Exploring the benefits and challenges of establishing a DRI-like process for bioactives

Abstract

Bioactives can be defined as: “Constituents in foods or dietary supplements, other than those needed to meet basic human nutritional needs, which are responsible for changes in health status” (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office of Public Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services in Fed Reg 69:55821–55822, 2004). Although traditional nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, protein, essential fatty acids and essential amino acids, have dietary reference intake (DRI) values, there is no such evaluative process for bioactives. For certain classes of bioactives, substantial scientific evidence exists to validate a relationship between their intake and enhanced health conditions or reduced risk of disease. In addition, the study of bioactives and their relationship to disease risk is a growing area of research supported by government, academic institutions, and food and supplement manufacturers. Importantly, consumers are purchasing foods containing bioactives, yet there is no evaluative process in place to let the public know how strong the science is behind the benefits or the quantitative amounts needed to achieve these beneficial health effects. This conference, Bioactives: Qualitative Nutrient Reference Values for Life-stage Groups?, explored why it is important to have a DRI-like process for bioactives and challenges for establishing such a process.

Circulating Micronutrient Biomarkers Are Associated With 3 Measures of Frailty: Evidence From the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing

“…Support for lutein (and zeaxanthin) to receive recommended dietary reference intakes from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine is growing, and are likely to be forthcoming in the near future based on the Lupton criteria. 24,71,72 Lutein content in foods and tissues is commonly analyzed and quantified via highperformance liquid chromatography. The National Institute of Standards and Technology developed standard reference material 968e, which includes lutein among other carotenoids, fat-soluble vitamins, and cholesterol in human serum.…”

Considerations on an Approach for Establishing a Framework for Bioactive Food Components

“…These bioactive components present challenges in establishing a DRI. Some have been discussed in recent workshops that examined ways to establish a process for setting a recommended dietary intake (8,9). These include n-3 long-chain PUFAs (primarily EPA and DHA) (8).…”

“…These include n-3 long-chain PUFAs (primarily EPA and DHA) (8). Interestingly, China has established a process for setting a special category of DRIs, and the Chinese Nutrition Society had expert review panels evaluate 18 phytochemicals (e.g., lycopene, isoflavones, phytosterols) (9). In recent years, the USDA Agricultural Research Service's (ARS) Nutrient Databank has provided special interest databases on flavonoids, which include the 5 subclasses of flavonoids (flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, and anthocyanidins) of select foods.…”

“…This process resulted in a common set of reference values, known as "Dietary Reference Intakes" (DRIs), which are used in both the United States and Canada. The DRIs include the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) 9 , the RDA, Adequate Intake (AI), Estimated Energy Requirement (EER), Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range, and the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) (1). The scientific data used to establish the DRIs came largely from experimental and observational studies.…”

Adherence to UK dietary guidelines is associated with higher dietary intake of total and specific polyphenols compared with a traditional UK diet: further analysis of data from the Cardiovascular risk REduction Study: Supported by an Integrated Dietary Approach (CRESSIDA) randomised controlled trial

“…Dietary guidelines in the UK are population-based recommendations for maintenance of health and well-being, and to reduce risk of chronic diseases. No dietary recommendations exist for polyphenols, although the advantages and disadvantages of this approach have been debated (52)(53)(54) . A dietary pattern consistent with current dietary guidelines (DG) could reasonably be assumed to be richer in polyphenols than the average UK dietary pattern due to increased intake of F&V and whole grains.…”