Table 2.
Current existing definitions of Dietary Reference Intake recommendationsa
| Recommendation | Definition |
|---|---|
| Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) | The percentage of total energy intake, expressed as a percentage of total energy, that is associated with a reduced risk of chronic disease and can provide adequate amounts of essential nutrients; intakes that fall above or below the range increase the potential for elevated risk of chronic disease or risk of inadequate consumption of essential nutrients |
| Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) | The average dietary energy intake that is predicted to maintain energy balance for a defined age, sex, weight, height, and level of physical activity, consistent with maintaining health |
| Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) | The average daily nutrient intake that is 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 that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements 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; an AI is used when an EAR/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 risk of adverse effects may increase |
| Chronic Disease Risk Reduction (CDRR) | The lowest level of intake for which there is sufficient strength of evidence to characterize a chronic disease risk reduction |
a
These definitions represent those of the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Academy of Medicine (38).