Statement of Nutritional Adequacy

STATEMENT ON NUTRITIONAL ADEQUACY

The Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) of the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, are used as the standard for determining the nutritional adequacy of the regular and modified diets outlined in this manual. DRIs reference values that are quantity estimates of nutrient intakes to be used for planning and assessing diets for healthy people. The DRIs consist of four reference intakes:

Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA), a reference to be used as a goal for the individual.
Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), the intake level given to assist in advising individuals of what intake levels may result in adverse effects if habitually exceeded.
Estimated Average Requirement (EAR), the intake level which data indicates that the needs for 50% of individuals consuming this intake will not be met.
Adequate Intake (AI), a recommended intake value for a group or groups of healthy people based on fewer data and substantially more judgment than used in establishing an EAR and subsequently the RDA.

An AI is given when the RDA cannot be set. Both of these reference intakes are to be used as goals in planning and assessing diets for healthy individuals (1,2). The DRIs do not cover special needs for nutrients due to various disease conditions. DRIs are reference values appropriate for both assessing population intakes and planning diets for healthy people (1,2).

When referring to energy, use Estimated Energy Intake (EER). EER is the average dietary energy intake that is predicted to maintain energy balance in a healthy adult of a defined age, gender, weight, height and level of physical activity, consistent with good health. For children, pregnant and lactating women, the EER includes the needs associated with deposition of tissues or the secretion of milk at rates consistent with good health (7).

The sample menus throughout this manual have been planned to provide the recommended DRIs for men, 31 to 50 years of age, unless indicated otherwise, and have been analyzed by a nutrient analysis software program. For specific values, refer to the following tables of recommended DRIs from the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences,. However, it is acknowledged that nutrient requirements vary widely. The dietitian can establish an adequate intake on an individual basis.

The DRIs are provided in a series of reports (3-7). Full texts of reports are available at www.nap.edu.

References

Yates AA, Schlicker SA, Suitor CW. Dietary Reference Intakes: The new basis for recommendations for calcium and related nutrients, B vitamins, and choline. J Am Diet Assoc. 1998;98:699-706.
Trumbo P, Yates A, Schlicker S, Poos M. Dietary Reference Intakes: Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc. J Am Diet Assoc. 2001;101(3):294-301.
Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. Food and Nutrition Board, Washington, DC: National Academy Press;1997.
Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline. Food and Nutrition Board, Washington, DC: National Academy Press;1998.
Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Cartotenoids. Food and Nutrition Board, Washington, DC: National Academy Press;2000.
Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vandium and Zinc. Food and Nutrition Board. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2001.
Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids. (Macronutrients). Washington, DC: National Academy of Sciences, 2005: 107-180.