Recommended
Dietary Allowances
David L. Gee, PhD
Central Washington University
RDA Facts
• National Academy of Sciences (NAS)
– Food and Nutrition Board (FNB)(past)
– Institute of Medicine (IOM)(current)
• Traditionally revised every 5 years
(last traditional RDA:10th ed, 1989)
• First RDA’s formulated during WWII
to adequately feed soldiers
RDA Uses
• USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan
– Food Stamp Program
• School Lunch Program
• Institutional Food Services
• Women, Infant, & Children Food
Supplementation Program (WIC)
RDA’s: What are they?
• allowances, not requirements
– different age groups
– males and females
– pregnant and lactating women
• Traditionally for protein, 11 vitamins, 7
minerals
– New RDA’s include CHO, FAT, exercise
RDA’s: How are they
determined?
• Determine individual
requirements of healthy people
–Nutrient balance studies
• Measure intake and losses and
nutrient markers
© 2002 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™
Figure 2-2 Nutrient Requirements Vary From Person To Person
RDA’s: How are they
determined?
• Determination of allowance
– Safety factor
• individual variations
• bioavailability of different foods
– Iron
– Protein
– folate
© 2002 Wadsworth Publishing / Thomson Learning™
Figure 2-2 Nutrient Requirements Vary From Person To Person
DRI’s:
Updated version of the RDA’s
• Dietary Reference Intakes
• RDA’s: “levels of intake of
essential nutrients... to be
adequate to meet the known
nutritional needs of practically all
healthy persons.”
DRI’s differ from RDA’s
• Incorporates risk reduction for
chronic diseases
• Includes essential and other
food components (CHO, PRO,
FAT, fiber, phytoestrogens, etc)
Components of DRI’s
• DRI Recommended Intakes
– Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)
• well substantiated evidence
– Adequate Intake (AI)
• less substantiated/controversial
Other components of DRI’s
• Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)
– Useful for population studies
• Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL)
– Side effects/toxicity may occur if
consumed above this level
Dietary Reference Intakes
• 1997: Bone nutrients
– Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamin D, fluoride
• 1998: B vitamins
– B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, folate, pantothenate, biotin,
choline
• 2000: Antioxidants
– vitamin E, vitamin C, selenium, carotenoids
• 2001: Miscellaneous
– vitamins A&K, iron, copper, zinc, etc...
• 2002: CHO, FAT, PRO, Fiber, Physical Activity
DRI for Calcium
– released August 1997
• Calcium AI’s
• 9-18 yr: 1300 mg/d
– Old RDA: 800-1200
• 19-50 yr: 1000 mg/d
– Old RDA: 800
• > 50 yr: 1200 mg/d
– RDA: 800
DRI’s for CHO, PRO, FAT, Fiber and Physical Activity:
Controversy brewing?
• Sept. 2002
• Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range
– AMDR
• CHO: 45-55% of Calories
– 2000 USDA Dietary guidelines 60%
– 2005 USDA Dietary Guidelines: not specified, choose fiber-rich
fruits, vegetables, & whole grains often
• FAT: 20-35%
– 2000 USDA Dietary guidelines <30%
– 2005 USDA Dietary Guidelines 20-35%
– Emphasis on unsaturated fat, less saturated fat
• PRO: 10-35%
– Old RDA’s 0.8gP/kgBW (about same)
DRI’s for CHO, PRO, FAT, Fiber
and Physical Activity
• Dietary Fiber:25g women, 38g men
– 2000 Dietary guidelines 25g/2000Cal
– 2005 DG: not specified
• Exercise
– Moderately intense exercise accumulated for one hour
every day
– 1996 Surgeon General’s Report: 30 minutes/day
– 2005 Dietary Guidelines
• > 30 min/day to reduce chronic disease risk
• ~ 60 min/day to manage weight
• 60-90 min/day to sustain weight loss
DRIs for CHO, FAT, PRO, FIBER,
& Physical Activity
Sept. 2002
• Carbohydrates: 45-65% of Calories
– Dietary Guidelines: >50-60%
– DRI: < 25% from ‘added’ sugars
• Fat: 20-35% of Calories
– Dietary Guidelines: <30%
– Specific levels of essential fatty acids made
• Protein: 10-35% of Calories
– Old RDA’s >0.8g/kgBW
– Recommendations are similar
DRIs for CHO, FAT, PRO, FIBER,
& Physical Activity
Sept. 2002
• Fiber
–
–
–
–
First recommendations for RDA/DRI
Adults < 50 yrs: males 38g, females 25g
Adults >50: males 30g, females 21g
Past recommendations: 25-35g
• Physical Activity
– First recommendations for RDA/DRI
– “Maintain cardiovascular health at a maximum level”
• > 1 hr/day at moderately intense level
DRI for Calcium and Related
Nutrients (Vit D, P, Mg, F)
•
•
•
•
AI’s for Vitamin D
9-18 yrs: 5 ug/d (RDA: 10 ug/d)
19-50 yrs: 5 ug/d (RDA: 5 ug/d)
>51 yrs: 10 ug/d (RDA: 5 ug/d)
DRI’s for B-Vitamins
• Released April 1998
• Similar for B1, B2, B3, B6
• Folic Acid
–adults: 400 ug/d (180-200)
–pregnancy: 600 ug/d (400)
DRI’s for B-Vitamins
• Vitamin B-12
–2.4 ug/d (2.0 ug/d)
• now includes
–Pantothenic Acid
–Biotin
–Choline
FCSN 245 Upcoming Schedule
• Tuesday, April 15
– Turn in study group cards
– Federal income taxes due 
• April 15-18 Discussion Labs
– Food Label Activity
– Recording 3 day food record
• Tuesday, April 22
– Exam 1
– Chapters 2 (dietary guidelines, labels, RDA’s) & 4
(carbs)