Chapter 3 Dietary Standards

Front 1

۞ -----Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs)

Back 1

Have been in use since 1941 for measuring dietary adequacy
• Originally used to determine adequacy of nutrition for the military

First published in 1943 included energy and 9 nutrients

Front 2

۞ -----Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs)
Later uses include

Back 2

• used to set standards for menus in group settings (school lunches)
• Used to design feeing programs like WIC
• Used to assess individual diets
• Comparative intake on computer programs

Front 3

۞ -----Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs)

levels set

Back 3

levels were set to suggest the average daily dietary intake that met the needs of healthy individuals. They were developed for essential nutrients and were not intended to be used for people with special needs.

• Goal was to reduce the risk of developing chronic disease

• Based on scientific evidence of the average intake plus an increase to provide for variation in needs

• Strong clinical data, clinical trials, dose response, depletion/repletion studies, case controlled studies published in peer review journals

• Often measured actual intake rather than reported intake

• Each nutrient was evaluated by a panel (rather than one panel reviewing all nutrients)

• Bioavailability of nutrient is considered

Front 4

۞ -----Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs)

1993

Back 4

In 1993 it was decided that the RDAs will be replaced by the DRIs.

Front 5

۞ -----Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs)

1997

Back 5

the term Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) was introduced
• DRIs refer to 4 different reference values that can be used for planning and assessing diets of individuals and groups
• They were developed to overcome having only a single set of reference values – the RDAs
• The DRIs are being released as a set of 7 reports

Front 6

۞ -----DRIs consist of

Back 6

• Estimated Dietary Allowance (EAR)
• Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
• Adequate Intake (AI)
• Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)

Front 7

۞ -----DRIs consist of

EAR (Estimated Dietary Allowance)

Back 7

• The nutrient intake estimated to meet the requirement of half of the healthy individuals in a group

• Based on scientific data, if no data, no EAR

• This figure is used as a basis for developing the RDAs

• Used by policy makers in the evaluation of nutrient intakes of a group (information about group distribution and variability) and for planning how much a group should consume

Front 8

۞ -----DRIs consist of
RDAs (Recommended Dietary Allowances)

Back 8

• Based on the EAR ( must have)

• If the variation of intake of a particular nutrient in a population is known, the RDA is set at 2 standard deviations above the EAR

• If variation is not known set at 1.2 times the EAR

• If there is no EAR then no RDA is set

Front 9

۞ -----DRIs consist of
AI (Adequate Intakes)

Back 9

• Set when there is insufficient data to set EAR

• Based on less scientific and more subjective data

• Based on observed levels of intake that appear to maintain circulating levels, growth or some other criteria

• All infant values are AI because of lack of hard data for this age group. Cannot use depletion/repletion studies as infants.

Front 10

۞ -----DRIs consist of
UL (Tolerable Upper Intake Limit)

Back 10

• The highest level of daily intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects to almost all individuals in a general population
• As intake increases above the UL the risk of adverse effects increases
• This level is not intend for use as a recommended level
• This includes intake from food, fortified food and supplements
• Only set where clinical and lab graded studies are available
• The levels are set “No Observed Adverse Effect Level” (NOAEL)

Front 11

RDAs vs DRIs how to use

Back 11

• RDAs were intended to be used for healthy groups of people not individuals
• Except for energy, levels set very high to account for variability
• RDAs were not available for several key nutrients CHO, Fat, Sat Fat, cholesterol, fiber