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<BR>Recommended dietary allowance in macro- and micro-nutrients for the population<BR><BR>Daily diet must provide everyone with an adequate amount of the various macronutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and trace elements) to ensure that all of physiological needs are met. These individual needs are influenced by a number of factors, particularly gender, age, physiological state (growth, pregnancy, breastfeeding), physical activity, and characteristics specific to each individual, some of which are still poorly known. In addition, it is not possible technically to make an accurate assessment of everyone's needs within a given population. As a result, in each country, food intake values ensuring that the needs of a particular group of individuals are met, drawn up by combining the results of studies on individuals with those from studies on populations, are recommended. <BR><BR>In France, these values are called apports nutritionnels conseillés (recommended dietary allowances/RDAs) for the population, defined for each nutrient as being the intake that covers virtually all physiological needs (97.5% of people) in a population that is healthy, or assumed as such. RDAs are set for a population group of defined gender and age and take account of variations between individuals. They are intended to meet average need and generally correspond to 130% of the average need.<BR><BR>The RDA values recommended are therefore not restrictive individual standards that must be met, rather they are references for populations and reference points for individuals.<BR><BR>In other words, the ideal nutritional situation within a population is that the vast majority of individuals are close to achieving the RDAs in their dietary intake; however, a dietary intake below the RDAs does not mean needs are not met, but suggests an increased risk of deficiency. We conventionally speak of a high risk of deficiency when dietary intake falls 2/3 short of the RDAs. On the other hand, we speak of a risk of toxic overload when the safety limit is exceeded, a limit corresponding to the maximum amount of a given nutrient that an individual may consume, without posing a health risk, throughout his/her lifetime. <BR><BR>RDA values were initially drawn up to provide tools for identifying and correcting deficiencies of essential nutrients (health protection). Changing lifestyles, improved standards of living, the almost complete disappearance of clinical deficiencies in industrialised countries and the swift accumulation of basic nutritional knowledge then led to a change in our needs and to improved techniques for assessing these, thereby developing the concept of RDAs: at the turn of the 21st century, the key issue is the definition of intake levels in terms of optimising the normal functions of our body with the ultimate aim of reducing the risk of proven nutrition-based diseases (health promotion)<BR><BR>Dietary diversity indicator <BR><BR>Depending on their biochemical composition, foods are split into five main groups: meat/fish/eggs, dairy products, cereals/potatoes/dried vegetables, fats, vegetables and fruits. The value of the dietary diversity indicator corresponds to the number of food groups consumed per day. When this value is more than or equal to 3, you have a highly varied diet.<BR><BR>An analysis of food survey results shows that the maximum dietary diversity (5) is observed in 1 in 2 French people (compared with only 1 in 3 Americans). Moreover, it is the consumption or non consumption of fruit and vegetables which determines the value of this indicator to a large extent.<BR><BR><BR>Food consumption typologies <BR><BR>These reveal the characteristics of individual diets considered in their entirety. All of the foods consumed over a 7-day period are noted and split into categories. Then a detailed analysis identifies 6 main consumer groups over the age of 18 according to their consumption profile for these food categories. Lastly, on the basis of a decreasing dietary diversity indicator (consumption of different food categories) we can distinguish:<BR>· Small eaters of a varied diet (high consumption of fruit and vegetables, low energy intake) <BR>· Large eaters of a varied diet (varied diet but high in energy intake as there is an overconsumption of bread, meat, butter and sweet foods)<BR>· Normal eaters (average consumption levels of all food categories) <BR>· Young eaters (higher consumers of sweet biscuits, rice, pasta, soft drinks and chocolate)<BR>· Small eaters in a rush (low energy intake, high consumers of sweet pastries, pizza and quiches) <BR>· Large monotonous eaters (overconsumption of alcohol, high consumers of cheese, pork meats and potatoes) <BR><BR>Find out more...<BR>Human food<BR>Home,Anses,News,Press room,Agenda,Our topics,Food,Animal health and nutrition,Environmental health,Occupational health,Plants,Opinions and publications,Last opinions and reports,Food opinions and reports,Animal health and nutrition opinions and reports,Environmental and occupational health opinions and reports,Plants opinions,Opinions and reports in English,Bulletins and periodicals,Other publications,Subscribe to Anses newsletter,Research and reference,Research program,Laboratories and reference activities, + ,Job opportunities,Public procurement contracts,Our websites,Partners,Extranet / ExpertNet,Kid's area,Legal notice,Contact, ,<A HREF='PN99I0.htm'>Anses</A>
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Recommended dietary allowance in macro- and micro-nutrients for the population
Daily diet must provide everyone with an adequate amount of the various macronutrients (proteins, fats, carbohydrates) and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals and trace elements) to ensure that all of physiological needs are met. These individual needs are influenced by a number of factors, particularly gender, age, physiological state (growth, pregnancy, breastfeeding), physical activity, and characteristics specific to each individual, some of which are still poorly known. In addition, it is not possible technically to make an accurate assessment of everyone's needs within a given population. As a result, in each country, food intake values ensuring that the needs of a particular group of individuals are met, drawn up by combining the results of studies on individuals with those from studies on populations, are recommended.
In France, these values are called apports nutritionnels conseillés (recommended dietary allowances/RDAs)for the population, defined for each nutrient as being the intake that covers virtually all physiological needs (97.5% of people)in a population that is healthy, or assumed as such. RDAs are set for a population group of defined gender and age and take account of variations between individuals. They are intended to meet average need and generally correspond to 130% of the average need.
The RDA values recommended are therefore not restrictive individual standards that must be met, rather they are references for populations and reference points for individuals.
In other words, the ideal nutritional situation within a population is that the vast majority of individuals are close to achieving the RDAs in their dietary intake; however, a dietary intake below the RDAs does not mean needs are not met, but suggests an increased risk of deficiency. We conventionally speak of a high risk of deficiency when dietary intake falls 2/3 short of the RDAs. On the other hand, we speak of a risk of toxic overload when the safety limit is exceeded, a limit corresponding to the maximum amount of a given nutrient that an individual may consume, without posing a health risk, throughout his/her lifetime.
RDA values were initially drawn up to provide tools for identifying and correcting deficiencies of essential nutrients (health protection). Changing lifestyles, improved standards of living, the almost complete disappearance of clinical deficiencies in industrialised countries and the swift accumulation of basic nutritional knowledge then led to a change in our needs and to improved techniques for assessing these, thereby developing the concept of RDAs: at the turn of the 21st century, the key issue is the definition of intake levels in terms of optimising the normal functions of our body with the ultimate aim of reducing the risk of proven nutrition-based diseases (health promotion)
Dietary diversity indicator
Depending on their biochemical composition, foods are split into five main groups: meat/fish/eggs, dairy products, cereals/potatoes/dried vegetables, fats, vegetables and fruits. The value of the dietary diversity indicator corresponds to the number of food groups consumed per day. When this value is more than or equal to 3, you have a highly varied diet.
An analysis of food survey results shows that the maximum dietary diversity (5) is observed in 1 in 2 French people (compared with only 1 in 3 Americans). Moreover, it is the consumption or non consumption of fruit and vegetables which determines the value of this indicator to a large extent.
Food consumption typologies
These reveal the characteristics of individual diets considered in their entirety. All of the foods consumed over a 7-day period are noted and split into categories. Then a detailed analysis identifies 6 main consumer groups over the age of 18 according to their consumption profile for these food categories. Lastly, on the basis of a decreasing dietary diversity indicator (consumption of different food categories) we can distinguish: · Small eaters of a varied diet (high consumption of fruit and vegetables, low energy intake) · Large eaters of a varied diet (varied diet but high in energy intake as there is an overconsumption of bread, meat, butter and sweet foods) · Normal eaters (average consumption levels of all food categories) · Young eaters (higher consumers of sweet biscuits, rice, pasta, soft drinks and chocolate) · Small eaters in a rush (low energy intake, high consumers of sweet pastries, pizza and quiches) · Large monotonous eaters (overconsumption of alcohol, high consumers of cheese, pork meats and potatoes)
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