DRVs - Dietary Reference Values

Nutritional requirements - amount of each nutrient needed. Different for each nutrients and life stages

Some people absorb and utilise nutrients less than others so will have a higher requirement.

DRVs - series of estimates on the amount of energy and nutrients needed by different groups of healthy people in the UK - support public health

DRVs guide professionals for estimate quantities for adequate growth, health and development and reducing risk of deficiencies

DRVs are not for the individual

RDAs - Recommended Dietary Allowances

First produced in USA 1940

Level of intake essential nutrients considered to meet functional needs of practically all healthy people - this could mean that average or lower requirement people would get too much

Nutritional Allowances - British Medical Association 1950 - adequacy of nutrient intakes of groups or populations to be assessed by comparison again standards

RIN - Recommended Intakes for Nutrients - 1969

click to edit

RDA - 1979 - then became DRV 1991 - Department of Health. RDAs were a single value. DRVs are a range of values to meet varying needs of people.

Boys and girls (aged 0-3 months; 4-6 months; 7-9 months; 10-12 months; 1-3 years; 4-6 years; 7-10 years

Males (aged 11-14 years; 15-18 years; 19-50 years; 50+ years)

Females (aged 11-14 years; 15-18 years; 19-50 years; 50+ years; pregnancy and breastfeeding

Mean = EAR - Estimated average requirement

2SD above the mean = RNI - Reference Nutrient Intake - 97.5%

2SD below the mean = LRNI - Lower Reference Nutrient Intake - only 2.5% of population

Estimated Average requirement - EAR should be adequate for 50% of the population but could be inadequate for the other 50%

SACN Dietary Reference Values for Energy

Reference value is set at EAR for a healthy adult with a BMI of 22.5 kg/m2

Safe Upper Intake Level (European Food Standards Agency)

Nutrients that do not have LRNI, EAR, RNI = Fat, carb, dietary fibre - varied group of nutrients - instead percentage set for energy intake. Removal from diet is not associated with deficiencies

DRVs should be used for populations of people - diet planning