In general, for vitamins and minerals which value is the most important to providing adequacy?

• A. RDA
• B. UL
• C. EAR
• D. CDRR

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the definitions of the terms provided: RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance), UL (Tolerable Upper Intake Level), EAR (Estimated Average Requirement), and CDRR (Chronic Disease Risk Reduction). Each term represents a different aspect of nutrient intake recommendations.
2. RDA is the average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97–98%) healthy individuals. It is the most important value for ensuring adequacy in nutrient intake.
3. UL represents the maximum daily intake unlikely to cause adverse health effects. It is important for safety but does not directly address adequacy.
4. EAR is the average daily nutrient intake level estimated to meet the requirements of half the healthy individuals in a group. It is used to assess population-level adequacy but is not as specific for individual adequacy as RDA.
5. CDRR is a newer concept that identifies intake levels associated with reduced risk of chronic disease. While important for long-term health, it is not directly related to adequacy in the same way as RDA.