TABLE 1.
Definitions used to characterize nutrient intakes1
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Estimated average requirement (EAR) | the average daily nutrient intake level estimated to meet the requirement of half the healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group |
| Recommended dietary allowance (RDA) | the average daily dietary nutrient intake level sufficient to meet the nutrient requirement of nearly all (97% to 98%) healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group |
| 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 are assumed to be adequate—used when an RDA 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 |
| No-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) | highest intake (or experimental oral dose) of a nutrient at which no adverse effects have been observed |
| Lowest-observed-adverse-effect level (LOAEL) | the lowest intake (or experimental oral dose) at which an adverse effect has been identified |
1
Definitions are from the National Academy of Medicine (formerly Institute of Medicine) (2005) [8].