Recommended Dietary Allowances (rda)

Alternate Names
DRI
Dietary Reference Intakes
Recommended Dietary Allowances
RDA

Definition of Recommended Dietary Allowances (rda)

The Recommended Daily Allowances, known as RDAs, are recommendations for nutrients. They were developed by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council. They are updated as new research findings surface. The RDAs state the amount of a nutrient that is needed for most people to stay healthy. They are different for children, adults, males, and females. The Dietary Reference Intakes, known as DRIs, are an umbrella group that includes the following other nutrient measures:

• RDAs
• Adequate Intakes, known as AI
• Estimated Average Intakes, known as EAR
• Tolerable Upper Intakes, known as UL

DRIs are slowly becoming the more accepted form for nutrient recommendations. Experts expect that DRIs will take the place of the RDAs in time.

Information

United States Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA)

Recommended Dietary Allowances: National Academy of Sciences;10th ed., 1989

Dietary Reference Intakes: National Academy of Sciences, 1997

CompoundunitsAdultAdultChildrenInfantsPregnantLactating+Males (25+years)Females (25+years)4-8 years6-12 mos.Biotinmcg30*30*12*6*30*35*Calcium (Ca)mg1200*1200*800*270*1000*1000*Chloride (Cl)mg750750600300750750Chromium (Cr)mcg50-20050-20050-20020-6050-20050-200Copper (Cu)mg1.5-31.5-31-20.6-0.71.5-31.5-3Fluoride (F)mg4*3*1*0.5*3*3*Folatemcg400*400*200*80*600*500*Iodine(I)mcg15015012050175200Iron (Fe)mg10(25-50y) 15(51+y) 1010103015Magnesium (Mg)mg420**320**130**75*350-400**310-360**Manganese (Mn)mg2-52-52-30.6-1.02-52-5Molybdenum (Mo)mcg75-25075-25050-15020-4075-25075-250Niacinmg16**14**8**4*18**17**Pantothenicmg5*5*3*1.8*6*7*Phosphorus (P)mg700**700**500**275*700**700**Potassium(K)mg20002000160070020002000Proteing635028146065Selenium (Se)mcg705530156575Sodium (Na)mg500500400200500500Vitamin AmcgRE*10008007003758001300Vitamin B1(Thiamine)mg1.2**1.1**0.6**0.3*1.4**1.5**Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)mg1.3**1.1**0.6**0.4*1.4**1.6**Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)mg1.7**1.5**0.6**0.3*1.9**2.0**Vitamin B12 (Cyanocobalamin)mcg2.4**2.4**1.2**0.5*2.6**2.8**Vitamin Cmg606045359590Vitamin Dmcg(51-70y) 10*(71+y) 15*(51-70y) 10*(71+y) 15*(1-8y) 5*5*5*5*Vitamin Emgalpha TE*108741211Vitamin Kmcg806530106565Zinc (Zn)mg15121051519

g =grams

mg = milligrams (0.001 g)

mcg = micrograms (0.000001g)

IU = International Units

RE = Retinol Equivalent

Alpha TE = alpha Tocopherol equivalent

+ Generally the higher number was reported.

* AI (Adequate Intake) from the new Dietary Reference Intakes, 1997: Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. Values have changed from previous RDA.

** RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) from the new Dietary Reference Intakes, 1997: Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride. Values have changed from previous RDA.