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The Current Recommendations
Several terms are included in the group of Dietary
Reference Intakes:
EAR (Estimated Average Requirement)
- the median intake value that is estimated to meet
the requirements of half of the healthy individuals in a specific life
stage group; the EAR is used to calculate an RDA
- for assessment of an individual's food pattern, the EAR
is the most appropriate reference value; however, it is an average,
and thus, 50% of individuals could require more than the EAR.
An individual’s risk for low intake should be carefully considered
RDA ( Recommended Daily Allowance)
- the average daily dietary intake level that will meet
the requirements of nearly all (97-98%) of healthy individuals in a
specific life stage group
- the RDA is not as appropriate for assessing individuals'
intakes as the EAR
Why is the RDA not as appropriate for assessing individual intakes? If an individual's intake is greater than or
equal to the RDA, it is likely that his needs are being met. The converse
cannot be assumed, however. That is, if an individual's intake is
less than the RDA, it is not necessarily inadequate.
AI (Adequate Intake)
- a recommended intake value that is used when there is
not enough information to determine an EAR; based on experimentally
derived estimates or approximations of observed intakes of individuals
with intakes that are assumed to be adequate
- for nutrients without an EAR or RDA, the AI is the only
alternative, and it is expected that the AI for a nutrient is greater
than what the RDA would be
- intakes greater than or equal to the AI are likely adequate,
but it is difficult to make a conclusion about an inadequate intake
based on an AI
UL (Tolerable Upper Intake Level)
- the highest level of continuing daily intake that is
likely to pose no risk
TEE – Total Energy Expenditure
Daily energy needs are described collectively as total energy expenditure (TEE) which is composed of these components:
- resting energy expenditure (usually the largest portion of energy expenditure; 60-75% on average)
- energy expended in physical activity or movement (this represents the greatest variability depending on activity level of the individual)
- thermic effect of food (about 10% of total activity)
- energy used for fat and protein deposition (growth)
EER – Estimated Energy Requirements
The DRIs provide new estimated energy requirements (EER) equations based on studies using doubly labeled water. These equations estimate average energy requirements based on life-stage groupings for individuals of normal weight. For infants, children and adolescents the EER includes the TEE plus energy needed for growth
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