The addition of STROBE-nut to the EJCN instructions to authors: some considerations and caveats

Abstract

Inadequate reporting in nutritional epidemiology study has important downstream consequences for the public and the reputation of the nutrition research. Poor reporting of nutritional studies can have serious implications on knowledge transfer, public health policy, and research. In addition, it is a significant and avoidable source of research waste. The STrengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology-nutritional epidemiology (STROBE-nut) statement comprises a set of 24 items, organised as a checklist, with minimal information to be included in manuscripts describing findings of nutritional epidemiology research and dietary assessment. The goal of STROBE-nut is to ensure all information is available to enable quality appraisal, correct understanding, effective replication and application of findings. It has been suggested that robust implementation of reporting guidelines will translate into more complete reported research. Furthermore systematic use of reporting guidelines can indirectly improve the methodological qualities of research papers. In this regard, if STROBE-nut becomes a common practice between the community of nutritionist and epidemiologist, it can enhance the quality of the nutritional epidemiology field output. We thus suggest the endorsement of STROBE-nut at the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.