Content area
Full Text
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004) 58, 191194
& 2004 Nature Publishing Group All rights reserved 0954-3007/04 $25.00www.nature.com/ejcnORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONNew dietary reference intakes in the Netherlands for
energy, proteins, fats and digestible carbohydratesCJK Spaaij1* and LTJ Pijls11Health Council of the Netherlands, The Hague, The NetherlandsEuropean Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2004) 58, 191194. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601788The Health Council of the Netherlands published newDutch dietary reference intakes (DRIs) for energy, proteins,fats and digestible carbohydrates (Table 1; Health Councilof the Netherlands, 2001). The previous Dutch valueswere primarily aimed at the prevention of deficiencysymptoms, whereas the current Dutch values aim atthe prevention of both deficiency and chronic diseases.Values were specified for infants, young children,adolescents, adults, elderly people and for pregnantand lactating women. The age groups are similar tothose used in the United States (Institute of Medicine,2002). The report provides a comparison of the newDutch dietary reference intakes with previous Dutchvalues and with the values used in Scandinavia, Germany,Switzerland, Austria, Great Britain and the EuropeanCommunity. At that time, the new American DRIs forenergy and macronutrients were not yet available.Therefore, we now present a comparison with the newAmerican values (Institute of Medicine, 2002). The fullreport can be read and downloaded from internet sitewww.gr.nl.Terminology and definitionsThe term dietary reference intakes is a collective term forthe estimated average requirement, recommended dietaryallowance, adequate intake and tolerable upper intakelevel. Both the recommended dietary allowance and theadequate intake reflect the intake level at which no signs ofdeficiency are observed, and at which the risk of chronicdiseases, as far as influenced by the nutrient, is kept as small
as possible. Given a requirement with a normal distribution,the estimated average requirement is the level of intakethat is adequate for half of the population. The tolerableupper intake level is the level of intake above which thereis a chance that adverse effects will occur. The definitionsof the DRIs are similar to those in the new American reportson dietary reference intakes. In the American reporton energy and macronutrients, apart from these DRIs,acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges have beenestimated.EnergyThe Dutch report presents estimated average requirementsfor energy, with the remark that for the prevention ofundesirable weight gains, everyones energy intake shouldconform to their personal requirement rather than to thisestimated average requirement. Therefore, the report alsocontains formulae with which individuals can estimate theirpersonal energy requirement on the basis...