Dietary Recommendations and Nutritional Standards

Posted on Sep 4, 2024 in Medicine & Health

Dietary Reference Intake (DRI)

Definition

It is a system of nutritional recommendations that provides several different types of reference values (recommendations).

Types of DRIs

  • Estimated Average Requirements (EAR): Expected to satisfy the needs of 50% of the people in that age group.
  • Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs): The daily dietary intake level of a nutrient considered sufficient to meet the requirements of nearly all (97-98%) healthy individuals in each life stage and gender group. Approximately 20% higher than the EAR.
  • Adequate Intake (AI): Where no RDA has been established, but the amount established is somewhat less firmly believed to be adequate for everyone in the demographic group.
  • Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL): To caution against excessive intake of nutrients (like vitamin A) that can be harmful in large amounts.

Background and Applications

  • These recommendations were made by the Institute of Medicine of the US National Academy of Sciences.
  • The DRI system is used by both the US and Canada and is intended for the general public and health professionals.
  • DRI was introduced in 1997 to broaden the existing guidelines known as Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs).

Applications include:

  • Composition of diets for schools, prisons, hospitals, or nursing homes.
  • Industries developing new foodstuffs.
  • Healthcare policymakers and public health officials.

Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health

The overall goal of the strategy is to promote and protect health by developing healthy eating and physical activity at individual, community, national, and global levels.

In May 2004, the WHO implemented a ”Global Strategy on Diet, Physical activity, and Health” with four main objectives:

  1. Reduce the risk factors for non-communicable diseases that stem from unhealthy diets and physical inactivity → by means of essential public health action and health-promoting and disease-preventing measures.
  2. Increase overall awareness and understanding of the influences of diet and physical activity on health and the positive impact of preventive interventions.
  3. Encourage the development, strengthening, and implementation of global, regional, national, and community policies and action plans to improve diets and increase physical activity that is sustainable, comprehensive, and actively engages all sectors, including civil society, the private sector, and the media.
  4. Monitor scientific data and key influences on diet and physical activity.

Dietary Recommendations

  • Unhealthy diets and physical inactivity are major risk factors for chronic diseases.
  • Diet recommendations for populations and individuals include the following:
    1. Achieve energy balance and a healthy weight.
    2. Limit energy intake from total fats and shift fat consumption away from saturated fats to unsaturated fats and towards eliminating trans-fatty acids.
    3. Increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts.
    4. Limit the intake of free sugars.
    5. Limit salt (sodium) consumption from all sources and ensure that salt is iodized.
  • These recommendations need to be considered when preparing national policies and dietary guidelines, taking into account the local situation.

Physical Activity

  • Physical activity is a key determinant of energy expenditure and thus is fundamental to energy balance and weight control.
  • Physical activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes and has substantial benefits for many conditions, not only those associated with obesity.
  • The beneficial effects of physical activity on the metabolic syndrome are mediated by mechanisms beyond controlling excess body weight.
  • Physical activity reduces blood pressure, improves the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, improves blood glucose control in overweight people even without significant weight loss, and reduces the risk of colon cancer and breast cancer among women.
  • For physical activity, it is recommended that individuals engage in adequate levels throughout their lives.
  • Different types and amounts of physical activity are required for different health outcomes: at least 30 minutes of regular, moderate-intensity physical activity on most days reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, colon cancer, and breast cancer. Muscle strengthening and balance training can reduce falls and increase functional status among older adults.
  • More activity may be required for weight control.

Nutritional Standards (PRI)

  • Differentiated according to gender and age.
  • Energy recommendation is built upon the assessment and calculation of energy expenditure, derived from usual physical activity and fat-free mass and, in children, by the demands of growth.
  • Nutrient intake must cover physiological requirements; however, energy intake must be restrictive and personalized based on assessed energy expenditure.
  • Each region has additional Food-based dietary guidelines that deal with nutrition recommendations in foods and their portions per day.