Setting Tolerable Upper Intake Levels for Nutrients

A Model for the Development of Tolerable Upper Intake Levels for Nutrients

A model for the development of tolerable upper intake levels.

The Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) refers to the highest level of daily nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects for almost all individuals in the general population. As intake increases above the UL, the potential risk of adverse effects increases. The term tolerable is chosen because it connotes a level of intake that can, with high probability, be tolerated...

Evaluation of dietary intake data using the tolerable upper intake levels.

We discuss the problem of assessing nutrient intake relative to the tolerable upper intake levels (UL) for the nutrient proposed by the Institute of Medicine and focus on 2 important topics: the estimation of usual nutrient intake distributions and the extent to which intakes above the UL can be considered risky. With the information that is currently available for most nutrients, it is not pos...

Are low tolerable upper intake levels for vitamin A undermining effective food fortification efforts?

Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a major health problem, particularly in low-resource countries, putting an estimated 125-130 million preschool-aged children at increased risk of morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases. Vitamin A supplementation reduces VAD and increases child survival; it is complemented by fortifying foods with vitamin A. Concern over increased risk of bone fracture ass...

Understanding Tolerable Upper Intake Levels Toxicology of Micronutrients: Adverse Effects and Uncertainty

The establishment of safe upper intake levels for micronutrients must consider the intake-response relations for both deficiency and toxicity. Limited data are available on the toxicities of most micronutrients, and few studies that meet the criteria considered essential for the risk assessment of other chemicals in food, such as pesticides and food additives, have been performed. In some cases...