RDA committee would address, in the text of the report, issues of nutrient–nutrient interactions and the potential roles of nutrients and other food constituents in reducing chronic disease risk. The committee would review the literature in these areas for each nutrient or relevant constituent and give guidance on when and under what conditions it might be appropriate for certain individuals or population groups to strive for intakes that deviate from the RDAs.

A second publication would describe how the new RDAs could be used for the variety of purposes to which they are put. The traditional uses of the RDAs would be covered in this document. A third publication, intended for the public, would explain the principles and scientific evidence underlying the RDAs and present them in terms of dietary patterns for persons of specific age and physiologic states. It would also include recommended dietary patterns for population subgroups based on considerations of age, race, and ethnic dietary preferences. To contain costs, these three reports would be developed sequentially using a series of small committees overseen by a committee of FNB members.

The FNB would maintain this open process for developing future RDAs, by implementing new mechanisms to obtain wider participation. In addition to reviewing the literature, holding invitational workshops, and corresponding with experts, FNB members are considering new ways to obtain comments on the conceptual development of the RDAs and to evaluate the adequacy of the literature. Public meetings structured around the findings of the committee with respect to different controversial nutrients, symposia held in conjunction with professional society meetings, and research review monographs published for public comment will be planned to increase the involvement of the nutrition community.

With this concept paper, the FNB presents its initial ideas for a new approach to the RDAs. The FNB seeks constructive criticism, suggestions, and substantiated rebuttal so that our approach can be reviewed and modified. To advance this process, symposia are scheduled at nutrition-focused scientific meetings through 1994 to debate several of the outstanding issues discussed in this paper (see Appendix C for details). The FNB urges readers of this report to submit written remarks to the address below. Please include full literature citations and supporting documentation wherever appropriate.

The FNB looks forward to working with the interested nutrition community in determining the future of the RDAs.

Send comments to: RDA Comments, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine/NAS, 2101 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20418

FRONT MATTER (R1-R8)

CONTENTS (R9-R10)

1 INTRODUCTION (1-6)

2 CONCEPTS UNDERLYING THE RECOMMENDED DAILY ALLOWANCES (7-16)

3 FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR THE RECOMMENDED DIETARY ALLOWANCES UNDER DISCUSSION... (17-21)

REFERENCES (22-24)

APPENDIX A: SPEAKERS AND COMMENTERS (25-28)

APPENDIX B: NEED FOR CHANGE VOICED BY THE SCIENTIFIC AND ADVOCACY COMMUNITIES (29-34)

APPENDIX C: RDA-RELATED SYMPOSIA SCHEDULED AT PROFESSIONAL MEETINGS IN 1994 (35-36)