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January 30, 2009 The Recommended Daily Allowance The RDA is now more commonly known as the Dietary Reference Intake (DRI). This is a system of nutritional recommendations from the Institute of Medicine and the United States National Academy of Sciences. These recommendations are used to create diets for schools, prisons, hospitals, and nursing homes. Industries use them when they are developing new foods and the government uses them to create healthcare policy. During World War II, a committee was established to investigate issues of nutrition, especially since there were periods of time where food was being rationed. The final guidelines were accepted in 1941 and were meant to provide superior nutrition for civilians and military personnel. The value of eating certain foods to maintain health was well known even before vitamins were discovered. Ancient Egyptians knew that feeding a person liver would cure night blindness which is caused by a vitamin A deficiency. Long ocean voyages during the Renaissance subjected the sailors to long periods without fresh fruit and vegetables and illnesses such as scurvy were frequent with the crews on the ships. Other well known diseases associated with vitamin deficiency are beriberi (thiamin), pellagra (niacin) and rickets (vitamin D). These are rare in the developed world due to adequate supplies of food and the fortification of foods with vitamins and minerals. Deficiencies of vitamins are classified as either primary or secondary. A primary deficiency occurs when an organism does not get enough of the vitamin in its food. A secondary deficiency may be due to an underlying disorder that prevents or limits the absorption or use of the vitamin due to a lifestyle factor such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, or the use of medications that interfere with the absorption or the use of the vitamin. The DRI for each individual is dependent on age, gender, and medical condition. Pregnancy, lactation, and chronic illnesses increase the needs of certain vitamins, so it is recommended that you consult your healthcare professional for specific advice. There are volumes of information available on-line, in the library, and at your pharmacy. **Next Time: The DRI of Calcium..How much and where do I find it? Patricia A. Wood RN, C, PCCN
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BMI - Body Mass Index BEE - Basal Energy Expenditure calories in = calories out; change this equation to lose weight | ||||||||||
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