In plain words
Dietary Reference Intakes, or DRIs, are a set of nutrient reference values. The National Academies of Sciences publish them for the United States and Canada. They cover energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals, with separate values by age, sex, and life stage. Pregnancy and breastfeeding have their own values because the body's needs change. The values are guides for planning food, not personal prescriptions. Many clinicians use them as a starting point when they talk about eating in pregnancy. Mothers who want to know the numbers can read them in the published report. A dietitian can help turn them into everyday food choices. The values are updated over time as the research changes.
The deeper version
The Institute of Medicine Dietary Reference Intakes set Estimated Average Requirements, Recommended Dietary Allowances, Adequate Intakes, and Tolerable Upper Intake Levels. The report on energy, carbohydrate, fiber, fat, protein, and amino acids (2005) sets trimester energy increments and protein allowances for pregnancy and lactation, while the IOM report on weight gain during pregnancy (2009) sets gestational weight ranges by pre-pregnancy . Controversies include the use of Estimated Average Requirements to set population targets, whether pregnancy-specific values capture the needs of people with obesity or multiple gestation, and the strength of evidence for several micronutrient allowances. Values are periodically revised as new data accrue.
Where it comes up
- Eating one-handed: real food you can holdNourishment and Traditions
- What to eat in pregnancy: the short versionPregnancy: Eating
- Why postpartum food is differentNourishment and Traditions
What mothers here say about Dietary Reference Intakes
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Sources
- Institute of Medicine — Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein, and Amino Acids, 2005
- Institute of Medicine — Weight Gain During Pregnancy: Reexamining the Guidelines, 2009