<正> Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) represent the recent approach adopted by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academies of the United States to provide quantitative estimates of nutrient intakes for use in a variety of settings, replacing and expanding upon the past 50 years of periodically updating and revising the RDAs. The DRI activity is a comprehensive effort undertaken to include current concepts about the role of nutrients and food components in long-term health, going beyond deficiency diseases. The DRIs consist of four reference intakes, the Recommended Dietary Allowance(RDA), to be used as a goal for the individual; the Tolerable Upper Intake Level(UL), to assist in advising individuals what levels of intake may result in adverse effects if habitually exceeded, the Estimated Average Requirement(EAR), the intake level at which the data indicate that the needs for 50% of those consuming it will not be met, and the Adequate Intake(AI), a level judged by experts to meet the needs of all individuals in the group, but which is based on significantly more judgment than that used in establishing an EAR and subsequently the RDA. When a RDA cannot be set, an AI is given. Both are to be used as goals for an individual. Three reports have been issued providing DRIs for nutrients and food components reviewed to date: these include calcium and its related nutrients:phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, and fluoride; folate, the B vitamins, and choline; and most recently, vitamins C and E, selenium, and the carotenoids. In addition, a report on using the DRIs to assess nutrient intakes of groups and individuals has been recently published. The approaches used to determine the DRIs, the reference values themselves, applications in dietary assessment, and the plans for future nutrients and food components are discussed.