Dietary reference intakes for the cuban population, 2008.

Recommended dietary reference intakes (DRI) for energy and nutrients for the Cuban population were first established by the Nutrition and Food Hygiene Institute (INHA, its Spanish acronym) in 1996.[1] International organizations and Cuban public health research subsequently generated a considerable volume of new information on food-based energy and nutrient requirements,[2–4] resulting in the need for a revision. Updated DRIs were therefore compiled by a multidisciplinary group of specialists and published in 2008 by INHA and the Cuban Ministry of Public Health.[5,6] The current recommendations establish adequate intakes for energy, protein, essential amino acids, fats, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, 14 vitamins, and 15 minerals or trace elements, as well as tolerable upper intake levels for some nutrients. To facilitate dietary planning, population-averaged dietary reference intakes are provided for the total Cuban population (2300 kcal, 69 g protein, 53 g fat, and 387 g carbohydrates) and by age group. Important changes include the use of body weight corresponding to a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 21 to establish the recommended energy intake for adults, and setting the recommended fat intake as 20% of total energy—quantities aimed at preventing overweight and the noncommunicable chronic diseases most prevalent in Cuba. The dietary reference intake is the amount of a particular nutrient required to sustain normal metabolic, physical and psychic functioning; promote health and quality of life; prevent deficiency diseases and excess intake; and guarantee certain reserves for emergency situations. Recommended amounts are calculated to meet these needs in the majority of the population, taking into account diverse environmental conditions and life situations. Dietary recommendations are an important regulatory and educational tool for all sectors concerned with food and nutrition. They are fundamental to nutritional planning and to setting national policies aimed at safeguarding a healthy diet for the population. DRIs serve as targets in calculating availability of foodstuffs— domestically produced and imported—as well as in setting affordable pricing policies. Food and pharmaceutical industries use DRIs as guidelines for producing fortified foods and nutritional supplements for population groups with particular needs. They are also used as reference values for assessing food consumption surveys (at individual and macroeconomic levels) and for creating dietary guidelines.