New perspectives released today nutrition journalis a peer-reviewed journal of the American Society of Nutrition (ASN) that reviews the evidence supporting protein recommendations in the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and identifies areas where additional research could strengthen future dietary guidance.
The article “Perspectives on Protein Recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030” examines the updated recommendations of 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day in the latest dietary guidelines. We compare this guidance with previous editions of the Dietary Guidelines, the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report, and current research on protein intake and health.
The authors highlight the strengths of the latest dietary guidelines, including the continued focus on healthy and nutritious dietary patterns and the role of protein intake of 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight per day in weight management in overweight and obese people. They discuss the limitations of the evidence used to make these recommendations and point out that further research is needed to understand how protein intakes within this range apply to different groups within the U.S. population.
On behalf of the co-authors, Dr. Stephen Pasiakos, professor at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, said, “While we recognize the strengths of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, particularly the evidence supporting the emphasis on high-quality protein foods and higher protein intake for weight management, a central purpose of our perspective was to consider whether this evidence is sufficient to justify a universal high-protein diet recommendation for all Americans.” The guidelines do not meet that standard, and without sufficient evidence, we cannot assume that what is best for one part of the population is best for everyone. We want future editions of the Dietary Guidelines to be well-founded and useful for all Americans, not just those for whom the current data was created. ”
Topics explored in Perspective papers include:
- How the updated protein recommendations compare to previous editions of the Dietary Guidelines and other current dietary recommendations.
- What the evidence shows about the strengths of the latest guidance and its limitations.
- Additional research is needed to better understand the role of proteins in chronic disease prevention and management.
- Why protein recommendations need to vary by life stage and population.
- How can future dietary guidelines be strengthened?
The authors highlight the importance of protein in the diet and encourage further research to better understand protein needs across populations and strengthen the evidence base for future dietary guidance.
Continuation of the conversation at NUTRITION 2026
These topics will also be discussed at NUTRITION 2026, ASN’s flagship annual conference, to be held July 25-28, 2026 in National Harbor, Maryland, where thousands of researchers and health professionals will gather to share the latest advances in nutrition science.
Featured sessions include:
- Plenary session – Dietary guidance at a crossroads: Science, practice, and innovation
- Featured sessions – Proteins: Bridging requirements and food-based guidance
Additional sessions on protein metabolism, dietary patterns, muscle health, healthy aging, and dietary guidelines will be featured throughout the conference.
sauce:
American Academy of Nutrition
Reference magazines:
Pasiakos, S.M.; others. (2026). Perspectives on protein recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025-2030. Journal of Nutrition. DOI: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2026.101754. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022316626004037?via%3Dihub
