DIETARY REFERENCE INTAKES (REPRINTED FROM DIETARY REFERENCE INTAKES, CALCIUM, PHOSPHORUS, MAGNESIUM, VITAMIN-D, AND FLUORIDE, CHAPTER 1, 1997)

The term Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) is new to the field of nutri tion. It refers to a set of at least four nutrient-based reference val ues that can be used for planning and assessing diets and for many oth er purposes. The development of DRIs replaces the periodic revisions o f Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs), which have been published sin ce 1941 by the National Academy of Sciences. This is a comprehensive e ffort being undertaken by the Standing Committee on the Scientific Eva luation of Dietary Reference Intakes of the Food and Nutrition Board, institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences, with the involvem ent of Health Canada.