The German, Austrian and Swiss nutrition societies are the joint editors of the 'reference values for nutrient intake'. They have revised the reference values for the intake of selenium and published them in February 2015. The saturation of selenoprotein P (SePP) in plasma is used as a criterion for the derivation of reference values for selenium intake in adults. For persons from selenium-deficient regions (China) SePP saturation was achieved with a daily intake of 49μg of selenium. When using the reference body weights the D-A-CH reference values are based upon, the resulting estimated value for selenium intake is 70μg/day for men and 60μg/day for women. The estimated value for selenium intake for children and adolescents is extrapolated using the estimated value for adults in relation to body weight. For infants aged 0 to under 4 months the estimated value of 10μg/day was derived from the basis of selenium intake via breast milk. For infants aged 4 to under 12 months this estimated value was used and taking into account the differences regarding body weight an estimated value of 15μg/day was derived. For lactating women compared to non-lactating women a higher reference value of 75μg/day is indicated due to the release of selenium with breast milk. The additional selenium requirement for pregnant women is negligible, so that no increased reference value is indicated.

Objective Percentiles for the body mass index (BMI) offer a possibility to epidemiologically assess the linear weight criterion of 85% average body weight commonly used for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa. Method: BMI values corresponding to 85% average body weight were calculated and assessed with percentiles derived from epidemiological studies in both the United States and Germany. The underweight range was characterized epidemiologically. Results: The weight criterion used for the diagnosis of anorexia nervosa corresponds to BMI values between the 5th and 10th centiles in both populations. In epidemiological terms the lowest BMI values in individuals aged 10 years and older occur during adolescence. In the general population BMI values <16 kg/m2 are rarely observed. Upon the use of higher BMI cutoffs in the underweight range females clearly predominate. The BMI increase associated with the 5th or 10th centile in the age range between 18 and 30 years is quite low suggesting that many underweight females in the general population gain only minimal weight during this age span. Discussion: The diagnostic, epidemiological, and therapeutic implications for anorexia nervosa are discussed. © 1996 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Some countries have introduced mandatory folic acid fortification, whereas others support periconceptional supplementation of women in childbearing age. Several European countries are considering whether to adopt a fortification policy. Projections of the possible beneficial effects of increased folic acid intake assume that the measure will result in a considerable reduction in neural-tube defects (NTD) in the target population. Therefore, the objective of the present study is to evaluate the beneficial effects of different levels of folic acid administration on the prevalence of NTD. Countries with mandatory fortification achieved a significant increase in folate intake and a significant decline in the prevalence of NTD. This was also true for supplementation trials. However, the prevalence of NTD at birth declined to approximately five cases at birth per 10 000 births and seven to eight cases at birth or abortion per 10 000 births. This decline was independent of the amount of folic acid administered and apparently reveals a ‘floor effect’ for folic acid-preventable NTD. This clearly shows that not all cases of NTD are preventable by increasing the folate intake. The relative decline depends on the initial NTD rate. Countries with NTD prevalence close to the observed floor may have much smaller reductions in NTD rates with folic acid fortification. Additionally, potential adverse effects of fortification on other vulnerable population groups have to be seriously considered. Policy decisions concerning national mandatory fortification programmes must take into account realistically projected benefits as well as the evidence of risks to all vulnerable groups.

Background: Reliable information about the nutritional status of elderly people in Germany is lacking. Objective: To describe energy and nutrient intake of elderly people living in private households in Germany with special focus on age-related differences in the elderly. Design: Descriptive nationwide cross-sectional study. Setting: Germany, 1998. Subjects: A random sample of 4020 elderly men and women living independently in private households stratified in three age groups (65-74, 75-84, 85 þ y), of which 1550 participated and 1372 (789 female subjects) provided reliable 3-day estimated dietary records. Results: The median daily energy intake was 2207 kcal (9.2 MJ) in men and 1994 kcal (8.3 MJ) in women without difference between the age groups. Protein intake amounted to 91 and 81 g/day, respectively, corresponding to 1.2 g/kg body weight per day. The median intake was well above the recommended amount for all nutrients except dietary fibre, calcium, vitamin D and folate, where 38, 35, 75 and 37% did not reach two-thirds of the recommended amount. An age-related decline was observed for calcium intake in male and for dietary fibre, water, calcium, magnesium, iron, vitamins A, E, C and thiamin intake in female participants; however, the overall picture was unaffected by these differences. Conclusions: Dietary intake in these independently living elderly, including the very-old, is adequate for most of the evaluated nutrients. Increased intake of foods rich in dietary fibre, calcium, vitamin D and folate as well as regular sunlight exposure is recommended in order to optimize nutrient supply in this population group.

Background: Following a timely update process, the nutrition societies of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (D-A-CH) revised the reference values for the intake of protein in 2017. The Working Group conducted a structured literature search in PubMed considering newly published papers (2000– 2017). Summary: For infants < 4 months, the estimated values were set based on the protein intake via breast milk. Reference values for infants > 4 months, children, adolescents, pregnant, and lactating women were calculated using the factorial method considering both requirement for growth and maintenance. For adults, reference values were derived from nitrogen balance studies; for seniors (> 65 years), reports on metabolic and functional parameters under various protein intakes were additionally considered. Reference ­values (g protein/kg body weight per day) were set as follows: infants  < 4 months: 2.5–1.4, children: 1.3–0.8, adults < 65 years: 0.8, adults > 65 years: 1.0. Key Messages: The reference values for infants, children, adolescents, and adults < 65 years are essentially unchanged compared to recently published values. Scientifically reliable data published between 2000 and 2017 guided the D-A-CH Working Group to set a higher estimated value for adults > 65 years. Since the energy consumption continuously decreases with age, this new estimated protein intake value might be a challenge for the introduction of food-based nutrition concepts for older people.