Dietary reference values for vitamins and minerals for infants and children

The Health Council of the Netherlands has derived new dietary reference values for vitamins and minerals for infants and children. Dietary reference values provide information about the intake of vitamins and minerals that the body needs to function properly and to prevent disease. Dietary reference values are used, for example, in public education on nutrition, advice on diets by dieticians and (paediatric) doctors, and for monitoring the nutrient intake of the Dutch population.

When revising the dietary reference values, the Health Council used the reference values derived by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). In some cases, the council uses a different type of dietary reference value than the EFSA. The dietary reference values for infants and children have uncertainties, because they are usually based on extrapolation of data from research in adults. Because of these uncertainties, the Health Council only derived adequate intakes for most nutrients, instead of a population reference intake. This is in line with what the council has done so far with dietary reference values for infants and children. The Health Council believes it is important that more research is done on nutrient requirements, especially in infants and children.

Dietary reference values are important tools for establishing a healthy dietary pattern, but when the intake of a child is lower than the recommended amount, it does not necessarily mean that the child’s intake is insufficient for them. To establish this, additional individual data are needed, for example on growth or development. The council will advise on a healthy dietary pattern for children until 2 years old at a later date.