What are DRIs Used For? A Comprehensive Guide to Nutrition Diet Standards

October 30, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the Institute of Medicine, the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) can be used for a wide variety of nutrition-related purposes, from assessing the adequacy of population intakes to planning diets for individuals and groups. These reference values form the scientific basis for healthy eating guidance and government food programs, helping define what constitutes an adequate and safe nutrition diet for the public.

Quick Summary

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are a comprehensive set of nutrient standards used to plan and assess diets for healthy individuals and groups. Their applications include guiding dietary guidelines, informing food labeling, developing public health policies, and ensuring safe nutrient intake levels across diverse populations.

Key Points

Assessment and Planning: DRIs are primarily used to assess the nutrient intakes of individuals and groups and to plan for future nutrient intakes.
Multiple Values for Different Uses: The set includes the EAR (for group assessment), RDA (for individual planning), AI (for individual planning when no RDA exists), and UL (for assessing risk of excess).
Basis for Public Policy: DRIs are the foundation for government programs like the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, food fortification policies, and institutional meal planning.
Informing Food Labels: The Daily Values on food and supplement labels are based on DRI values, providing a benchmark for consumers.
Preventing Deficiency and Excess: The various DRI values help health professionals and policymakers prevent both nutrient deficiencies and the adverse health effects of excessive intake.
For Healthy Individuals: DRIs are designed for apparently healthy people and are not intended for those with acute or chronic diseases, whose requirements may differ.

What Are Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs)?

Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) are evidence-based reference values for nutrient intake developed by the U.S. and Canadian governments. They are designed for healthy people and are categorized by age, gender, and life stage. The complete set of DRIs includes several values to address both adequate intake and potential toxicity.

The Four Core DRI Values

Estimated Average Requirement (EAR): The average daily intake level estimated to meet the needs of 50% of healthy individuals in a specific group. Used mainly by public health officials and researchers to assess group nutrient intake and plan group diets. Not suitable for individual diet planning due to a 50% risk of inadequacy.
Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA): The average daily intake level sufficient to meet the needs of 97–98% of healthy individuals in a specific group. This is the target for planning individual diets.
Adequate Intake (AI): Used when there is not enough scientific evidence to calculate an EAR or RDA. The AI is based on observed or experimental estimates of nutrient intake in healthy people. It is assumed to ensure nutritional adequacy and is used as a goal for individual intake. However, it cannot assess the prevalence of inadequacy in a population.
Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL): The highest daily intake level of a nutrient unlikely to pose adverse health effects to most people. Used to evaluate the risk of overconsumption, particularly from supplements or fortified foods, for individuals and groups.

Other Related DRI Values

DRIs also include values for energy and macronutrients, such as the Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) for maintaining energy balance in healthy adults and the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) for reducing chronic disease risk.

Using DRIs for Dietary Assessment and Planning

DRIs are used for both assessing and planning diets for individuals and groups. For individuals, the RDA and AI help in planning diets, while comparing intake to the RDA/AI and UL helps in assessment. For groups, the EAR is used to assess the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy, and the EAR and UL are used in planning group diets.

DRIs in Public Health Policy and Food Production

DRIs are foundational to public health. They inform national guidelines like the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, provide the basis for Daily Values on food labels, and guide food fortification efforts.

Comparison of DRI Values


DRI Component	Target Population	Definition	Main Purpose
EAR	Groups	Estimated to meet the needs of 50% of the population.	Assess population intake adequacy and plan for group diets.
RDA	Individuals	Sufficient to meet the needs of 97-98% of healthy people.	Plan and counsel individuals for adequate intake.
AI	Individuals/Groups	Observed or experimentally determined average intake of healthy people.	Set intake goals when insufficient data exists for an EAR/RDA.
UL	Individuals/Groups	Maximum daily intake level unlikely to cause adverse health effects.	Assess risk of adverse effects from excessive intake.

The Evolving Landscape of DRIs

DRIs have evolved since the 1990s to consider chronic disease risk in addition to preventing deficiencies. Updates continue to incorporate new scientific findings.

Conclusion

DRIs offer a comprehensive approach to nutritional needs and are essential for researchers, public health officials, and health professionals. Using values like EAR, RDA, AI, and UL facilitates informed decisions to support optimal health and prevent both inadequate and excessive nutrient intakes. The scientific foundation of DRIs makes them a critical component of nutritional science and public health planning. For further details on the science behind DRIs, consult the {Link: National Academies Press https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK222330/}.

Frequently Asked Questions

The RDA is set based on scientific evidence to cover the needs of 97-98% of healthy individuals. The AI is used when there isn't enough evidence to establish an RDA and is based on observed intake levels of a healthy population, but the exact percentage of the population covered is unknown.

For individuals, the RDA and AI serve as goals for intake, and the UL indicates a maximum safe level. For groups, the EAR is used to assess the prevalence of nutrient inadequacy, and the EAR and UL are used to plan group diets to minimize the risk of deficiency and excess.

No, DRIs are established for apparently healthy people. Individuals with acute or chronic diseases may have altered nutrient requirements and should receive personalized guidance from a medical or nutrition professional.

The Daily Values (DVs) seen on Nutrition Facts panels are based on DRIs. This helps consumers understand the nutritional contribution of a serving of a food and compare it to a standard, science-based reference.

The UL is a maximum intake level intended to help individuals and health professionals avoid adverse health effects from excessive intake, particularly when using supplements or fortified foods.

DRIs form the scientific basis for developing national dietary guidelines, designing food fortification programs, and creating nutrient standards for institutional meals, such as those served in schools or long-term care facilities.

The UL is particularly relevant for assessing supplement use, as excessive intake of certain nutrients is more likely from supplements than from food alone. DRIs help ensure that supplement levels are within a safe range, but there is no added benefit for healthy people to consume above the RDA/AI.