Nutrient Requirements - A need for the understanding of nutrient requirements throughout the life cycle is imperative. The nutrient requirements of the fetus, infants, children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, and adults, especially the elderly, differ. Thus, there is a need to understand the effects of nutrition at different points in the life cycle. Learning nutrient requirements early in life may lead to the prevention of chronic disease. Research is needed to define borderline deficiencies and to identify biomarkers of deficiency.

Relationship Between Diet, Genetics and Lifestyle and the Risk For Chronic Disease - Research is needed to understand the nutritional needs of diverse individuals that differ based on gender, race, genetic backgrounds, environment, behavior, and lifestyle.

Nutrition Monitoring - Research is needed on the nature of the diet of individuals and populations, to understand their particular risk for disease at various stages of life, and to assess related behaviors, such as exercise and smoking, that may affect their intakes, and their knowledge and attitudes about dietary guidance and health.

Composition of Foods - There is a need for more extensive information about 'key foods', defined as those foods which are the major contributors of nutrients to the diets of Americans. In order for USDA's National Nutrient Databank to reflect the dynamic diet of the United States accurately, representative data are needed on a variety of new foods and food components, including effects of biotechnologies, ethnic, restaurant-prepared and carry-home foods. Nutritionally significant components of food must be identified, followed by the development of analytical methods to quantify those nutrients and databases of those food components must be developed and maintained.

Health Promoting Intervention Strategies for Targeted Populations - Simply knowing the nutritional requirements of humans will not ensure adequate nutrition in the population for a variety of reasons including poor education, low income, inadequate access to food, etc. Dietary interventions need to be created and tested so that the health of the American population will be improved. Research on biological outcomes is needed to identify effective ways of communicating food and nutrition knowledge to individuals and populations to elicit changes in food intake. Thus, effective nutritional assistance programs can be designed.

Health Promoting Properties of Plant and Animal Foods - A more nutritious food supply can be generated by defining the basis for modifying the health promoting properties and plant and animal foods, which can be achieved through biotechnology, genetics, and new food processing technologies. New research needs to be focused on the role of phytonutrients in the prevention of chronic disease.

Bioavailability of Nutrients and Food Components (e.g. phytonutrients, phytochemicals) - A need exists to understand how nutrients interact and how the effects of agricultural practices including post-harvest handling and cooking affect nutrient content and bioavailability. It is important in this context that nutrition research methods be adequate to meet the growing demands and opportunities for genetic engineering in plant and animal production strategies and test for bioavailability of altered nutrient content.