Protein study breakthrough and US guideline review raise concerns

Dr Suzanne Hodgkinson, a senior research officer at New Zealand's Riddet Institute, received the American Society of Nutrition's inaugural Teresa A. Davis Award for a landmark study that measured the protein quality of 97 foods across New Zealand, the United States and the Netherlands. The research used a standardized method to assess indispensable amino acids in the small intestine, producing a comprehensive baseline database and critiquing the older Protein Digestibility‑Corrected Amino Acid Score system.

In parallel, a Perspective published in The Journal of Nutrition examined the evidence behind the 2025‑2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommend 1.2–1.6 g of protein per kilogram of body weight per day. The authors praised the focus on high‑quality protein foods but argued that the current evidence does not justify a universal higher‑protein recommendation for all Americans, calling for more research across diverse population groups.