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Clinical trials of diets increasingly use human biospecimens (e.g., blood, saliva) to assess end points related to metabolism and microbiome; however, the collection, storage, and use of such biospecimens raise complex ethical and legal challenges To examine biospecimen usage in nutrition science through research into moral views, legal disparities, and issues of governance. Special emphasis is given to subject autonomy, data proprietorship, and culturally competent practices. We examined a total of 61 sources, such as historical ethics codes, international guidelines (e.g., GDPR, U.S. Common Rule, CIOMS), empirical literature on consent models, compliance, and biobanking practices. Although classical models (Nuremberg, Helsinki, Belmont) heavily stress informed consent and justice, they don't adequately cover long-term burdens or cross-cultural decision-making, or genetic confidentiality. Variable globalization of regulatory authorities hinders collaboration, especially for LMICs. Long-term nutrition interventions have low compliance (∼50–70%) with high attrition (up to 68.5%), but dynamic consent and culturally specific interventions increase compliance by 25–30%. Current governance models prioritize research utility over individual rights. A rights-based framework, emphasizing dynamic consent, fair benefit-sharing, and harmonized international norms, can enhance trust, protect vulnerable groups, and increase the moral integrity of diet research.

Keywords: Nutrition research, Human biospecimens, informed consent, Ethical governance, participant autonomy

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