Recommended daily allowance

Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) refers to the average daily level of intake sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97%-98%) healthy people. It is developed by the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences. The RDA is used to guide people in making healthy food choices.

Overview[edit | edit source]

The RDA is part of a larger dietary reference intake used by the Food and Nutrition Board. Other components include the Adequate Intake (AI), the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL), and the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR). The RDA is set higher than the EAR to cover people with higher than average needs.

Calculation[edit | edit source]

The RDA is calculated based on the EAR and its standard deviation. If the standard deviation is not available, a coefficient of variation of 10% is used. The RDA is defined as the EAR plus twice the standard deviation (or 20% if the standard deviation is not available).

Use[edit | edit source]

The RDA is used to plan and assess the nutrient intakes of healthy people. It is not intended to be used to treat disease or to guide intake in individuals with diseases.

Criticism[edit | edit source]

Some critics argue that the RDA values do not take into account individual variations in nutrient needs. Others argue that the RDA values are set too high for some nutrients and too low for others.

See also[edit | edit source]

Recommended daily allowance Resources
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