Week 1 - Overview of nutrition

What are the main 4 types of dietary reference intakes for specific vitamins and minerals?

Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)

Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)

Adequate Intake (AI)

Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)

What are dietary reference intakes for?

Reference values for healthy populations to plan and assess nutrient intakes

Estimated Average Requirement

What is the mean requirement of a nutrient people need?

• meet the requirement for 50% of healthy people

Recommended Dietary Allowance

Average daily intake sufficient for 97% to 98% of healthy individuals

Adequate Intake

Used when there is insufficient data on RDA and EAR

Tolerable Upper Intake Level

Maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects

• Protects against nutrient intake

What components of the DRI addresses energy and macronutrients

• Estimated Energy Requirement (EER)

• Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDR)

Acceptable macronutrient distribution ranges

• Carbohydrates: 45 - 60% kcal

• Protein: 10% to 35% kcal

• Fats: 20 to 35% kcal

What are nutritional assessments used for?

Can diagnose undernutrition or overnutrition

• lifestyle and family history

• medication

• current and previous diet

Nutrition choices can be based on

• Preference

• Habits

• Ethnic heritage

• Religon

• Emotions

Major classes of nutrients and the kcal in 1g of the macronutrients

Macronutrients —> Large amounts

1. Carbohydrates - 4 kcal

2. Lipids/fats - 9 kcal

3. Protein - 4 kcal

4. Alcohol - 7 kcal

Micronutrients —> Small amounts

1. Vitamins

2. Minerals

3. Water

RNI values for amount of maconutrients based on total energy intake

Carbohydrates —> 50-65%

Protein —> 10-20%

Lipids —> 25-30%

Types of nutritional assessment and give a brief introduction

1. Historical information (background, diet, family heritage)

2. Antrhopometric measurements: Physical measurements, height and weight

3. Physical examinations: fingernails, skin colour, eyes, tongue

4. Lab tests: Blood or urine tests and compare with a healthy individual

Explain the EER and how it is used to maintain energy balance.

The estimated energy balance predicts the required energy intake of an individual based on age, sex, weight, height, and activity level