Nutritionists in the Brazilian Unified Health System: a perspective on their role in Primary Health Care

ABSTRACT To examine the trajectory of nutritionists’ practice in Primary Health Care within the Brazilian Unified Health System. We conducted a narrative review, integrating scientific articles since the establishment of Unified Health System in 1988. The search was performed in the following databases: Scientific Electronic Library Online, National Library of Medicine, Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Scopus, and Web of Science. The material was organized into three thematic axes: historical overview of integration, professional training, and workforce sizing. Sixty-five studies published between 2002 and 2025 were analyzed. The role of nutritionists was limited during the first decade of Unified Health System implementation, expanding significantly with the establishment of the Family Health Support Centers. The 1999 and 2012 editions of the National Food and Nutrition Policy positioned nutritionists as key players in the development of interdisciplinary care strategies. We observed some efforts to align the training of nutritionists and continuing health education with Unified Health System care models and the health needs of the population. Successful training experiences were identified in university-service integration, despite curricular gaps in Collective Health. The insufficient number of nutritionists and working conditions hinder the implementation of actions in Primary Health Care. The work of nutritionists in Primary Health Care has advanced with improved public policies, including the interdisciplinary dimension. However, challenges remain regarding training, integration, and daily practices, which limit the strengthening of food and nutrition practices in the Unified Health System.