Commentary: Lessons learned from the development of dietary reference intakes and dietary guidelines among different countries

The compilations of papers derived from the presentations at the 2(nd) Asian Network Symposium that are published concurrently in this issue offer an opportunity for the reader to gain a better understanding of the processes used for the development of country-specific nutrient reference intake recommendations and national dietary guidelines. This commentary offers a perspective of lessons learned from both the similarities and differences of approaches used among the Asian countries. Additionally, selected comparisons are made to actions and considerations related to nutrient requirements and national guidelines within the United States. It is hoped that continued dialogue among different countries on these topics should further harmonization of nutritional recommendations and provide an understanding for differences when they may occur.