**Nutrient reference (NRVs)** are important parameters that guide nutrition and public health work globally. Micronutrient requirements during the peri-conception period are generally increased, which is essential in ensuring maternal, fetal, and neonatal health. Nevertheless, the current dietary reference intakes (DRIs), which are NRVs in the North American context, may be limited in terms of the methods used and the populations included, particularly the DRIs for pregnancy and lactation.
In this project, we used meta-research methods to examine the methods (rigor of design, utilization of
molecular methods, and presence of modern methods) and the population (inclusion of women, and in particular, pregnant and lactating people) in the studies used to inform the current DRIs.
**Keywords**: Nutrition reference value, dietary reference intake, meta-research, inclusion, pregnancy, lactation, rigor, molecular methods
