T he Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) include two sets of values that serve as goals for nutrient intake—Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and Adequate
Intakes (AI). The RDA reflect the average daily amount of a nutrient considered adequate to meet the needs of most healthy people. If there is insufficient
evidence to determine an RDA, an AI is set. AI are more tentative than RDA, but both may be used as goals for nutrient intakes. (Chapter 1 provides more details.)
In addition to the values that serve as goals for nutrient intakes (presented in the tables on these two pages), the DRI include a set of values called Tolerable
Upper Intake Levels (UL). The UL represent the maximum amount of a nutrient that appears safe for most healthy people to consume on a regular basis. Turn the
page for a listing of the UL for selected vitamins and minerals.
Estimated Energy Requirements (EER), Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA), and
Adequate Intakes (AI) for
Water, Energy, and the Energy Nutrients
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0–0.5 — 62 (24) 6 (13) 0.7e 570 60 — 31 4.4 0.5 9.1 1.52
0.5–1 — 71 (28) 9 (20) 0.8f 743 95 — 30 4.6 0.5 13.5 1.5
1–3g — 86 (34) 12 (27) 1.3 1046 130 19 — 7 0.7 13 1.1
4–8g 15.3 115 (45) 20 (44) 1.7 1742 130 25 — 10 0.9 19 0.95
9–13 17.2 144 (57) 36 (79) 2.4 2279 130 31 — 12 1.2 34 0.95
14–18 20.5 174 (68) 61 (134) 3.3 3152h 130 38 — 16 1.6 52 0.85
19–30 22.5 177 (70) 70 (154) 3.7 3067h 130 38 — 17 1.6 56 0.8
31–50 3.7 3067h 130 38 — 17 1.6 56 0.8
50 3.7 3067h 130 30 — 14 1.6 56 0.8
Females
0–0.5 — 62 (24) 6 (13) 0.7e 520 60 — 31 4.4 0.5 9.1 1.52
0.5–1 — 71 (28) 9 (20) 0.8f 676 95 — 30 4.6 0.5 13.5 1.5
1–3g — 86 (34) 12 (27) 1.3 992 130 19 — 7 0.7 13 1.1
4–8g 15.3 115 (45) 20 (44) 1.7 1642 130 25 — 10 0.9 19 0.95
9–13 17.4 144 (57) 37 (81) 2.1 2071 130 26 — 10 1.0 34 0.95
14–18 20.4 163 (64) 54 (119) 2.3 2368 130 26 — 11 1.1 46 0.85
19–30 21.5 163 (64) 57 (126) 2.7 2403i 130 25 — 12 1.1 46 0.8
31–50 2.7 2403i 130 21 — 12 1.1 46 0.8
50 2.7 2403i 130 21 — 11 1.1 46 0.8
Pregnancy
1st trimester 3.0 0 175 28 — 13 1.4 25 1.1
2nd trimester 3.0 340 175 28 — 13 1.4 25 1.1
3rd trimester 3.0 452 175 28 — 13 1.4 25 1.1
Lactation
1st 6 months 3.8 330 210 29 — 13 1.3 25 1.1
2nd 6 months 3.8 400 210 29 — 13 1.3 25 1.1
NOTE: For all nutrients, values for infants are AI. Dashes indicate that values have not been c The linolenic acid referred to in this table and text is the omega-3 fatty acid known as alpha-
determined. linolenic acid.
a The water AI includes drinking water, water in beverages, and water in foods; in general, d The values listed are based on reference body weights.
drinking water and other beverages contribute about 70 to 80 percent, and foods, the remain- e Assumed to be from human milk.
der. Conversion factors: 1 L 33.8 fluid oz; 1 L 1.06 qt; 1 cup 8 fluid oz. f Assumed to be from human milk and complementary foods and beverages. This includes
b The Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) represents the average dietary energy intake that will
approximately 0.6 L (~3 cups) as total fluid including formula, juices, and drinking water.
maintain energy balance in a healthy person of a given gender, age, weight, height, and physical g For energy, the age groups for young children are 1–2 years and 3–8 years.
activity level. The values listed are based on an “active” person at the reference height and weight h For males, subtract 10 kcalories per day for each year of age above 19.
and at the midpoint ages for each group until age 19. Chapter 8 and Appendix F provide equa- i For females, subtract 7 kcalories per day for each year of age above 19.
tions and tables to determine estimated energy requirements.
SOURCE: Adapted from the Dietary Reference Intakes series, National Academies Press. Copyright 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, by the National Academies of Sciences.
, Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and Adequate Intakes (AI) for Vitamins
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Age (yr)
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Ch
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AI
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Fo
Ni
Infants
0–0.5 0.2 0.3 2 5 1.7 0.1 65 0.4 125 40 400 5 4 2.0
0.5–1 0.3 0.4 4 6 1.8 0.3 80 0.5 150 50 500 5 5 2.5
Children
1–3 0.5 0.5 6 8 2 0.5 150 0.9 200 15 300 5 6 30
4–8 0.6 0.6 8 12 3 0.6 200 1.2 250 25 400 5 7 55
Males
9–13 0.9 0.9 12 20 4 1.0 300 1.8 375 45 600 5 11 60
14–18 1.2 1.3 16 25 5 1.3 400 2.4 550 75 900 5 15 75
19–30 1.2 1.3 16 30 5 1.3 400 2.4 550 90 900 5 15 120
31–50 1.2 1.3 16 30 5 1.3 400 2.4 550 90 900 5 15 120
51–70 1.2 1.3 16 30 5 1.7 400 2.4 550 90 900 10 15 120
70 1.2 1.3 16 30 5 1.7 400 2.4 550 90 900 15 15 120
Females
9–13 0.9 0.9 12 20 4 1.0 300 1.8 375 45 600 5 11 60
14–18 1.0 1.0 14 25 5 1.2 400 2.4 400 65 700 5 15 75
19–30 1.1 1.1 14 30 5 1.3 400 2.4 425 75 700 5 15 90
31–50 1.1 1.1 14 30 5 1.3 400 2.4 425 75 700 5 15 90
51–70 1.1 1.1 14 30 5 1.5 400 2.4 425 75 700 10 15 90
70 1.1 1.1 14 30 5 1.5 400 2.4 425 75 700 15 15 90
Pregnancy
18 1.4 1.4 18 30 6 1.9 600 2.6 450 80 750 5 15 75
19–30 1.4 1.4 18 30 6 1.9 600 2.6 450 85 770 5 15 90
31–50 1.4 1.4 18 30 6 1.9 600 2.6 450 85 770 5 15 90
Lactation
18 1.4 1.6 17 35 7 2.0 500 2.8 550 115 1200 5 19 75
19–30 1.4 1.6 17 35 7 2.0 500 2.8 550 120 1300 5 19 90
31–50 1.4 1.6 17 35 7 2.0 500 2.8 550 120 1300 5 19 90
NOTE: For all nutrients, values for infants are AI. c Vitamin A recommendations are expressed as retinol activity equivalents (RAE).
a Niacin recommendations are expressed as niacin equivalents (NE), except for recommendations d Vitamin D recommendations are expressed as cholecalciferol and assume an absence of adequate
for infants younger than 6 months, which are expressed as preformed niacin. exposure to sunlight.
b Folate recommendations are expressed as dietary folate equivalents (DFE). e Vitamin E recommendations are expressed as -tocopherol.
Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and Adequate Intakes (AI) for Minerals
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0–0.5 120 180 400 210 100 30 0.27 2 110 15 200 0.003 0.01 0.2 2
0.5–1 370 570 700 270 275 75 11 3 130 20 220 0.6 0.5 5.5 3
Children
1–3 1000 1500 3000 500 460 80 7 3 90 20 340 1.2 0.7 11 17
4–8 1200 1900 3800 800 500 130 10 5 90 30 440 1.5 1.0 15 22
Males
9–13 1500 2300 4500 1300 1250 240 8 8 120 40 700 1.9 2 25 34
14–18 1500 2300 4700 1300 1250 410 11 11 150 55 890 2.2 3 35 43
19–30 1500 2300 4700 1000 700 400 8 11 150 55 900 2.3 4 35 45
31–50 1500 2300 4700 1000 700 420 8 11 150 55 900 2.3 4 35 45
51–70 1300 2000 4700 1200 700 420 8 11 150 55 900 2.3 4 30 45
70 1200 1800 4700 1200 700 420 8 11 150 55 900 2.3 4 30 45
Females
9–13 1500 2300 4500 1300 1250 240 8 8 120 40 700 1.6 2 21 34
14–18 1500 2300 4700 1300 1250 360 15 9 150 55 890 1.6 3 24 43
19–30 1500 2300 4700 1000 700 310 18 8 150 55 900 1.8 3 25 45
31–50 1500 2300 4700 1000 700 320 18 8 150 55 900 1.8 3 25 45
51–70 1300 2000 4700 1200 700 320 8 8 150 55 900 1.8 3 20 45
70 1200 1800 4700 1200 700 320 8 8 150 55 900 1.8 3 20 45
Pregnancy
18 1500 2300 4700 1300 1250 400 27 12 220 60 1000 2.0 3 29 50
19–30 1500 2300 4700 1000 700 350 27 11 220 60 1000 2.0 3 30 50
31–50 1500 2300 4700 1000 700 360 27 11 220 60 1000 2.0 3 30 50
Lactation
18 1500 2300 5100 1300 1250 360 10 14 290 70 1300 2.6 3 44 50
19–30 1500 2300 5100 1000 700 310 9 12 290 70 1300 2.6 3 45 50
31–50 1500 2300 5100 1000 700 320 9 12 290 70 1300 2.6 3 45 50
, Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) for Vitamins*
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Vit
Vit
Vit
Vit
Ch
Age (yr)
Fo
Ni
Infants
0–0.5 — — — — — 600 25 —
0.5–1 — — — — — 600 25 —
Children
1–3 10 30 300 1000 400 600 50 200
4–8 15 40 400 1000 650 900 50 300
9–13 20 60 600 2000 1200 1700 50 600
Adolescents
14–18 30 80 800 3000 1800 2800 50 800
Adults
19–70 35 100 1000 3500 2000 3000 50 1000
70 35 100 1000 3500 2000 3000 50 1000
Pregnancy
18 30 80 800 3000 1800 2800 50 800
19–50 35 100 1000 3500 2000 3000 50 1000
Lactation
18 30 80 800 3000 1800 2800 50 800
19–50 35 100 1000 3500 2000 3000 50 1000
* UL The maximum level of daily nutrient intake that is a The UL for niacin and folate apply to synthetic forms
likely to pose no risk of adverse effects. Unless otherwise obtained from supplements, fortified foods, or a combina-
specified, the UL represents total intake from food, water, tion of the two.
and supplements. Due to lack of suitable data, ULs could not b The UL for vitamin A applies to preformed vitamin A only.
be established for vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin. vitamin B12, c The UL for vitamin E applies to any form of supplemental
pantothenic acid, biotin, or carotenoids. In the absence of -tocopherol, fortified foods, or a combination of the two.
ULs, extra caution may be warranted in consuming levels
above recommended intakes.
Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL) for Minerals*
g/ rus
da m
y) d
y)
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da
da
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g/
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Age (yr)
Ch
Ph
Ca
So
Infants
0–0.5 —e —e — — — 40
0.5–1 —e —e — — — 40
Children
1–3 1500 2300 2500 3000 65 40
4–8 1900 2900 2500 3000 110 40
9–13 2200 3400 2500 4000 350 40
Adolescents
14–18 2300 3600 2500 4000 350 45
Adults
19–70 2300 3600 2500 4000 350 45
70 2300 3600 2500 3000 350 45
Pregnancy
18 2300 3600 2500 3500 350 45
19–50 2300 3600 2500 3500 350 45
Lactation
18 2300 3600 2500 4000 350 45
19–50 2300 3600 2500 4000 350 45
* UL The maximum level of daily nutrient intake that is likely to pose no risk of adverse effects. Unless
otherwise specified, the UL represents total intake from food, water, and supplements. Due to lack of
suitable data, ULs could not be established for arsenic, chromium, and silicon. In the absence of ULs,
extra caution may be warranted in consuming levels above recommended intakes.
d The UL for magnesium applies to synthetic forms obtained from supplements or drugs only.
e Source of intake should be from human milk (or formula) and food only.