title: Improving selection of markers in nutrition research: evaluation of the criteria proposed by the ILSI Europe Marker Validation Initiative.
abstract: The conduct of high-quality nutrition research requires the selection of appropriate markers as outcomes, for example as indicators of food or nutrient intake, nutritional status, health status or disease risk. Such selection requires detailed knowledge of the markers, and consideration of the factors that may influence their measurement, other than the effects of nutritional change. A framework to guide selection of markers within nutrition research studies would be a valuable tool for researchers. A multidisciplinary Expert Group set out to test criteria designed to aid the evaluation of candidate markers for their usefulness in nutrition research and subsequently to develop a scoring system for markers. The proposed criteria were tested using thirteen markers selected from a broad range of nutrition research fields. The result of this testing was a modified list of criteria and a template for evaluating a potential marker against the criteria. Subsequently, a semi-quantitative system for scoring a marker and an associated template were developed. This system will enable the evaluation and comparison of different candidate markers within the same field of nutrition research in order to identify their relative usefulness. The ranking criteria of proven, strong, medium or low are likely to vary according to research setting, research field and the type of tool used to assess the marker and therefore the considerations for scoring need to be determined in a setting-, field- and tool-specific manner. A database of such markers, their interpretation and range of possible values would be valuable to nutrition researchers.
authors.affiliation: 1Faculty of Medicine,University of Southampton,Southampton SO16 6YD,UK.
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Calder
authors.affiliation: 2Centre for Pharmacology and Therapeutics,Imperial College London,London W12 0NN,UK.
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boobis
authors.affiliation: 3Institut Mérieux,69002 Lyon,France.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.affiliation: 4School of Psychology,University of Leeds,Leeds LS2 9JT,UK.
authors.forename: Claire L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Champ
authors.affiliation: 4School of Psychology,University of Leeds,Leeds LS2 9JT,UK.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dye
authors.affiliation: 5Unilever R&D,3133 AT,Vlaardingen,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Einöther
authors.affiliation: 5Unilever R&D,3133 AT,Vlaardingen,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greyling
authors.affiliation: 6Clinical Nutrition Unit,University Hospitals Leuven & Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology,KU Leuven,3000 Leuven,Belgium.
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Matthys
authors.affiliation: 7ILSI Europe a.i.s.b.l.,1200 Brussels,Belgium.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Putz
authors.affiliation: 8TNO,3700 AJ,Zeist,The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wopereis
authors.affiliation: 9Centre for Public Health,Queen's University Belfast,Belfast BT12 6BJ,UK.
authors.forename: Jayne V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Woodside
authors.affiliation: 10Danone Research,91767 Palaiseau Cedex,France.
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Antoine
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D003188:Composite Resins; D005060:Europe; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012106:Research; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D003188:Composite Resins; C094367:Duet cement; D005899:Glass Ionomer Cements
keywords:  ILSI Europe European Branch of the International Life Sciences Institute; Biomarkers; Markers; Nutrition; Scoring; Validation criteria