Nutritional and Health-Related Environmental Studies
Hints and FAQs on Nutritional and Health-Related Environmental Studies
This section is intended to provide hints and answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) in relation with the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Nutritional and Health-Related Environmental Studies (NAHRES). For further questions and answers please contact NAHRES. We are open to suggestions and comments on these items, and any feedback is most welcome.
Answers:
1. Why does IAEA have projects in the field of nutrition?
Good nutrition is essential key for achieving the Millennium Development Goals for having good health and high quality of living. As a United Nation agency dedicated to help Members States to achieve their social and economic goals, the IAEA is supporting technical solutions to identify effective strategies to improve human nutrition through the use of nuclear isotopic techniques.
Isotopes are different species of atoms of the same chemical element with the same atomic number and position in the periodic table with identical chemical behavior but with different atomic masses and physical properties. They can be radioactive or stable.
3. Are isotopes safe to be used in human studies?
Stable isotopes exist in nature (in everything we drink, eat or breath) but they can be used as tracers if they are given to a human to increase the level in the body by small amounts above the natural abundance level, at no risk to the subject. Radioactive isotopes are also sometimes used in research but the levels at which they can be used in human being are subjected to safety regulation.
4. What are nuclear analytical techniques?
Nuclear Analytical Techniques (NAT) are elemental analysis methods which are based on specific nuclear properties of the atoms. They are neutron activation analysis (NAA), X-ray fluorescent analysis (XRF) and particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) as well as mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy. The most relevant characteristics of all these methodologies are: high-sensitive/specificity and non-destructive multi-element analysis.
5. How can we use nuclear analytical techniques in human health?
Since their have high sensitivities and specificity, they are able to measure the intake of essential and toxic elements from the environment and foods as well as to determine the micronutrient bioavailability and bioconversion, therefore, using these techniques we can determine the impact of these elements on human health.
6. What kind of nutritional studies we can perform using isotopic techniques?
In the field of nutrition, isotopic techniques are considered as the gold standard methods for the determination of nutrient intake, nutrient status, measurement of micronutrient bioavailability and for monitoring the effectiveness of food fortification programmes. In the same way, these techniques are effectively used for the assessment of body composition, energy expenditure and breast milk intake. In the last few years, isotopic techniques have also been applying in the diagnosis of osteoporosis and Helicobacter pylori infection. In the area of toxicology, nuclear analytical techniques are accurate tools for assessing the impact of toxic elements like cadmium, mercury and lead on the environment and human health.
7. What are the IAEA contributions for promoting better nutrition and health?
The IAEA provides assistance through Co-ordinate Research Projects (CRPs) that encourage institutes to collaborate on well-defined research projects. The agency is also collaborating with Member States through Technical Co-operation projects (TC) focused on building scientific and technical capabilities as well as supporting infrastructure in developing countries.