The History of the DRIs

Since 1941 in the United States (and 1938 in Canada), recommendations for specific nutrient intakes have existed. In the US, these recommendations were called the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA), and in Canada, the term Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI) was used. For the most part, these recommendations were based on the prevention of deficiency.

In the early 1990s, the approach to nutrient intake recommendations began to change. The current Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) provide much of the basis for recommended nutrient intake levels in the United States and Canada, and are replacing the RDAs and RNIs.

Some differences between the RDAs (and RNIs) and DRIs:

• Specific data about the safety and efficacy of nutrients in chronic disease are incorporated into the DRIs, including consideration of optimal (rather than minimal) intakes. In the past, only the prevention of deficiency was carefully examined
• Upper limits of intake for specific nutrients are included in the DRIs
• Recommendations for the intake of some food components not traditionally considered to be "essential nutrients" are included in the DRIs
• The DRIs are meant for use with individuals and not only for groups

The DRI reports include the following:

• calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, and fluoride (released in 1997); calcium and vitamin D (revision released in 2011)
• B vitamins (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, biotin, and choline) (released in 1998)
• antioxidants (vitamins C and E, selenium, and carotenoids) (released in 2000)
• vitamins A and K, and trace elements (arsenic, boron, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, vanadium, and zinc) (released in 2001)
• macronutrients (e.g., carhoyndrate, fiber, fat, fatty acids, cholesterol, protein, and amino acids) (released in 2002 and 2005)
• water, potassium, sodium, chloride, and sulfate (released in 2005)