Dietary Reference Standards 131animals can be used in experiments that would not
be possible in humans, such as lifelong modifi cations
in nutrient intake; it is merely the setting of human
requirements for which they are inappropriate.
7.7 Perspectives on the future
As the amount known about human requirements
and nutrient functions increases, so too will the com-
plexity of dietary recommendations. It is probable
that further dietary components will be included in
dietary recommendations as research data accumu-
late. Potential candidates include the fl avonoids and
some other antioxidant compounds. Furthermore,
continuing research and the development of more
informed interpretations of the expanding body of
data available necessitate the regular revision and
updating of the recommendations.
The general conclusion that can be drawn here is
that no single criterion of nutrient status can be used
to defi ne human requirements for all nutrients. This
is not surprising when one considers the range of
roles that the different essential nutrients play in
humans.
Further reading
Department of Health. Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and
Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Report on Health and Social
Subjects 41. Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy.
HMSO, London, 1991.
Department of Health. Nutrition and Bone Health: with Particular
Reference to Calcium and Vitamin D. Report on Health and
Social Subjects 49. Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and
Nutrition Policy. The Stationery Offi ce, London, 1998.
Dietary reference intake texts available online at: http://lab.
nap.edu/nap-cgi/discover.cgi?term=dietary%20reference%
20intakes&restric=NAP.
EC Scientifi c Committee for Food Report. Nutrient and Energy
Intakes for the European Community. 31st Series. Director
General, Industry, Luxembourg, 1993.
Expert Group on Vitamins and Minerals. Safe Upper Limits
for Vitamins and Minerals. Food Standards Agency, London,
2003.
Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization.
Requirements for Vitamin A, Iron, Folate and Vitamin B 12. Report
of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation. Food and Nutrition
Series. FAO, Rome, 1988.
Food and Agriculture Organization/United Nations University/
World Health Organization. Energy and Protein Requirements.
Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation.
Technical Report Series 724. WHO, Geneva, 1985.
Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization.
Human Vitamin and Mineral Requirements. Report of a joint
FAO/WHO expert consultation. Bangkok, Thailand. FAO, Rome,
2002.
Institute of Medicine (USA). Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium,
Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D and Fluoride. National
Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1997.
Institute of Medicine (USA). Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin,
Ribofl avin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic
Acid, Biotin and Choline. National Academy Press, Washington,
DC, 1998.
Institute of Medicine (USA). Dietary Reference Intakes for Water,
Potassium, Sodium, Chloride and Sulfate. National Academy
Press, Washington, DC, 1998.
Institute of Medicine (USA). Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin
A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron,
Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium and Zinc.
National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 2000.
Institute of Medicine (USA). Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin
C, Vitamin E, Selenium and Carotenoids. National Academy
Press, Washington, DC, 2000.
Institute of Medicine (USA). Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy,
Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein and
Amino Acids (Macronutrients). National Academy Press,
Washington, DC, 2005.
Institute of Medicine (USA). Dietary Reference Intakes: The Essential
Guide to Nutrient Requirements. National Academy Press,
Washington, DC, 2006.
National Health and Medical Research Council. Nutrient Reference
Values for Australia and New Zealand Including Recommended
Dietary Intakes. Wickliffe Ltd, Wellington, 2006. Available online
at http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/publications/synopses/_fi les/n35.
pdf.
National Research Council, Food and Nutrition Board, Commission
on Life Sciences. Recommended Dietary Allowances, 10th edn.
National Academy Press, Washington, DC, 1989.
United Nations University. International harmonisation of
approaches for developing nutrient-based dietary standards. In:
King JC, Garza, C, eds. Food and Nutrition Bulletin, vol. 28, no.
1 (supplement). International Nutrition Foundation for The
United Nations University, Tokyo, 2007. Available online at
http://www.unu.edu/unupress/food/FNBv28n1_Suppl1_fi nal.
pdf.
World Health Organization. Handbook on Human Nutritional
Requirements. Monograph Series No. 61. WHO, Geneva, 1974.
World Health Organization. Diet, Nutrition and the Prevention of
Chronic Diseases. Technical Report Series 797. WHO, Geneva,
1990.
World Health Organization. Trace Elements in Human Nutrition
and Health. WHO in collaboration with FAO, AEA, Geneva,
1996.