title: The nutrient problem.
abstract: Nutrient intake recommendations, unlike hormone replacement standards, are based empirically, rather than physiologically, i.e., they lack an a priori normal referent. Randomized controlled trials do not provide the needed referent and are unlikely to distinguish between fully normal and various suboptimal nutritional states. Several alternative approaches, each providing an a priori normal, are described and briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Creighton University Medical Center, 601 N. 30th Street, Omaha, NE 68131, USA. rheaney@creighton.edu
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Heaney
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012016:Reference Values