Estimated average requirements (EARs) for Energy
Age
0-3 months
4-6 month
7-9 months
10-12 months
1-3 years
4-6 years
7-10 years
11-14 years
15-18 years
19-50 years
51-59 years
60-64 years
65-74 years
75+
Pregnancy
Lactation
Group 1*
Group 1*
(last 3 months only)
(0-1 months)
(1-2 month)
(2-3 months)
(4-6 months)
(6+ months)
(4-6 months)
(6+ months)
EARs MJ/day (kcal/day)
Males
Females
2.28 545
2.16 (515)
2.89 690
2.69 (645)
3.44 825
3.20 (765)
3.85 920
3.61 (865)
5.15 1 230
4.86 (1 165)
7.16 1 715
6.46 (1 545)
8.24 1 970
7.28 (1 740)
9.27 2 220
7.72 (1 845)
11.51 2 755
8.83 (2 110)
10.60 2 550
8.10 (1 940)
10.60 2 550
8.00 (1 900)
9.93 2 380
7.99 (1 900)
9.71 2 330
7.96 (1 900)
8.77 2 100
7.61 (1 810)
+0.8
(200)
+1.9
(450)
+2.2
(530)
+2.4
(570)
+2.0
(480)
+1.0
(240)
+2.4
(570)
+2.3
(550)
* Women in group 1 progressively introduce weaning foods when the baby is 3-4
months. Women in Group 2 only introduce limited foods at this age and breast
milk is still the main source of nourishment for the baby.
Reference Nutrient Intakes for Vitamins
Age
Vitamin A
μg/day
Thiamin
Mg/day
Riboflavin
Mg/day
Vitamin B12
μg/day
Folate
μg/day
Vitamin C
Mg/day
Vitamin D
Ug/day
Children
0-3 months
4-6 months
7-9 months
10-12 months
1-3 years
4-6 years
7-10 years
350
350
350
350
400
500
500
0.2
0.2
0.3
0.5
0.5
0.7
0.7
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
0.3
0.3
0.4
0.4
0.5
0.8
1.0
50
50
50
50
70
100
150
25
25
25
25
30
30
30
8.5
8.5
7
7
7
*
*
Males
11-14 years
15-18 years
19-50 years
50+ years
600
700
700
700
0.9
1.1
1.0
0.9
1.2
1.3
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.5
1.5
1.5
200
200
200
200
35
40
40
40
*
*
*
*
Females
11-14 years
15-18 years
19-50 years
50+ years
Pregnancy
Lactation
600
600
600
600
+100
+350
0.7
0.8
0.8
0.8
+0.1
+0.2
1.1
1.1
1.1
1.1
+0.3
+0.5
1.2
1.5
1.5
1.5
No inc
+0.5
200
200
200
200
+100**
+60
35
40
40
40
+10
+30
*
*
*
*
+10
+10
* There is no RNI for vitamin D set for these groups because most people obtain sufficient
from the action of sunlight on the skin. However, after age 65 the RNI is 10Ug/day.
** This refers to late pregnancy.
Source - Department of health. Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. London: HMSO, 1991.
© Food – a fact of life 2009
Reference Nutrient Intakes for minerals
Age
The Dietary Reference Values
Calcium
mg/day
Sodium
mg/day
Potassium
mg/day
Iron
mg/day
Children
0-3 months
4-6 months
7-9 months
10-12 months
1-3 years
4-6 years
7-10 years
525
525
525
525
350
450
550
210
280
320
350
500
700
1200
800
850
700
700
800
1100
2200
1.7
4.3
7.8
7.8
6.9
6.1
8.7
Males
11-14 years
15-18 years
19-50 years
50+ years
1000
1000
700
700
1600
1600
1600
1600
3100
3500
3500
3500
11.3
11.3
8.7
8.7
Females
11-14 years
15-18 years
19-50 years
50+ years
Pregnancy
Lactation
800
800
700
700
No inc
550
1600
1600
1600
1600
No inc
No inc
3100
3500
3500
3500
No inc
No inc
14.8
14.8
14.8
8.7
No inc
No inc
Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI): The RNI is the amount of a nutrient that is
enough to cover the needs of almost everyone in a particular group.
Estimated Average Requirement (EAR): This is the DRV that is used for energy. It
is an average, so some people will need more than the EAR and some will
need less.
Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI): The mount of a nutrient which will meet
the needs of only a small number of individuals who have low nutrient needs.
Intakes lower than this are almost certainly not enough for most individuals.
The distribution of nutrient requirements within a population.
Number of
people
LRNI
EAR
RNI
Nutrient requirements
e.g. Vitamin C, adults 19-50 years
LRNI = 10mg per day, EAR = 25 mg per day, RNI = 40mg per day
Source - Department of health. Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. London: HMSO, 1991.
© Food – a fact of life 2009