The Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) refer to the recommended daily levels of nutrients to meet the needs of nearly all healthy individuals in a particular age and gender group
Age Group | Height | Weight | Iron | Vit A (retinol) equiv. | Vit D | Thiamin | Riboflavin | Niacin Equiv |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(a) | (a) | (d),(e) | (f),(g) | (d),(h),(j) | (g) | (f) | (f),(i) | |
Units | cm | kg | mg | mcg | mcg | mg | mg | mg |
3 - < 6 mths | - | 7 | 7 | 300 | 10.0 | 0.28 | 0.42 | 4.6 |
6 - < 9 mths | - | 8.5 | 7 | 300 | 10.0 | 0.32 | 0.49 | 5.3 |
9 - < 12 mths | - | 9.5 | 7 | 300 | 10.0 | 0.38 | 0.57 | 6.3 |
1 - < 2 yrs | - | 11 | 7 | 250 | 10.0 | 0.46 | 0.69 | 7.6 |
2 - < 3 yrs | - | 13.5 | 7 | 250 | 10.0 | 0.54 | 0.81 | 8.9 |
3 - < 5 yrs | - | 16.5 | 7 | 300 | 10.0 | 0.62 | 0.93 | 10.2 |
Boys | ||||||||
5 - < 7 yrs | - | 20.5 | 7 | 300 | 10.0 | 0.74 | 1.11 | 12.2 |
7 - < 10 yrs | - | 27 | 7 | 400 | 2.5 | 0.84 | 1.26 | 13.9 |
10 - < 12 yrs | 144 | 34.5 | 7 | 575 | 2.5 | 0.88 | 1.32 | 14.5 |
12 - < 14 yrs | 157 | 44 | 12 | 725 | 2.5 | 0.96 | 1.44 | 15.8 |
14 - < 16 yrs | 168 | 55.5 | 12 | 725 | 2.5 | 1.06 | 1.59 | 17.5 |
16 - < 18 yrs | 176 | 64 | 6 | 750 | 2.5 | 1.14 | 1.71 | 18.8 |
Girls | ||||||||
5 - < 7 yrs | - | 20.5 | 7 | 300 | 10.5 | 0.70 | 1.05 | 11.6 |
7 - < 10 yrs | - | 27 | 7 | 400 | 2.5 | 0.72 | 1.08 | 11.9 |
10 - < 12 yrs | 145 | 36 | 7 | 575 | 2.5 | 0.78 | 1.17 | 12.9 |
12 - < 14 yrs | 157 | 46.5 | 18 | 725 | 2.5 | 0.84 | 1.26 | 13.9 |
14 - < 16 yrs | 161 | 52 | 18 | 725 | 2.5 | 0.86 | 1.29 | 14.2 |
16 - < 18 yrs | 163 | 54 | 19 | 750 | 2.5 | 0.86 | 1.29 | 14.2 |
Vitamin | Vit B12 | Vit B6 | Ascorbic Acid | Folic Acid |
---|---|---|---|---|
Unit | mcg | mg | mg | mcg |
Age Group | ||||
0-6 mths | 0.4 | 0.1 | 35 | 65 |
7-12 mths | 0.5 | 0.3 | 45 | 80 |
1-2 years | 0.9 | 0.5 | 35 | 150 |
3-6 years | 1.1 | 0.6 | 50 | 200 |
Boys | ||||
7-12 years | 1.8 | 1.0 | 70 | 300 |
13-18 years | 2.4 | 1.4 | 105 | 350 |
Girls | ||||
7-12 years | 1.8 | 1.0 | 65 | 300 |
13-18 years | 2.2 | 1.2 | 80 | 350 |
Men | Women | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pregnant Women | Lactating women | |||||||||||
Age Group | 18 - < 30 yrs | 30 - < 60 yrs | 60 yrs and above | 18 - < 30 yrs | 30 - < 60 yrs | 60 yrs and above | Full Activ ities | Reduc ed Activ ities | First 6 mths | After 6 mths | ||
Ht | (a) | cm | 170 | 170 | 170 | 160 | 160 | 160 | - | - | - | - |
Wt | (a) | kg | 63.5 | 63.5 | 63.5 | 54 | 54 | 54 | - | - | - | - |
Iron | (d), (e) | mg | 8 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 18 | 8 | 27 | 27 | 9 | 18 |
Vit A (retinol) equiv. | (f), (g) | mcg | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 750 | 1200 | 1200 |
Vit D | (d), (h), (j) | mcg | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
Thiamin | (g) | mg | 1.18 | 1.16 | 0.98 | 0.84 | 0.86 | 0.80 | +0.11 | +0.08 | +0.2 | +0.2 |
Riboflavin | (f) | mg | 1.77 | 1.74 | 1.47 | 1.26 | 1.29 | 1.20 | +0.17 | +0.12 | +0.30 | +0.30 |
Niacin Equiv. | (f), (i) | mg | 19.5 | 19.1 | 16.2 | 13.9 | 14.2 | 13.2 | +1.9 | +1.3 | +3.3 | +3.3 |
Men | Women | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Age Group | 19-50 years | 51-65 years | >65 years | 19-50 years | 51-65 years | >65 years | Pregnant | Lactating | |
Vit B12 | mcg | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.8 |
Vit B6 | mg | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.0 |
Ascorbic Acid | mg | 105 | 105 | 105 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 100 | 135 |
Folic Acid | mcg | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 400 | 600 | 500 |
Age Groups | RDA for Calcium |
---|---|
Infants (0 - 6 months, breast-fed) | 300mg |
Infants (0 - 6 months, formula-fed) | 400mg |
Infants (7 - less than 12 months) | 400mg |
Children (1 - 3 years) | 500mg |
Children (4 - 6 years) | 600mg |
Children (7 - 9 years) | 700mg |
Adolescents (10 - 18 years) | 1,000mg |
Adults (19 - 50 years) | 800mg |
Adults (51 years and above) | 1,000mg |
Breastfeeding / pregnant | 1,000mg |
Notes: | |
---|---|
(a) | Energy and Protein Requirements. WHO Technical Repost Series No. 724, 1985. Kilojoules (kJ) are calculated from the relation, 1 kilocalorie = 4.18 kJ. |
(b) | For infants, Net Protein Utilization (NPU) is taken as 80%. For all others, NPU is taken as 70%. |
(c) | Calcium Requirements. Report of a FAO/WHO Expert Group, FAO, Rome, 1961. |
(d) | Requirements of Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, Folate and Iron. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Group, FAO, Rome, 1970. Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Arsenic, Boron, Chromium, Copper, Iodine, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Silicon, Vanadium, and Zinc: a Report of the Panel of Micronutrients. Institute of Medicine. Food and Nutrition Board, 2001. |
(e) | Values apply when 10-25% of energy in diet comes from animal foods. |
(f) | Requirements of Vitamin A, Thiamin, Riboflavin and Niacin. Report of a Joint FAO/WHO Expert Group, FAO, Rome, 1965. |
(g) | 1 retinol equivalent = 1 mcg retinal of 6 mcg - carotene or 12 mcg biologically active carotenoids. |
(h) | As cholecalciferol. |
(i) | 1 niacin equivalent = 1 mg available nicotinic acid or 60 mg tryptophan. |
(j) | 2.5mcg of Vitamin D is only applicable to Singapore, which is a tropical country and has strong sunlight exposure all year round. |
Summary of Average Requirements for Energy (kcal/day) by Life Stage Group
Age | Male | Female |
1 month | 410 | 370 |
2 months | 480 | 430 |
3 months | 590 | 540 |
4 months | 530 | 480 |
5 months | 570 | 520 |
6 months | 600 | 560 |
7 months | 620 | 570 |
8 months | 650 | 590 |
9 months | 670 | 620 |
10 months | 690 | 630 |
11 months | 680 | 640 |
12 months | 740 | 640 |
1 year | 880 | 810 |
2 years | 1080 | 1000 |
3 years | 1160 | 1070 |
4 years | 1310 | 1190 |
5 years | 1440 | 1320 |
Based on FAO/WHO/UNU 2004 equation and median Singapore weights (Source: Anthropometric Study on Pre-school Children in Singapore, National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, 2000)
Age | Male | Female | ||||
Light physical activity | Moderate physical activity | Vigorous physical activity | Light physical activity | Moderate physical activity | Vigorous physical activity | |
6 years | 1320 | 1550 | 1780 | 1210 | 1420 | 1630 |
7 years | 1360 | 1600 | 1840 | 1280 | 1500 | 1730 |
8 years | 1480 | 1740 | 2000 | 1380 | 1620 | 1860 |
9 years | 1650 | 1940 | 2230 | 1500 | 1760 | 2020 |
10 years | 1790 | 2110 | 2430 | 1620 | 1910 | 2200 |
11 years | 1940 | 2280 | 2620 | 1760 | 2070 | 2380 |
12 years | 2150 | 2530 | 2910 | 1900 | 2230 | 2570 |
13 years | 2330 | 2740 | 3150 | 1960 | 2310 | 2660 |
14 years | 2480 | 2920 | 3360 | 2010 | 2360 | 2710 |
15 years | 2580 | 3030 | 3490 | 2030 | 2390 | 2750 |
16 years | 2650 | 3120 | 3590 | 2040 | 2400 | 2760 |
17 years | 2700 | 3180 | 3660 | 2040 | 2400 | 2760 |
18 years | 2750 | 3230 | 3720 | 2050 | 2410 | 2770 |
Based on FAO/WHO/UNU 2004 equation and median Singapore weights (Source: Anthropometric Study on Pre-school Children in Singapore, National Healthcare Group Polyclinics, 2000)
Age | Male | Female | ||||
Low active | Moderate active | Very Active | Low active | Moderate active | Very active | |
18-29 years | 2280 | 2700 | 3720 | 1745 | 2070 | 2840 |
30-59 years | 2185 | 2590 | 3560 | 1720 | 2035 | 2800 |
> 60 years | 1885 | 2235 | 3070 | 1570 | 1865 | 2560 |
Based on Oxford equation (Henry, 2005) and NHS 2010 mean weights
2ndtrimester | + 370 |
3rdtrimester | + 480 |
(FAO/WHO/UNU 2004)
Up to 12 months | + 500 |
(FAO/WHO/UNU 2004)
Examples of different activity levels:
Category | Description |
Light physical activity |
|
Moderate physical activity |
|
Vigorous physical activity |
|
Adapted from FAO/WHO/UNU, 2004 and Hall KD, Sacks G, Chandramohan D, Chow CC, Wang YC, Gortmaker SL, Swinburn BA. Quantification of the effect of energy imbalance on bodyweight.
Lancet. 2011 Aug 27;378(9793):826-37.
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This article was last reviewed on 15 Nov 2022
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