Integration of Risk and Benefit Analysis—The Window of Benefit as a New Tool?

Abstract

Foods and food components can have positive and/or negative effects on our health, resulting in benefits and risks. At present these are evaluated in largely separated trajectories. In view of assessment, management, and communication, we here propose and argue for an integrated evaluation of risk and benefit of food components and foods. The window of benefit assessment concept is described as a framework to combine thresholds and scores. The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) and the tolerable upper intake level (UL) delimit the range of intakes that should be considered sufficient to prevent deficiency, while avoiding toxicity. Within these thresholds, two additional thresholds, the lower and upper level of additional benefit (LLAB and ULAB), define the range of intakes that constitute an additional benefit. Intake within these limits should thus be protective against a specified health or nutritional risk of public health relevance. To faithfully predict outcomes and to obtain the tools that are necessary to support scientific valid evaluations, a mechanism based systems biology understanding of the effects of foods and nutrients is seen as the way forward. Ultimately this should lead to an integrated risk-benefit assessment, which will allow better management and, especially, communication, to the benefit of the consumer.

Keywords:

• nutrigenomics
• recommended daily intake
• risk-benefit assessment
• upper limit
• window of benefit

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We gratefully acknowledge the EU FP6 Network of Excellence NuGO (Nutrigenomics Organization), the Spanish Government (grants AGL2004-07496/ALI and AGL2006-04887 to A.P. and CAL-03-060-C4-2 to C.P.), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Naturemanagement, and Food Quality (J.K.). The CIBER de Fisiopatología de la obesidad y nutrición is an initiative of the ISCIII.