The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

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The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) is a monthly, peer‑reviewed biomedical journal focused on dietetics and clinical nutrition. It began in 1952 as the Journal of Clinical Nutrition, edited by S. O. Waife and published by Nutrition Press. In 1954 it continued under the present name and later came under the American Society for Clinical Nutrition (now the American Society for Nutrition), which currently publishes it. The editor‑in‑chief is Christopher P. Duggan of Harvard Medical School.

In 2009, a poll by the Biomedical and Life Sciences Division of the Special Libraries Association named AJCN one of the 100 most influential journals in biology and medicine over the last 100 years. The journal had a 2021 impact factor of 7.045, indicating it is widely cited in the field.

AJCN has faced questions about conflicts of interest. In 2013, Marion Nestle raised concerns that seven of the twelve editorial board members had major corporate affiliations with food and beverage companies. The journal publicly lists conflicts of interest and has had a policy on conflicts of interest since 2007. Critics have argued that corporate ties can influence research, and in 2015 Michele Simon also raised concerns about corporate involvement with ASN journals.

In February 2022, seven co‑authors of the Endocrine Society’s 2017 obesity statement criticized a 2021 AJCN article, saying it contained misleading statements and mischaracterized the Society’s position that obesity is a complex disorder. The AJCN article was widely quoted in scientific, medical, business, and popular media.