Using DRIs as the basis for dietary guidelines

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are nutrient standards that may be used to plan nutrient intakes. Thus, they are useful as the basis for formulating dietary guidelines. The guidelines are often presented to the public as a food guide that will promote nutrient adequacy without risk of excessive intake. Such guides typically use the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) as intake targets because intake at the RDA is associated with a high probability of nutrient adequacy for healthy persons. During the development of the MyPyramid food guide for the United States, several questions were addressed: (1) What energy levels will be covered by the specific food patterns within the food guide? Each pattern should promote nutrient adequacy for the targeted energy intake level, which may include different age and gender groups. (2) What nutrients will be targeted by the food patterns? They should promote nutrient adequacy while also ensuring that intakes are not excessive for food components such as sodium, saturated fat, and cholesterol. (3) What food groups will be included in the food patterns, and how will their nutrient profiles be determined? After these decisions have been made, then the recommended amounts of each food group can be determined. A unique approach has been used to develop Canada's Food Guide, which included a simulation of the effect of differing food choices within each food group. Dietary guidelines and food guides which are based on the DRIs have the potential to improve nutrient intakes for consumers who follow them.