Skip to main content
. 2013 Dec;57(6):934–940. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.07.016

Table 3.

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) and observed nutrient intakes among grade 5 students attending public schools in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia in 2003 and 2011.

Nutrient DRI categorya Reference value Mean ± SE
Effect sizeb Prevalence of inadequacy
2003 2011 P-value 2003 2011
Carbohydrate
 (%) AMDR 45–65 55.6 ± 0.1 56.5 ± 0.1 < 0.001 0.11 2.5% 2.0%
 (g/d) EARc 100 299.7 ± 2.4 267.1 ± 2.2 < 0.001 − 0.18 1.7% 2.3%
Protein
 (%) AMDR 10–30 14.8 ± 0.1 15.9 ± 0.1 < 0.001 0.22 3.4% 1.7%
 (g/kg/d) EAR 0.76 1.94 ± 0.02 1.84 ± 0.02 < 0.001 − 0.09 6.5% 7.6%
Fat
 (%) AMDR 25–35 30.7 ± 0.1 28.7 ± 0.1 < 0.001 − 0.25 7.4% 19.6%
 (g) EAR ND 73.4 ± 0.6 60.2 ± 0.5 < 0.001 − 0.25
Vitamin C (mg) EAR 39 163.5 ± 1.7 125.8 ± 1.5 < 0.001 − 0.26 5.4% 11.7%
Folate EAR 250 363.8 ± 2.8 335.2 ± 2.5 < 0.001 − 0.15 27.7% 33.5%
Vitamin A (ug RAE/d)
 Males EAR 445 918.7 ± 12.6 898.5 ± 10.9 0.22 − 0.03 16.7% 18.9%
 Females EAR 420 901.1 ± 12.7 881.8 ± 10.6 0.25 − 0.03 15.3% 16.0%
Iron (mg)
 Males EAR 5.9 12.1 ± 0.1 12.5 ± 0.1 0.03 0.06 8.7% 8.1%
 Females EAR 5.7 11.1 ± 0.1 11.5 ± 0.1 0.03 0.06 10.6% 8.5%
Zinc (mg) EAR 7 10.2 ± 0.1 9.5 ± 0.1 < 0.001 − 0.12 24.6% 30.5%
Calcium (mg) EAR 1100 1181.9 ± 9.7 1110.0 ± 9.6 < 0.001 − 0.10 48.5% 55.3%
Vitamin D (IU) EAR 400 251.5 ± 2.7 245.2 ± 2.7 0.10 − 0.03 80.7% 81.4%
Total fiber (g)
 Males AI 31 16.2 ± 0.2 15.6 ± 0.2 0.01 − 0.08
 Females AI 26 15.6 ± 0.2 15.1 ± 0.2 0.03 − 0.06
Sodium (mg) UL 2200 2615.1 ± 20.6 2404.8 ± 18.7 < 0.001 − 0.14
a

AMDR = Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range; EAR = Estimated Average Requirement; ND = Not Determined; AI = Adequate Intake; UL = Upper Limit.

b

Effect size is mean 2003 − mean 2011 / SD.

c

EAR is the value that is estimated to meet the requirements of 50% of healthy individuals. AI is used in the absence of definitive data on which to base an EAR. The prevalence of inadequacy cannot be determined with values below an AI because lower values may be adequate. EAR is not available for total fat intake. Sodium intake levels were compared with the Upper Limit (UL) values above which potential adverse effect may occur (i.e. high blood pressure). Only the UL was used for sodium because health concerns pertain primarily to the excess consumption of sodium and sodium deficiencies are extremely rare in Canada.