Food & Nutrition

Dietary Reference Intake (DRI)

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are a set of scientifically based reference values for nutrient intake for a healthy population. It is a guide that helps in determining the amount of nutrient to be consumed on a regular basis by healthy individuals. It is designed for people who are healthy and fit. It is specific to:

  • Gender- Male and female
  • Age group- Infants, children, adults and older adults
  • Reproductive status- Pregnant and breastfeeding women

Purpose of Dietary Reference Intakes

  • It is a tool used by nutritionists and certain institutes to assess and plan nutritional diets and nutrient intakes for healthy individuals.
  • It helps in establishing safe upper limits of a nutrient intake and to set a nutritional policy

Components of Dietary Reference Intakes

Dietary Reference Intake is an umbrella term for four other types of reference values, which include:

  • Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
  • Adequate Intake (AI)
  • Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)
  • Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)

Each of the above-mentioned terms has a unique purpose. Let’s get down to the details of each one of them:

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)

The Recommended Dietary Allowance or RDA is the intake levels of essential nutrients, such as, vitamins and minerals, that are based on scientific knowledge to meet the nutrient requirements of healthy individuals.

It is judged by the Food and Nutrition Board and was first published in the year 1943 during World War II. The objective of RDA is to provide standards that serve as a target for good nutrition. The RDA for nutrients among different age groups is different.

Read More: Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)

Adequate Intake (AI)

The Adequate Intake is the daily average nutrient intake level. It is based on approximations of mean nutrient intake level by a group of healthy people. In other words, the average nutrient intake of healthy people is assumed to be adequate for the population’s requirement.

An Adequate Intake is established when there is no sufficient science-based evidence to determine an Estimated Average Requirement (EAR). With the help of Adequate Intake values, individuals can meet their nutrient needs, which is required to maintain good health status, proper growth, and development and overall nutritional well-being.

Thus, the Adequate Intake acts as a guide for people to understand their approximate daily nutrient needs and to prevent the onset of nutrient deficiencies.

Read More: What is Adequate Intake (AI) in Nutrition

Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)

Tolerable Upper Intake Level is defined as the highest level of nutrient intake that does not increase the risk of adverse health effects to almost all individuals in the general population. If the nutrient intake increases above the Tolerable Upper Intake Level or UL, the risk of ill-effects on the human body may also increase.

In fact, the term’ tolerable intake’ itself indicates that any nutrient intake that crosses this level can pose a risk to the human health. Any intake within this limit can be ‘tolerated’ biologically. The purpose of the UL is not as same as the recommended level of intake.

Read More: What is Tolerable Upper Intake Level or Upper Limit (UL)

Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)

Estimated Average Requirement is a value of the nutrient intake, which is estimated to meet the requirement of 50% of the healthy individuals in a group.

It is used to determine the nutrient intake and to assess the prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake among the population. Hence, it helps in establishing if each person meets his or her nutrient requirement. (1, 2, 3, 4)

Read More: Estimated Average Requirement – Estimated Value of Nutrient Intake

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Sneha Sadhwani

Dt. Sneha Sadhwani Sewlani (B.Sc. Food Science & Nutrition, PG in Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics) is Clinical Nutritionist & Certified Diabetes Educator and Certified Lifestyle Coach. She has expertise in clinical nutrition and 4 years’ experience working as Clinical Nutritionist and Dietician. She has been associated as a nutritionist with LTMG Hospital and S. L. Raheja Fortis Institute in Mumbai.She has also her own private practice where she offers a wide range of different programs, including weight loss, weight gain, diabetes management, diet plan according to diseases and much more through her in-person and online consultation.Sneha strongly believes that a healthy diet and lifestyle modifications are the best ways to prevent and treat diseases. She says, “Eating healthy is an art, be an artist of your own mind and body”.

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