Dietary reference intakes tables: Reference values for macronutrients

Abbreviations

On this page

Additional macronutrient recommendations
  • Saturated fatty acids: As low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet
  • Trans fatty acids: As low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet
  • Dietary cholesterol: As low as possible while consuming a nutritionally adequate diet
  • Added sugars: Limit to no more than 25% of total energy
    • Although there were insufficient data to set a UL for added sugars, this maximal intake level is suggested to prevent the displacement of foods that are major sources of essential micronutrients.
Protein quality scoring pattern (age 1 year and older)
Amino acid Recommended pattern: mg/g protein
Histidine 18
Isoleucine 25
Leucine 55
Lysine 51
Methionine + Cysteine 25
Phenylalanine + Tyrosine 47
Threonine 27
Tryptophan 7
Valine 32
Reference amino acid pattern for use in evaluating the quality of food proteins using the protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS). Based on estimated average requirements for both indispensable amino acids and for total protein for 1 to 3 year olds.
Reference values for Carbohydrate (Digestible), Total Protein, Total Fat, Linoleic Acid (n-6), α-linolenic Acid (n-3), Total Fibre, and Total Water
Age Carbohydrate
(Digestible)
Total ProteinTable 1 footnote 30 Total Fat Linoleic Acid
(n-6)
α-linolenic
Acid (n-3)
Total FibreTable 1 footnote 32 Total WaterTable 1 footnote 34
EAR
g/day
RDA/AI
g/day
ULTable 1 footnote 29
g/day
EAR
g/kg/day
RDA/AI
g/kg/day
RDA/AI
g/day Table 1 footnote 31
ULTable 1 footnote 29
g/day Table 1 footnote 31
AI
g/day
ULTable 1 footnote 29
g/day
AI
g/day
ULTable 1 footnote 29
g/day
AI
g/day
ULTable 1 footnote 29
g/day
AITable 1 footnote 33
g/day
ULTable 1 footnote 29
g/day
AI
Litres/day
ULTable 1 footnote 29
Litres/day
Infants
0–6 mo ND 60Table 1 footnote * ND ND 1.52Table 1 footnote * 9.1Table 1 footnote * ND 31Table 1 footnote * ND 4.4Table 1 footnote * ND 0.5Table 1 footnote * ND ND ND 0.7Table 1 footnote * ND
7–12 mo ND 95Table 1 footnote * ND 1.0 1.2 11.0 ND 30Table 1 footnote * ND 4.6Table 1 footnote * ND 0.5Table 1 footnote * ND ND ND 0.8Table 1 footnote * ND
Children
1–3 y 100 130 ND 0.87 1.05 13 ND ND ND 7Table 1 footnote * ND 0.7Table 1 footnote * ND 19Table 1 footnote * ND 1.3Table 1 footnote * ND
4–8 y 100 130 ND 0.76 0.95 19 ND ND ND 10Table 1 footnote * ND 0.9Table 1 footnote * ND 25Table 1 footnote * ND 1.7Table 1 footnote * ND
Males
9–13 y 100 130 ND 0.76 0.95 34 ND ND ND 12Table 1 footnote * ND 1.2Table 1 footnote * ND 31Table 1 footnote * ND 2.4Table 1 footnote * ND
14–18 y 100 130 ND 0.73 0.85 52 ND ND ND 16Table 1 footnote * ND 1.6Table 1 footnote * ND 38Table 1 footnote * ND 3.3Table 1 footnote * ND
19–30 y 100 130 ND 0.66 0.80 56 ND ND ND 17Table 1 footnote * ND 1.6Table 1 footnote * ND 38Table 1 footnote * ND 3.7Table 1 footnote * ND
31–50 y 100 130 ND 0.66 0.80 56 ND ND ND 17Table 1 footnote * ND 1.6Table 1 footnote * ND 38Table 1 footnote * ND 3.7Table 1 footnote * ND
51–70 y 100 130 ND 0.66 0.80 56 ND ND ND 14Table 1 footnote * ND 1.6Table 1 footnote * ND 30Table 1 footnote * ND 3.7Table 1 footnote * ND
>70 y 100 130 ND 0.66 0.80 56 ND ND ND 14Table 1 footnote * ND 1.6Table 1 footnote * ND 30Table 1 footnote * ND 3.7Table 1 footnote * ND
Females
9–13 y 100 130 ND 0.76 0.95 34 ND ND ND 10Table 1 footnote * ND 1.0Table 1 footnote * ND 26Table 1 footnote * ND 2.1Table 1 footnote * ND
14–18 y 100 130 ND 0.71 0.85 46 ND ND ND 11Table 1 footnote * ND 1.1Table 1 footnote * ND 26Table 1 footnote * ND 2.3Table 1 footnote * ND
19–30 y 100 130 ND 0.66 0.80 46 ND ND ND 12Table 1 footnote * ND 1.1Table 1 footnote * ND 25Table 1 footnote * ND 2.7Table 1 footnote * ND
31–50 y 100 130 ND 0.66 0.80 46 ND ND ND 12Table 1 footnote * ND 1.1Table 1 footnote * ND 25Table 1 footnote * ND 2.7Table 1 footnote * ND
51–70 y 100 130 ND 0.66 0.80 46 ND ND ND 11Table 1 footnote * ND 1.1Table 1 footnote * ND 21Table 1 footnote * ND 2.7Table 1 footnote * ND
>70 y 100 130 ND 0.66 0.80 46 ND ND ND 11Table 1 footnote * ND 1.1Table 1 footnote * ND 21Table 1 footnote * ND 2.7Table 1 footnote * ND
Pregnancy
≤ 18 y 135 175 ND 0.88Table 1 footnote i 1.1Table 1 footnote i 71Table 1 footnote i ND ND ND 13Table 1 footnote * ND 1.4Table 1 footnote * ND 28Table 1 footnote * ND 3.0Table 1 footnote * ND
19–30 y 135 175 ND 0.88Table 1 footnote i 1.1Table 1 footnote i 71Table 1 footnote i ND ND ND 13Table 1 footnote * ND 1.4Table 1 footnote * ND 28Table 1 footnote * ND 3.0Table 1 footnote * ND
31–50 y 135 175 ND 0.88Table 1 footnote i 1.1Table 1 footnote i 71Table 1 footnote i ND ND ND 13Table 1 footnote * ND 1.4Table 1 footnote * ND 28Table 1 footnote * ND 3.0Table 1 footnote * ND
Lactation
≤ 18 y 160 210 ND 1.05 1.3 71 ND ND ND 13Table 1 footnote * ND 1.3Table 1 footnote * ND 29Table 1 footnote * ND 3.8Table 1 footnote * ND
19–30 y 160 210 ND 1.05 1.3 71 ND ND ND 13Table 1 footnote * ND 1.3Table 1 footnote * ND 29Table 1 footnote * ND 3.8Table 1 footnote * ND
31–50 y 160 210 ND 1.05 1.3 71 ND ND ND 13Table 1 footnote * ND 1.3Table 1 footnote * ND 29Table 1 footnote * ND 3.8Table 1 footnote * ND

Note: These are reference values for normal, apparently healthy individuals eating a typical mixed North American diet. An individual may have physiological, health, or lifestyle characteristics that may require tailoring of specific nutrient values.

Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Ranges (AMDRs)
Males & Females Tableau 2 note de bas de page 35 Total Carbohydrate
Percent of Energy
Total Protein
Percent of Energy
Total Fat
Percent of Energy
n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic acid)
Percent of Energy
n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (α-linolenic acid)
Percent of EnergyTableau 2 note de bas de page 36
1–3 years 45–65% 5–20% 30–40% 5–10% 0.6–1.2%
4–18 years 45–65% 10–30% 25–35% 5–10% 0.6–1.2%
19 years and over 45–65% 10–35% 20–35% 5–10% 0.6–1.2%

Page details

Date modified: