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Nutrition :: Recommended Dietary Allowance
FOOD REQUIREMENTS AND ADEQUATE DIETS FOR VULNERABLE GROUPS
The requirement of the body for the various nutrients carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals depend on age, sex, physical work and other physiological conditions. A manual labourer engaged in heavy work requires more proteins, calories and minerals per kg of his body weight than an adult. Pregnant women and nursing mothers require more calories, proteins, minerals because of the physiological changes that take place during this period.  The Nutrition advisory committee of ICMR has made recommendations of nutrients
Energy
The body needs energy to maintain body temperature for metabolic processes to support growth, for functioning of the internal organs such as heart, kidney, lungs etc and for physical activity. Energy needs are influenced by factors such as body size, age, climate, extent of physical activity and altered physiological status such as pregnancy and lactation.
Energy allowance for infants
Age group

Energy allowances for Adults

Energy allowances for women performing moderate activity

Category

Energy allowance (kcal)

Proteins
Proteins are needed for building and repairing of body tissues, muscles and vital fluids like blood to help enzymes and anti-bodies to fight infections. Protein requirements are based upon actual estimation of the lowest amount of nitrogen intake necessary to maintain nitrogen equilibrium and have been evolved by N balance studies. Protein requirements are expressed in terms of body weight. In a diet with energy deficiency, some of the protein would be burnt or wasted in providing energy and will not be available for the synthesis of body protein. The efficiency with which protein is utilised, also decreases.

Energy allowance for infants

Age
Age group

Body weight

Protein allowances

g/kg/day

g/day


Protein allowances during pregnancy and lactation
Allowance for pregnant women must cover the additional needs for the development of the foetus, placenta and material tissues, while those of lactating women must cover what is secreted in milk. During the 2nd and 3rd trimester an extra allowance of 14g/day have been made. During the first 6 months of lactation an extra allowance of 25 g/day have been made. This is over and above the normal protein requirement of 45 g/day.

Minerals

Iron
Iron is an important constituent of haemoglobin, myoglobin and several enzymes. The widespread prevalence of iron deficiency anemia despite sufficient iron intake in our Indian diet suggests that factors other than low intakes of iron are concerned with the development of iron deficiency anaemia. These may be due to either excessive iron loss or very poor bio-availability of dietary iron or both. Recommended intake of iron is calculated on the basis of iron loss and iron absorbed from diets which is around 3 percent in man and about 5 percent in women. Cereal based Indian diets have high phytate content which interferes with the absorption of iron. Tannin in food also renders iron unavailable, calcium and vitamin – C improve dietary absorption.

Recommended allowance for Iron

Group

Iron requirement mg/day

Dietary intake mg/day

Rate of absorption %


Calcium
Most of the calcium in the body is present in the skeletal structure. Calcium has a role in neuromuscular excitability, blood coagulation and membrane permeability.

Recommended allowance

Group

Calcium allowance mg/day

Vitamins
Vitamin A is essential for normal vision, for maintaining the integrity of epithelial tissue and for a wide variety of metabolic functions. Vitamin A in the human diet either exists as preformed vitamin A (retinol) as beta carotene which in the body is converted to vitamin A. Only foods of animal origin contain vitamin A. All vegetable sources contain B carotene and considering various factors influencing the conversion into retinol, a conversion factor of 0.25 may be used.
Vitamin C has a role, in the synthesis of collagen, wound healing amino acid, iron and carbohydrate metabolism and synthesis of hormones. This vitamin is destroyed by oxidation during storage and cooking at high temperature.


Recommended allowance for Vitamin A and C

Dos and don’ts during pregnancy

ADOLESCENT GROWTH SPURT

            Adolescents constitute more than one-fifth of Indians population. The word “Adolescent” comes from latin word ‘Adolescere’ meaning to grow, to mature signifying the special features of adolescence.

Growth, development and nutrition

Group

Particulars

Source

Sriramachandrasekharan, M.V and Ravichandran, M. 1999. Principles of Human Nutrition. Lotus Publishers, Tirunelveli.
Vijayapushpam et al. 2008, Adolescent Growth Spurt. NIN, Hyderabad.

 

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