Run as non-privileged user

FreeRADIUS 2.0.4 Some documentation I've read recommends running FreeRADIUS as user=radius group=radius. It said that you shouldn't use "nobody" because that is reserved for a special purpose (I think it was the Hassel book). Around line 116 of radiusd.conf, I found the option for "user/group", but the instructions say that you must be root to start the server. If I change this setting, will it prevent the server from starting? What is the official recommended way of running FreeRADIUS as a non-root user? Thanks for your time!