A nutrient intake recommendation used when RDA cannot be firmly established.
A nutrient recommendation level established when insufficient scientific evidence exists to determine an RDA, based on observed or experimentally-determined intakes in healthy population groups.
Adequate Intake (AI) is used when there is insufficient scientific evidence to establish a firm Recommended Daily Allowance for a specific nutrient. Instead of a precise requirement, AI is based on observed average intakes of healthy people or from experimental studies showing nutrient adequacy. AI values are considered more tentative than RDA and are reviewed as new research emerges. Nutrients like potassium, manganese, and choline often have AI values rather than RDA because research has not yet precisely determined optimal intake levels. AI serves the same practical purpose as RDA in nutrition guidance, but indicates less certainty about the exact requirement.
Provides evidence-based nutrient intake guidance when precise requirements cannot be determined due to limited research.
Treat AI values as target intakes similar to RDA recommendations for practical dietary purposes. Understand that AI values may be updated as scientific evidence improves. Include food sources of nutrients with AI values to ensure adequate intake.
Adequate Intake provides provisional nutrient recommendations when definitive RDA values cannot yet be established.
A question about Adequate Intake? Ask our nutrition AI.
Ask a question