The basis for setting the upper range of adequate intake for regulation of macronutrient intakes, especially amino...

The comparison of actual intakes of essential amino acids to the dietary reference intakes indicates that amino acid supply is likely not a public health concern in industrialized countries. This fact does not preclude the interest in specific amino acid intake in some physiological or pathological situations in targeted subgroups of the population. Thus, the addition of amino acids to some food vehicles to create functional foods will be regulated by public authorities in different ways according to the regulatory contexts specific to each country. The main issues to be considered are, however, the same: safety of the product and justification of the health claim accompanying the product's promotion. In addition to classical scientific data, the use of Monte Carlo simulations can be a useful tool to support the choice of the food vehicle and the amounts added to this food, and to demonstrate both safety and possible efficacy of the functional food in the targeted population.