November 2001 -- Dr. Eric Rimm, of the Harvard School of Public Health, described his experiences as a member of the committee charged with determining dietary reference intakes. Formerly known as the recommended daily allowance or RDA, the dietary reference intake are the amounts of nutrients needed for good health. The new values will be separately set for males and females and for infants, children, adults, and the elderly since requirements change at different developmental stages. The committee, organized jointly by the National Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine, has a five-year goal of quantifying the amount of fats, carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals we should be taking in on a daily basis. The committee has published their recommendations for several vitamins and minerals and is now crafting a report for fat, protein, carbohydrate, and total energy.

The committee's charge includes reviewing the current scientific literature for the most up-to-date evidence to determine the role of nutrients and health and, to quantify the amounts which would not only reduce deficiency diseases, but also amounts needed to decrease the incidence of chronic disease throughout the life span. In addition, the committee was asked to determine the safest upper level of intake or the highest level you can take without posing a risk to your health.

Dr. Rimm also reported that Dr. Meir Stampfer, also of the Harvard School of Public Health, served on the committee to create the 2000 U.S. Dietary Guidelines. Under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, Health, and Human Services the committee met to revise the five-year-old food pyramid. The new guidelines are longer with ten recommendations instead of seven. A major change can be seen in the division of two of the old guidelines. In the new version, diet is separated from activity and fruit is separate from vegetables. An entirely new guideline was added on food safety.

Other changes included separating whole grains from refined grains and pointing out the adverse consequences of alcohol use as well as the possible benefits. Dr. Stampfer reported that the work of Harvard researcher's was influential throughout the process. A complete transcript of all the committee proceedings is available on line at www.ars.usda.gov/dgac.