Table 3.

Summary of the systems of nutrition guidance.

System of Nutrition Guidance	Summary
Nutrient Reference Values	Quantitative estimates of human requirements for essential nutrients (expressed in weight/day) that are considered to be adequate for meeting the known nutrient needs of healthy populations [41].
	Developed by expert panels who undertake an evaluation of scientific evidence from human and animal experiments, epidemiological studies and national survey data.
	Used as benchmarks for planning, monitoring and evaluating food and nutrition policies and to assess the adequacy of nutrient intakes for both individuals and groups, identifying those most at risk of micronutrient-related diseases [42].
Dietary Goals	General statement of intent used for long-term planning of national public health nutrition (PHN) policies and programs, indicating a direction and general magnitude of recommended dietary change [30].
	Expressed as average national intakes, dietary goals represent quantified targets for selected macro- and micronutrients to support optimal nutritional health and prevent diet-related chronic diseases. May vary among subpopulations due to varying prevalence of over- and undernutrition [41].
	Development relies on description and quantification of national nutrition systems including: food consumption patterns; selection of target groups and priority objectives; points of intervention within the system; and consideration of potential alternatives [30,42].
Dietary Guidelines	Sets of advisory statements to promote overall nutritional wellbeing and to address all diet-related conditions, considering the customary dietary patterns of healthy populations and indicating what aspects should be modified.
	“Food-based” dietary guidelines refer to the expression of the principles of nutrition education mostly as foods. Where they cannot be expressed entirely as foods, they are written in language that avoids technical nutrition science terms.
	Starting point for devising dietary guidelines is relevance to a public health issue rather than an existing gap between the prevailing nutrient intake and a numerical recommended intake for a nutrient [41].
	Intended to establish an agenda for policies and programs in other sectors including health, agriculture, education, communications, food industry, consumers and research [43].
	Development ideally follows a systematic and transparent process informed by the best available scientific evidence and gives due regard to important contextual factors (social, cultural, economic, agricultural, food supply) while managing conflicts of interest [44]. This approach allows for consensus building, which is essential for successful implementation of the developed guidelines [28].