Essential Nutrients

Necessary for normal function

Must obtain from an exogenous source
Inadequate intake leads to deficiency*

There are 6 classes of Nutrients

Water
Lipids (fat)
Proteins
Carbohydrates
Minerals
Vitamins

The Nutrients

Whitney & Rolfes. Understanding Nutrition. 2011

The Science of Nutrition

Foundation in several other sciences
Biology, biochemistry, physiology
Tremendous growth
Sequencing of human genome
Nutritional genomics

Conducting Research
Use of scientific method
Systematic process for conducting research
Research studies
Controls
Randomization
Sample size
Placebos
Double-blind experiments

The Scientific Method

Conducting Research
Epidemiological studies
Cross-sectional studies
Case-control studies
Cohort studies
Experimental studies
Laboratory-based animal studies
Laboratory-base in vitro studies
Clinical trials

The Scientific Process

Identification
Establish need
Understand mechanisms of actions
Identify role in health & disease
Toxicity

How much of each nutrient do we need?

Needs (requirements) are determined scientifically
using evidence-base approach

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI)

A set of standards that define the amounts of energy, nutrients,
other dietary components and physical activity that best support health.

DRI consists of
Estimated Average Requirements (EAR)
Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA)
Adequate Intakes (AI)
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL)

(Reading: Understanding Nutrition)

Danger of
toxicity

Marginal
Tolerable
Upper Intake (UL)
Level

Safety
Intake

Safety

RDA or AI
RDA
Marginal
Danger

Danger
of
deficiency

Inaccurate
view

Accurate
view

Estimated
(EAR)
Average
Requirement

Understanding Nutrition, 2011

Usual intake of nutrient X (units/day)

High

Low

Intake
probably
adequate
RDA

Intake possibly
inadequate

If a persons usual intake falls above the RDA,

the intake is probably adequate because the
RDA covers the needs of almost all people.

A usual intake that falls between the

RDA and the EAR is more difficult to
assess; the intake may be adequate, but
the chances are greater or equal that it
is inadequate.

EAR

Intake
probably
inadequate

If the usual intake falls below the

EAR, it is probably inadequate.

Understanding Nutrition, 2011

Methods to determine requirements

2 Approaches
- Epidemiological

- Experimental
a) Depletion / repletion
b) Balance study (e.g. nitrogen)
c) Factorial approach (e.g. energy)
d) Isotopic study

Epidemiological data provides

approximate (ball-park) values
on requirements

Important concepts on nutrient requirements

When intake is established by epidemiological or experimental approaches, a
scatter plot is obtained.
Usually, this is normally distributed. 50% of the population takes in more than
the mean while the remaining 50% of the population takes in less than the mean.
The range of intake is described as BIOLOGICAL VARIATION generally
estimated to be 15% (i.e. one standard deviation)
Assuming the intake is the physiological need, then 50% of the population will
have needs above the mean intake.

To ensure the majority of the population is free from

deficiency, a level of intake higher than the mean should be
recommended.

Mean + 2SD will statistically cover the needs of

97.5% of the population.
There may be 2.5% of the population whose requirements
are higher than mean+2SD. If these individuals just
consume that particular nutrient at the level of RDA they
may run into a risk of not having enough.

Does subject C meet his need for nutrient X ?

Understanding Nutrition, 2011

Energy requirement versus nutrient requirement

Energy requirement is set at the mean of the
population
Requirements for other essential nutrients are set
using statistical approaches and therefore include
a margin of safety.

Characteristics of
Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA)
For healthy individuals
Include a generous margin of safety
Apply to average daily intakes
Does not cover therapeutic needs
Does not allow for losses of nutrients due to cooking,
storage or processing

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