How did we decide on daily recommended values for nutrients?


The amount of each nutrient required by our bodies varies and this is dependent on a person’s age, gender, health and level of physical activity. The recommended daily values are the amount of each nutrient that is sufficient to meet the requirements for the majority of healthy people in the target population.

Different countries often have different recommendations for the amount of each nutrient that should be included in our diets.  These are usually set by the government who often use the recommendations published by the World Health Organisation as a basis for their values. Countries often publish a different set of recommended values for men, women and children to take into account age and gender differences.  The recommended values are set based on a wide range of scientific studies investigating the effects of each nutrient on the human body. New research is constantly being published on human nutrient requirements and so the recommended values are regularly reviewed and updated.