|
DV, DRV, RDI, RDA. It sounds like dietary alphabet soup.
Actually, the letters represent various food guidelines that
can help you make informed food choice decisions. Phil
Kissack, interim associate director of University of Iowa
Hospitals and Clinics Food and Nutrition Services, unlocks
the secrets of the secrets of the letters.
DV -- Daily Values are set by the government and reflect
current nutrition recommendations for a 2,000-calorie diet,
indicating the amount of a nutrient provided by a single
serving of a food item. Daily Value is an "umbrella" term
for two sets of reference values: Daily Reference Values
(DRVs) and Reference Daily Intakes (RDIs).
DRVs, established by the government for adults, are the
recommended amount for total fat, saturated fat,
cholesterol, total carbohydrate, dietary fiber, sodium,
potassium, and protein.
RDIs were developed by the Food and Drug Administration
to be used in food labeling and has replaced the term U.S.
Recommended Daily Allowances (USRDA). RDI reflects the
recommended level of intake for most vitamins and minerals.
You won't find DRV or RDI on any label.
RDA is the Recommended Dietary Allowance set by the
National Academy of Science's Food and Nutrition Board. This
is the oldest of the guidelines--started in 1941--and is
used to suggest specific amounts of essential substances the
body needs to function normally. RDAs are amounts intended
to be consumed as part of a normal diet and are neither
minimum requirements nor optimal levels of intake. RDAs are
safe and adequate levels of intake that reflect current
knowledge.
Back to top
For More Information
Listed above is a Web site that offer additional
information on this topic. University of Iowa Health Care
does not sponsor or endorse these sites, or guarantee the
accuracy of the information contained on these sites. These
links are here for general information only, and should not
be used for personal diagnosis or treatment. If you have any
questions, please contact UI
Health Access.
Back to top
|
