VITAMIN REQUIREMENTS - PRESENT RECOMMENDATIONS AND FUTURE-PROSPECTS

Dietary recommendations evolved from instructions directed at preventi on of starvation diseases to the level of intake of essential nutrient s that are adequate to meet the known nutrient needs of practically al l healthy persons, Vitamin requirements have been modified various tim es over the years and there are still differences in recommended intak es in different countries, A debate on optimal vitamin intake is ongoi ng, based on the concepts of deficiency, sufficiency and hypothetical identification of a range within which a further biological advantage can be expected, In establishing appropriate criteria for food and nut rient intakes, additional studies are warranted on the physiological i nteractions between nutrients and non-nutrients and on many other fact ors such as genetic determinants and lifestyle which could interfere w ith disease prevention.