Online | What are the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and do they need an overhaul?

Nutrition experts weigh in on the RDAs during this free webinar
Healthy Foods
When
-
Where

Online

Contacts

Janette Rodrigues, administrative director, GW Office of Integrative Medicine and Health, jrodrigues@gwu.edu

The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the amounts of essential nutrients that, on the basis of scientific knowledge, are judged by the Food and Nutrition Board to be adequate to meet the known nutrient needs of practically all healthy persons.  Established by the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine in 1940, the Food and Nutrition Board studies issues of national and global importance on the safety and adequacy of the U.S. food supply; establishes principles and guidelines for good nutrition; and provides authoritative judgment on the relationships among food intake, nutrition, and health maintenance and disease prevention. 

Since 1941, the RDAs have been recognized as the most authoritative source of information on nutrient intake for healthy people.  In the past, the RDAs were the primary values available to health professionals for planning and assessing the diets of individuals and groups and for making judgments about excessive intake. However, the RDAs were not ideally suited for many of these purposes

The nutrition experts below will discuss the RDAs, how they are calculated, and more at 1 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, during What are the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) and do they need an overhaul?  This free online event is open to health professionals and health care consumers.

Leigh Frame, PhD, MHS, is an assistant professor, Department of Clinical Research and Leadership, director, Integrative Medicine Programs, and executive director, Office of Integrative Medicine and Health.  Dr. Frame brings nutrition and immunity together through clinical/translational research. She has used her wide-ranging experience in biomedical research (from wet bench to clinical research) to oversee research programs, including the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Parkinson's Disease Biomarkers Program. 

Lara Zakaria, RPh, MS CNS IFMCP, is an Institute for Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner, nutritionist, pharmacist and public health professional based in New York City.  She combines evidence-based nutrition and complementary medicine, including positive psychology, to inspire patients to use whole food, herbs and lifestyle modification to optimize their health. Her training in drug-drug and drug-nutrient interactions also gives her a unique perspective on helping patients optimize their medication and supplement programs.

Source and Related Content

Dietary Reference Intakes for Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, and Choline

Recommended Daily Intakes and Upper Limits for Vitamins and Minerals

Food and Nutrition Board | About

Nutrient Recommendations: Dietary Reference Intakes