Estimated average requirements (EARs) for Energy

EARs MJ/day (kcal/day)
Age / Males / Females
0-3 months / 2.28 / 545 / 2.16 / (515)
4-6 month / 2.89 / 690 / 2.69 / (645)
7-9 months / 3.44 / 825 / 3.20 / (765)
10-12 months / 3.85 / 920 / 3.61 / (865)
1-3 years / 5.15 / 1 230 / 4.86 / (1 165)
4-6 years / 7.16 / 1 715 / 6.46 / (1 545)
7-10 years / 8.24 / 1 970 / 7.28 / (1 740)
11-14 years / 9.27 / 2 220 / 7.72 / (1 845)
15-18 years / 11.51 / 2 755 / 8.83 / (2 110)
19-50 years / 10.60 / 2 550 / 8.10 / (1 940)
51-59 years / 10.60 / 2 550 / 8.00 / (1 900)
60-64 years / 9.93 / 2 380 / 7.99 / (1 900)
65-74 years / 9.71 / 2 330 / 7.96 / (1 900)
75+ / 8.77 / 2 100 / 7.61 / (1 810)
Pregnancy / (last 3 months only) / +0.8 / (200)
Lactation / (0-1 months) / +1.9 / (450)
(1-2 month) / +2.2 / (530)
(2-3 months) / +2.4 / (570)
Group 1* / (4-6 months) / +2.0 / (480)
(6+ months) / +1.0 / (240)
Group 1* / (4-6 months) / +2.4 / (570)
(6+ months) / +2.3 / (550)

* Women in group 1 progressively introduce weaning foods when the baby is 3-4 months. Women in Group 2 only introduce limited foods at this age and breast milk is still the main source of nourishment for the baby.

Reference Nutrient Intakes for Vitamins

Age / Vitamin A
μg/day / Thiamin
Mg/day / Riboflavin
Mg/day / Vitamin B12
μg/day / Folate
μg/day / Vitamin C
Mg/day / Vitamin D
Ug/day
Children
0-3 months / 350 / 0.2 / 0.4 / 0.3 / 50 / 25 / 8.5
4-6 months / 350 / 0.2 / 0.4 / 0.3 / 50 / 25 / 8.5
7-9 months / 350 / 0.3 / 0.4 / 0.4 / 50 / 25 / 7
10-12 months / 350 / 0.5 / 0.4 / 0.4 / 50 / 25 / 7
1-3 years / 400 / 0.5 / 0.6 / 0.5 / 70 / 30 / 7
4-6 years / 500 / 0.7 / 0.8 / 0.8 / 100 / 30 / *
7-10 years / 500 / 0.7 / 1.0 / 1.0 / 150 / 30 / *
Males
11-14 years / 600 / 0.9 / 1.2 / 1.2 / 200 / 35 / *
15-18 years / 700 / 1.1 / 1.3 / 1.5 / 200 / 40 / *
19-50 years / 700 / 1.0 / 1.3 / 1.5 / 200 / 40 / *
50+ years / 700 / 0.9 / 1.3 / 1.5 / 200 / 40 / *
Females
11-14 years / 600 / 0.7 / 1.1 / 1.2 / 200 / 35 / *
15-18 years / 600 / 0.8 / 1.1 / 1.5 / 200 / 40 / *
19-50 years / 600 / 0.8 / 1.1 / 1.5 / 200 / 40 / *
50+ years / 600 / 0.8 / 1.1 / 1.5 / 200 / 40 / *
Pregnancy / +100 / +0.1 / +0.3 / No inc / +100** / +10 / +10
Lactation / +350 / +0.2 / +0.5 / +0.5 / +60 / +30 / +10

* There is no RNI for vitamin D set for these groups because most people obtain sufficient from the action of sunlight on the skin. However, after age 65 the RNI is 10Ug/day.

** This refers to late pregnancy.

Source - Department of health. Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. London: HMSO, 1991.

© Food – a fact of life 2009


Source - Department of health. Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. London: HMSO, 1991.

© Food – a fact of life 2009

Reference Nutrient Intakes for minerals

Age / Calcium
mg/day / Sodium
mg/day / Potassium
mg/day / Iron
mg/day
Children
0-3 months / 525 / 210 / 800 / 1.7
4-6 months / 525 / 280 / 850 / 4.3
7-9 months / 525 / 320 / 700 / 7.8
10-12 months / 525 / 350 / 700 / 7.8
1-3 years / 350 / 500 / 800 / 6.9
4-6 years / 450 / 700 / 1100 / 6.1
7-10 years / 550 / 1200 / 2200 / 8.7
Males
11-14 years / 1000 / 1600 / 3100 / 11.3
15-18 years / 1000 / 1600 / 3500 / 11.3
19-50 years / 700 / 1600 / 3500 / 8.7
50+ years / 700 / 1600 / 3500 / 8.7
Females
11-14 years / 800 / 1600 / 3100 / 14.8
15-18 years / 800 / 1600 / 3500 / 14.8
19-50 years / 700 / 1600 / 3500 / 14.8
50+ years / 700 / 1600 / 3500 / 8.7
Pregnancy / No inc / No inc / No inc / No inc
Lactation / 550 / No inc / No inc / No inc

The Dietary Reference Values

Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI): The RNI is the amount of a nutrient that is enough to cover the needs of almost everyone in a particular group.

Estimated Average Requirement (EAR): This is the DRV that is used for energy. It is an average, so some people will need more than the EAR and some will need less.

Lower Reference Nutrient Intake (LRNI): The mount of a nutrient which will meet the needs of only a small number of individuals who have low nutrient needs. Intakes lower than this are almost certainly not enough for most individuals.

e.g. Vitamin C, adults 19-50 years

LRNI = 10mg per day, EAR = 25 mg per day, RNI = 40mg per day

Source - Department of health. Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. London: HMSO, 1991.

© Food – a fact of life 2009