods, meals and, more recently, dietary patterns. As chronic diseases have emerged as the leading public health challenge, their complex and multifactorial etiology underscores the limitations of a reductionist, nutrient-centric approach. This evolution reflects a growing recognition that health outcomes are shaped not only by the amount of nutrients consumed but also by their source, the food matrix in which they are embedded, and the broader dietary context.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
Nutritional Studies and Diet
Nutrition
Genetics
and Disease
Publication details
- Journal / source
- The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Volume
- 31
- Issue
- 1-3
- Publication date
- 1 March 2026
- Language
- EN