Reference values for nutrients intake
Reference values for nutrient intake define the amounts of nutrients, which are assumed to protect us from food related health defects and allow full performance. Besides they should enable the formation of some kind of a body reserve which is available immediately and without health risk, at sudden increased needs.
Unhealthy individuals are defined reference values for nutrient intakes by their trustee!
Healthy individuals
Healthy people chould consider default reference values which are specified by gender and age according to D-A-CH recommendations, set out by the German Nutrition Society, Austrian Nutrition Society, Swiss Society of Nutrition Research and the Swiss Association for Nutrition and adopted by Slovenia in 2004. Included are also the adjustments of some reference values from the third edition in 2008.
Reference values D-A-CH do not apply to patients and reconvalescents supply; however, these reference values, with the exception of iodine, are insufficient for people with deficiency diseases, to replace the depleted reserves.
Human needs for some nutritive substances (omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, vitamin K, beta-carotene, biotin, pantothenic acid and some microelements) can not be determined with desired accuracy yet. Those values are referred to as estimated values.
Water, fluoride, fiber, fat, cholesterol, alcohol and cooking salt are specified in
orientation values because the intake regulation does not have to be so precise but in certain ranges. Therefore, water, fluoride and fiber have a desired down limit, but fat, cholesterol, alcohol and cooking salt an up limit.
AMINO ACIDS
The reference values for amino acids intake are considered according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization.
Unhealthy persons
The protein needs during illness and reconvalescence in adults but also in the elderly:
1-1.5 g/kg BW/day
Fat intake: 30-50 % of energy from non-protein sources, depending on the individual patient's tolerance for carbohydrates and fats.
Important sources:
- The reference values for nutrient intake, first edition of the German Nutrition Society, Austrian Nutrition Society, Swiss Society of Nutrition Research and the Swiss Association for Nutrition. Translated and published by Ministry of Health, the Republic of Slovenia, 2004.
- Referenčne vrednosti za vnos hranil, 3. edition, German Nutrition Society, Austrian Nutrition Society, Swiss Society of Nutrition Research and the Swiss Association for Nutrition, 2008.
- WHO Technical Report Series 935, Protein and Amino Acid Requirements in Human Nutrition, Report of a Joint WHO / FAO / UNU Expert Consultation, WHO, 2007.
- Priporočila za prehransko obravnavo bolnikov v bolnišnicah in starostnikov v domovih za starejše občane, edited by Nada Rotovnik Kozjek, Miloš Milošević, Ministry of Health, the Republic of Slovenia, 2007, ISBN 978-961-6523-24-0.
