1Revised RDA for Indians
2010(Report of the Expert Group of ICMR)
Dr. B. Sesikeran, MD, FAMS
Director
National Institute of Nutrition (Indian Council Medical Research)
Hyderabad 500 007
215th November, 2010 New Delhi
3 The amount of nutrientconsidered adequate to
meet the needs of
practically all healthy
people.
The RDA are based onscientific knowledge.
Prepared by the NationalNutrition Advisory
Committee (ICMR).
The committee revise theRDAevery 10 years.
Current RDA of Indians wasset up in 2010.
4 Provides a guideline for nutrient intake, adequacy,preventing deficiency or excess of a population.
Basis: Nutrient intake is assumed to follow Gaussiandistribution, unless it is known to be otherwise
Av : Mean
RDA : Mean + 2SD, 97.5%
In case of energy no safe allowances are made, only
average requirement is made.
Gaussian distribution
Def Av Toxicity
Nutrient Intake
UL
RDA
RDA - Basis
EAR
SUL
5Components required to derive RDA
Reference body weight
Intake: Nutrient intake is assumed tofollow Gaussian distribution, unless it is
known to be otherwise
Bioavailability
Healthy well being
Based on the most recent scientificevidence review
6Comparison of 95th Centile values of weight, heightby age and gender Rural India (16 States) andWHO/MGRS median values
MalesAge
(years)
Females
Weight
(kg)
Height
(cm)
Weight
(kg)
Height
(cm)
11.2
(10.9)
82.4
(82.3)1+
10.79
(10.2)
81.6
(80.7)
13.0
(13.3)
90.7
(91.9)2+ 12.6 (12.7)
89.8
(90.7)
14.8
(15.3)
99.1
(99.9)3+ 14.4 (15.0)
98.2
(99.0)
Values in parenthesis -reference body weight considered
for fixing Indian RDAs for 1-3 y.
Reference body weight for deriving RDAs
ICMR RDA (2010)
WHO Mean
95%
7REFERENCE BODY WEIGHT
The definition for reference Indian adult man and
woman were modified with regard to age (20- 39y to
18-29y of age) with a normal BMI and a body weight
of 60kg and 55kg respectively.
8 Is for a healthy, well nourished and active population.
Specify energy requirements in terms of energyoutput for productive work and leisure activity of
adults and tissue deposition in infants, children and
during pregnancy and milk secretion during
lactation.
Need to specify an appropriate body weight andquantum of physical activity desirable.
Intake above the actual requirement-obesity
Below-under nutrition.
No safe allowances
Definition-Energy
9ENERGY
Requirement = total energy expenditure (TEE) + energy deposition
TEE= - 99.4 + 88.6* kg, FAO/WHO/UNU (2004) DLW method
Energy deposition during growth = weight gain (g/d) x energy deposited
(kcal/d)
RDA: Basis for requirements
Age Body
wt
kg
Wt
gain
kg/y
Energy cost
kcal/d
@2kcal/g wt
gain
TEE
kcal/d
Requirement
kcal/d (/kg/d)
1-2 10.9 2.4 13.15 901 910 (85)
2-3 13.3 2.0 10.96 1106 1120 (85)
1-3 years
* Ref. equitation on Table 48
10
ENERGY
A reduction of 4-8 % of energy (100kcal, 145 for moderateand 310 kcal for heavy work per day) has been
recommended on account of a lower physical activity
level in men. In women the requirement remains similar
on account of a higher reference body weight.
Current estimate of energy requirement for infants islower by 11- 20% than the 1988 estimate.
Committee considered the requirement for children atdifferent physical activity levels at different ages.
13-17 years there is an increase in requirements basedon a higher physical activity level of Indian children ofthat age group.
11
BMR of Indians is about 5% lower
compared to the BMR of developed
countries (Shetty et al, 1986)
12
PROTEIN
Safe level of protein intake= Maintenance requirements(from N balance
studies) + growth (equation adapted from FAO/WHO 2007)+ 2 SD.
Age Maintenance Growth total Safe level (2SD)Safe level Indian
diet*
1 0.66 0.46 1.12 1.31 1.69
2 0.66 0.29 0.95 1.14 1.47
g protein/kg/day
* Cereal-pulse-milk diet having PDCAAS of 77.4%
PDCAAS= protein digestibility corrected amino acid score=protein digestibility x AAS
RDA: Basis for requirements
13
PROTEIN
Given that surveys such as the NFHS and NNMB have
reported pre-pregnancy weight of 47 kg, and GWG of
only 8 kg, it is worth recording that the additional high
quality protein requirement in such a pregnant woman
gaining 8 kg during pregnancy, is 0.4, 5.5 and 18.2
g/day.
It is important that the higher intake of protein
recommended during pregnancy should come from a
normal, varied diet, and not from commercial high-
protein supplements.
14
Vit. A
mg/d
Thia
minemg/d
Ribo-
flavinmg/d
Niacin
equivalent
mg/d
Pyri-
doxinemg/d
Ascor-bic
Acidmg/d
Folic
acid mg/d
Vit.B1
2
mg/dReti-
nol
b-caro-
tene
600 4800 1.1 1.3 14 2.0 40 200 1.0
800 6400 +0.2 +0.3 +2 2.5 60 500 1.2
900 7600+0.3 +0.4 +4 2.5
80 300 1.5+0.2 +0.3 +3 2.5
Extra allowances of nutrients
during pregnancy
Group Particulars Net energy
Kcal/d
Protein
g/d
Visible
Fatg/d
Ca
mg/d
Iron
mg/d
Zn
mg/d
Woman
55 Kg
Moderate work 2230 55.0 25 600 21 10
Pregnant +350 +23 30 1200 35 12
Lactation 0-6 m +600 +19 301200 25
6-12 m +520 +13 30
15
FAT
Minimum total fat intakes for adults:
15%E to ensure adequate consumption of total energy,essential fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins for most
individuals.
20% E for women of reproductive age and adults withBMI
16
17
Fiber:
40 g/ 2000 kcal
Minerals:
Minerals like zinc, selenium and iodine has been included as
separate chapters in the new document.
Calcium and Phosphorous:
Current level of calcium consumption is reported to beproviding less than 400 mg Ca/d/Cu. The present
Committee, in view of the evidences, made upward
revision of calcium requirements for adults (600mg/d).
During pregnancy and lactation the requirement is furtherenhanced to 1200 mg.
Elemental Ca:P ratio of 1:1 is maintained.
18
Recent studies: The mean fractional absorption in iron-deficient subjects was 17.5% and in normal women 7.3%
These values are greater than absorption values (5%)used earlier for calculating iron RDA of for adult women.
Considering the fact that iron absorption is inverselyrelated to body iron stores and that Indians have reduced
iron stores compared to their peers in developed
countries, a realistic estimate of iron absorption would be
5% for adult male and 8% for adult female.
These figures are in agreement with therecommendations of WHO/FAO, lists three bio-availability
levels of 5, 10, and 15%.
19
IRON-Basis
International recommendations are 2-3 times lowerthan the Indian RDA.
Higher bioavailability of iron attributable to increasedascorbic acid content and heme iron consumption.
This magnitude of difference in RDA in itself is causefor concern as physiological requirements for the
different age/sex categories do not vary to this extent
across populations.
This implies that enhancing bioavailability rather thandensity or content is of paramount importance for
addressing iron requirement for Indians.
20
Magnesium:
Recommended 340 mg of dietary Mg
Zinc:
For adult man and NPNL woman for zinc is set at 12 and 10 mg/dayrespectively recommendations for all physiological groups for zinc has been
added.
Selenium:
40 g/day
Iodine:
150g/day is retained
Iron:iron has been reduced significantly among all physiological groups. To
achieve this, the committee recommended that the density of ascorbic acid
should be atleast 20mg/ 1000 kcal.
Absorption earlier 2 - 5%, Now 5 - 8%
Sodium & Potassium:
A safe intake of 2500 mg/day which amounts to 5g/day of salt, desirable
sodium : potassium ratio in the diet was fixed at 1:1 (in mmol).
1 g Nacl contain 39% Na++
21
WATER SOLUBLE VITAMINS:
Folate:
Allowance of folic acid is given in terms of dietary folate
rather than free folic acid.
Committee retains the 75 ug physiological requirement of
folic acid which can be obtained from 200ug of dietary folate
per day.
Vitamin B12:
The present ICMR Committee retains the earlier recommendation of
1g/day.
Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C):
Decided to retain the earlier recommendations of RDA for ascorbic
acid for all age groups except for pregnancy where an additional
20mg/day is recommended for meeting extra needs of foetal
growth.
22
FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS:
Vitamin A:
The present Committee modified the extent of conversion
efficiency of 1:4 to 1:8.
Upward revision of retinol to 800 g is recommended during
pregnancy.
Committee recommends that a minimum of 50% RE be drawn
from animal sources.
Vitamin D:
Committee retains the earlier recommendations on vitamin D
considering outdoor physical activity as a means of achieving
adequate vitamin D status,
Under situations of minimal exposure to sunlight, a specific
recommendation of a daily supplement of 400 IU (10 g) is retained.
23
FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS:
Vitamin E:
Requirement of alpha tocopherol suggested is 0.8 mg/ g of
dietary essential fatty acids. This roughly works out to
8-10 mg tocopherol /d, depending on the edible oil used.
55 g of vitamin K /d for adults
Antioxidants:
Recommended 400g/day of fruits and vegetables to.
24
GROUP CATEGORYBody Weight (Kg) Energy (Kcal/Day) Proteins (g/day)
Revised Old Revised Old Revised Old
MAN
Sedentary
60 60
2320 2425
60 60Moderate 2730 2875
Heavy 3490 3800
WOMAN
Sedentary
55 50
1900 1875
55 50Moderate 2230 2225
Heavy 2850 2925
Pregnant +350 +300 78 65
Lact.
25
GROUP CATEGORYVisible Fat (g/day) Calcium (mgl/Day) Iron (mg/day)
Revised Old Revised Old Revised Old
MAN
Sedentary 25
20 600 400 17 28Moderate 30
Heavy 40
WOMAN
Sedentary 20
20 600 400 21 30Moderate 25
Heavy 30
Pregnant 30 30 1200 1000 35 38
Lact.
26
GROUP CATEGORYRetinol (g/day) Carotene (g/day) Thiamin (mg/day)
Revised Old Revised Old Revised Old
MAN
Sedentary
600 600 4800 2400
1.2 1.2
Moderate 1.4 1.4
Heavy 1.7 1.6
WOMAN
Sedentary
600 600 4800 2400
1.0 0.9
Moderate 1.1 1.1
Heavy 1.4 1.2
Pregnant 800 600 6400 2400 +0.2 +0.2
Lact.
27
GROUP CATEGORYRiboflavin (mg/day) Niacin Eq. (mg/day) Vit. B6 (mg/day)
Revised Old Revised Old Revised Old
MAN
Sedentary 1.4 1.4 16 16
2.0 2.0Moderate 1.6 1.6 18 18
Heavy 2.1 1.9 21 21
WOMAN
Sedentary 1.1 1.1 12 12
2.0 2.0Moderate 1.3 1.3 14 14
Heavy 1.7 1.5 16 16
Pregnant +0.3 +0.2 +2 +2
2.5 2.5Lact.
28
GROUP CategoryVit C (mg/day) Dietary Folate (g/day) Vit. B12 (g/Day)
Revised Old Revised Old (FF) Revised Old
MAN
Sedentary
40 40 200 100 1 1Moderate
Heavy
WOMAN
Sedentary
40 40 200 100 1 1Moderate
Heavy
Pregnant 60 40 500 400 1.2 1
Lact.
29
GROUP CATEGORY Zinc (mg/Day) Magnesium (mg/Day)
MAN
Sedentary
12 340Moderate
Heavy
WOMAN
Sedentary
10 310Moderate
Heavy
Pregnant
12 310Lact.
30