RDAs

Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) are the daily nutrient intakes intended to meet the needs of nearly all healthy individuals in a given life-stage and gender group. They are part of the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs), a framework developed by the National Academy of Medicine in the United States, and are used alongside other values such as Estimated Average Requirements (EAR), Adequate Intake (AI), and Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL).

The RDA for a nutrient is typically set to cover about 97–98% of individuals based on the EAR, providing a high level of assurance that most people meet their needs. When insufficient data exist to establish an EAR, an AI may be used instead. RDAs are expressed in units such as milligrams, micrograms, or international units per day and are periodically reviewed and revised as new scientific evidence emerges.

RDAs apply to healthy populations and are not prescriptions for people with medical conditions, malabsorption issues, or special circumstances. They serve as practical targets for dietary planning, food labeling, and public health guidance, helping individuals assess whether their usual intake meets nutrient needs. They are not a substitute for individualized medical advice.

Nutrient recommendations vary by age, sex, and physiological status, with specific RDAs for pregnancy and lactation that reflect higher needs for certain nutrients. Alongside RDAs, the DRIs also include EARs, AIs, and ULs to highlight a range of values used for assessment and policy.