New evidence reviews

Evidence mapping activities have identified existing, high-quality systematic reviews to update the evidence for some of the priority questions. Where important evidence gaps remain, the Dietary Guidelines Expert Committee has requested 8 new evidence reviews be commissioned.

Topics and types of evidence reviews

Diet and health outcomes in all age groups

Three scoping reviews are being commissioned on:

• Dietary patterns and new diagnoses of anxiety and depression in all ages (including pre/post-natal depression during pregnancy and breastfeeding).
• Ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption in children and adolescents and new diagnoses of anxiety and depression, asthma, dietary allergies, and neurocognitive development.
• Dietary factors (dietary patterns, source of protein or UPF consumption) associated with maternal and birth outcomes during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Read more in the scoping review protocols.

One systematic review is being commissioned on:

• UPF consumption and all-cause mortality and new diagnoses of cardiovascular events, type 2 diabetes, cancer and anxiety/depression in adults.

Older adults

Two scoping reviews are being commissioned on the following topics in the general adult population 65 years and older (or 50 years and older for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples):

• Sarcopenia (age-related muscle wasting) and consumption of protein-rich food.
• Neurocognitive conditions (including dementia and Alzheimer disease) and consumption of protein-rich food.

Diet and economic, social and environmental sustainability

Research questions for new evidence reviews on diet and sustainability were developed by the Dietary Guidelines Sustainability Working Group with guidance from the Expert Committee.

Two scoping reviews are being commissioned to identify Australian studies on the:

• Environmental impact of consuming different dietary patterns, protein-rich foods and UPFs
• Implications of different dietary patterns on socio-cultural acceptability, accessibility, equity, cost and affordability of food.

Both scoping reviews will report:

• the characteristics and findings of studies identified
• identified evidence gaps.

If you would like to know the difference between systematic reviews and scoping reviews, why topics for the new evidence reviews were chosen, and other details about the process, visit the frequently asked questions (FAQ) page.

Process for completing new evidence reviews

NHMRC has rigorous standards in place to ensure that guidelines and public health advice are high quality and based on the best available scientific evidence. Infographics are available which outline the process for reviewing evidence, quality checks during the development of guidelines, and how NHMRC develops guidelines.

The new evidence reviews for the Dietary Guidelines revision will be completed as outlined in the Dietary Guidelines Evidence Review Strategy. 

Independent evidence reviewers (with expertise in nutrition and conducting evidence reviews) will complete the new evidence reviews. The protocols and Evidence Evaluation Reports for the new reviews will be reviewed by an independent methodological expert, a consumer reviewer and the Expert Committee.

A public call for primary research studies for some of the commissioned evidence reviews was held. For details about what primary studies were eligible for inclusion visit, Public call for peer-reviewed primary research studies eligibility criteria and research questions.

For more information, visit the FAQ page.