24 Years of NHANES Data Explored in Special Issue of Current Developments in Nutrition

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has been a crucial resource for over 50 years, providing insights into the health and nutritional status of the American population. A recent special issue of Current Developments in Nutrition (CDN), published by the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), examines the findings from 24 years of NHANES data regarding the nutritional health of Americans.

Titled "The Nutrition Status of Americans Monitored Over 24 Years of NHANES," this collection presents research focused on nutritional biomarkers, shifts in nutrition status over time, and various factors influencing nutrition and health. NHANES serves as one of the most extensive databases concerning Americans' health and nutrition, collecting information through interviews, physical exams, and laboratory tests from a diverse demographic, including all age groups.

A key advantage of NHANES is its broad representation of different ages, backgrounds, and regions, enabling researchers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the country's nutritional health and to identify trends over time.

The CDN is an open-access journal aiming to disseminate original research articles, reports, commentaries, and reviews. This special issue is a collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and complements the CDC’s upcoming 2026 Nutrition Report, which covers 131 biochemical indicators related to nutrition, gathered from NHANES over 24 years.

The articles featured in this special issue examine several research areas being reported by the CDC for the first time. These include:

- Insights on omega-3 levels within various U.S. population subgroups and their implications for cardiovascular health.

- Evaluation of the performance of traditional biomarkers relative to a newer combined method for assessing vitamin B12 status.

- Analysis of different forms of folate in red blood cells, and their variability among individuals with differing ages, lifestyles, and health characteristics.

These contributions underscore the significance of long-term nutrition monitoring in enhancing understanding of changes in nutritional health in the U.S., identifying areas for further investigation, and guiding future research and public health strategies. For more information on the latest findings from this pivotal nutrition surveillance program, explore the CDN special issue.