Nutrient Requirements Flashcards
(35 cards)
What are DRV’s?
A series of estimates of the amount of energy and nutrients needed by different groups of healthy people in the UK population
What type of people are DRV’s aimed at?
Healthy people
What is the first type of estimate?
Reference Nutrient Intakes (RNI)
What is RNI used for?
Protein, vitamins and minerals
Estimate of the amount that should meet the needs of most of the groups to which they apply
What is the second estimate?
Estimated Average Requirements (EAR)
What is EAR used for?
For energy
50% of the population will require more and 50% require less
What is the third estimate?
Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI)
What is LRNI used for?
Not enough for most people, for people who have a low requirement
When is safe intake used?
When there is insufficient evidence to set an RNI, EAR, LRNI
What are nutritional requirements?
The amount of each nutrient needed/ required
How do they differ/ vary?
Each nutrient has a different function and larger amounts of certain nutrients are required
Give examples of how different nutrients are needed in different quantities:
Protein is needed in grams
Vitamin C is needed in milligrams
Individual requirements of each nutrient are related to a person’s …
Age Gender Level of physical activity State of health Utilisation of nutrients Absorption of nutrients
What does COMA stand for?
Committee On Medical Aspects of food and nutrition policy
Who has COMA now been superseded by?
SACN - Scientific Advisory Committee on nutrition
What nutrients are they reviewing first?
Those that cause concern such as Iron, selenium, folate and vitamin D
What are the main population groups that have been set?
Males/ Females
Why were SACN asked to review energy requirements?
The evidence base has moved on substantially and the levels of overweight and obesity in the UK has risen sharply
What are the EAR for pregnant women?
Increases by 0.8 a day but only in the final 3 months of pregnancy
When planning a diet for a group what should the aim be?
The RNI should be used
What are the EAR for energy used on?
Present lifestyle and activity levels in the UK
They are based on current activity levels - low
EAR’s for higher and lower levels
Why do some individuals become obese?
Take in more energy than they burn of leading to weight gain
Why is there a concern that many children are now obese?
They will have a shorter life expectancy
They are at risk of developing diseases such as CVD, Diabetes
Why is being active a good choice if you want to lose weight rather than cutting down on food intake?
Reduces risk of going short on certain nutrients
