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Background: Despite economic growth, Cambodia continues to have high rates of malnutrition, anaemia and nutrition‐related deficiencies. Government policies promote nutrition strategies, although dietary intake data is limited. A detailed synthesis of existing intake data is needed to inform nutrition policy and practice change. This review aims to characterise and assess quality of dietary assessment methods and outcomes from individual‐level 'whole diet' studies of Khmer people living in Cambodia. Methods: Searches were conducted using PRISMA‐ScR guidelines. Included papers reported dietary intake at an individual level for 'whole diet'. Studies using secondary data or lacking dietary assessment details were excluded. Extracted data included dietary assessment features, nutrient/food group intakes and database. Results: Nineteen publications (15 studies) were included, with nine carried out among children under 5 years and six among women. Eleven studies reported intake by food groups and four by nutrients, prominently energy, protein, vitamin A, iron, calcium and zinc. Inconsistent intakes, food groupings and reporting of study characteristics limited data synthesis. All but one study used 24‐h recalls. Trained local fieldworkers used traditional interview‐administered data collection and varied portion estimation tools. Food composition databases for analysis were not tailored to the Cambodian diet. Overall quality was rated as 'good'. Conclusions: We recommend the development of a best‐practice protocol for conducting dietary assessment, a Cambodia‐specific food composition database and a competent trained workforce of nutrition professionals, with global support of expertise and funding for future dietary assessment studies conducted in Cambodia. Key points: Fifteen studies with highly variable intake data included in the review.The food composition databases used were not specific to Cambodian diet.Minimum reporting standards and best practice protocols recommended, including in‐country nutrition training.Lack of whole population dietary intake data indicates the need for a national survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This scoping review aims to describe the body of nutrition intervention and dietary assessment research undertaken with Khmer populations in Cambodia, as well as summarise the nutrition knowledge base and highlight priority areas for future research. Methods: Five databases and the grey literature were searched, following PRISMA‐ScR guidelines. Studies involving dietary assessment or nutrition interventions published after 1992 were identified using specific search terms and extracted to a customised data extraction table for categorisation and analysis. Study participants were Khmer people of any age and gender, living in rural or urban Cambodia. Results: Of the 100 included studies, 58 were dietary assessment only studies, 24 were nutrition interventions only, and 18 studies involved both assessment of intake and an intervention. Sixty‐eight percent of study populations were mothers and young children, of which 52 studies focused on children aged under 5 years. Nineteen interventions involved supplementation and six trialled fortification of rice or fish sauce. Anaemia was the most common nutrition condition studied (n = 17), followed by malnutrition (n = 15) and malnutrition risk factors (n = 11). General nutrition status was explored in 25 studies, and individual micronutrients that were studied included iron (n = 27), zinc (n = 6), vitamin A (n = 4) and thiamine (n = 3). Conclusions: Diet‐related research in Khmer populations in Cambodia has predominantly focused on dietary assessment or evaluation of interventions aimed at reducing malnutrition and resolving micronutrient deficiencies. Areas identified as emerging needs included non‐communicable diseases, the ageing population and non‐iron deficiency anaemia. Highlights: Previous research involving nutrition interventions and/or dietary assessment research among Khmer populations living in Cambodia has largely focused on malnutrition and anaemia.Populations studied have been predominantly maternal and young children, addressing Sustainable Development Goals.Supplementation and fortification interventions are prominent.Wide variety of study outcomes involving dietary assessment, e.g., health behaviours, food security, intervention effectiveness and oral health, across different population groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]