Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) provide the foundation for building a healthy diet by detailing human nutritional requirements, serving as standards for nutrient intakes for healthy persons in Canada and the United States. DRI Summary Tables are provided by the Institute of Medicine. The set of DRI values include:
Estimated Average Requirement (EAR): The average daily nutrient intake level that is estimated to meet the requirements of 50% of the healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group.
e.g. Vitamin C (females, 19-30y) = 60mg/d
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): The average daily dietary nutrient intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97.5%) healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group.
e.g. Vitamin C (females, 19-30y) = 75mg/d
Adequate Intake (AI): The recommended average daily intake level based on observed or experimentally determined approximations or estimates of nutrient intake by a group (or groups) of apparently healthy people that is assumed to be adequate. Used when an EAR cannot be determined.
Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): The highest average daily nutrient intake level that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects to almost all individuals in the general population. As intake increases above the UL, the potential risk of adverse effects may increase. e.g. Vitamin C (females, 19-30y) = 2000mg/d
Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDR): The range of intakes of an energy source (e.g. carbohydrates, protein and fat) that is associated with a reduced risk of chronic disease yet can provide adequate amounts of essential nutrients.
Carbohydrates: 45-65% of your energy should come from carbohydrates.
Fat: 20-35% of your energy should come from fat.
Protein: 10-35% of your energy should come from protein.
Estimated Energy Requirement (EER): defined as the dietary energy intake that is predicted to maintain energy balance in a healthy adult of a defined age, gender, weight, height, and level of physical activity consistent with good health.
In children and pregnant and lactation women, the EER is taken to include the needs associated with the deposition of tissues or the secretion of milk at rates consistent with good health.
Prediction equations for individuals 0-100years for normal weight individuals.