4.13: Recommendations

Different countries have their own set of recommendations, as do organizations like the World Health Organization. Recommendations vary according to a country’s population, native diet, and even the designated committee—different scientists with different opinions. For example, iron is more poorly absorbed from plants than from meat, so populations whose native diet is mainly vegetarian need more iron in their diet.

Setting standards isn’t easy. For example, if a person doesn’t get enough calories, the body uses protein for its calories rather than using it to meet protein needs. This makes it hard to set protein requirements in developing countries. Should the protein recommendation be higher, because calories are inadequate? Or should it be based on protein needs alone, as if people got enough calories (even if they don’t)? This isn’t a trivial question. When food policies are made, or when food aid is given, these dietary standards are used. It’s much more expensive to provide protein than to provide calories. Using protein to provide calories is an inefficient use of resources.

In developing countries, the recommended levels of nutrients are often lower than in developed countries—countries with a limited food supply can’t afford the luxury of big margins over average requirements. Recommended intakes in various countries aren’t identical, but it’s reassuring and expected that they’re similar.

As countries become more developed, dietary deficiencies become less common, and chronic diseases become more common. Heart disease, cancer, and diabetes have become leading causes of death. Thus, dietary guidelines in the U.S. focus more on the relation of diet to chronic diseases.