1. Dietary reference
values (DRVs)

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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Since this time, COMA has been superseded by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).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.

6. 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).

7. EAR 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
EAR
Requirements

8. Children and teenagers
EARs
SACN has also published new reference values for daily energy requirements as follows:
Children and teenagers
Breast-fed
Months
Boys (MJ)
Boys (kcal)
Girls (MJ)
Girls (kcal)
1-2
2.2
526
2.0
478
3-4
2.4
574
5-6
2.5
598
2.3
550
7-12
2.9
694
2.7
646
Years
Boys (MJ)
Boys (kcal)
Girls (MJ)
Girls (kcal) 1
3.2
765
3.0
717 2
4.2
1004
3.9
932 3
4.9
1171
4.5
1076 4
5.8
1386
5.4
1291 5
6.2
1482
5.7
1362 6
6.6
1577 7
6.9
1649
6.4
1530 8
7.3
1745
6.8
1625 9
7.7
1840
7.2
1721 10
8.5
2032
8.1
1936 11
8.9
2127 12
9.4
2247
8.8
2103 13
10.1
2414
9.3
2223 14
11.0
2629
9.8
2342 15
11.8
2820
10.0
2390 16
12.4
2964 17
12.9
3083
10.3
2462 18
13.2
3155

9. EARs Adults Years Men (MJ) Men (kcal) Women (MJ) Women (kcal) 19-24
11.6
2772
9.1
2175
25-34
11.5
2749
35-44
11.0
2629
8.8
2103
45-54
10.8
2581
55-64
8.7
2079
65-74
9.8
2342
8.0
1912
75+
9.6
2294
7.7
1840

10. 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.
No. of
people
RNI
Requirements

11. Example RNI (Vitamin A) Children Vitamin A μg/day 0-3 months 350
1-3 years
400
4-6 years
7-10 years
500
Females
Vitamin A
μg/day
11-14 years
600
15-18 years
19-50 years
50+ years
Pregnancy
+100
Lactation
+350
Males
Vitamin A
μg/day
11-14 years
600
15-18 years
700
19-50 years
50 +

12. LRNI 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
LRNI
Requirements

13. Vitamin & mineral intakes: % below LRNI
This table shows the proportion of the UK population who have intakes below the LRNI as highlighted below.
Vitamin & mineral intakes: % below LRNI
What conclusions can be drawn from this table?
Male
Female
Age, years
4-10
11-18
19-64
65+
Vitamin A 5 12 8 3 4 14 1
Riboflavin 20 11 2
Folate 6
Iron 45 21
Calcium 7 18
Magnesium 27 16 50 9
Potassium 17 31 23
Zinc 19
Selenium 22 25 44 52
Iodine
Source: National Diet and Nutrition Survey, Rolling Programme Years 1, 2 and 3,

14. 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.

15. 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.

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

17. False. Nutritional requirements are different for everyone.
Next question

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

19. False. Estimated Average Requirements are set for carbohydrate and fat.
Next question

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

21. False. DRVs are set for populations, not individuals.
The end