Nutrition: The Latest

U.S. Government Research.

As we mentioned in our summary of Today's Food Label, the reference criteria on which the current food label is based is woefully out of date.
The primary agent of change with regard to the food label, is a major study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Funded by various U.S. Governmental organizations, and potentially some private sources, the NAS embarked upon a major project in 1995 to establish Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), that is, a reevaluation of the old RDAs, used to calculate the percent Daily Values (DVs) on the modern food label. Formally organized as the Standing Committee on the Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes, these studies, which have appeared in the form of official reports, represent the recommendations of the NAS to their various supporting agencies, and ostensibly will be the basis of modified regulations that will ultimately lead to changes in the food label.
The Food and Nutrition Board at the Institute of Medicine (under the NAS) established six panels and two subcommittees to evaluate the scientific literature on nutrition, and established DRIs which collectively include three reference values:
Estimated Average Requirement. The nutritional requirement for average individuals within an age and gender specific group;
Recommended Dietary Allowance. The nutritional requirement for nearly all individuals within the same group; and
Tolerable Upper Intake Level. The maximum amount of nutrient intake unlikely to pose a risk of adverse health effects to nearly all individuals in the group.
The Food and Nutrition Board is nearing the completion of the study. It is anticipated that after regulations have been formulated, written and published (Title 21 of the CFR updated), lead-in time allowed for food manufacturers to update their product lines, and so on, that some time will elapse before the results of the NAS studies actually find their way to the food label. The editors at Preventive Health Today estimate that we may be well into 2005 or later, at the earliest, before these changes appear on our grocery shelves.
There would likely be some wisdom in not waiting until then to evaluate their findings, and to make the necessary adjustments to improve your nutrition. Please visit our vitamins and minerals sections, which incorporate all of the most recent information, or have a look at the original reports (a bit on the technical side...) below.

As you peruse the various government documents relating to this study, you will encounter some files in Adobe's Portable Document Format. PDF files require a dedicated viewer; if you need a copy of Acrobat Reader, a free download can be found here:

Progress Report: Scientific Evaluation of Dietary Reference Intakes.

Updated September 2003

These are the assigned panels and subcommittees, and a summary of their work to date:

Panel on Calcium and Related Nutrients
Panel on Folate, Other B Vitamins, and Choline
Subcommittee on Upper Reference Levels of Nutrients
Panel on Dietary Antioxidants and Related Compounds
Panel on Micronutrients
Subcommittee on Interpretation and Uses of Dietary Reference Intakes
Panel on the Definition of Dietary Fiber
Panel on Macronutrients
Panel on Electrolytes and Water
[Note: Several of the "Report Summary" links below are large files and slow loading.]

• Panel on Calcium and Related Nutrients.
Established in April 1996, this panel completed their work in August 1997. The results of their study, Dietary Reference Intakes for Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride, was released in August 1997. The 448 page report was published in 1999.

» Report summary; Complete report.

• Panel on Folate, Other B Vitamins, and Choline.
Established in October 1996 to evaluate the B complex vitamins, the panel completed their studies in March 1998. Their report, Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline, was released in April 1998. The 592 page report was published in 2000.

» Report summary; Complete report.

• Subcommittee on Upper Reference Levels of Nutrients.
This is a standing committee established to evaluate the safe upper intake levels of nutrients, and will periodically release results of their studies. The first report, Dietary Reference Intakes: A Risk Assessment Model for Establishing Upper Intake Levels for Nutrients, was released December 1998. The 82 page report was published in 1999.

» Report summary is not available; Complete report.

• Panel on Dietary Antioxidants and Related Compounds.
Initiated in October 1997, the study on Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, and Beta-Carotene, and other Carotenoids was conducted in two parts.
The first phase, a preliminary 24 page report, Dietary Reference Intakes: Proposed Definition and Plan for Review of Dietary Antioxidants and Related Compounds, was published in 1998 and covered the criteria used for selecting the specific antioxidants evaluated in the second part of the study.

» Report summary not available; Complete report.
The panel's findings in the second phase of the study on the antioxidants was released on 10 April 2000. The 529 page report was published in 2000.
» Report summary; Complete report.

• Panel on Micronutrients.
The Panel on Micronutrients reviewed and evaluated vitamins A, K and selected essential trace elements. Their report, Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc, was released in January 2001. The 800 page report was published in 2002.

» Report summary; Complete report.

• Subcommittee on Interpretation and Uses of Dietary Reference Intakes.
This is a standing committee that will focus on the statistical interpretations used in determining DRIs, and the various applications of the DRIs in targeted populations. Their 306 page report, Dietary Reference Intakes: Applications in Dietary Assessment, was published in January 2001.

» Report summary; Complete report.

The second part of their study, Dietary Reference Intakes: Applications in Dietary Planning, was published in February 2003.

» Report summary; Complete report.

• Panel on the Definition of Dietary Fiber.
Preliminary to the full report on macronutrients, this panel has recently released the results of their evaluation of fiber as a dietary component. The 74 page report, Dietary Reference Intakes: Proposed Definition of Dietary Fiber, was published in May 2001.

» Report summary is not available; Complete report.

• Panel on Macronutrients.
The most recent segment of the comprehensive Dietary Reference Intakes study reviewed and evaluated protein, amino acids, dietary fat and individual fatty acids, phospholipids, cholesterol, complex carbohydrates, simple sugars, and dietary fiber. Their report, Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrates, Fiber, Fat, Protein and Amino Acids, was released in August 2002. The 936 page report was published in September 2002.

» Report summary; Complete report.

• Panel on Electrolytes and Water.
The final segment of the comprehensive Dietary Reference Intakes study will review and evaluate sodium, potassium, chloride, sulfate, and water. Their report, Dietary Reference Intakes for Electrolytes and Water, is pending.

» Report summary not yet available; Complete report not yet published.