CODEX NRVS-IMPACTS OF CHOICE OF INL98, MEANS, AND AGE GROUPS

ORAN KWON (EWHA W. UNIV, KOREA) & JANINE LEWIS (FSANZ, AUSTRALIA)

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To help consumers compare the nutrient content of similar food products

Purpose of NRVs

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To determine the contribution of a food product to an overall healthy diet

Purpose of NRVs

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Historical development of Codex NRVs

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1985 1993

Adoption of Codex Guidelines on Nutrition LabellingNumerical information on nutrients may be expressed as a proportion of “Reference RDAs”

1988

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultation in Helsinki

Amendment of Codex Guidelines on Nutrition LabellingSingle set of “Nutrient Reference Values (NRVs)” for 9 vitamins and 5 minerals

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CAC/GL 2 Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling 2-1985; as amended in 1993

Vitamins Minerals Vitamin A 800 ug Calcium 800 mg Vitamin D 5 ug Magnesium 300 mg Vitamin C 60 ug Iron 14 mg Thiamin 1.4 mg Zinc 15 mg Riboflavin 1.6 mg Iodine 150 ug Niacin 18 mg Copper * Vitamin B6 2 mg Selenium * Folic acid 200 ug * Value to be established Vitamin B12 1 ug

Current NRVs are ...

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Risk

Concern about

Evaluation

Sources

inadequacy excess

nutrients with easily identified deficiency states

actions and interactions of nutrients and other food constituents

adequacy based on whole organism responses (disease outcomes) to dietary changes

Unveiling cellular/epigenetic modifications using new validated biomarkers

food sources Food sources, fortification and food supplements

Important underlying issues in developing new reference intake values

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Multiple Reference Intake Values

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New Reference Intake Valuespe

rcen

tage

of p

eople

ANR

Average Nutrient Requirement (ANR) Nutrient intake that meets the requirements of half the healthy individuals in a particular

Average Nutrient Requirement (ANR)Nutrient intake that meets the requirements of half of the healthy individuals in a particular age- and gender- specific population

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Revision of Codex NRVs

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Principles for selection of NRVs are needed to provide a simple, coherent, understandable and meaningful reference points• Develop the general principles

Concerns in 2004

Current list incomplete • Update and extend the current vitamin/mineral NRVs

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Major issues raised in developing General Principles

Which reference intake values can be used as basis of NRVs? • INL98 vs ANR (mean)

Which age groups of daily intake reference values should be considered? • Highest age group vs Population-weighted

vs Specific population group

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ANR (mean)INL98

Possible basis of CODEX NRVs

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ANR is the best estimate of the nutrient requirement for a given individual.

INL98 is the best estimate of an intake value that will meet the requirements of practically all who will be using the label in the population.

Definition

Yates A, J Nutr, 2006

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ANRArea estimatesprevalence ofinadequacy

Freq

uenc

y

Intake

Probability of inadequacy

Yates A, 2006

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How consumer interpret the NRVs on nutrition labeling ?

Consumers are likely to expect that a product with 100% of the NRV has a high probability of nutrient adequacy, not a 50% probability of adequacy.

Murphy S. and Barr S, AJCN, 2006

This favors INL98 as the basis of the NRV.

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Basal requirement (mean requirement to prevent clinically detectable signs of impaired function attributable to nutrient inadequacy)2 standard deviationsSafety margin (to meet normative storage requirement)

Normative requirement (mean requirement to maintain a level of tissue storage that was judged to be desirable) 2 standard deviations

INL981980 RDA

1980 RDA vs INL98

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Nutrients 1980 RDA INL98 Changes (%)Vitamin A (ug RE)

1000 900 90Vitamin D (ug) 5 15 300Vitamin C (mg) 60 90 150Thiamin (mg) 1.4 1.2 85Riboflavin (mg) 1.6 1.3 81Niacin (mg) 18 16 88Vitamin B6 (mg) 2.2 1.7 77Folic acid (ug) 400 400/200(synthetic)Vitamin B12 (ug) 3 2.4 80Calcium (mg) 800 1000 125Magnesium (mg) 350 420 120Iron (mg) 10 8 80Zinc (mg) 15 11 73Iodine (ug) 150 150

(Source: NAS/NRC)

INL98 are generally lower than 1980 RDA(US/Canada)

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Highest age groupPopulation-weightedSpecific population group

Consideration of age group

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Possible BasesHighest age group - too high for majority of age groups

Population-weighted - too difficult at international level

Specific population groupadults selected (major, single population group)arithmetic mean of males and females

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CCNFSDU CL document, 2009

SimulationNutrients Mean Adult INL98 Highest INL98 UL(4-8yr old) Difference

(%)Vitamin A (ug RE)

550 600 900 109Vitamin D (ug)

5 15 50 300Vitamin C (mg)

45 45 650Thiamin (mg)

1.2 1.2 -Riboflavin (mg)

1.2 1.3 - 108Niacin (mg) 15 16 15(niacin only) 106Vitamin B6 (mg)

1.3 1.7 40 130Folic acid (ug)

400 400 400Vitamin B12 (ug)

2 2.4 - 120Calcium (mg)

1000 1300 2500 130Magnesium (mg)

240 260 - 108Iron (mg) 14 21.8 40 155Zinc (mg) 12 17.1 12 142Iodine (ug) 150 150 300

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Mean Adult INL98 values were preferred to highest INL98 values as the basis for the NRVs.

General Principles

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Relevant and recent daily nutrient intake values provided by FAO/WHO should be taken into consideration as primary sources in establishing NRVs.

Relevant and recent values that reflect independent review of the science, from recognized authoritative scientific bodies other than FAO/WHO could also be taken into consideration. Higher priority should be given, as appropriate, to values in which the evidence has been evaluated through a systematic review.

Data Sources

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CCNFSDU PWG Discussion Paper, 2010

pNRVs based on WHO/FAO valuesNutrients Current NRVs pNRVs Change (%)

Vitamin A (ug RE)

1000 550 55Vitamin D (ug) 5 5Vitamin C (mg) 60 45 75Thiamin (mg) 1.4 1.2 85Riboflavin (mg) 1.6 1.2 75Niacin (mg) 18 15 83Vitamin B6 (mg) 2 1.3 65Folic acid (ug) 200 400 200Vitamin B12 (ug) 1 2 200Calcium (mg) 800 1000 125Magnesium (mg) 300 240 80Iron (mg) 14 14Zinc (mg) 15 12 80Iodine (ug) 150 150

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A review of existing daily vitamin and mineral intake reference value from recognized authoritative scientific bodies and their basis

An estimate of the extent of the change in the scientific evidence base since 1998 for the vitamins and minerals

Request to WHO/FAO

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Impacts

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Reference values for label declaration of content

Use of Codex NRVs

• Section 3.4 of Codex Guidelines on Nutrition Labelling (CAC/GL 2-1985, Rev. 1-1993)

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Basis for nutrient content/health claims

Use of Codex NRVs

• Sections 4, 5 and 6 of Codex Guidelines for Use of Nutrition and Health Claims (CAC/GL 23-1997, Rev. 1-2004)

Nutrient Content claims

Not less than ....

“Source”

“High”

15% of NRV per 100g 7.5% of NRV per 100ml 5% of NRV per 100 kcal15% of NRV per serving2 times the value for “source”

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New NRVs might change ......

The apparent contribution of individual food items to overall nutrient needs.

The thresholds for nutrient content claims (“source”, “high”)

The levels of nutrient addition to the products.

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Thank you for your attention !

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