III. Ways of quantitating nutrient requirements
Methods: Prevention/cure of deficiency diseases
- This depends on the observational endpoint chosen. (E.g., 5-10 mg of vitamin C per day prevents overt scurvy, but wound healing is impaired at this intake level.)
- It could allow subclinical deficiency.
- Seemingly this criterion could sometimes be inappropriate in the light of the current concern for levels that promote optimal health ("optimal health" is a term that is not easy to define with precision).