Vitamins and Minerals Included in the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese (2020)

Abstract

Vitamins and minerals included in the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for Japanese (2020) are reviewed with emphasis on the recent revision. The recent recognition of a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency has led to a change in the definition of the Adequate Intake (AI) of vitamin D from the median intake in healthy subjects to the amount necessary for prevention of bone fracture minus that produced in the skin. The distinction of folate from folic acid has become more clearly defined. The tentative dietary goal for preventing lifestyle-related diseases (DG) for sodium (salt equivalent), based on the average amount favorable for primary prevention of hypertension and chronic kidney disease (5 g/day) and the current median intake for Japanese, is ＜ 7.5 g/day for men and ＜ 6.5 g/day for women. The amount for preventing progression has been newly defined (＜ 6 g/day). The basis for the DG of potassium is also the average of the favorable and current intake. The importance of the sodium/potassium ratio has been newly stressed. The additional amount of iron necessary in mid to late gestation has been reduced. Twenty-six vitamins and minerals, for which the DRIs are defined, remain the same, since all except chromium are already established as indispensable. Practically, co-utilization of the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan is recommended. Human studies to aid the establishment of DRIs are extremely scarce in Japan, and therefore urgently needed.