Dietary reference values (DRVs)

© BRITISH NUTRITION FOUNDATION 2013

Dietary reference values (DRVs)


Learning objectives

•To know about the development of Dietary Reference Values.

•To understand Estimated Average Reference (EAR) values.

•To understand Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI) values.

•To understand Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI) values.


Nutritional requirements

People require a variety of nutrients to stay healthy and reduce the risk of diet-related diseases.

The amount of each nutrient needed is called the nutritional requirement.

These are different for each nutrient and also vary between individuals and life stages, e.g. women of childbearing age need more iron than men.


Why do you think nutritional requirements vary?

Individual requirements of each nutrient are related to:

•age; •gender;•level of physical activity; •state of health.

Some people absorb or utilise nutrients less efficiently than others and so will have higher than average nutritional requirements.


Nutrient requirements:Dietary Reference Values (DRVs)

In the UK, most of the estimated dietary requirements for particular groups of the population are based on advice that was published by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) in the 1991 report Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. These are known as the Dietary Reference Values (DRVs).Since this time, COMA has been superseded by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). From time to time, SACN has reviewed the evidence for particular nutrients but in most cases has not identified a need to change the DRVs.


Nutrient requirements

DRVs are estimates of the requirements for groups of people and are not recommendations or goals for individual people.

There are three types of estimates: •Estimated Average Requirements (EARs); •Reference Nutrient Intakes (RNIs);•Lower Reference Nutrient Intakes (LRNIs).


Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)

This is an estimate of the average requirement for energy or a nutrient.

Approximately 50% of a group of people will require less energy or nutrient, and 50% will require more.

No. of people

RequirementsEAR


EARs

SACN has also published new reference values for daily energy requirements as follows: Children and teenagers

Breast-fedMonths Boys (MJ) Boys (kcal) Girls (MJ) Girls (kcal)

1-2 2.2 526 2.0 4783-4 2.4 574 2.2 5265-6 2.5 598 2.3 550

7-12 2.9 694 2.7 646Years Boys (MJ) Boys (kcal) Girls (MJ) Girls (kcal)

1 3.2 765 3.0 7172 4.2 1004 3.9 9323 4.9 1171 4.5 10764 5.8 1386 5.4 12915 6.2 1482 5.7 13626 6.6 1577 6.2 14827 6.9 1649 6.4 15308 7.3 1745 6.8 16259 7.7 1840 7.2 1721

10 8.5 2032 8.1 193611 8.9 2127 8.5 203212 9.4 2247 8.8 210313 10.1 2414 9.3 222314 11.0 2629 9.8 234215 11.8 2820 10.0 239016 12.4 2964 10.1 241417 12.9 3083 10.3 246218 13.2 3155 10.3 2462


EARs

Adults

Years Men (MJ) Men (kcal) Women (MJ) Women (kcal)

19-24 11.6 2772 9.1 2175

25-34 11.5 2749 9.1 217535-44 11.0 2629 8.8 2103

45-54 10.8 2581 8.8 210355-64 10.8 2581 8.7 2079

65-74 9.8 2342 8.0 1912

75+ 9.6 2294 7.7 1840


Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI):

The RNI is the amount of a nutrient that is enough to ensure that the needs of nearly all the group (97.5%) are being met. The RNI is used for recommendations on protein, vitamins and minerals.

RNI

No. of people

Requirements


Example RNI (Vitamin A)

Children Vitamin A μg/day

0-3 months 3504-6 months 3507-9 months 35010-12 months 3501-3 years 4004-6 years 4007-10 years 500

Males Vitamin A μg/day

11-14 years

600

15-18 years

700

19-50 years

700

50 + 700

Females Vitamin A μg/day

11-14 years 600

15-18 years 600

19-50 years 600

50+ years 600

Pregnancy +100

Lactation +350


Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI)

The amount of a nutrient that is enough for only the small number of people who have low requirements (2.5%). The majority of people need more.

No. of people

RequirementsLRN

I


Vitamin & mineral intakes: % below LRNI

What conclusions can be drawn from this table?

Male Female

Age, years 4-10 11-18 19-64 65+ 4-10 11-18 19-64 65+

Vitamin A 5 12 8 3 4 14 5 1

Riboflavin 1 8 4 5 1 20 11 2

Folate 0 2 2 0 0 6 3 3

Iron 1 6 1 2 1 45 21 0

Calcium 0 7 4 2 2 18 8 2

Magnesium

0 27 16 18 3 50 11 9

Potassium 0 17 11 14 0 31 23 18

Zinc 5 11 9 9 8 19 3 0

Selenium 0 22 25 31 1 44 50 52

Iodine 2 8 5 0 3 20 9 1

This table shows the proportion of the UK population who have intakes below the LRNI as highlighted below.

Source: National Diet and Nutrition Survey, Rolling Programme Years 1, 2 and 3, 2008-2011


Dietary reference values

DRVs are important for ensuring adequate intakes of energy and nutrients throughout life.

Many health concerns and illnesses may be linked to malnutrition.

The DRVs assist in preventing malnutrition.


Dietary reference values

In summary:

EAR is used for energy. The EARs for energy are based on the present lifestyles and activity levels of the UK population.

RNI is often used as a reference amount for population groups.

LRNI is a useful measure of nutritional inadequacy.


Question

True or false?Nutritional requirements are the same for everyone.

True False


False. Nutritional requirements are different for everyone.

Next question


Question

True or false?Estimated Average Requirements are set for vitamins and minerals.

True False


False. Estimated Average Requirements are set for carbohydrate and fat.

Next question


Question

True or false?DRVs are targets for individuals to meet.

True False


False. DRVs are set for populations, not individuals.

The end


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Dietary reference values (DRVs)

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