It is generally accepted that the basic needs of vitamins are covered by the so-called Recommended Dietary Allowances, which were originally established mainly to prevent deficiencies. However, there is more and more scientific evidence accumulating that several vitamins have additional functions, each requiring a different, but usually higher amount than the one set for the prevention of the respective classical vitamin deficiency. Such additional functions include the radical scavenging effect of various antioxidant vitamins or the role of folate in the prevention of neural tube defects. This publication wants to substantiate the relations between the scientific evidence for selected functions and the respective vitamin intake; moreover, as some of the functions in question require several vitamins due to synergistic interactions, attention will also be paid to this aspect. Special measures could in the future contribute to lower public health costs by helping to decrease the incidence of costly chronic diseases: Guidelines advising a much higher intake of fruits and vegetables have already been established to reduce the risk for certain diseases such as some types of cancer and coronary heart disease. Covering a wide spectrum of topics, this publication will not only be of interest to nutritionists, pathophysiologists and epidemiologists, but also to Public Health authorities and food and vitamin manufacturers.
Preface ix Introduction and Objectives A Conceptual Approach for Scientifically Based Guidelines 1(3) Walter, P Hornig, D. Moser, U. Recommendations for Vitamin Intake Dietary Reference Intakes: A New Approach to Setting Nutrition Standards in the USA and Canada 4(10) Yates, A.A. Recommendations for Vitamin Intake in the European Union and the Use of Reference Values in Existing and Future Community Legislation 14(8) Mathioudakis, B. Evidence for Vitamin Functions beyond Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) Folic Acid, Vitamins B6 and B12 Folic Acid and Neural Tube Defects 22(12) Wald, N.J. Rationale for Risk Reduction of Cardiovascular Disease Using Homocysteine Concentration in Blood and Plasma as Biomarker: Support by Clinical Data 34(8) Pietrzik, K. Folate and Vitamin B6 from Diet and Supplements in Relation to Risk of Coronary Heart Disease among Women 42(4) Rimm, E.B. Antioxidant Vitamins Antioxidant Vitamins: Evidence from Biomarkers in Humans 46(22) Frei, B. McCall, M.R. Synergistic Effects of Antioxidant Vitamins 68(12) Truscott, T.G. Antioxidants and Chronic Disease: Evidence from Observational Epidemiology 80(12) Rimm, E.B. Stampfer, M.J. Evidence from Intervention Studies 92(43) Biesalski, H.K. Vitamins and Immunocompetence Mechanisms of Vitamin-Mediated Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Activity 135(13) Anderson, R. Vitamin E and Immune Response in the Aged 148(11) Meydani, S.N. Beharka, A.A. Emerging Scientific Evidence Vitamin K and Tissue Mineralization 159(12) Vermeer, C. Thijssen, H.H.W. Hamulyak, K. Behavioural and Mental Functions 171(6) Stahelin, H.B. Vitamins and Regulation of Gene Expression 177(12) Azzi, A. Aratri, E. Boscoboinik, D. Clement, S. Ozer, N. Ricciarelli, R. Spycher S. Stocker A. Discussions in Working Groups Folic Acid, Vitamins B6 and B12: Relation to Homocysteine and Cardiovascular Disease 189(3) Kok, F.J. Evidence of Folic Acid and Folate in the Prevention of Neural Tube Defects 192(4) Scott, J.M. Functions of Antioxidant Vitamins beyond RDAs 196(4) Diplock, A.T.† van Poppel, G. Vitamins and Immunocompetence 200(6) Blumberg, J.B. Hughes, D.A. Emerging Scientific Evidence. Vitamin K and Bone Metabolism: Effects of Vitamins on Behaviour and Cognition 206(3) Rambeck, WA. Stahelin, H.B. Author Index 209(1) Subject Index 210
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