2021 Volume 79 Issue 1 Pages 14-26
Objective: This study aimed to compare dietary reference intakes (DRIs) and their applications in Japan and other countries to facilitate future development of DRIs for Japanese.
Methods: Information on DRIs in Japan, the United States/Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia/New Zealand, and the European Union was collected mainly through webpages of institutions in charge of developing DRIs. The information collected included the names of institutions, frequency of reviews/revisions, categories of reference values, nutrients for which DRIs have been developed, and the application of DRIs.
Results: DRIs are developed by the government and nonprofit public organizations of each country. Japan revises DRIs every five years covering all nutrients, whereas other countries review/revise them erratically when needed for a specific nutrient(s). Several common categories of reference values are used across the countries, and the U.K. uses a lower reference nutrient intake, which is two standard deviations below the estimated average requirement. The number of nutrients for which DRIs have been developed was the largest in the United States/Canada. DRIs are commonly used for meal planning, nutritional counseling, dietary guidelines/food guides, and nutrition labeling. Furthermore, they are used for the military in all countries except Japan.
Conclusion: This study clarified the differences in DRIs between Japan and other countries, thus, this can be useful information for further fulfillment of DRIs for Japanese.
