A data management apparatus manages a database that has a plurality of items each of which has item attribute data. The data management apparatus includes determining, when an update request to the database is accepted, whether an item that is designated in the update request is included in the items, adding, when the designated item is not included in the items, the designated item to the items, and setting a definition setting flag included in item attribute data of the designated item to a second state that is different from a first state to which a definition setting flag included in item attribute data of an item approved as an item of the database is set.