TABLE 1.
Definitions of basic Nutrient Reference Values1
| Nutrient Reference Value | Definition |
|---|---|
| Estimated Average Requirement/Average Requirement (EAR/AR) | The average daily nutrient intake level that is estimated to meet the requirements of half of the healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group. |
| Recommended Dietary Allowance/Recommended Intake (RDA/RI) | The average daily dietary nutrient intake level that is sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97–98%) 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. |
1Adapted from reference 5 with permission.