Abstract
Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) represent the new approach adopted by the Food and
Nutrition Board to providing quantitative estimates of nutrient intakes for use in
a variety of settings, replacing and expanding on the past 50 years of periodic updates
and revisions of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs). The DRI activity is a
comprehensive effort undertaken to include current concepts about the role of nutrients
and food components in long-term health, going beyond deficiency diseases. The DRIs
consist of 4 reference intakes: the RDA, which is to be used as a goal for the individual;
the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), which is given to assist in advising individuals
what levels of intake may result in adverse effects if habitually exceeded; the Estimated
Average Requirement (EAR), the intake level at which the data indicate that the needs
for 50% of those consuming it will not be met; and the Adequate Intake (AI), a level
judged by the experts developing the reference intakes to meet the needs of all individuals
in a group, but which is based on much less data and substantially more judgment than
that used in establishing an EAR and subsequently the RDA. When an RDA cannot be set,
an AI is given. Both are to be used as goals for an individual. Two reports have been
issued providing DRIs for nutrients and food components reviewed to date: these include
calcium and its related nutrients: phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, and fluoride;
and most recently, folate, the B vitamins, and choline. The approaches used to determine
the DRIs, the reference values themselves, and the plans for future nutrients and
food components are discussed. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998;98: 699–706.
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and DieteticsAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B-6, Folate, Vitamin B-12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. National Academy Press, Washington, DC1998
- Recommended Dietary Allowances. 10th ed. National Academy Press, Washington, DC1989
- How Should the Recommended Dietary Allowances be Revised? National Academy Press, Washington, DC1994
- Nutrient Adequacy. Assessment Using Food Consumption Surveys. National Academy Press, Washington, DC1986
- Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. National Academy Press, Washington, DC1997
Article info
Identification
Copyright
© 1998 American Dietetic Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.