Introduction of Human Vitamins and Minerals...continued #1.

Reference from the joint report of FAO/WHO expert consultation on Human Vitamins and Minerals verbatim. (Chapter 1)

Terms of reference and process

The terms of reference for the Expert Panel were the following:

􀂃 To review the full scope of vitamin and minerals requirements, including their role in normal human physiology and metabolism and in deficiency disease conditions. To focus on the requirements of the essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, D, E, and K; the B vitamins; calcium; iron; magnesium; zinc; selenium; and iodine. 

􀂃 To draft and adopt a report which would provide recommended nutrient intakes for vitamins A, C, D, E, and K; the B vitamins; calcium; iron; magnesium; zinc; selenium; and iodine. The report would provide practical advice and recommendations which will constitute an authoritative source of information to all those from member countries who work in the area of nutrition, agriculture, food production and distribution, and health promotion. 

This report will form, in large part, the basis for a new edition of the FAO/WHO Handbook on Human Nutritional Requirements, which was published in 1974 and last re-issued in 1980. 

􀂃 To identify key issues for future research and make preliminary recommendations for the handbook. The presentations addressed changes in the science base for each of the essential vitamin and mineral nutrients from the time of the most recent FAO/WHO review of those nutrients. The Expert Panel made recommendations for the nutrient requirements, identified key issues for future research, and made preliminary recommendations for the handbook.

Definitions of terms used

The following definitions relate to the nutrient intake from food (including water) that is

required to prevent deficiency conditions. Upper limits of nutrient intake are defined for

specific vitamins and minerals where there is a potential problem with excess.

Requirement

A requirement is an intake level, which will meet specified criteria of adequacy, preventing

risk of deficit or excess. These criteria include a gradient of biological effects related to the

nutrient intake. This dose response will be assumed to have a Gaussian distribution unless it is

known to be otherwise. A risk function (a probability of 0 to 1) of deficiency and excess can

be derived (Figure 1).