Essential nutrient recommendations in Australia
For our general information, let’s look at the daily nutrient recommendations, according to the Australian National health and Medical Research Council, for men and women of different ages and life stages. These recommendations are made for both the Australian Government Department of Health and the New Zealand Ministry of Health.
Recommended daily essential nutrient intake values according to the Australian National health and Medical Research Council1
| Nutrient | EAR | AI | RDI | UL | SDT | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Macronutrients | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water (L) | 0.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Protein (g/kg) | 1.43 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bulk minerals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Magnesium (mg) | 30 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Calcium (mg) | 210 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Phosphorous (mg) | 100 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Potassium (g) | 0.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sodium (mg) | 120 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trace minerals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iodine (ug) | 90 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chromium (ug) | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copper (mg) | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Iron (mg) | 0.2 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manganese (mg) | 0.003 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Molybdenum (ug) | 0.3/kg | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Selenium (ug) | 12 | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zinc (mg) | 2 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Water soluble vitamins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) (mg) | 0.2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) (mg) | 0.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin B3 (Niacin) (mg) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) (mg) | 1.7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) (mg) | 0.1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin) (ug) | 0.4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Biotin (ug) | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Choline (mg) | 125 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Folate (ug) | 65 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) (mg) | 25 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fat soluble vitamins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin A (ug RAE) | 250 | 600 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin D (ug) | 5 | 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin E (mg) | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vitamin K (ug) | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fatty acids | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Linolenic Acid (omega-3) (g) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Linoleic Acid (omega-6) (g) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
What do EAR, AI, RDI, UL and SDT mean?
EAR - Estimated Average Requirement
The EAR is the amount of a nutrient that is estimated to meet the requirement for a specific criterion of adequacy of half (50%) of the healthy individuals of a specific age, sex and life-stage.
RDI - Recommended Dietary Intake
The RDI or RDA (Recommended Dietary Allowance) is the average daily dietary intake level to meet the requirements of nearly all (97-98%) of the healthy individuals of a specific sex, age and life-stage.
AI - Adequate Intake
If insufficient scientific data is available to calculate an EAR (and, thus, an RDI) then an AI is set. It represents the observed or experimentally derived estimates of average nutrient intake in a healthy population.
UL - Tolerable Upper Intake Level
The UL is the highest daily amount of nutrient that is likely to pose no risks of adverse health effects to almost all individuals in the general population.
SDT - Suggested Dietary Target
The SDT is the average daily intake amount of a nutrient that may help in prevention of chronic disease.
References
1
National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, New Zealand Ministry of Health. (2017). Nutrient Reference Values for Australia and New Zealand. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council
