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Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs)
Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs)
The DRIs (Dietary Reference Intakes) are a set of nutrient-based reference values that have replaced the 1989 Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs) in the United States and the Recommended Nutrient Intakes (RNIs) in Canada. The DRIs are a set of four reference values: Estimated Average Requirements (EAR), Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA), Adequate Intakes (AI) and Tolerable Upper Intake Levels (UL). These values are established by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
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Estimated Average Requirement (EAR): The average daily nutrient intake level estimated to meet the requirements of half of the healthy individuals in a life stage and gender group. It is used to plan and assess dietary adequacies for population groups.
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Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): The average daily dietary nutrient intake level sufficient to meet the nutrient requirements of nearly all (97 to 98 percent) healthy individuals in a particular life stage and gender group. It is derived from the EAR.
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Adequate Intake (AI): The recommended average daily intake level based on observed or experimentally determined approximations or estimates of nutrient intake for a group (or groups) of apparently healthy people that are assumed to be adequate. It is used when an RDA cannot be determined.
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Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): The highest average daily nutrient intake level that is likely to pose no risk of adverse health effects for almost all individuals in the general population. As intake increases above the UL, the potential risk of adverse health effects for almost all individuals in the general population. As intake increases above the UL, the potential risk of adverse effects may increase.